May 2007 Update Côte d'Ivoire
Isaiah 58:6-8, "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen; to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter--when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear, then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard."
Friends and family:
Thanks so much for your intercession and prayer support over this past month. I have had probably the hardest month of my life this past month since getting to Côte d'Ivoire, barraged by more opposition from the enemy than I've ever experienced before. Being plunged right into the middle of living in the midst of so much suffering and poverty and despair really has been a level of difficulty that I've never been through before. Your intercession and words of encouragement and love has really carried me and the team. Thanks so much. I have an even deeper gratefulness in my heart now for the people back home who are praying for me and the advancing of the Kingdom of God here. I thank Jesus all the time for you and your love, support, and friendship.
There's so much I want to share from what the Holy Spirit has been doing, even in the midst of the intensity of the battle in my own heart. At my/our weakest points, we have seen the hand of God do mighty miracles and lately I've felt like the Lord has said, "Son the fact that you just showed up here is enough." I've felt like Jacob who wrestled with God all night and ended up with a limp afterwards, proof that he fought God. I've wrestled and fought and I think I'm finally getting to the point where I'm able to just yield to the Holy Spirit so He will lead us as a team in what is on His heart.
We began gathering and having housechurch in our house about 3 weeks ago, and we've already filled our salon (living room). People are coming to our door pretty much at all hours of the day (and sometimes night) wanting healing, deliverance, salvation. It's crazy...the sick are coming to us. The oppressed are coming to us. I'm quickly coming to the end of my strength, and finally realizing that I can't deliver anybody or heal anybody except by the power of the Holy Spirit. The amount of suffering is indescribable here. Death happens so much. But where it's the darkest is where the light of Jesus shines the brightest. I'm learning a lot from Abel in watching how he walks in the Spirit, especially when it comes to praying for the sick, and doing deliverance. I’m preaching at least once or twice a week now too.
Maria has been teaching her healthcare class weekly and training numerous people to be equipped to give medical care and eventually go into villages to train others alongside of preaching the gospel, healing the sick, and casting out demons. Abel has pretty much handed over the leadership of the church in Vridi (where he labored for 3 years) to other leaders that he trained. Now we as a team are attacking Gonzague, the area we live in. Testimonies of healing and salvation are spreading quick. In Africa, news travels like wildfire, so when the Lord does a miracle and shows His glory, people know about it almost instantly. The Lord recently healed a guy who had a stomach sickness he had for 8 years, even after having an operation! Yay God.
The Lord has already raised up a handful of solid local guys who will be joining us as leaders in this church planting. One night the Lord spoke to Abel after one of our housechurch gatherings that we needed to go to the neighbors' house. We went and met them for the first time, the father's name is Pierre. It ended up being a divine connection, and now he and several others are making themselves available to lead in the new churchplant. Eventually some will be sent out from our midst to plant other churches in other areas.
One really cool thing the Lord put on our hearts is to pick a family in the community every couple weeks...who is suffering without much to eat...and bless them with a bunch of food. Thank you for your donations towards this "project." $40 buys a 50 pound (25kg) bag of rice, 10 pounds (5kg) of onions, 2 or 3 bottles of cooking oil, a bag of tomatoes, peppers, spices, and some fish. We've been able to feed 4 families so far, and it's such a joy to do it and be able to give to those who have next to nothing. If you want to donate towards this, you can make a note on your gift to All Nations that your gift is for the Food Project. Or you can give through PayPal too (go to www.shortadam.com and click on "Support Adam Online.")
Last week we went to the market, and the lady (Léontine) that usually helps us gather the food together was there. We asked her for her help again, but she didn't know that the food was going to be for her. When we finished, we broke the news to her and told her that all this food is for her and her family! She was so happy. She has 7 kids, and they all live in a room the size of about 10 ft. by 10 ft.
The other day Abel got a call that his sister Constance, who lives not far from us, got really sick and needed to be taken to the hospital. She was really low on blood and iron, but she has no money to buy medicine or pay for the hospital bills. She was forced into sorcery by her mother years ago, and they began cursing Abel and the rest of the family because they follow Jesus. Her mother ended up dying because the curses went back on to her. Abel forgave Constance his sister for what she has done in trying to destroy his life and curse him with sorcery (very common here). And now he has been loving on her and just a couple weeks ago, she came to know the Lord! But she, like almost all of the people that come to Jesus here, need major deliverance. On top of that, she's very sick. Ends up that Maria and I and Abel went to visit her...she lives in a shack with no electricity. The Lord spoke to me to get her food...she has nothing.
And we also got her medicine...she's anemic and has malaria, so we got her a malaria shot and iron for her blood. And we fed her. The next day she had to be taken back to the hospital and it was made known to Abel that she has AIDS. She has known it for a good while but hasn't told anybody. We got some blood for her because they said she was going to die if she didn't get blood. So last night we went to get her and brought her into our house so she can stay with us...she had nobody to take care of her. It's intense...it's like we're so often in crisis mode. Constance is dying of AIDS, and all day yesterday we had people coming into the house wanting deliverance, healing, salvation. We’re standing with Constance in prayer for full healing of AIDS.
I am thankful to have my own room where I can be alone with Jesus in prayer and be intimate with Him. Maria as well...and Abel...it's our refuge to be with Jesus in intimacy. I'm still trying to find the balance between intimacy with Jesus and ministry.
The Lord has been providing abundantly for our needs. Isaiah 58 has been a major word from the Lord to our team, the true fast the Lord desires. If we give ourselves to those who are oppressed, hungry, and don't turn our backs on our own flesh and blood, then our light will break forth like the noonday.
Thanks for your financial support. We were able to buy a refrigerator, which we're so thankful for. The Lord spoke that in our house there will always be enough! I'm so thankful for y'alls support. I pray that Jesus pour out abundance on you for your generosity. Here are a few things that we would like to get at some point soon, if the Lord puts it on your heart to contribute specifically towards these things, just include a note with your gift what it's for, that way we can keep it straight:
*Generator for the house; *Cement to help finish the floor of the Vridi church building; *Tile to finish the balcony on the house.
Please continue to intercede in prayer for us and the people we're ministering to. Above all ministry, I desire first and foremost intimacy with Jesus. Thank you so much for your love and support. It means all the more being this far from home.
Love,
Adam