November 2010 Update

Dear Friends

Whew! What a time the past few weeks have been. This morning, after a teary goodbye, we got Elise’s parents Steve and Kathy VanSinderen off to the States after a three week visit. What a great time we had ministering together and watching God continue to display His power and character through our obedience. So much to share, where do we begin?

The day after they arrived we jumped in the car and headed down to Chikankata to show the Jesus Film to a group of 250 Tonga’s who had never hear the story of Jesus in their own language before. It was once again an amazing time. Elise and teammate Brent Roberts prayed for an elderly man who had sight problems in one eye……true to His nature God healed the man’s eye right before their eyes. The best part, as a father, was to watched as the kids (Macie, Emma, Patyon and friend Caleb), prayed for many who were healed instantly. Caleb had the quote of the trip as he told his Dad, fellow missionary Brent Roberts, “Dad God healed someone the first time we prayed for them” (a child-like faith is what He desire from each of us)!

We also had a chance to visit Chanaima Mental Hospital with Elise’s parents. Again, God showed up in an amazing way as we experience an immediate response to the presence of God (which we are carriers of) from many of the patients. Almost immediately a young woman approached Elise’s Dad Steve and began to manifest demonically. This situation resulted in the demon talking direction to Steve and telling him that it did not want to leave the woman. After commanding the demon to leave it asked to be sent into some animal in a nearby field (sound familiar) -- 32 And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. Matt 8:32 (KJV)

Later in the week we visited the Pediatrics Malnourishment Ward at the University Teaching Hospital. We went with two pastors from our Action Pastors College Joseph Zulu and Patson Sakala. We arrived with about 40 pounds of bananas as well as a desire to see the works of the devil destroyed. It was an emotional experience, as it always is, as we loved on children and parents who were being tormented by common illness such as chronic vomiting and diarrhea. As has happened before, we watched as a baby we had prayed for moments earlier passed away in front of our eyes. We have learned that if God is sovereign (which He is) then just as we are not the ones who get the glory when He heals an individual, we also are not the ones who have to carry the burden when He does not heal.

Also, we had a great time as a family enjoying the wildlife of Zambia at a camp called Kiambi about 2 hours south of Lusaka. It was so nice to get out of the city and swim, go on a couple of boat rides and roast marshmellows around the campfire. We were able to see many elephants, hippos, crocs, and lots of birds on our boat rides!!! Us men went fishing with the older kids and we all just enjoyed playing together after so many months of being apart! We are so thankful for my parents who blessed us with this nice vacation together!



Overall it was a great trip and we were so blessed and found a new level of intimacy ministering together as a family. The Christian walk is so much more exciting when what we see in the Bible starts to happen in everyday life. Remember there is nothing special about us or the geographical location of Zambia. What is happening here will happen wherever there are human beings filled with the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead. The model of Jesus Christ (His preaching, theology, and signs and miracles) are not some great story to be marveled at but rather the ultimate example of what a man or woman, completely surrendered to the leading of the Holy Spirit can accomplish for the Father’s Kingdom. Why, because the Word tells us that Jesus was completely a man empowered by the same Spirit -- 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Phil 2:5-8 (NLT)

Go Light Your World
The Whitfields <><