We should have fastened our seatbelts to get through this month because it was such an adventure! In fact, you could say that God tried to warn us when we were pulled over for not wearing a seatbelt a couple of weeks ago! In the end, the police fined us for our worn front tires, and actually kept our registration until we replaced them (and we were given just 7 days to do it!) Even though we were $500 poorer, I actually felt a surprising gratefulness to them and to God for looking out for our well-being. This reaction is a welcome change from guilt for getting caught and anger over the unexpected expense. At least in this area, it’s good to see some fruit of the Spirit ripening in us.
May started with a drive to Lyon (4hrs) to attend an event (with some of our most eager worshipers in our church) for all the churches who are committed to building “altars of worship” associated with “France en Feu” (France on fire.) The goal is to have worship happening in France 24/7, and our church contributes one Friday night a month from 7-11pm. The Sat. was reserved for 12 hr. of solid worship, with breaks every 2 hours for the bands to change, and fasting was encouraged. I was so impressed with the music and the gorgeous silk banners being raised – French worship is coming into its glory at last! Here’s an excerpt from a new song we sang that weekend. During that time, I felt a strong impulse to pray over my thyroid, thinking it may be the source of some of my health issues. What was different was that I started talking to it tearfully like to an intimate friend, blessing it, etc. It sounds crazy, but since then my insomnia has left and my energy is definitely returning! And here’s another view of the event from an American friend, Alana, that attended with us.
A week later, a French prophet came to teach at our church for 4 days and David is the default daytime worship leader for events like this. With my newfound energy, I was able to get up and out early every morning to project the lyrics for him. This meant we could attend the seminar for free and receive a personal prophecy that resonated with us both and gave us a shot in the arm concerning how to pray into our future roles here.
The ride continued when we had to spend a day in Strasbourg to renew our passports. David and I usually avoid tourism and big outings because lots of walking results in pain and exhaustion. Well, we walked at least 5 hr. that day, and though David’s knee started aching towards the end, it was the first time in ages that I didn’t have to spend the following day in bed to recover. As an added bonus, the whole consulate visit felt like a big hug, and it was also the beginning of a fabulous, headache-free, activity-filled weekend with my French friend from Paris (whom I hadn’t seen in 18 months.) What a gift that was.
I’m still waiting for a breakthrough for my headaches and my hormone-related migraines are bad enough that I wanted to give birth control pills a try. So I paid my first visit to a French gynecologist this month, whom I have avoided because they are notorious for their awful bedside manner. Unfortunately, Dr. Hassenforder lived up to the stereotype and offered me one option. I assumed it was what I had asked for, not being familiar with French drug names, and started taking it. Very quickly I felt neutered, suicidal, and my migraines doubled. David finally became concerned enough to take authority over my depression, and as he prayed, I felt pain in my ear. At the “amen” the pain was gone and so was the darkness! Whew! When I finally googled it, I found out it was a testosterone inhibitor, (unavailable in the U.S.,) used to ‘hormonally neuter” certain male criminals, to put it gently. I could not believe my eyes and stopped the treatment immediately.
Although I am eager to continue walking in more miraculous healing for myself and the lost around me, I also know that God can work through suffering, if we will embrace it as Jesus embraced the cross. I could respond to a sleepless night due to a migraine with growing resentment and disillusionment towards God, or I can meditate on the crown of thorns (migraine parallel) that Jesus endured on my behalf and weep with love and gratitude, privileged to “share in his suffering, in order to share in His glory.” (Rom 8:17) What does that glory look like for us earth dwellers? The Message version of Gal. 5:22 gives us a good picture with a great twist on this familiar passage.
There are no guarantees that life will get easier, and many are hinting that this is the beginning of the end! Though other missionaries are being “laid off” from their church-supported organizations, we are pleased to report that we have not lost any support and David’s skills have provided plenty of ways to make some pocket money: giving some beginner instrument lessons, diagnosing sick PCs, and IT support. Now he is even having to say “no.” I am not advertising my English teaching until my headaches are more under control (and I’m starting a natural treatment soon, thanks to an angel named Rosie.) Well, actually I’m tutoring an 8th and 9th grader in English for free right now, but in the meantime, I’m asking my Father to show me his strategy for finding the right paying students for the future. I am eager to bring the kingdom of God to my village in concrete ways and this may be one of them! Anyway, my plate is also so full of hospitality in June, that I cannot imagine doing anything more: Noah returns home for the summer, a Swiss-German exchange student stays with us the first 2 weeks of June, American construction teams arrive for 4 weeks at the school, and our friends, the Richards, are arriving to connect and minister for the summer. They have been living in the healing revival environment at Bethel Church in Redding, CA for the past year and we are eager to receive from them!
I’d like to end this letter with a video by Sigur Ros – an Icelandic band that all 3 of my kids are crazy about. Though I don’t think the band members are believers, their music and videos have a prophetic quality that touches my spirit and makes me weep. This video illustrates my thoughts above in a very artistic way – Through these children, I see Jesus and his followers overcoming obstacles on the rocky journey of life, but the glory is waiting in the end! Click on the album cover, fasten your seatbelts and tell me what you think…
Love, Angela
Pingback: LeighWeb | Our Prayer Bulletin