PRAYER LETTER NO.33.
www.greatlakesoutreach.org
"We are at war, and the bloody battle is over our hearts. I am astounded how few Christians see this, how little they protect their hearts. We act as though we live in a sleepy little town during peacetime. We don't. We live in the spiritual equivalent of Bosnia or Beirut (or Burundi!). Act like it.
Watch over your heart. Don't let just anything in; don't let it go just anywhere. What's this going to do to my heart? is a question that I ask in every situation.
And thinking of life as a journey reminds me to stop trying to set up camp and call it home. It allows me to see life as a process, with completion somewhere down the road. Thus I am freed from feeling like a failure when things are not finished, and hopeful that they will be as my journey comes to its end. I want adventure, and this reminds me I am living in it. Life is not a problem to be solved; it is an adventure to be lived." (Eldredge)
Dear Tigers,
13th December 2004
How's the war going your end? Enjoying the journey?
To be honest, my end is a bit of a slog at the moment. Some diary
excerpts:
"7th December: Not much to write from the last few days spent in bed, have been to the hospital again and am doing a second treatment for malaria although tests don't show anything apart from some residual typhoid. Am so weak. Lizzie has been a star pampering me, yet at times I am deeply discouraged. Have finished a study in bed on Job (ironically or
appropriately) and was hoping that as I finished it, so I would be restored - cheeky to compare myself to him I know! But Job learnt a great deal about trusting the sovereign plans of the Lord, so hopefully I can too.
And maybe God'll throw in loads of beautiful daughters at the end as well!
It is interesting that this sickness kicked in straight after a fruitful weekend of evangelism in the bush, seeing God's kingdom of light pierce the darkness, and also straight after I vowed to get up regularly at 6am to pray - I am not saying there is an automatic link, but just last week I read something like this: "Just see how much Satan hates our prayers by deciding to really pray seriously for a two-week period. You'll be amazed what happens to you immediately to knock you off your perch. Suddenly things go wrong or something unexpected happens, and the Enemy will try anything to keep you from your good intentions." So, remember it's a battle, Simon.
12th December: Whilst Lizzie was at church, I lay in bed and really felt the Lord speaking to me and giving me loads of ideas. This time of bodily inactivity has seen heightened brain activity and communion with Him, with time to redefine my purpose and vision, and sharpen areas of ministry. And it definitely would not have been such a significant time spiritually had I been fit, healthy, and busy DOING stuff for God (like he really needs me anyway!). Blessed suffering!
I've hated it, but I begrudgingly thank you for it, wise loving heavenly Father.
13th December: Woke up and stayed awake from 4am. Half an hour later there were three big shots just outside, must have been thieves. It is weird to think that someone may have died as the echoes of the bullets reverberate for several seconds. Having said that, this is the quietest period in recent times in the country.
So this is my twelfth day in bed. Went back to hospital, nothing showed up in blood tests, so am on a second set of antibiotics, and praying they will work.
Watched a video on the genocide in Rwanda, and the utter moral bankruptcy, inactivity, obfuscation and ineptitude of the international community astounded me afresh. 'Never again' was declared with contrition, and yet the same big players are similarly minimizing active involvement in Darfur right now, and in the Congo, and in other places. Heard on the radio that IRC have produced a report estimating that 1,000 people are dying each day in Congo from the conflict -THAT'S TWO 9/11s EVERY WEEK! Aid per individual in Iraq is $180, whereas in Congo it is a meager $3.23 - what a sick world."
Talking of the Congo, it reminds me of Cossette, who runs our SU Children's
Department: she is so deeply committed to the Lord, having left Islam and her husband ten years ago when he took a second wife. He kept their baby.
Since then she has been displaced by the war and not seen her precious little daughter - for a full decade. Maybe only mothers can possibly imagine how she must feel. I see her busily, faithfully and joyfully serving the Lord, whilst her heart deeply aches and breaks and yearns to see her growing daughter. The cost of the flight to the other side of the Congo (the Congo is mostly impenetrable jungle, the size of Western Europe) is $800, which is the equivalent of 8 months salary, so there is simply no way she can do it.
Anybody out there want to contribute to bringing some serious Christmas joy to a precious struggling sister.?
I'll stop there. Emmanuel, God with us! Here's wishing you a deeply meaningful Christmas.
So protect your heart, keep on in the battle, and live the adventure until the journey's end!
THE LORD IS SO GOOD!
Simon Guillebaud
Great Lakes Outreach
www.greatlakesoutreach.org
(If your message is for Lizzie as well, please also send to
Lizzie@greatlakesoutreach.org)
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