Barnabas (Outreach) Trust - Mission to Kenya

12th to 30th August 2010            Grace McIntyre and Pamela Holloway have been coming on Barnabas Trust missions for many years, and so have the Romanians Florenta and Lenuta.   Sunday 15th August   A very moving occasion was when Lenuta gave her testimony. She worked with orphans in Romania and had no money to travel. Yet God spoke to her and said she and Florenta would both come to Africa. She was in faith, and told her colleagues about it. They were moved to give sacrificially because they loved her so much. Several gave all their savings, and one mother of six gave half her earnings too - confident that God would still provide for her family.    The final miracle was catching a special flight via Amsterdam, just in time to meet us here. Hallelujah!   At the end Sean had us all repeat the prayer of submission to the Lord. Then all who had said it for the first time were invited to come forward and be welcomed as new Christians, belonging to Jesus. One man came forward, to applause.   Then all who were sick and wanted healing ministry were invited to line up on the right, while any who wanted a job were put on the left. To encourage these, Sean pointed out that one man they recently prayed for had received four job offers.   Tuesday 17th August   I give detail here of the door-to-door ministry, because it is typical.   Three parties were led in three different directions from the church:   A: Jec, Clive, Mike, Nashon B: Kelvin, Joyce, Ann, Grace C: Mrs Corigi, Florenta, Lenuta   A.   We visited: Phoebe, a Seventh Day Adventist; Virginia, whom Jec led to Jesus;   Pastor Luke. He wanted to marry a lady, and wanted prayer to justify his going ahead. Jec told him not to be spiritual about marriage: Go to her parents, then to his parents, then to Pastor Joseph and take his advice.   Jane, Luke's mother. Born again, but lacks fellowship. She gets out of breath - too heavy? Clive prayed for the Holy Spirit to come - and He did; she knew it and she was changed.   Jane's daughters Lucy and Grace had back-slidden. Clive again prayed for the Holy Spirit. They were brought to Recommitment by Jec. Lucy was told to hold on to her faith, and to read 2 Peter 3 with her mother. The difficulty is that she lives a long way away.   All were invited to a service tomorrow evening at the church, and on Sunday, and to the Women's meeting on Sunday week.   Jec will visit Jane tomorrow.   B.   No newly saved. C.   Three saved. One was the proprietress of a beauty salon, one a Kikuyu girl who escaped from a fire in a school chapel with only her sandals.                                                        17:30 Church meeting.   Florenta gave her testimony, on her first experience of the working of the Holy Spirit. "I went with a girl to a church that was new to me. At the end I received a prophesy. God spoke to me personally about my private affairs. (1 Cor 14:24,25 - an unbeliever hearing prophesy... the secrets of his heart will be laid bare). God is leading people to the holy Spirit."   "Then there was a girl who couldn't pray without getting a tummy ache. She needed deliverance. I prayed, the Holy Spirit came upon me. She was delivered that same day, and I was all for God."   Lenuta pleaded that we make a church of people, not of stone. We should get the church going as a spiritual machine that needs fuel just as a railway engine needs coal.   There are seven "tools" needed for the job -   1. Fervent prayer for everyone 2. Worship 3. Fervent love for everyone 4. Giving 5. Unity 6. Service 7. Spreading the Gospel   About ten came forward for ministry. A little lady in a shawl, Josephine Canini, pointed to her side and I placed my hand there for prayer. Her hernia had ruptured, and was churning away and writhing alarmingly. She was satisfied and shook hands at the end. Jec told me later that she was healed that day!   Then at the end Clive told me that his stomach was acutely uncomfortable, and getting worse all day, although there was no pain. I prayed for him and demanded the evil to leave him in Jesus' Name. A few minutes later he felt fine.   Thursday 19th August   We went out in the same directions as on Tuesday in three teams -   A: Jec, Henry, Pamela, Mike B: Florenta, Lenuta, Mrs Corigi C: Joyce, Ann, Nashon, Kelvin   Before starting out, Jec pointed out to Pam a lady, Jacqueline (or Jane), who complained of something moving around in her right ear and "speaking through her mouth"! After prayer for its removal she was satisfied. (She gave her life to Jesus the next Sunday).   B. A man had difficulty seeing the print of his Bible. After prayer his sight was restored - he could read more easily.   A. In the narrow streets:   Caroline, a headmistress, invited us into her school - one of her staff beckoned to us from the door. She was a shining example of someone trusting in God. There was no notice outside the school. She began with seven pupils; there were now 150.   She waited for years until God provided an office for her - a little space separated off by hardboard. Most of the staff were born again.   Friday 20th August   Open-air service. This comprised worship, loud music, my testimony (interpreted by Joyce), a drama played by local children from the church, and a typical harangue by Sean on the theme: Bring your troubles to the Cross of Jesus and start a new life, leave behind your sins and experience a Year of Jubilee.   Finally those who wanted healing ministry or a job were lined up (about a dozen). (Jec led six in the prayer of salvation.)   