MIRACULOUS SIGNS THAT POINT TO A WONDERFUL GOD
12 May 2012 2 Comments
Please take the time to read the entire update, you will be blessed!
Outreach. After 3 intense months together, learning the love, and fear of God; receiving healing in countless areas, and restoration from past hurts, the team and we were ready and excited to head into the bush to pour out all that had been deposited into us.
But, would God meet our YWAM supernatural expectations? We received a resounding answer familiar to words spoken by Jesus 2000 years ago…”I AM WILLING.”
ERWEE
We head 7 hours northwest ofWindhoek, winding through dirt roads and valleys, deep into villages and past northern towns-to the small outpostvillageofErwee. There we were met with our host, Sodina, who is a primary school teacher at the 200-child youth hostel and school where we ministered. Peppered in between afternoon youth programs, morning art and bible classes, and a whole slew of other things that we did while there, we found time to go into the extremely rural village surrounding the hostel and evangelize. It was during this time that I want to share God’s miraculous work:
We broke into 2 teams, and went out in opposite directions toward the mud and stick huts and small adobe homes that are scattered all over the countryside with a spirit of high expectancy. As I have witnessed repeatedly inAfrica, we were received by everyone whom we approached, stopping what they were doing to sit down and find out why we had come to their home. We prayed for young and old, workers and stay-at-home-moms, but the true miracle came when we stopped at the last 2 houses on our way back.
Stopping at a local “house turned to mini-mart/bar”, we spoke with two very intoxicated teen boys sitting outside the building. Then, the owner of the bar came out to sit with us and find out what we wanted. After leading her back to Christ, as she committed to come and visit us at the hostel later in the week (which she did!), we prayed again for the two young men, who were now somewhat interested in what we were sharing. Immediately, one of the boys drops his bottle of beer, and looks over at Anna, one of the students on the team. Saying something in Herero, a language none of us know, as we are not from that tribe, Anna speaks back in perfect Herero dialect in response. They begin to have a conversation, and Anna leads the man to Christ. Sober and alert, the other man looks in wonder at what is happening. They both receive prayer, and ask Jesus into their heart.
As we walked away, I asked Anna what happened. She simply said, “I don’t know, all of the sudden I knew what to say, even though I don’t speak their language.” God had given her, through the Holy Spirit, the ability to communicate in an unknown tongue to these two men, and lead them to Jesus. Yes, that was cool.
A woman who had heard us praying with them approached us as we walked away and asked us to come to her house immediately. We followed her up a dirt path to a small house with 3 little children playing in the dirt near the front door. She shared that she wanted “our God” to break off the addiction of tobacco in her life, NOW. We prayed with her, and she immediately told us that she has no desire for it any longer, and asked if we could pray for her baby to become a man of God when he is older.
Blessing the next generation is an honor we all too often overlook, so we took this moment as sacred, and prayed for her son, commissioning her son to intimacy with the Father. It was powerful.
BACK TO WINDHOEK
Next, we came home toWindhoekfor Easter weekend, but pressed forward with doing treasure hunts in the city, and visiting the gov’t hospital to pray for the sick. A quick praise report about praying in the hospital:
My wife prayed with a mother whose child was unable to defecate or urinate since birth, and the child was 4 months old. With a tube inserted into his side above his hip, the child was bound to a hospital bed so that he can relieve himself. In constant pain, the child couldn’t even breastfeed. As Aguste and the team began to pray with the child, he stopped crying, and for the first time in his life, attached to the mother to feed!
Aguste noticed a bracelet with nutshells tied around the child’s waist. This is always a sign of traditional witchcraft given by witch doctors for “divine healing”. Immediately Aguste told the mother to take it off the child, as Jesus will heal the child, not traditional voodoo. When we returned to the hospital a few weeks later, and inquired about that family, the nurse said 2 days after we left, the baby checked out of the hospital HEALED! He can go to the toilet on his own now! PRAISE GOD!
GOBABIS
Our final leg of our outreach saw us traveling 3 hours to the east ofWindhoekto the sizable town ofGobabis. There we met with Henk, a 30-year missionary to the town, and part church planter, part pastor, part pre-school principal, and completely humble and gracious host. We spent our days teaching in the classrooms of the primary school, running youth camps and afternoon programs, and doing prayer walks around the community. A few times we found ourselves going to the hospital in Gobabis, and doing treasure hunts in the city. Here are a few stories from those encounters:
While the students were out in groups of 2 in town to find their “treasures”, two of my girls walked up to a man they had seen in a vision while praying, who was standing outside an office building talking on a phone. They waited patiently, but were very nervous of what he might say, and if they were doing the right thing. He turned to them after getting off the phone and asked, “Do you need to speak to me?”
