The Presence of Evil

Today is Friday the 13th and in some cultures it is bad luck, a day of evil or just silly traditions. Today I felt the presence of evil so strong that it made the hair on my arms and neck stand on end. I even got goosebumps. It takes quite a bit to get me spooked and afraid but tonight was one of those nights. We are into the second week of our training and we have come under some attacks by the enemy and through prayer we have been victorious.

Yesterday Catherine posted on her Facebook page about a girl we have in our class who is a true orphan and has given her life to Christ. She has told her boyfriend that she cannot continue sleeping with him. From what we are able to understand she shared her new faith with him. He refused to listen and broke up with her and  kicked her out.

She has no family or friends here and does not want to leave the program. Last night she slept outside in the cold with a small blanket so we have helped her find shelter for tonight and will try to find some more permanent housing for her.

After we got her into a safe place tonight I was in the restaurant by myself closing up.  I was doing some paperwork and I heard the doors rattle as if someone was trying to get in. Then I heard the gate around the Cafe rattle in the same way. Next I heard the windows shaking and I felt a presence of evil   -- as if someone was watching me. I began praying, claiming all the building and everything around it in the name of Jesus and commanding whatever it was to flee.

When I left to go home there was no wind at all so I know it was the enemy. I have not felt an evil presence so strongly since I was in Cameroon many years ago. Catherine and I have prayed tonight and have asked others to pray too. We feel that there is a battle for one or more of the students in our program. We are standing for them and with them against the enemy.

I am reminded again that the battle is real and we must continually be on guard against the enemy and his attacks. Please pray with us over these students. Pray for us as we continue to do battle. Pray we will not grow weary from battling day in and day out. Friday the 13th, or any day for that matter... we must be ready to take a stand with the Kingdom of Light, and resist the darkness!

YDM Class #5 Up and Running!

We began our fifth training class on Monday the 2nd of July. We had 30 people pick up applications on Tuesday the 26th of July and we had 20 of them return on Thursday the 28th with their completed applications. We began the interviews at a little after 8:00am. The first four or five applicants had come at 6:30am.

As we sat with each applicant our hearts were torn because we knew we would only be able to accept twelve of them. Eight of the 20 had submitted applications prior to the fourth training.  They returned in hopes that they would be accepted into the program this time.

We completed the interviews just before noon. After letting each one know that they would be receiving a call by the end of the day we sat to pray and decide who got to stay and who we had to say no to. After much prayer and discussion we had narrowed our list down to twelve. We placed calls to the eight that did not make it and encouraged them to try again  February 2013. We then called each of the twelve that were accepted and you could hear the screams of joy and excitement from several feet (meters) away.

Class #5 with Mrs. Rosen, Herculady (our staff TA) & Mrs. Duran

We look forward to working with and getting to know the twelve ladies that have been accepted into the program. We already know God is going to do amazing things in this group. These are exciting times for them.... and for us.