We lined up opposite them and church members stood behind to interpret. Grace and Clive were there. She prayed for Jacqueline (or Jane)'s knee, and the hearing in one ear, and they were healed. She had previously been told that she had healing hands.                                                               Saturday 21st August   Second open air meeting. Pam's testimony:   Her parents were into spiritism and tried to communicate with the dead. One spirit told her so much about her own life that she was very concerned. The spirits became a nuisance and Pam wanted to find out about God. At College she attended Christian Union meetings, and at a Christian Union conference she received the Holy Spirit and again was told all about her life through a Christian spiritual speaker. She, and soon afterwards her mother, became born again Christians.   About ten lined up for prayer ministry. Josephine Canini came again, and I prayed for the restoration of her whole body. Risper said she had a problem with her ear. A child in arms with wide rolling eyes was brought to me. I sensed an evil influence and commanded this to leave, binding it in Jesus' Name. Clive found a man standing alone. Jec came and said he had a nasal problem and could hardly breathe. After prayer his breathing was clear.    Sunday 22nd August   Florenta brought a most valuable word based on "Believe, and you will see" (John 11:40). Jesus is life, so his presence at Lazarus' tomb gave life to Lazarus whether or not the stone was rolled back. Neither the stone nor the smell affected the result - they were obstacles only in human minds.   She told of a man in Romania who was working in a field when he heard a voice telling him to go to a certain house where a lady was ill on the point of death. He said to himself he would test if this was from God by putting ten pieces of paper into a bag, five of them inscribed YES and five NO. If he shook the bag and the first five pieces he picked out were YES, then he would believe God.   He did this, they were YES, and the Holy Spirit descended on him. He went and knocked on the door, accompanied by another person. The Glory came. The lady was lifted from her bed by the Holy Spirit, went around for half an hour prophesying, and was healed.    Tuesday 24th August   Afternoon door-to-door at Bokole. Teams:   A: Nashon, Steve, Ann, Pamela, Grace B: Mrs Corigi, Florenta, Lenuta            C: Jec, Clive, Mike                                C. We visited Jane and will come again on Thurs 26th.   Jec had a long chat with her that revealed a family steeped in sin, practising witchcraft and suffering from curses. Only Jane, a born-again Christian, seemed normal. She had just been to the doctor, who said she had asthma and high blood pressure. Jec said the witchcraft seemed profitable at first, but later worked its way back around and harmed both the user and his family. Some of her family had children but no husbands. One man was a total alcoholic. One sold hard drugs like heroin. Her husband was diabetic, untreated and had one leg amputated. It was hard to know how to help her. Then Clive became convinced that we were here to release her from bondage to a curse. With her permission he proceeded to call on the Holy Spirit to fill her, and to encourage her to expel the spirit of asthma, shouting with her and Jec "Out! Out! Out!". She shook, moved as if to vomit, then after a while said she felt better. Clive had her stand up and take a few deep breaths. She went out to buy a small bottle of oil, with which Clive anointed her forehead with a cross.    Wednesday 25th August   At the "revival" meeting tonight Pamela told of her experiences of revival:      In 1953 she attended a conference addressed by Pastor Roland Brown. As soon as he entered the room the presence of God was "tangible". Everyone gasped and Pam was overwhelmed. People were getting healed by just being there, and chatting about it at the following meeting.    The second experience was in 1981. She met the speaker Roy Harris, who was very excited - he told them he had had an experience of God as if at revival. She felt as if a bolt of lightning had passed right through her from top to bottom. For about a fortnight afterwards she experienced God with her, as real as any person.   Sean gave a sermon on Fear, which he said was the main problem for Kenyans. It began in the Garden of Eden with disobedience. Adam and Eve were naked, afraid of God's punishment, and sent out of his protection. They were afraid of death. Cain was afraid of Abel. Fear of man began.   Fear of God, as an awesome holy being, respected for His love and omnipotence, is a positive thing. Since God is love, and love drives out fear, the cure for other kinds of fear is to be filled with God in the form of the Holy Spirit.   We ended by filling all who came forward with the Holy Spirit.   A happy time of dancing and praising God followed, in which blessings were showered around by raising arms and waving them at people, saying "Bariki!". (Incidentally, the American President is called Barak - could it mean "Blessed"?)   Thursday 26th August   Last door-to-door in Bokole. Teams were -   A: Clive, Jec, Mike, Pam, Henry B: Joyce, Ann, Florenta, Lenuta, George   A. We visited Jane. She smiled as we came in - Clive had been waiting to see this. Her asthma and high blood pressure had gone - she was breathing freely.   Sunday 29th August   I gave my testimony of working with God to heal Helen's sight at Entapipi in Maasai land in 2008. I was with Clive and Pam. After two failed attempts at healing I was inspired to climb up behind her and lean over her back to gently touch her eyelids with two fingers. She could then see. She agreed to give her testimony to the church next day, and did so, with interpretation from Maa to Swahili to English. The sight defect was from birth. When it was restored it was like a mist being drawn aside.   (I forgot to say that over the following weeks people who knew her came to the church to see this result.)   Ann's testimony was based on 1 Samuel 1, the story of Hannah.   Hannah was teased by her sister for years for being barren. In great anguish and grief she prayed to the LORD and vowed that if he would give her a son she would give him to the LORD for all the days of his life.  When Clive was planning his first trip to Romania, Ann prayed desperately to be able to accompany him. She felt called. She read Proverbs 3:5,6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." At the last moment both she and Grace could go.   We thanked God for safe travel and a successful Mission - 27 brought to the Lord (3x3x3) and many healed.

