No Longer Slaves

The words we speak have power over our life, and worship is powerful form of declaring God's promises over our lives. There is power in declaring the greatness of our Saviour over our us. 

Yesterday this was seen as we worshipped with prisoners in a jail yesterday. That experience will be right up there with the most surreal I've ever had. The power of being unified singing "No Longer Slaves." My heart broke as God showed me the love He has for them. To look past the problems and the "surface" level coverings that everyone will see at first glance, and see their hearts. Wondering what could've lead them to make those choices, and how perhaps that could've been prevented. But despite what those choices lead to, God can always restore and refresh them.

As we spent that morning preparing all the packages for the prison, I started praying for the day ahead. I knew that going to the prison would probably be the part of the trip that would stretch me the most.

The way they worshipped was beyond powerful, the freedom that was declared. They may have been in a physical prison, but they had freedom in the spiritual realm. They had been set free by Jesus.

I cried there, cried as we left to the car, and cried on the car trip back. Because the Father's touch is powerful and gentle at once, and it was like a tidal wave that had crashed over me.

Again I enjoyed spending time with Pastora Roszel and Yrah Lee, getting pampered at the salon and sharing a meal (though we quickly realised Pastora Roszel's watch was incorrect, and we had to rush to the church).

I shared the difficult part of my testimony on a public platform for the first time during the prayer meeting at Kingdom Life Butuan. How at fourteen I had been violated, and how that crumbled me some to such a low worth and self-image and lead to my anxiety, hospitalisation, and three year process of feeling truly worthy of love and purpose again. How I could at the end of last year call my mom and just cry, because I finally found completely happy and at peace again.

I knew that it was important to share it, even though it was difficult, because I know there are sadly many girls, women, and people who have gone through a similar thing to me. That I could at least understand to a small degree, and the spirit guides me to empathise with the rest.

It was testimony to me how I've truly come, that I felt able to share my story without feeling ashamed and dirty. I know that I'm worthy and pure. That I'm worthy of love. I pray that Jesus will show this to me everyday, because it isn't out of my own. There is no way I could do it in my own strength. Some days are also harder than others, and some days the anxiety is so strong and real again that I feel I could barely get out of bed. But my God is stronger, He turns my test into a testimony.

There is no way that I could ever look back on my story and not see God pulling the thread all the way through and bringing it all together. He is still healing me and will use me to show others that He can do the same for them.

The Kingdom is near

Yesterday morning we visited pastor Zabala's church about an hour's drive away from Butuan in quite a remote area where the vegetation is much denser and the housing even more basic. We love visiting this church because of the anointing upon the worship. Young and old sing with their whole hearts and the heavens seem to be open when they worship. The worship leader, Gideon has a voice of an angel and because of the anointing, young singers and musicians are drawn to this church. The girl with the beanie (in the picture on the right), called Isabel, also sang and we were simply amazed at what was coming out of her mouth. She lives in a very remote area and is part of the local tribal people. Frances and I shared a message on the reality of the Kingdom which God proved with touching the people with His presence. It was wonderful! After the meeting we had lunch together. It seems we are having lunch earlier and earlier each day. We got to taste some Jack-Fruit which tastes a bit like a mixture between pineapple and banana. On our way back to Butuan I spotted a Filipino recycling station.















In the afternoon we went to Butuan's favourite new shopping mall that is completely air-conditioned, where we enjoyed a coffee together with Julius, Roszel, Berwyn and Liberty. At the coffee place we met another pastor with whom I chatted and was able to encourage with a prophetic word. It was a divine appointment and we all left very much filled in our spirits.

In the evening we were invited to Julius and Roszel's new home and Aaron, Julius' brother cooked for us. It was a wonderful evening and a joy to see Yrah-Lee and Jonkris (Julius and Roszel's beautiful children). It was another special day and such a joy to see people encounter God as we share His love and encouragement with them.

This morning we went to the local rubbish dump where many poor families live in make-shift houses. In the middle of the dump is a little school building where little 3 and 4-year olds go to school. We visited the school and I told these little gems the story of the little boy with a lunch box filled with 3 pieces of bread, 5 pieces of fish and rice who came upon a man speaking to thousands of people on the mountainside and how God multiplied the little boy's lunch. It was a lot of fun and the little gems listened attentively. It is such a joy to share the reality of God with these people and to see the joy of hope shine on their faces as they listen to the good news.

After our visit we went to Bo's where we had a planning meeting with Julius, Roszel and Berwyn to discuss the next steps of our work together and future planning. It was a very exciting meeting and all of us sense God's hand upon what we are doing and plan to do in the future! This evening we have our second session with the core leadership team of KLB.

We are so excited about furthering God's Kingdom here and our prayer is that many will catch the vision so we can pour even more resources into this fertile and fruitful area of ministry.

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:32-34