Healing and Newness

It's been quite a long time since I last posted, and the past two weeks (almost) have been very eventful. I have been challenged mnentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Over the past weekend, the annual youth camp at Ape Kadella was held and more than one hundred youth from all over the nation attended. I was able to meet a wide variety of people, some could speak decent english, and others could not. It was a moving experience, to witness brothers and sisters from an entirely different culture come before Jesus and worship Him. The topic of the camp was focused on challenges the youth face, and emotional healing was emphasized. In Sri Lanka, many of the youth are looked down upon and as a result they often look in the wrong places to fill their need for acceptance.
The camp was intense and it was packed. There were multiple sessions each day, followed by group times and games. On thursday the game time included an obstacle course where we climbed a cocunut tree and grabbed on to a rope. We pulled ourselves along the rope and underneath waited a pond to swallow those who fellow in! Another highlight in the camp was observing and participating in the worship/song time. Apparently I dance well in Sri Lanka!

The camp culminated with the last sessions taking place on Sunday, wherein Adrian De Visser spoke about the power of healing and restoration found through Jesus Christ. There were about 40 in the camp who had yet to place their hope in Christ, and just about all of them went forward, indicating a desire to be healed in the power of Christ. Many of the youth in Sri Lanka have come from a Buddhist background.
At one point it became evident that one of the guys had been demonized. When pastor Adrian prayed for him, it was as if the demon inside shuddered in fear, the guy put his arms over his face and shrunk back. After some intense prayer, the teenager was delivered as he was able to speak freely the name of Jesus Christ. Please keep him in your prayers. I was excited at being able to make some friends through the camp, and certainly hope to keep in touch with them.
During this past week we have been painting and spending time with the boys and girls of Ape Kadella. It has been an incredible experience for me to see the joy that these kids have found in Christ, and the hope that they have discovered. At times, I have felt emotionally sick, thinking of the past lives many of these kids have lived through. Most of them have been sexually abused, and most of them are under the age of 10. I have found a verse that has been quite applicable to these kids and their experiences. In one of his letters, Paul writes that our present suffering and hardships canin no way compare with the future hope and riches laid up for those who have followed Christ. When I focus on how much transformation these kids have gone through in Christ, I find much joy. Pray for these kids.
This weekend we have traveled down south to Pastor Adrian's church. In a few minutes we will be going to a high school where Thillini's brother Prashan will be speaking. On Sunday we will be going to church.
Please continue to pray for the work of God's hands through His people here in Sri Lanka. Pray for our team. Most of us have been sick already, and one girl we had to take to the doctor, but she will be fine and is already feeling better. Pray for defence against the oppositions of the evil one. Pray that we would be filled with joy and that we would experience the full presence of God. Most of all, pray that we along with the Disciples of Christ in Sri Lanka would be glorifying God.