Mission to Romania

Tuesday 26th May   Visited the old people's home in Rosiorii. Welcomed by old Georgita (Lenuta's aunt). Angus read the 23rd Psalm to the assembled ladies and emphasised how God loves us all.   We divided into three teams to visit various rooms: I went with Ann and James. There were two ladies in the first room - one blind with cataracts and the other totally deaf. Both were called Flora. We prayed for each, then both together holding hands. Ann prayed for unity of spirit in the home, absence of antagonism, and for God's love to reign.   In the men's ward there were three men, all of whom I remembered. All were said to be Orthodox, but all were most affectionate Christians.   One, aged 88, clutched my arm for a long time; he did not have his own bible, but relied on his neighbour to read to him. The neighbour, aged 90, had beetle brows just like the actor Alaister Sim.   Our plans are curtailed for lack of interpreters. Door-to-door in Vacaresti is not possible. The men's meeting tonight is a problem.   After lunch Viorel and Oti ferried us to Vacaresti in their ancient cars (one with neither handbrake nor windscreen wipers!). To a congregation of four we sang "Be Still" and "Give thanks with a grateful heart". Angus gave a heartfelt address on Jesus' love for each one of us, and the need for us to spread it to others.  Four old ladies came forward for prayer, blocking the aisle. The last one crawled on hands and knees and lay face down - I could hardly reach her. I prayed a general prayer for healing and blessing. Then she struggled up and thanked me, and Pamela gave her version of a prayer for healing (by which time Florenta had told us that she had many health problems including painful legs and heart trouble). The aisle was too narrow - we should have had them come forward first.    Back at Rosiorii the men's meeting attracted four men. With Oti's help, Clive began to explain trust between people, preparatory to discussing faith, which was a (spiritual) gift from God. He was in mid-sentence when a man burst in and proceeded to talk at length about his journey, his family (with photos) and goodness knows what else. He finally turned away and was about to exit the small door when Clive said "What is your name?" "Marco", then asked him what he was looking for - he had come for a reason. His appearance was not just a coincidence - we were discussing faith. He wanted to go to the station, so Viorel escorted him, and learned that he and his wife had been evangelical preachers in 1977. His full name was Emil Marco.  Clive checked Heb 13:2 "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it".   That explained Clive's prolonged patience with the interruption.                                                                                   Wednesday 27th May   Packing for tomorrow.   Tea with Viorel, Mihaila and Oti.  Presents given: a new computer chair for Oti, a pack of 100 toy cars for a little boy to whom Clive had promised some last year.   At the evening church meeting a brass and silver band from the USA played some traditional tunes at high volume. We sang "Here is love" and "Amazing Grace", the latter drowned out by the band.    Clive spoke on three stages in our life, illustrated by Joseph (Genesis 37 etc). We each have to visit the Pit, the Prison and the Palace. God gave Joseph a dream that was only fulfilled in the very long term. As a young man of 17 he was beginning to learn the first of four lessons - 1) Humility, 2) Serving not by his choice, 3) Grace, 4) Prophesy. His brothers hated him for the dreams and his father's favouritism - the multicoloured coat - and plotted to kill him. He was sold into slavery (Gen 39). Where was God now? He learned to serve, and prospered.   Gen 39:21 - although Potiphar's wife accused him falsely, God was with him. He was in prison. He interpreted the dreams of his fellow prisoners, and after two long years (when he was 30) the cupbearer told Pharaoh and he was promoted to being in charge of the whole of Egypt, living in a palace.  Do you realise that God has a plan for you?  Tonight he has touched each of you. We are part of his greater plan, in which our testimony is important.   At the Agapé meal in the church afterwards the fellowship was tangible. Aurel (the chief of police) was there with his wife. When operated on to sort out his bladder/kidney problems he got an infection and was hospitalized; he came out in time to come to church. He has refused all medication, radiation and other treatment - his healing has been entirely the work of Jesus. The infection was checked today and he is now fully clear.                                                                               Thursday 28th May   Flight BA887 to London Heathrow.     Prayers of thanks for a safe journey and successful mission.

