It’s Time to Move

We were informed by our landlord that our rent would be increasing by 100 euro or about $140 per month. This caused us to begin looking for another place to live. We found a place by God’s grace within about 2 hours of starting to look.

The house is newer, with many upgrades from where we were. It has more space than the current one and we are the first to live in it. It was rebuilt 2 years ago and everything is new. The best part is we got it for the same price we are currently paying. Praise God for an upgrade without an increase in rent! We have been slowly moving our things and take occupancy on Oct.21.

SHIFT

We have been sensing a time of change is upon us. God is moving us to spend even more time with Him this winter and renew our strength and vision. As we have been moving toward this place, God is restoring some old relationships that were broken.  One teen-age girl, who had been coming to church, stopped when she started high school, due to peer pressure. She had given some weak excuse for not coming and we were sad but had to let her go. This past week we invited her to a special meeting sponsored by one of the other local churches. They had a team in from the U.K. and had advertised a healing time on Tuesday night. In talking with her uncle I learned she had been having a terrible time with asthma. I told him she needed to be there and he agreed. She came and at the end of the meeting they were praying for people who wanted a greater sensing of Holy Spirit in their life. The pastor said, “Those of you who are not from here but have come as missionaries go lay hands on those with their hands raised”. She was one nearest us so we prayed a very complex prayer, “come Holy Spirit”! We could feel Holy Spirit almost immediately. After, I asked her if she felt Holy Spirit and she said yes. I then asked if she had missed that in her life, knowing she had felt it before, and she said yes with tears in her eyes. She then asked the team for prayer for night terrors she had been having. Her mother had taken her to a Muslim holy man and he had given her a little idol to carry with her, and one for under her pillow for this fear that had gripped her so. I asked her how that was working for her and she said it had been three weeks and they were still as bad as ever. The team members, along with us, prayed against that spirit and advised her to get rid of those idols. She gave them to us and we burned them. The next time we saw her was Thursday evening. We took her to a youth night with the same team from the U.K. She looked very different; she was happy and seemed lighter. We asked her how she felt physically and she said she was much better. We asked about the night terrors and she said they were gone! Praise God! 

She shared with us that when she got to high school she didn't want to be the stupid girl who believed in Jesus as all her classmates had labeled her. She wanted someone to love her so she started doing the things the other, “popular” girls were doing. Going to Christian church was not one of them…remember, this is a Muslim land, they say. She realized that even though she was more popular, still no one loved her. She said she was tired of chasing after the approval of others and wanted to find her way back to Jesus. We told her the way and she prayed to Him and renewed her commitment right there. She has totally changed since she used to work with the children with Danielle. She was always shy and quiet, and now she is testifying and has a desire to work with a youth group. She told us today that she had a good teacher in Danielle and wants to help others like Danielle helped her. Praise God!

You never know the impact you have on a person’s life at the moment you are being God’s hands, but sooner or later we will see. Let this be an encouragement to you, if you are struggling to see the fruit of your labors - look up!

Sunday, 9-16-2012, Toni stopped by the house while Kath and I were out working in the yard. He complained of a headache and neck pain so we prayed right there in the front yard. His pain was gone and he went away smiling and praising God. An hour later Samir stopped by on his way home from a different church. We talked a little and he shared that he had stomach pain. We prayed, again in the front yard in the midst of garden work, and he was healed and happy. Praise God for His gift/ birthright to His children!

Sunday, 9-30-2012, I preached healing and gave testimonies of healings, at Eternity Church, which is another local church here in Gjakova. After service we laid hands on people, prayed and God did miracles. One young lady had knee and foot pain from an injury acquired playing soccer. After we prayed for her we asked her how does your knee feel now? She was so excited she could only cry. The pain was gone and she had freedom of movement. I tried to get her to testify before the people and she said, “I can’t talk”. She was so excited and amazed at Papa’s love she could hardly get out the testimony. Another older lady, pastor’s mom, we prayed for her spine. Three days later she said the pain was much better and only comes and goes. We will continue to pray. We prayed for 4 people including one 8 year old boy for fear issues and one woman for her upcoming test at University. No reports on those two.

10-08-2012 Fatimje hurt her shoulder two weeks prior while lifting her father, who was being ceremonially washed for burial. She was in continuous pain and could not lift her arm without severe pain. We prayed and anointed her with oil. We felt Holy Spirit very quickly. Holy Spirit knocked her to the floor. She got up completely healed. Praise God! This happened in our kitchen.

10-20-2012 Berati had hurt his back playing soccer. We prayed and released Holy Spirit and healing. He said his legs were very weak as he felt Holy Spirit come upon him. After he said his back was healed! Praise God!!!!!

Thank you for your ongoing support and prayers. You make it possible for us to be God’s hands and feet here. God Bless you!

Al and Kathi