The girls began to share why they were there, and how God had shown them that they were to find this man while they were praying. He asked them into his office, and sat them down while he walked a few steps away to speak to his employees. Confused about what they were getting into, the girls began to panic. They could hear what the man was saying to his employees, and it completely floored them! He said: “Do not be afraid when you go out what they will say to you, or if they receive you. You are supposed to say what you’ve been trained to say, whether they listen or not…” The girls were wondering if he was talking to the employees, or if God was speaking through him to them about being confident of what God was charging them to do. Either way, he sat down with them afterwards and began to pour out his heart, and asked for prayer in the office. How cool is God??? I could share many other stories that happened while we were out on treasure hunts, but it would take up a whole book, God was so good!!!
While at the hospitals, we led a drunken father to Christ on the day that his daughter gave birth to her first child. She is 17, and has been praying for her father to come to the Lord for years. We prayed for many people, all of whom were willing and thankful for us to come, and saw quite a few leave the hospital within a week of us coming there! The nurses were BEGGING us to come back and pray for the tuberculosis patients as well; but sadly time didn’t permit us to return. Even so, one of the greatest healings happened not in the hospital, but at the missionary house where we were staying.
We were staying on a property shared by 2 other families, where they practiced traditional medicine and worship. They were part of theZionistChurch-a mixture of Christianity and ancestral worship. Many nights we could hear outside our tent the all night worship meetings these churches were having to their false gods. The toughest part was that as the weeks went on, more of the Zionists from the churches came and began to camp out on our property. One tent turned into 4 tents, filled with local Zionists who seemed to come for no other reason than to watch what we were doing. The Spiritual atmosphere was thick, to say the least. Many nights we interceded and militantly marched around the property praying and binding and loosing. You could feel the tension on the property, even though the land was created for visiting missionaries. We got serious about possessing the gates of the enemy!
Finally, we agreed that the best way to break the tension was to engage our neighbors, in love. After speaking to them one afternoon, the father of one of the families asked if we could come that night and pray for his wife, who had been afflicted with a serious skin rash for 2 months now. Unable to sleep because of the pain, the woman was miserable. She had been to the doctors, they didn’t know what was causing it, she had been to the “prophets” in the Zionist church, and they had prayed for her, and given her a “special tea” and sprinkled “holy fire water” around her. When that didn’t work, they decided to see what our God could do…
We all piled into their living room that night and shared a bit about forgiveness and the power of letting go of grudges, as we felt the Holy Spirit said that was a root of the rash. Then, as she prayed a prayer of repentance and forgiveness, we began to command healing and rebuke sickness from her body. For about 15 minutes we warred in the Spirit for her deliverance. She then admitted that she felt our prayers made a difference, and she believed she was healed.
The next morning…NOTHING. THE RASH WAS GONE…SHE HAD SLEPT WONDERFULLY AND WAS COMPLETELY HEALED!
Coincidence? Had the “magic tea” finally taken effect the same night we prayed? NO, JESUS HAPPENED. Our Lord and Savior set the captives free…AGAIN. She rededicated her heart to Jesus, and it seemed as if the atmosphere on the property shifted after that. Even though we were only there for a few more nights, we felt that something had changed, and we worshipped and gave thanks to the Lord for His victory!
We also ministered to a few youth and young adult group while there. Performing powerful dramas and testifying to God’s healing power. I was given the opportunity to preach a few times, and was led by the Spirit to minister to the “leaders” of one youth group, challenging them to live holy as examples of His grace.
The coolest cultural difference I witnessed was when we showed up to a church we had never been to before-20 minutes before the service started-and simply said we were with YWAM and wanted to minister there. The pastor gave us half the service, and invited us at the end to come back again and minister to the youth and the church next week. Probably would never happen in theUSA…but I loved it!
Close to the end of things…
Now we are back in Windhoek, and have less than a month to go. We have already gone again into the city to do treasure hunts, and have seen people healed in parks, walking along streets, and even in pharmacies…so they left without buying the medicine they came in to get! We graduate the students on June 7th, and I would love your prayers and thoughts as we want to finish strong and plan for the future.
We have been invited by a pastor inKenyato preach at revival meetings and conferences inKenyaandTanzaniain July. We are praying about God’s will, as that would be a momentous opportunity for Aguste and I. Please pray for us and God’s financial provision if it is His will for us to go toKenya.
Taking the Gospel all over,
Paul andAguste Street
If you don’t disciple them, SOMEONE or SOMETHING will…
22 Mar 2012 1 Comment
These are the words that I heard God speak to me a few weeks ago. We as humans are hardwired to be discipled…it’s true! The devil (through the world) is more than willing to do the job, if we neglect the necessary command of Jesus to make disciples.
Pop culture, music, TV, ungodly friends at school, bosses, celebrities, and much more will dictate and set the moral, ethical, and personal success standards of both youth and adult in the absence of bold, courageous believers who dare to disciple the world!
