A passionate praise

Dear Friends,

The woman who washed Jesus' feet with her tears understood what it meant to be forgiven and delivered. While others, more religious, looked down on her emotional outburst and extravagant anointing, Jesus praised her and said what she did would be remembered. All the stories below are testimonies of women who really understand what it means to be forgiven and their heartfelt worship is not only memorable but inspiring. Please pray for these women and their families as they grow in the knowledge of God that they never lose their ability to give their heartfelt worship to God.

A Crown of Beauty

One of our women was in a desperate state after a family dispute. She was so distraught that suicide was not unthinkable. She came in for prayer and after some confession and spiritual warfare, we watched as the Holy Spirit ministered to her brokenness. It was beautiful to watch the transformation taking place on her expression. When she opened her eyes she exclaimed, "Jesus came to me! We talked for a long time. He took me on a white horse and placed a crown on my head. I sang to him and he sang with me." The issue that had so depressed her was lifted from her. She had experienced God's healing and his grace. She had hope for her future and a new identity in Christ.

Heart of Worship

The last weekend of October was the first retreat for the NightLight church "Send the Light." There were over 50 of us who headed to the beach for a weekend focusing on worship. There were games, good teaching, fellowship and wonderful worship times. On Saturday night, the Holy Spirit surprised us during the worship. After a time of heart-filled worship there was a powerful moment of silence in which everyone was down on their knees. In that moment two women began wailing. Before long others joined in the crying and weeping. Soon the whole room was down on their knees crying out to God. The Holy Spirit was moving and there was repentance and deep healing taking place.

The Thai pastor who was scheduled to give the message was handed the microphone. He got up, took his guitar, and began to sing over the women. The worship continued followed by prayers and prophetic words. He never did give the message he had planned that night. The Holy Spirit had led the way and he followed the Spirit. It was such a powerful time. These women, followed by the rest of us, allowed God to move and the presence of the Spirit was unforgettable. One young woman had been in a prison of fear because of her experiences of torment by evil spirits. They had acted out every time we came to worship and I would take her out when she began to wail. On this night, her wailing was joined by others and healing took place delivering her from that fear. 

On Sunday morning soon after sunrise we headed to the beach for the baptism. Four women and one man were baptized in the ocean. The mentors of each had prepared garlands to place on them when they came out. Again there were tears. One of the women had been a Muslim and the night before had been warned in a dream not to get baptized. Another one had gone through a couple weeks of intense deliverance ministry and faced spiritual opposition up until the baptism. The tears expressed their deep awareness of freedom through new life in Christ.

Abducted Child Rescued

Little First lives with his paternal grandmother who works at NightLight. His parents are too young and not able to handle the responsibility. First has been attending the child care center and learning to love Jesus like his 45-year-old grandmother. A few weeks ago around his third birthday, his maternal grandmother showed up. She said she would take him to the nearby shop to buy something and be right back. She never returned. Days went by and there was no contact. "R" who works at NightLight was so distraught. She was unable to sleep or eat. Finally, the maternal grandmother was contacted, and shesaid she would be returned at the end of the month. The end of the month came and went and still First was missing.

Everyone at NightLight was praying for "R" and for First. A plan was made to go to the mother's hometown up north and try to get him back. "R" and her son, the boy's father, took the night bus. When they got to the town it was 3 am and cold. They got a hotel room to wait for morning but "R" couldn't sleep she was so nervous so she spent her time praying.

At 8 am she says she sensed God telling her to go now. She prayed for a kind and sensitive driver to hire. After hearing the story, the driver committed to helping them. They arrived at the maternal grandmother's house, and since it was still early, First was still asleep. The maternal grandmother was furious and began to lash out angrily. Then the maternal grandfather came out and apologized to "R" that his daughter had abandoned her child and that his wife had then abducted him. The other relatives came and scolded the maternal grandmother telling her to let the child go back since he had been crying continuously for his grandmother. Apparently she had been hitting him because he wouldn't stop crying for his grandma. She had to let him go but she asked to go for the ride to the bus stop. "R" graciously agreed. On the way, the driver understood what she was saying in the northern dialect and realized she was trying to arrange for someone to help her re-abduct the child before they got on the bus. The driver stopped the truck and made her get out. Then he drove them to the train station, helped them get tickets on the train and waited to see them off.

We were all thrilled and praising God to see First returned to us. It was wonderful to see "R"s faith grow and for her to see God answer her prayers. She cried when she expressed her gratitude to all of us for our support. She said she has never had this kind of support before and had the strength to go forward because of all the encouragement. 

Praise and Prayers

It has been a busy, memorable month and we are so grateful for your prayers. Sometimes the battles can feel overwhelming but your prayers and encouragement sustain us. We know that so much of the fruit we have the privilege of seeing firsthand comes about so frequently because so many of you are faithful in prayer. We hope that you are encouraged when you read the stories and are inspired to continue praying and supporting.

Praise:

Praise God for a wonderful retreat and the baptism of four women and one man!

Praise God for the safe return of little First to his grandmother and to us.

Praise God for more deliverances and healings that have taken place this past month.

Praise God for our new building and the expansion of space.

Praise God for the three women from Turkmenistan and Tajikistan who came to be with us and minister to the women trafficked from Central Asia.

Prayer Requests:

Pray for the purchase of the second building the end of November. There is still time for donations to come in.

Pray for an increase of jewelry orders for the Christmas season.

Our funding for the volunteer housing, shelter, children's center and church facilities runs out in December. Pray for grants to make it possible to rent the two buildings this next year.

Pray for divine strategies with the women from Central Asia for continuation of what was begun. It is very difficult for them to do this kind of ministry in their countries but very much needed.

Pray for the women trafficked from Uganda and East Africa. One of them is the granddaughter of a pastor and most of the women are Christian. One woman called after me to pray for her. I went back to pray and asked her how I should pray. She said for peace and happiness. I said, "That must be very difficult with this work." She answered me, "Every morning when I see the sun come up, I pray to God, 'Please stop this work! Why do I have to sell my body" I found out later that her parents had been murdered when she was a child. Pray for solutions, networks, resources, and divine strategies.

Pray for "P" who had the beautiful encounter with Christ that she will continue to grow in freedom even though her boyfriend abandoned her.

Pray for First that he will be healed of any of the trauma he went through.

Pray for the new believers at NightLight. Too often, they go through spiritual attacks that discourage them. Sometimes other women who are not believers say things to discourage them or cause them to fear. Pray for the women who are stirring up such divisions and fear that they too will know the freedom on new life in Christ.

Pray for "M" who returned, accepted Christ, was delivered of a spirit of fear, but for some reason has been unable to come to work. She is young and vulnerable and "kept" by a married Thai man.

Pray for Rebecca, a volunteer who has the national 6th grade exam on November 29th.

Pray for the visas to come through for the volunteers as needed.

We thank you so much for the prayers and support. Next week is Thanksgiving for those in the US and so we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. Whatever country you live in we pray that your hearts will be filled with gratitude for all that God is doing. We are grateful and pray God's blessing on you.

Sincerely,

Annie Dieselberg

NightLight