Do You Ever Think About Death?
Do You Ever Think About Death?
My roommate asked me as she started recounting all her fears of hell and the lack of hope that she’ll ever make it to heaven. I shared the hope and 100% guarantee that Jesus affords. That not only am I not scared of death, but it actually gives me hope when life is hard that soon and very soon I am going to the place Jesus prepares for me. Pray God will speak to her and deliver her from all her very valid fears with the hope of a Savior who can and will save all who just look to Him.
I went to a village where I got to see the farmers processing sugar cane into gur- a hard, brown sugar like molasses ball served as a sweet with tea. (Picture above)
While I was there I had terrible allergies, and I took medicine for it but that gave me a headache, and when I visited one home they told an ancient grandma there that I wasn’t feeling well. They started discussing, and unfortunately for my Pashto learning journey “nazr” (opinion, idea) and “naazr” (the evil eye, curse that comes from jealousy or mentioning someone is beautiful) sound similar enough that I thought they were saying my head was hurting from overthinking, but they were saying someone put the evil eye on me. They told me to sit by the old lady, which, unawares due to the word confusion, I did. Most old people mumble prayers under their breath when they hear something bad, so that’s what I thought she was doing. But she got louder and started reciting the Quran and blowing on me for a solid twenty minutes. Then I realized it was “dum”, a cure for naazr (evil eye, not nazr) by spiritual incantations and Quranic verses. Then I was mad.
At the end they told me to shake my head so the curse would lift, which I refused to. I explained to them that I was upset that she had done that because it’s haram (forbidden) and a big sin, same like black magic, to me. They tried to smooth it over saying that they were only concerned I had the evil eye from everyone being so happy about me speaking Pashto and that I’m beautiful. To which I replied that to those who have the name of Jesus, the evil eye, demons, and black magic cannot come on them because Jesus is the highest name that evil spirits are subject to and I have His blood to cover me. I also explained that since they don’t have the name of Jesus they are not protected from such things. Praise God for an odd but open way to share the gospel- pray that seeds will take root.
So besides the run in with grandma, I had a great time and enjoyed meeting with so many people and enjoying village life out in the farmlands. Pray for this family who always welcome me and open many doors for me for gospel conversations.
Pray for the older sister, “Sana”, who is oppressed by evil spirits who are reportedly Hindu. I was chatting with her mom over tea and she was saying how difficult it was for her older daughter after she married and moved into her husband’s house because his relatives had used black magic to send the Hindu demons into her. Her mom told me that an imam had bound the spirits so they are keeping quiet now and not manifesting, but they are still there and she is still suffering. Pray she is set free in the name of Jesus.
Thank God the relationships built with my hostel and college friends are deepening and opening up to opportunities for the gospel.
Pray for seeds sown to be watered and grown and produce a harvest of righteousness unto God! Pray that God sends more workers into the harvest field.
Thank you for praying ?
Kendall Freeman
DEC 6th 2024
My roommate asked me as she started recounting all her fears of hell and the lack of hope that she’ll ever make it to heaven. I shared the hope and 100% guarantee that Jesus affords. That not only am I not scared of death, but it actually gives me hope when life is hard that soon and very soon I am going to the place Jesus prepares for me. Pray God will speak to her and deliver her from all her very valid fears with the hope of a Savior who can and will save all who just look to Him.
I went to a village where I got to see the farmers processing sugar cane into gur- a hard, brown sugar like molasses ball served as a sweet with tea. (Picture above)
While I was there I had terrible allergies, and I took medicine for it but that gave me a headache, and when I visited one home they told an ancient grandma there that I wasn’t feeling well. They started discussing, and unfortunately for my Pashto learning journey “nazr” (opinion, idea) and “naazr” (the evil eye, curse that comes from jealousy or mentioning someone is beautiful) sound similar enough that I thought they were saying my head was hurting from overthinking, but they were saying someone put the evil eye on me. They told me to sit by the old lady, which, unawares due to the word confusion, I did. Most old people mumble prayers under their breath when they hear something bad, so that’s what I thought she was doing. But she got louder and started reciting the Quran and blowing on me for a solid twenty minutes. Then I realized it was “dum”, a cure for naazr (evil eye, not nazr) by spiritual incantations and Quranic verses. Then I was mad.
At the end they told me to shake my head so the curse would lift, which I refused to. I explained to them that I was upset that she had done that because it’s haram (forbidden) and a big sin, same like black magic, to me. They tried to smooth it over saying that they were only concerned I had the evil eye from everyone being so happy about me speaking Pashto and that I’m beautiful. To which I replied that to those who have the name of Jesus, the evil eye, demons, and black magic cannot come on them because Jesus is the highest name that evil spirits are subject to and I have His blood to cover me. I also explained that since they don’t have the name of Jesus they are not protected from such things. Praise God for an odd but open way to share the gospel- pray that seeds will take root.
So besides the run in with grandma, I had a great time and enjoyed meeting with so many people and enjoying village life out in the farmlands. Pray for this family who always welcome me and open many doors for me for gospel conversations.
Pray for the older sister, “Sana”, who is oppressed by evil spirits who are reportedly Hindu. I was chatting with her mom over tea and she was saying how difficult it was for her older daughter after she married and moved into her husband’s house because his relatives had used black magic to send the Hindu demons into her. Her mom told me that an imam had bound the spirits so they are keeping quiet now and not manifesting, but they are still there and she is still suffering. Pray she is set free in the name of Jesus.
Thank God the relationships built with my hostel and college friends are deepening and opening up to opportunities for the gospel.
Pray for seeds sown to be watered and grown and produce a harvest of righteousness unto God! Pray that God sends more workers into the harvest field.
Thank you for praying ?
Kendall Freeman
DEC 6th 2024
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