the ayars affairs

and then today she died.

Yesterday afternoon, a group of 8 headed back to Konpech, finding Irene back in bed again and doing poorly.  They prayed for her for a long time, being fully aware that and feeling the weight that her healing wasn't first on His mind...SHE was.

Matt came home and said, "God wants those people as His own.  This is going to take a LONG time.  They are deeply rooted in something I'm just beginning to better understand, and that something is deeply rooted in FEAR.  God has a plan for Konpech.  It's going to take time and all of our dedication and patience to preaching the Word and being in prayer."

Irene died this morning, and the community of Konpech, and Saccanville, is swimming.

Junior is concerned that the door may be closed, that the community will no longer be open to even seeing him or the other students, will be nervous to even let them enter the village.

There are a dozen theories, lots of talk, lots of slander against our God, and I have to admit to feeling heavy.

Keeping our thoughts captive to Christ is not always the easy, emotional response, is it?

But this is why her death, what people are saying, and what tomorrow holds cannot be allowed to shake us, can not be allowed to cause any fear, any doubt.  This is what I know for sure:

The children of Konpech are desired by Him.   He has a plan for their pursuit, and His plan is better than ours.  Perfect, in fact.  I don't know what that is.  God has clearly brought the Emmaus community to Konpech at this time, and God also knew well that Irene would be brought to her feet Thursday and that she would die today.  I know that God will use and redeem each so-called victory and each so-called defeat.  And I know, I know His plan will not be defeated.

More than He wants our healing, our happiness, our peace or our joy...He wants US.  And He's pursuing and waiting for us for as long as it takes.  He was in it for the long run for Matt, and for me.  He's in it for the long run for Konpech.  And we don't plan on quitting a moment before He does.

Thank you for your continued prayers, especially tomorrow as Matt, Junior, Lynton and maybe a few others approach the village with the next step in the history of His plan.