"Truly He Cares For Widows"

"I am an old woman, and I am a widow.

Before, I was all alone in this world. Even the two grandchildren I had are dead. I had many worries. Too many worries. I couldn't even sleep peacefully at night because of so many preoccupying thoughts. But, God made a way for me. He brought me to come work here with Iris Ministries.

Now, I have so many grandchildren. On every side, I see my grandchildren. I move to that side of the compound and I play with that grandchild. Then, I go and sit with another grandchild. If I'm thirsty, one of the grandchildren brings me a cup of water.

I'm so happy here. My worrying all stopped when I came here. I sleep in peace at night. I don't have any more demonic encounters, like I had before.

I'm not alone. I am so happy, and - you see - I am even growing fat and strong! The work is so good, and I thank God.

We shouldn't worry. I used to be full of worries before, but now I just want to look at Jesus.

God is good. Truly, He cares for the widows."

-"Grandma R", one of our precious YCV Mamas, shared first in Jennie-Joy's Weblog

Street Kids Church in Torit

Our journey east led us through a city called Torit. We were taken in by some sweet missionaries there and told of a yummy restaurant that served grilled chicken. A delicacy we definitely were ready for after 2 days of roadtripping across Sudan.

While sitting with some people, I noticed disheveled hungry looking boys about 6 years old to late teens hungrily watching us eat. The restaurant management started to throw rocks at them and others around us murmuring what a nuisance these boys are. I can't see hungry kids and NOT feed them, especially if I am eating a delicious plate of chicken.

Much to the chagrin of those around me, I got up bought out most of the bread and began to pass it out and hear some of their names and stories. On the way back through, we connected with a precious local pastor who grew up an orphan himself and conducted an outreach. 30 hungry lives ate not only natural bread but bread from heaven and gave their lives to follow Jesus. We will now be supporting this local leader's outreach to these precious ones Jesus gave everything for.

We heard some of their stories and just marveled at God already at work in their hearts and lives. These ones others treat as flies to be swatted away, will become the revival generation that sets a nation ablaze with the love of the Father. It is so important we always have eyes to see what God is doing, even in the interruptions that become opportunities for the invasion of heaven in our midst.

Witchcraft burned...

Deep in the Didinga hills, animism and witchcraft are the norm. Most would consider themselves "Christian" but yet have no idea of who Jesus is. Demonization is prevalent. Our team took a strong stance against the witchcraft in the area calling the people to renounce their adherence to fetishes and charms and visits to witch doctors for the all powerful love of God in Jesus. We burned piles of fetishes and saw many captives set free from the curses of the enemy they had invited unwittingly into their lives.

Here you can see happy children watching what had them bound literally burn in the fire... initially before the photo was taken there was even greenish smoke that came from the flames. Jesus has already defeated the enemy and He is still out to destroy the works of the devil today!

He can walk!

This dear man could not walk without the assistance of crutches because of a paralysis in both his legs. One more severe than the other. On our final outreach into the markets, our leading Iris Pastors with us prayed for him and he was completely healed and received Jesus, renouncing all witchcraft.

How Jesus loves to show us His tangible Presence and love! Especially in unreached areas like chukudum where so many are in bondage to the enemy, His power comes so strongly. God is God period and satan is not. End of story.

Praise Jesus for setting captive legs and hearts FREE!!!

These Can Now See!!!

Where we went in the Didinga hills in far eastern equatoria, blindness is rampant due to lack of health care and a spiritual atmosphere plagued with high witchcraft.

Jesus loves to open our eyes to see Him for who He is and He is still healing the blind. What does good news look like to those who cannot see? SIGHT!

This precious and very happy mama received healing for her eyes and we will be posting a video shortly we hope- internet speeds allowing.

This young boy in our Iris Dream-Vision Primary School in Kartema, a village in the mountains around our base in Chukudum had one eye that was completely blind from his earlies memory. It was little more than a small whitish something in the socket but almost completely closed.

We watched Jesus open his eye and the brown that was not there rolled around into place and he began following our fingers and telling us what He saw!

YAY God! You are so amazingly good and kind... all the glory goes to You! Jesus desires to open the eyes of these unreached people to see Him and be set free from fear and witchcraft. Pray for revival fire to consume Didinga hills!

Miracles of Love

We are having a crazy awesome time.... It is such a blessing to have Rolland here with us for a few days! It is pure joy to have him here. Our leaders are enjoying the richness and goodness of God poured out through his life and stories. So am I!!! I am so grateful for family in Jesus and to be part of such a precious movement in the earth in this hour.

So how's this for day one of our gathering? We had over 100 village kids show up today for the conference and stay for lunch unexpectedly... after we fed the leaders we had THIS much left before we started feeding the children who just showed up and kept on coming... seriously, right?

Well I cannot NOT feed hungry kids- unexpected or not. So I went over to the food, asked Papa to multiply it and invited every child to come on down for a yummy lunch.

Meanwhile unbeknownst to us 30 of our kids, including some of our younger children, decide to fast today praying for an outpouring. And THEY were the ones along with our staff leading the conference logistically and serving the meals.

So THIS little bit of food fed over 100 kids AND we had left overs! Just like the loaves and fishes! YAY God... We are still rejoicing at His great goodness!

How great is the Father's love He has lavished on us that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are. She was happy too- she got a delicious lunch!

Please pray with us for a continued outpouring of His love on all of us as we seek His face tomorrow all day long and pray for the nation here.

We are at a pivotal time here and in need of a spiritual army of pray-ers to arise that this nation may walk in the freedom only found in God's huge heart of love.

Freedom to the Captives

Last August, we held an outreach in an unreached village among the Mundari tribe. There was a man named Konga who came to the meeting. That man was known as a "mad man" who wandered the village. He was blind, often without clothes and out of his mind. And the whole village knew about him.

To us he was a blind man who needed healing. Our team began praying for his eyes as well as to discern his demonized state. His sight returned incrementally as we prayed. We continued to speak forth healing and command the deaf/dumb spirit to go.

The man stayed in our campground through the night as God ministered healing and deliverance to him. When we left the village, he was still going through deliverance. So, we continued praying for Konga, but didn't know what happened with him after we left.

Last week, we heard the news that he is healed and completely delivered in his right mind! Not only that, but the entire village gathered after they saw him delivered. The chief said, "If God can free this man, we know He is the real God, and we must respond to Him."

The entire village took action and destroyed their in-home stills where many families brewed local alcohol. Alcoholism has been a common stronghold in that area. One of our church planters is raising up a church in this village, and we look forward to sending our leaders there to continue to disciple this precious man now set free by the power of Jesus as well as the people of the area! Thank you Jesus for setting the captives free!