Barnabas (Outreach) Trust - Mission to Romania

Sunday 24th May   Baptist church. Prayers, introductions, songs by us and by a girls choir.   A virtuoso performance by Tibi at a keyboard and his wife Adriana singing. James played his saxophone.  Clive spoke on Rom 12:2, Cor 3:12-4:7 and 2Pet 3:14. He left us with four questions to take away:    1.   Do I really want to change, or am I content to remain as I am?  2.   How important is it for me to be like Jesus?  3.   What needs changing in me? Will I settle for anything less than Christ being formed in me?  4.   What steps am I willing to take, and going to take, to achieve this?   Angus Drummond Evening service. Angus Drummond spoke on the Father's Love. The key verse is Zephaniah 3:17. He handed round a paper heart to each member of the congregation, marked "ISUS TE IUBESTE" (Jesus loves you). We sang "Amazing Grace" accompanied by James' saxophone. At the end the team offered prayer service at the foot of the steps. A young man wanted prayer for the health of his mother, brother and sister. A young lady had a pain in her left hip, two years after a surgical operation. Pamela laid a hand on it and I on hers while she prayed.   I prayed for a man with diabetes.   An inmate of a local hospital who had fallen off a chair and had mental problems and dizzy spells came to Clive for prayer. Florenta was convinced he was "possessed". They tried unsuccessfully to drive it out, then she called to me for help. He needed a shave, was perspiring all over his face, and was less than coherent in speech. I prayed for healing. Clive asked if he wanted to call Jesus into his life.   He did, so I led him in a simplified wording of the prayer of salvation. He found it hard to remember many words at a time, but finished the prayer. Ann recognized a big man in a red coat who brought a man to church. The latter was led by her and Angus to give his life to the Lord.                                                                                          Monday 25th May   Teams for door-to-door in Balaçi (Balatch): A      Clive, Mike, Wendy, Florenta, Viorel B      Margaret, Grace, Ann C      Angus, James, Pamela   Viorel led Team A a long way north along the main road. Clive said he always does this, and never works the side roads. We found an old unshaven man (Marin) standing at his gate holding a stick. He was alone and had pains in his legs. Clive had him sit down on a bench. I told him about Jesus' offer of life eternal. Would be like me to lead him in a prayer to invite Jesus into his life? Yes he would. And did!   His neighbour then rushed up in a great state of excitement, to "protect" the poor fellow from this harassment, and chased us away, pulling Marin back into his gate. Then we met the mayor, who crossed the road to meet Viorel and had a long chat, Viorel doing his job of keeping in touch with the people. Prayers by Ann's team in Balatch for an old lady   After lunch. The same groups. Viorel drove us to the home of Annika, an old Christian lady (90 in August) whose husband had died suddenly of heart trouble 17 years ago. He kept bees. They sold honey for a living. She kept the business going with the help of two of her four sons. Her greatest wish had been that one of her sons would come to Christ - and now two had done so.   Old lady with girl in yellow Her husband had been known for his integrity. Government agents had tricked him into illegal acts when he served as a kind of banker for the state, but he refused and quit. She described how any godlike behaviour used to be persecuted - an agent sat in at committee meetings to observe and report on such behaviour, whether by Christians or others. We felt that Balaçi was still depressed - people visited less and did not talk on the streets as before. As we left Annika's, nightingales were singing behind the house (at 4pm) and a golden oriole called from the top of a walnut tree.   At the church meeting we were encouraged to see so many of those we met this morning turn up for the service. A lady born with only one leg was helped here by another whom she barely knew.   Mariana and Tibi brought their keyboard and sang. (Later, Clive and I prayed for her maxillary glands and his nasal polyps which had been surgically removed and had regrown.   Also for their marriage - she is only 19). Clive spoke again on our need to become more Christ-like and to tell others about Jesus (2Cor 3:12 to 4:7).   "Ministry time" produced no response - people chatted together but none came forward for prayer. Such is the fear lingering among newcomers.   Ann reported one reconversion.

