Rejoicing Angels

Hey family and friends;
Happy December!!!!
The only clue that we’re in the Christmas season as far as the senses go is the Christmas songs the kids at school are learning for the program and the Christmas projects that I’ve been doing with all the classes for a month.
I miss the beautiful winter wonderland that is all lit up at this time of year where many of you are sitting. In fact, 2 nights ago I dreamt I was driving by field after field that was beautifully decked out with lights, and I was just mesmerized by the beauty, and was slowly making my way along. There were others around me that were rushing me and telling me to speed up. I gently told them that these were the first Christmas lights I’d seen for the year, and was enjoying the sight.
I encourage you to stop and really take in the beauty that surrounds you and not just rush from party to party and appt. to appt., without really pondering Whom and why we are celebrating.
So, I was supposed to go to Kigali, Rwanda last week Thursday morning till this past Monday for a women’s conference. I was very excited to go.  Jabe Iglese Vivant blessed us so much when they volunteered to pay for all my expenses minus about $17.00 US. Around nine in the evening the night before we were to leave, Aime, the very helpful admin. from school that helps the expats with Visa’s, Passports, etc., called and said that he had just heard that the Rwandan border denied David Micklefield (Pastor Andrew’s brother that was visiting Buj. and wanted to go to Rwanda with a buddy) entry into Rwanda because he didn’t have a Visa.
Till 2 weeks ago Canadians did not need a Visa for entry into Rwanda, but we heard that Kagami - Rwanda’s president, slapped this on Canadians because Canada doesn’t give Rwanda enough aid!!!
To process the Visa takes between 24 - 48 hrs., so that meant I could not go. Pastor Ray’s wife, MaryAnne, and her guest from Vancouver were supposed to fly out the following evening to the conference, and they had to cancel their flight.
Oh well, this way I got to spend the weekend with my 2 boys, and we had a great weekend. Went to the beach on Saturday and Sunday with friends. Lake Tanganyika is perhaps 6-7 blocks from our house as the crow flies; we can see the lake from our kitchen window with the Congo mountains behind the lake.
On Sunday was our 18th anniversary for when we got engaged. Wow, that makes us sound old. God has so richly blessed me with the gift of my Isaac.
Today was so cool. On Wednesdays I do Christian Ed. with the year ones. Almost every week I reiterate what it means to be a Christian, what Jesus did for us on the cross, and why, etc. I do this because of all the Muslim/Hindu kids in all the classes, and because I have a passion to see them come to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. A number of these kids come with the religious signs painted on their faces day after day, and with their bracelets and necklaces that are supposed to protect them.
Let me start at the beginning….
Last year, there was this little boy (don’t know whether he’s Muslim or Hindu) in kindergarten that would worship the sun when outside. When his teacher saw this she would obviously stop him. We as staff prayed for this boy and his family, as it was pretty obvious that the parents are very devout followers of the religion, and as such could bring that spirit into the school when dropping off/collecting the son.
This boy is very intelligent and hangs on to every word I say as I tell them about Jesus. He repeats what I say almost verbatim when given the chance. He’s usually the first to raise his hand to answer questions, learns Bible verses well and easily, etc.
So this particular day I’m in their class again, he answers a question, and without a seconds warning, the Spirit comes over me in power and I instantly stretch out my hand to him and declare: “One day you will be a mighty man of God!” I immediately started crying and I quickly turned away so the kids wouldn’t be alarmed to see me cry. Luckily, sweet Olive, the teacher,  happened to be in the class as well, and saw the whole thing unfold. She started asking questions about the lesson as I regained my composure.
Well, after this event, this boy was on my heart so much. I prayed for him often; during summer holidays, he continued to be in my prayers. In my spirit I knew what was said about him was not of me, but entirely of God, and I prayed into that. I would often think and wonder how much God would be glorified in and through this “mighty man of God.”
Well, that little boy started that journey as a mighty man of God this morning, praise Jesus!!!
After explaining again that Jesus was born so that He could die for our sins, that He is the Son of God, that God raised Him on the third day, and He is ALIVE, and if we invite Him into our hearts and lives and ask Him to forgive our sins, and we live for Him, then we are Christians and His children.
I often have the children repeat after me core truths pertaining to Jesus and or God, because I know the power of hearing yourself speak words, whether positive or negative. Over the months when I would have them repeat some aspect of those truths, I would always look at this child as he loudly proclaimed those truths, and in my spirit I would rejoice. His mouth was speaking truth, it was only a matter of time before God would line up his heart/soul /spirit with his mouth.
Today was the eclipse of his heart and mouth. He raised his hand and said; “I want to be a Christian.”
Man, I’m telling you, inside I was just yelling and screaming and praising Jesus and doing flips…..
I asked him to come to me where I was sitting on the little kiddie chair. I put my arm around him and asked him if he believed who Jesus is and what He did for him, to which he answered yes after each question. He very clearly and succinctly said the sinners prayer after me.
I told him that the Bible says that the angels in heaven rejoice when one sinner repents, and that he had just caused that to happen. This child was absolutely beaming as I raised his hands with mine and rejoiced with him.
Meanwhile, the whole class quietly sat on the mat in front of us and observed the scene as it unfolded.
Now let me back track.
When ‘A’ raised his hand to say he wanted to become a Christian, ‘B’ was right on the heels as he raised his hand for the same reason. I wasn’t surprised by this, because I had sensed that God was really working in this little Muslim boys heart as well. So after ‘A’ prayed, I asked ‘B’ to come to me, and went through the same steps with this boy.
Wow, what an awesome time!!!
I ask you with great, great sincerity, please pray for these 2 boys very regularly. The opposition will be extreme, both from parents when they find out, and obviously from the enemy.
“The One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” 1 Jn 4:4b