We traveled a lot in India, all along the West coast (or West side.. ish). I couldn't believe how different everything was from America. EVERYTHING. Vehicles were all over the road, people where everywhere, there were little markets set up along the dirty, beaten paths and roads scattered around, the shops where jam packed, full of goods. I was in love.
We stayed at our first location a couple weeks. While we were there we did a lot of street ministry. Preaching, telling stories from the Bible, playing with children from the slums. We went into homes a few times a week and prayed with the residents. We prayed for healing. We prayed for strength. We prayed for God to show up, and He did. I can't quite explain all that happened but people were healed, they were strengthened, faith was abundant and God's spirit was with us! It was incredible. I had never felt so full in my life.
One night we were praying as a team before we went and showed a Jesus video in the slums. As we were praying something came over me, something I had never felt so strong in my life. Fear. It was like it was choking me, crushing me. I instantly began to sob, unsure of what was happening, scared... fearful. I crumbled to the floor terrified. My leaders brought me in to a nearby room and began to pray with me, instantly the fear left. I don't really know what happened or why but I do know that after that, I rebuked fear from keeping people from knowing Jesus and hearing the gospel that night and people were saved. A lot of people.
Now, if someone had told me that had happened to them before I went to YWAM, I wouldn't have believed them. But I promise you, it was one of the most real things I have ever felt. You see, many times, in other countries, spiritual warfare manifests in much more apparent and visible ways than it does in America. The gods they worship aren't the One True God but they are distractions set up to keep people from knowing Him and they are real. Real live spirits. Now, I'm not sure if I explained that in a way to help you understand or not, maybe I made it worse... Either way, I felt it and it was real.
Anyway, back to the story. So, Goa was hot and humid and it was so hard at times but "this is so worth it" I thought to myself. I was a little homesick that first week and a half but eventually I got used to it and started to embrace the culture. I loved washing my clothes by hand, I loved trying to like the food, I loved playing with the kids, I loved the freezing cold showers after a long hot day, I loved India! Life was good, but it came time for us to pack up and move on to the next location. So we did.
We stayed at our first location a couple weeks. While we were there we did a lot of street ministry. Preaching, telling stories from the Bible, playing with children from the slums. We went into homes a few times a week and prayed with the residents. We prayed for healing. We prayed for strength. We prayed for God to show up, and He did. I can't quite explain all that happened but people were healed, they were strengthened, faith was abundant and God's spirit was with us! It was incredible. I had never felt so full in my life.
One night we were praying as a team before we went and showed a Jesus video in the slums. As we were praying something came over me, something I had never felt so strong in my life. Fear. It was like it was choking me, crushing me. I instantly began to sob, unsure of what was happening, scared... fearful. I crumbled to the floor terrified. My leaders brought me in to a nearby room and began to pray with me, instantly the fear left. I don't really know what happened or why but I do know that after that, I rebuked fear from keeping people from knowing Jesus and hearing the gospel that night and people were saved. A lot of people.
Now, if someone had told me that had happened to them before I went to YWAM, I wouldn't have believed them. But I promise you, it was one of the most real things I have ever felt. You see, many times, in other countries, spiritual warfare manifests in much more apparent and visible ways than it does in America. The gods they worship aren't the One True God but they are distractions set up to keep people from knowing Him and they are real. Real live spirits. Now, I'm not sure if I explained that in a way to help you understand or not, maybe I made it worse... Either way, I felt it and it was real.
Anyway, back to the story. So, Goa was hot and humid and it was so hard at times but "this is so worth it" I thought to myself. I was a little homesick that first week and a half but eventually I got used to it and started to embrace the culture. I loved washing my clothes by hand, I loved trying to like the food, I loved playing with the kids, I loved the freezing cold showers after a long hot day, I loved India! Life was good, but it came time for us to pack up and move on to the next location. So we did.
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