Please know that I am not only speaking to parents regarding their children; I am speaking to young adults, and adults, children and youth who must find the strength in the Spirit to disciple one another as well. Remember: PEOPLE WILL BE DISCIPLED, WHO/WHAT WILL BE THE TEACHER??? I am learning this lesson all to well during the DTS.
****Auguste and I want to thank all of you SO MUCH for your prayers for the DTS students. We have seen such a change in all of them, and, as we head to outreach next week, we are sure that they are ready to be “Jesus with skin on” wherever we go. Before I share about where we are going, I want to share what has been happening here lately:
After receiving a strong teaching on God’s Plumbline (the Word of God), and the traps of swinging away from His Plumbline to either rebellion-which leads to pride and anger, or to rejection-which leads to depression and suicidal thoughts; we saw amazing ministry time where we had students release through forgiveness and confession:
- Homosexuality
- Homicidal thoughts toward their earthly fathers
- Sexual addictions (Jezebel spirit)
- Rejection issues stemming from adoption
- Sexual/Physical/Emotional abuse
- Stuttering problems!
- Much much more!!!
The week after, we had my friends Rich and Lynn Hodge come to do Father Heart week. What a 1-2 punch for the students and staff! We saw new names given by God that speak contrary to the lies they have believed of the enemy for most of their lives; we saw many choose to release wounds and offenses that stemmed from as early as when they were 4 years old! More than once, we had a public confession by different students BEGGING us to help keep them accountable in a certain area previously in darkness, now brought into light. God was unmasking the “false selves” and the appearances we put up for others, and revealing the true us: messy and needy. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL!!!
We showed John Bevere’s DVD series on The Fear of the Lord in week 8, and they had ears to hear! Where the 2 weeks past they received the love of God (having to accept and embrace what we are, when we don’t see it), they then received the fear of God (realizing what we are not, but what God is calling us to be-HOLY).
This past weekend, we had the privilege to go to a small village about 1.5 hours east ofWindhoekto run a 3-day camp. The camp was run at a youth hostel of about 200 children from the ages of 6-16. We were sleeping on the floors of the classrooms at the primary school next door to the hostel, and the children graciously let us borrow their mattresses (which were soaked in urine and probably lice, in all honesty). As a team, we worked together tirelessly and beautifully. A salvation message was given on day 2, and we say at least 160 children dedicate their lives to Christ. We played games with the kids, had team contests, and held them any chance we had. “Jesus with skin on” was our battle cry that weekend, and the superintendent wept as we left on Sunday, so moved by what our team had been able to accomplish in 3 days. There was an atmosphere shift in that place; from the loud music of the bars across the street, to the sound of 200 kids worshipping God with excitement. Hallelujah!
We leave on Tuesday, the 27th, for the bushmen to the northwest in a village called Erwee (pronounced Elveeay). There we will be doing house visits and evangelism in the village, as well as helping out at a pre-primary school and performing dramas at churches. Please pray that we will de discerning, and walk in humility and joy-not giving the enemy an inch of room to wiggle in and disrupt God’s agenda.
After that, we head 3 hours east to the city ofGobabis(pronounced Kobobiss). There we will be again working with children in need, and working with a youth hostel of about 300 children. Please pray again for our protection, discernment, and endurance as we live to serve-being flexible in whatever situation.
Auguste and I are overwhelmed with appreciation to all of you who take up the mantle of prayer for us, as we are praying for you as well. We long to come back and share testimonies and truths that God is revealing and doing here, as well as being built up by the work done there. May the Lord give you strength as you seek His face, and may He reveal His glorious riches to your heart as you grow in the image and likeness of His son, Jesus.
Blessings,
Paul and Auguste Street
NEW PICS OF THE DTS, AND MY WIFE AND I ON FACEBOOK. CHECK IT OUT!!!!
Season of Rapid Growth
18 Feb 2012 2 Comments
On FACEBOOK, Aguste and I have posted a few pics from the first few weeks of the DTS, if you want to check it out. Many more to come!!!
Words on a page aren’t enough to accurately testify and honor God for what He has, and is doing here. Nearly every day I wish that I could spend an hour with each of my close friends back home, sharing the cultural, spiritual, or even physical realities that I am privileged to experience. I feel SO blessed that God has allowed me to come away from my family and country to experience something so different, and life-changing. I thank God for giving me people dedicated to sow into what we are doing out here for this season. I know one day we will return to you to let you share in the fruit and knowledge that we are partaking in now.
