walls

on top of vic falls, see the spray

jeremiah on the zambezi river

little girl caring for her baby brother

?teacher jeremiah


We are continuing with teaching the boys in the village how to speak / write English. We are still working on getting through the alphabet, writing and sounds. They are so far behind, but every time they get it (like sounding out a word) oh, it feels like such an accomplishment! It is a great feeling. There are 5 that never go to school and a few others who sometimes do (cant really figure it out to be honest with you). But on Saturday we had the ones who never got to school make a note book out of paper and cardboard and a stripped palm leaf tied through the holes we punched to hold it all together. They were so proud to have a notebook of their own like the other school kids. It was really fun.

We had a celebration with all the people who we are in relationship with and who are in bible studies / house churches. We want them together to share what God is doing in their lives. Up until this day we have been feeling an increasing battle against the witchcraft in the village. It is such a strong hold. I have never experienced the oppression like we feel here. People who have given their lives to Christ, who even are on their own sharing with far out villages and starting bible studies there, they still fall back on consulting a witch doctor when things feel out of their control. It is so deeply engrained in them that the witch doctor can make things better in their lives. When in reality they make them so much poorer in ever sense of the word. They must pay the witch doctors large amounts of money, and then more often than not the witch doctor tells them that one of their family members (mother father sister brother) has put a curse on them. So they begin hating their relative they believe has put the curse on them. Sometimes this ends up with the person even killing their parents who they believe put the curse on them.

Another example of the walls we face here. A man started a garden in the village about 3 years ago. It was going great, he was able to sell it, and feed his family. But he began to notice that his neighbors were getting jealous, talking about him behind his back. He became so afraid that they would put accurse on him that he stopped his gardens, let it all go. And until now, finding Jesus to be bigger then his fears or curses, he has started planting again. But the pressure from the village to not gain individual wealth is so strong, we pray he continues to succeed and enjoy God’s blessings in his life.

Fighting in the spiritual really is a daily battle.
Today in intercession for the village God laid on my heart Isaiah 2 – calling them to turn and repent and to care for the oppressed, and the orphan and He would make them white as snow. To stop offering sacrifices to other Gods. Also for the people we are working with in the government to start up the orphan home that they would also stop serving God’s of money and corruption and stand on behalf of the oppressed stand orphan to help assist and advocate for our orphan home instead of expecting bribes.
Pray with us, there are walls that come up against us, But God has given us this land, and we are claiming it for Him. But the people must also humble themselves, turn from their ways and follow Him, and He will heal their land.