Enemy Territory

As things are starting to slowly (or maybe quickly, actually) wind down, I want to take a moment to really, really, really thank those of you who were offering up prayers for what I've been doing here. What you have done has meant more than you could imagine. I believe that without any evidence of it, but just recently I found out that there truly is evidence of what your prayers have meant. Let me explain.

As my teammate and I are preparing to leave our city after this semester, we both had to ask the question - what next? I was pretty well set on returning home to the States. But my teammate thought that he might like to stay over here for a little while longer. Through a long list of connections, he got in touch with a guy who is kind of the regional director for an organization very similar to our own and very well respected.

My teammate went to meet with this man and discuss some opportunities for future teaching positions over here. Well, the question of, "Where have you been teaching?" came up in their conversation. When my teammate mentioned our city's name, the regional director guy kind of gasped. My teammate was confused and asked what the shock was about.

The director explained that their organization used to send teachers to our city, but they pulled out of here several years ago because this city was a disaster area, in a spiritual sense. Respectable, true believer teachers from their organization would come to our city, and within a year's time or so, most of them had some kind of major moral failure. Apparently it was mostly of a sexual nature, but it also was broader than that.

Anyway, these were true warriors - not burdened believers who had a history of this sort of thing. This happened so frequently that the organization finally canceled the program here. And this is the only city in the history of the organization that they have had to shut down for moral failures. Whoa.

Now, our organization has been in this city for a while, too. And we haven't had as many troubles as their organization did. But my teammate and I did learn of several teachers from our organization that also had significant moral failures in this city. Now, we stand on the foundation that many have built here before our arrival, but there is no doubt that this is a negatively charged city in terms of spiritual things. All the dreams, oppressive feelings, visions, etc. that I have experienced here have confirmed to me that we are in enemy territory.

But here's the thing - my teammate and I have really had great success here! No, we haven't been perfect individuals, but Grace has been poured out on us, and we have been protected from any severe moral dilemmas or errors. And why is that? Well, yes, it's partly because my teammate and I are serious about our work here, but that is just part of it. It is largely, even hugely, because you back home have been keeping us in your prayers! Do you see the majesty of it? Man, words do not do it enough justice!

I'm serious - we have been protected here because you all have been faithful to us with your prayers and petitions for us. I am eternally grateful to all of you who have bent your knees and bowed your heads time and again to bring our names before the One who has redeemed us. Truly this work here has been a partnership - not just a couple of lone rangers fighting for Truth. We could not have been so successful without all of you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Now my teammate and I ask you all not to grow weary of doing the good that you have been doing, but to keep up the prayers. We are here for another 2 months, and we don't want anything to wreck the good foundation that has been laid here. And once we leave, if your heart is up to the task, remember this city still. Righteousness is longing to break free here, but it is not there yet. My teammate and I can feel the birthing pains of it, but the delivery is still some time off. This city needs you - remember that these are your brothers and sisters, too. You may not know them personally, but you know them by proxy. Please don't forget them. I commit to doing the same.

Thanks again.