Dear Prayer Warriors, In our previous Blog I revealed to you some of the victories in our ministry here in Cameroon. We can add to this account the Sunday service where I was privileged to Baptize ten converts and then present the gospel in the Sunday morning service. (Rich Smith and Dan McCollum gave their testimonies). Many non-Christian friends came to see these baptisms and four more made a public profession of faith at the close of the service. satan though is striking back and this blog will give an account of his futile attacks.
I Peter 5:7 “casting all your anxieties on Him, for He cares for you.” Let me begin this report by emphasizing that it is by your prayers that we are sustained, empowered and protected from satan’s attacks while on the mission field. It is indeed a battle and we give as good as we get during our time here on earth. We have strength and encouragement in that we know the final end of this conflict. God the Holy Spirit reveals this to the Church in Revelation 20:10 “And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
This means we will experience ultimate victory – either through our death (if the Lord tarries) when we enter Heaven or we will see it played out should we be honored to be engaged in this battle when our Savior descends to call us home. For now, as we labor in the harvest fields of the world we exist between these two great events and we fight the good fight in the hopes of having the testimony of Paul in 2Timothy 4:6 & 7 “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering and the time of m departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.” Paul, through His communications with the Church, kept them actively aware of his spiritual battles that they might better pray. We too send you this report of satan’s attacks so that you will better know how to pray for us and defend us spiritually while in Cameroon.
satan’s attack and El’s quote – As I finished my third message before the lunch break in Kumbo I could feel a wave of nausea sweeping over me. I closed in prayer and then went and sat down as they made announcements to break for lunch. My head bowed, all but Eleanor thought I was praying, when in reality I had briefly passed out. She later told me that when she saw this she prayed, “satan, I know what this is about and you cannot have my husband!!! I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” The episode passed as Eleanor rehydrated me and I was able to lie down for about thirty minutes during lunch. We returned to our room briefly to change my shirt as it was soaking wet with sweat. More hydration and by the beginning of the afternoon and evening sessions I was able to finish my talk. Since then I have been fine, I praise God for a wife who will respond quickly in spiritual warfare when her husband is attacked.
El and my tummy – Eleanor and I have both been suffering from “travelers tummy”. During our time in Bamenda Eleanor’s case was so bad that she could not travel from our conference dorm to the Chapel for her workshops. She though invited the women (all pastor’s and minister’s wives) to join her in the lobby of the dorm which was close to a working toilet. From there she gave all her messages and talks the ladies. satan wanted to thwart her ministry but like the brave women of the Bible she stood her ground and delivered her message faithfully. Wrecks on the highway – During the 12 hour drive from Kaduna to Bamenda to Yaoundé we constantly passed burnt out and rusted wrecks on the road. We came upon two trucks, an 18 wheeler and two cars which had recently crashed just moments before our arrival. Drunk driving, those who fall asleep at the wheel, cars with brakes that do not work and drivers with no experience all combine to make a long trip in Cameroon a matter of constant prayer.
Torrential Rains and Road conditions – Giant potholes abounded along the way was did streams of water swirling across the roads. Some bridges were down to one lane and another, under construction was blocked and with makeshift lumber bridge across the rushing stream, which sagged and swayed as we inched our way across. Power outages – Always a problem in Africa have been made worse by the heavy rains. It is one of the reasons our communication with “the outside world” has been so limited. This blog will be posted when we have the magic combination of power and internet connections.
Our luggage – Although the Bible sand materials arrived in Cameroon with our Air France flight. None of our luggage arrived. In fact it was a full week before we had our four suitcases in hand. Eleanor never uttered a word of complaint as she spent her first week in Cameroon with nothing more than the clothes on her back and the small carry-on bag which contained only rudimentary toiletries. Laptop – When I arrived in Cameroon my laptop immediately froze up. In it were my messages and material needed for printing and handouts. After a day with an IT man in the ministry it was finally restored. The team also experienced attacks - Rich and Kathy Smith – Experienced a bizarre event for Oklahoma. An earthquake of all things damaged their house and this was followed by a heavy rainstorm which then leaked through the roof and blew through the window seals. In addition to this there as illness in their family and problems in their extended family. Rich’s passport did not arrive till the day before he and Kathy were to depart.
Dan McCollum – Dan’s laptop completely died the week he was to leave and was deemed unrepairable. You can imagine the inconvenience. I praise God that neither Eleanor nor the team members succumbed to satan’s attacks. No one ever questioned the call to Cameroon, either during pre-departure attacks nor our time here. I praise God for a wife and a team who count all problems as joy when compared to the incalculable privilege of preaching Jesus and teach God’s holy, eternal, inerrant written Word in the harvest fields of the world.
Having read this blog please pray as Paul requested in 2 Thessalonians 3:1 – 3 “Finally, brethren pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified just as it did also with you; and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.” As always, we rely upon your constant prayers to empower the preaching and teaching of God’s Holy, eternal, inerrant written Word. Thanks so much for your encouragement and support. By His mercy, II Corinthians 4:1 Rev. John S. Mahon – Director, Grace Community International, preaching Jesus and teaching God’s written Word in Cameroon.
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