Barnabas (Outreach) Trust - Mission to Romania

We are: Clive, Ann and Grace (14) McIntyre, Pamela Holloway, Mike Woodger, Angus and Margaret Drummond, Wendy and James (15) Fraser.   Interpretation provided by Florenta Vilau ("Florentsa"), Lenuta Vintila and Mariana.   Friday 22nd May   Rosiorii-de-Vede. Motel Continental.   Met by our host, Pastor Viorel Trasca ("Trashka") of the Baptist Church.   Saturday 23rd May   Door-to-door visits in three teams: A      Clive, James, Margaret with Florenta interpreting B      Ann, Wendy, Angus with Lenuta C      Mike, Pamela, Grace with Mariana   Team C visited Adriana, near the home of Lenuta's mum. She remembered us. She was a good Christian, and spoke of the Lord's blessing in sending us here. Her son Sorin came in; he works in a factory that makes beer. He is not "saved".   Mike Woodger I gave my testimony:   When my wife Peggy was dying of dementia, and had hardly spoken a word for months, she suddenly said "Do you believe in Christ?". Neither her family nor mine had any relationship with Jesus, so I was shocked. I could not hurt her. I could not tell a lie. Yet I said "Yes Darling I do. Do You?". And she replied "Yes". This meant nothing to me at the time, but I put it in my diary. Later I knew that I was being offered eternal life in Christ and had freely chosen Him. I was saved, and so was Peggy. I was baptised in 2000, met Clive in 2001 and went on mission to Kenya.    I told Sorin that during my 86 years I had found it was hard doing anything in my own strength, but later when I asked for help from God it was easier. If we follow the plan that God has for each one of us we find they are "plans to prosper us and not to harm us" (Jeremiah 29:11).   I said his relationship with Jesus was the first concern, not the church. He said his mother prayed for him. I said, when you are quiet and alone, tell Jesus you know that He died to take away your sins, and ask Him into your life.        When Lenuta heard later that Sorin did not just walk away (as he always used to when a stranger appeared) she said it was "enormous".   Team A prayed for about ten people. One was for a man who had had a heart attack two years ago, began to recover, had a fall twelve months ago, and had not walked since then. He and his wife were Seventh Day Adventists. She regretted not doing more "for the Kingdom". Clive prayed that she would look forward, not back, quoting Luke 9:62. (On Tuesday Clive heard that this man was now walking and exercising more and more. Praise the Lord!) Sfintesti (Sfintsesht). Same groups as this morning. Clive and Ann McIntyre   Team C. Southern entrance road. We found many cars being attended to by a group of men. I went up to the first two and asked if they knew Jesus. They were unsure, but listened politely. I asked if they knew where they would go if they died tomorrow. One said "in the cemetery". I said they could have eternal life, free. Finally they agreed to come to the meeting at the church later.   Four old ladies were sitting in the shade on a bench - it was very hot (31° had been forecast) with quite a wind. They were happy that God had blessed them by sending us. We passed a stork on its nest, and were at a road junction wondering what to do next, when I spotted a young man attending to his car at the side of a road. I told him we had come here to encourage people to get to know Jesus, and explained that I could pray for him now if he wished. After some discussion he agreed to come to church, and also to repeat the prayer of salvation! His name is Dan.    Team B met three old ladies on a bench and one by a tree. Maria had cataracts in both eyes, and blindness due to glaucoma from diabetes. She could barely see Lenuta in front of her. They prayed, and she could see better. Her legs shook so much that she could hardly stand.   After prayer she stood up. She was seen later at the church meeting.    Songs were sung and a drama was performed. Jesus was played by James, Zacchaeus by Grace and the tree by Angus.   Team A (Clive) prayed for a blind woman, without immediate result.   More to follow soon!