Fighting a War with Prayer (Joshua)

Each new situation provides its own challenges. This experience is no different. After finally getting used to life at CLM Entre Rios, I have found the new change to going to CLM Turvo somewhat challenging. Though not as difficult as first getting to Brazil, Turvo has thrown some new things in my way. The first challenge that faced me was that Turvo is considered the witchcraft city of the state. There has apparently been a lot of demon activity in the past in the city as well as at the home here where we are staying. Things like moving furniture and strange sounds and seeing weird things and the place surrounded. We found some of these things out the afternoon that we arrived and to be frank, it scared me half to death. That night when the electricity went out killing the lights, I was really starting to lose my head. I have to coninually remind myself that God is in control and his angels are protecting me. However, this does not stop the fear that I experience. That was last Thursday night and I have found great comfort from God and the encouragement from others since that time. Last night the leadership of CLM (both Turvo and Entre Rios) had a night of prayer which Steven and I joined them for. The group prayed from around ten to three in the morning walking around the place and laying hands on each of the leaders. It was a powerful time. Though I do not understand what they were saying, I assume much of the prayers were about demon activity and spiritual warefare. It is interesting to me how blind we are in the states when it comes to spiritual battles. One thing Kevin commented on was about Satan's strategy for attack. Maybe the reason we do not see these things very much in the states is because why would Satan want to wake up a church in the US that is asleep. Let them feel that everything is going fine. Make them apathetic to the things that really matter; the things unseen. In some ways I think that Satan has a stronger hold on the US because we do not actually see these things. But, the reality is very real now that I have come to a place where things do happen. I don't know if I will see or hear anything or not but ultimately I know that God has power in this place and I can sleep peacefully at night because of that.