Read and think about Luke 4:31-37.
News of Jesus has started to spread through the countryside. His words are spoken with authority, and people are amazed. Many still aren't sure who He is, but people are starting to pay attention, especially Satan and his demons. They know that this man is the start of something big -- something that threatens all of their destructive purposes.The demon can't sit still any longer, as the powerful, life-giving words of Jesus' teaching in the temple burn his ears. With calm force in His voice, Jesus takes care of the situation, commanding the demon to come out. This temple scene is just the beginning of God's demonstration of complete power and victory over Satan, sin, and death.
What are some areas that you are starting to see the enemy's influence this week?
Increasing headaches, and a bit of tiredness in the group.
What do you think your response should be to the evil you see around you?
"Resist the devil and he will flee from you." I wiill stay focused on God and will not allow a foothold.
Read Ephesians 6:10-18. Spend some time praising God for His victory over the enemy. Ask Him to help you stand strong against the plans of the enemy.
Today we were all tired, but overall it was an easy day. We didn't do any work because it's Sunday. We went to church and, let me tell you, you haven't seen anything like a Jamaican church. Think "Southern Baptist" times 3. The church was just a plain building with one big room, but they still had a sound system, drums, and a keyboard. Personally I don't think they needed a sound system, because they were LOUD. The music was amazing though. It drove me to tears. Quite indescribable. The sermon's another matter. The pastor was yelling so loud that I swear you could've heard him a mile away without him wearing a microphone (and he DID wear one, so you can imagine). I found one of the congregation members humorous. The pastor wouldn't even be making a point and this guy would start exclaiming things ("I wore green pants yesterday." "Amen! Yes, Lord!"). The service was 3 hours long. I was definitely not used to that. So it was pretty great anyway.
We're here with 2 other missionary groups. One is a group of 17 from Georgia and another's a group of 5 from New York. We're getting along fairly well, I think. Or at least I am. I think some of my teammates are having some tension with the Georgians.
We drove to a town called Bessie Baker (haha), which is where we will do construction work and VBS (vacation Bible school). Now, I thought I'd seen poverty before. I'd been through Mississippi and Louisiana before and their houses and towns are really junky. But those aren't Jamaica. These people basically live in old metal shacks with a bunch of holes in them. Fortunately there's not much winter in Jamaica so they're not cold, but still. Children have to grow up in this. They probably don't know how much better it could be, like what Americans have. I'm going to feel so weird when I get back home. I'm living in a college dorm for the week and it's not...well, ideal (the floor is covered in fire ants, the walls are crawling with cockroaches, the toilets won't flush, our "showers" are ice water coming out of a pipe, no air conditioning, and we live with a couple lizards we named Fred and Bob). But I've grown to adapt. I have to.
It's just strange, cuz everyone pictures Jamaica to be this beautiful tropical paradise, and it is on the outskirts. But you go inland and it's so incredibly poor.
Anyway...tomorrow's gonna be big!
TRIP UPDATE
What was the weather like today? Actually pretty cool and not too humid.
What is the local currency worth compared to the U.S. dollar? 1 American dollar = $61.50 Jamaican dollars
What was the best part about today? The church music.
What was the hardest? Sitting through 3 hours of church service, and not being able to work.
What words have you learned in the local language? Jamaicans pretty much speak English.
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