Spiritual Warfare and Territorial Spirits (~5.5 MB) - Moriel Ministries

South Africa NewsBNAllen & SueE Z A L E E LE W S L E T T E RJune 2007Dear friends,Our days begin with the householderupting into wakefulness and ending inthe blissful sounds of sleeping children.We go about the mornings to the strainsof a Baroque Minuet and the beginninghalting efforts of Hava Nagila rendered byLizzie on the piano. As she conscientiouslypractices each day in preparation for herupcoming exams and the Music Festivalin August and September, her improvementis obvious and it adds a festive airto our chores. On completion she movesto her recorder and practices with quietconfidence. She is also preparing for theLondon Trinity Exam for recorder. Thabopipes out notes on his recorder, and as abeginner his progress pleases his teacher.Ruth doggedly plucks on her guitar incounts of 4: B, C, D, E, F and G with Allenor my encouragement. She was not able toattend her music lesson this week becausethe teachers and pupils were threatenedby the union that they would be shot ifthey went to school. At present, governmentinstitutions like schools and hospitalsare striking for an increase in wages.Autumn on the highveld in South Africais probably my most favourite season.The stillness and colours of autumnleaves have a peaceful effect on me. Itwas short lived however as winter arrivedwith such sudden forcefulness ,plungingus into record lows long before it’s expectedarrival about the middle of June.We also had record rainfalls for the monthof June. In one night we had 30 mm ofrainfall in an area that is normally dry inwinter. Needless to say it is very cold.We are grateful to the Lord for ordinarydays, filled with the activities ofchildren growing, learning and playing.Roxanne has returned to work and Iteach all the children. After some experimentingwith schedules and who to teachwhat, when and with whom we have abusy but comfortable timetable workedout for academics. The four younger onesare delighted that I am teaching themagain and their eyes shine brightly as weread stories with requests for them to beread over and over again. I tried to teachmath to Ruth, Rose and Walter together,but abandoned the idea when Rosie wascoping far better. This did not bode wellwith Ruth and she gave Rosie witheringstares whenever she responded to one ofthe questions I asked. Ruth and Walterare comfortable being taught togetherand respond spontaneously. Rosie is inbetween the others with math, so she getsmy undivided attention for her math work.Six of the children and I had an opportunityto visit the Walter Sisulu BotanicalGardens near Roodepoort withthe music school to hear a jazz big bandplay outdoors. In front of us the MagaliesburgMountains towered, with a lone maleBlack Eagle soaring over it and a waterfallcascading from it. We shared a picnicon a blanket while we listened to GirlTalk by Bill Fairley’s Big Band. Adrian,our oldest son who lives nearby the gardensin Centurion, Pretoria joined us foran hour or so. It was Mothers Day andwe had a wonderful time together, onceRuth overcame her apprehensiveness ofthe mountain and people thronging about.Ben settled too once he became accustomedto the loudness of the music. Hehas always been sensitive to high pitchedsounds and cries when it is too loud.During the week I went with seven ofthe children to see a play at the local theaterby a local company. It was The Soundof Music and the children enjoyed it greatly.They have watched the DVD a numberof times and they love stories aboutother families who have a lot of children.One night one of our chickens diedand at the breakfast table the next morningRosie said to the children they must pray forit. Thabo emphatically stated that we don’tpray for the dead. On another occasion thechildren were discussing how many childrenthey were going to have when theygrow up. Lizzie said she was going to havethree children, an older child to look afterthe two younger ones. Rosie said she isonly going to have two because too manychildren make too much noise. Ben sayshe’s going to have lots of children becausehe likes noise. (He is the noisiest in thehouse.) Ernie informs everyone that it isnot their decision to make as to how manychildren they’re going to have. Mmm… Iwonder if he’s being listening to Bill Randlesand the Christ in the Family series.With regards to the children’s healthwe had a scare with Ruth in April. She hada severe infection and fever and in the runaround to get her to a doctor and have aurine test done, I was overwhelmed bythe kindness and assistance of those in themedical profession around me. Throughthis experience, as well as a book I wasreading at the time by Edith Schaeffertitled Affliction and through God’s word,I was reminded that He is our comforterin times of trouble. Jesus was withoutcomfort on the cross, forsaken, so thatwe could be comforted Is: 53:3 and 2 Cor1:3-7.As the Holy Spirit, our paraklesis,the One who comes alongside us and doesnot leave us alone but rather comforts us,so should we come alongside one anotherbringing comfort. Ruth recovered completelyand is still well. We, at last, afterscouring pet shops, S.P.C.A’s and the likefound a dog for Ruth to replace Max. Shelooks just like him and Ruth has namedher Maxine. Rosie has been seeing anoccupational therapist that specialises inhand related injuries and has had a splintmade to support her wrist and thumb. Shehas also been given exercises to preventshortening of muscles through lack of usein her arm. Wearing the splint has givenRosie far more mobility in her hand andshe is delighted. Thabo had a seizure inApril. The last one happened in Novemberlast year. What precipitates it we don’tknow. Little Themba is responding verywell to his ARV’s. According to his skinspecialist his skin condition is directlyrelated to HIV. His skin is clearing rapidlythough and we suspect that it’s as aresult of an improved CD4 count. His dadDavid regularly picks him up every secondweekend. Thoko has settled in verywell. She is eager to learn and participatesin the life of the family. She is a helpfulchild and Lizzie, Thoko and Thabo havelong discussions and sing together whenthey do dishes in the evenings. Her dadvisited last week after an absence of threemonths due to serious illness. He has virtuallywasted away and looks skeletal.He has not seen a doctor and I suspect hemay have T.B. I encouraged him to go tothe clinic for tests. Please pray for him.His name is Christopher. Walter, Ernest,Themba and Precious are all well. Walteris more confident in his school work althoughstill markedly behind. He enjoyshis lessons. Ernest is playing soccer againthis year for the same club he played forlast year. Themba’s chest tightens up everynow and again and Precious is our cuddly38 Moriel Quarterly • June 2007