Spiritual Warfare

Hello friends and family! I know it has been a minute since I have posted -- this summer has been filled with lots of amazing God moments!

I am now gearing up for a trip to the Middle East. Our team leaves in less than two weeks!! And I really need your help through prayer over the next few weeks. I think I have begun to notice a pattern of spiritual attacks getting stronger the closer I get to an event. The first time I was able to make the connection was preaching at Children’s camp earlier this year — I have never been more defeated and downtrodden before in my entire life, but I also haven't felt as used by God in such powerful ways before! I will boast in my weakness, for when I am weak, then I am strong. I think I understand a little bit better what Paul is talking about in that passage.

Back to the Middle East: I am definitely feeling attacked spiritually again as we get closer. And it seems like other team members (both US based and our national partners) are feeling the same. And what do you do for spiritual warfare? You fight it spiritually. So I am leaning on all of my prayer warriors and asking that you pray hard for me, my team members, this trip, and the people we will be serving. God is already doing incredible things in the Middle East and for a short period, I get to be a part of it! But Satan has a huge foothold in that part of the world: 99% are Muslim and almost all of them have never heard the name of Jesus before. And I'm sure hell wants to keep it that way.

Medicine provides a way to change that. Just like Jesus' healing provided a way to those people's hearts. I fully believe that God will use the short-term clinic for His plan. I also believe that Satan will do everything in his power to stop it.

If you think of me over the next few weeks, please intercede on my behalf in prayer. Some specific things that would be helpful would be:

• Pray that border entry is smooth with no problems

• Pray for the safety of our national partners

• Pray for the physical health of our team

• Pray for the spiritual protection of our team

• Pray that we may not be discouraged by the schemes of the devil

• Pray that God's will be done

Thank you so much for your continued support — I cannot imagine my life without all of the people who have come around me. I thank God for you all.

Blessings,

Shawna