The first phase of the DiscipleshipTraining School that we are leading is called the Lecture Phase. Each week we have a different speaker on a different topic, then we go into the community on Thursday and Friday afternoons (as well as every other Saturday) to activate what has been imparted on us during the week. For the first few weeks, there seemed to be a spiritual oppression over the school, with many of the students refusing to engage the process and the life-giving teaching. They wouldn’t pray out loud, worship, or even encourage. It was upsetting.
Then, last week, the truth came out. We had a “strong man” in the group-and after investigating and praying, we were moved to ask one of the students to go home. It was difficult for both staff and student, but we knew the spiritual atmosphere would benefit from this departure. Since then, we have seen a vast improvement in unity, involvement, and spiritual activity! Hallelujah! I was even given the opportunity to baptize 7 students in a lake at the base-I didn’t find out until I exited the water that it is leech infested! Aguste ran me to our bathroom to wash them all off! Such is a missionary’s life!
We have seen 6 of the 9 students receive the gift of tongues (it was the 6 that wanted the gift of tongues), and have seen God use our students to preach, heal, and give prophetic words that are spot on! There are still struggles-most of them tied to past hurts and unforgiveness, or simply a symptom of relating to God (and His sometimes unorthodox, uncomfortable ways of doing things) out of our intellect, not the Spirit. Somehow, many believers (especially westerners) have been tricked by the devil that they have to understand what God is doing, for it to be God. The response God gave me to this: READ YOUR BIBLE!
Show me someone who got their name into the Bible who always understood and agreed with what God was doing before they obeyed!
Anyhow, we are a month away from going on outreach for 6 weeks to remote parts of Namibia, where many in the villages have never heard the Gospel message. Please pray for us, as a team, that we will be in one accord as we see miracles and transformations in people’s lives! Thank you my faithful friends!
It is our hope that when Aguste and I come to visit, we will be given the opportunity to minister and impart the spiritual anointing God is pouring out on us. We long to run another Father Heart encounter, as well as a Holy Spirit seminar…turning what the world says is foolishness into reality in God’s wisdom!
May you be blessed!
Paul and Aguste Street
School’s In…
28 Jan 2012 1 Comment
“Hold on! Strap in, and get ready, because the next 5 months are going to be a test of your endurance.”
When God gives you a word like this, you can do nothing but let out a heavy sigh, and give thanks and praise. For He has counted you, above others, worthy to “suffer” in doing a special work, an important mission, a specific task that He knows you are able to do with Him, you are DESIGNED for.
Aguste and I are leading a 5 month intense discipleship school/boot camp comprising of staff and students from 5 different nations. We are now finishing week 2, and so far we have seen God do nothing but amazing things! He is active in healing wounds, awaken hearts, and prepare soldiers. This week we had some dynamic speakers (including me…lol) that spoke on subjects dealing with discipleship. The students have all given feedback that they are coming to a deeper understanding of who He is, and why we are here.
Now, let me say this: SPIRITUAL WARFARE IS REAL. I am a bit mystified as to how the western world has been fooled into not engaging in active warfare daily, as it is a necessity in most other parts of the world. And, it is not becauseAmericais “enlightened” and “spiritually cleaner” than other places-far from it.
The devil’s strategy is to have us explain away the spiritual, while striving to see signs and wonders. All spiritual attacks are explained away circumstantially, medically, or financially. Yet, Biblically, we are responding to the devil’s attacks ineffectively, without authority, and as victims seeking with our own strength to solve the problem. Are you still struggling and suffering? It’s because you have not embraced the COMMAND to put on your armor, and go to war.
I pray the Church begins to teach and lead His people into warfare, intercession, and deep devotion to see others set free. CORPORATE WARFARE CHANGES A CITY, GOVERNMENT, NATION. I tell you this, and I hope it does not offend your flesh: if you don’t know how to war in the Spirit, don’t entertain ideas to take up the mantle of missions, or evangelism. You will be cut down.
Upon the FIRST DAY of the DTS starting, my wife, Aguste, came down with a devastating headache-which lasted for 6 days straight. We prayed, we had the staff pray. We looked on the internet for possible causes, we even went and changed our diet and bought vitamins to take daily. When it seemed we were going to have to go to a doctor (which we don’t really have money for) and possibly go through countless scans and tests, we called my Mother-in-law-who happens to be one of the most prayerful, powerfully anointed women I have ever met. She simply told Aguste over the phone to put her hand on her own head, then began to pray and REBUKE the headaches
Within 5 minutes, the headaches subsided for the first time in a week. We had exhausted every bit of our strength and ideas, resources and schemes to have healing come. In the end, it was the prayer of a woman who practices warfare daily, that brought the breakthrough. Do you have someone in your life like that? Do you practice warfare daily? If not, don’t rely on your own strength, even inAmerica.
I wonder how many times God’s people in the Western Church have missed out on a breakthrough, or circumvented His will for their own abilities, leading them to a PLAN B, when God had another plan altogether!
Men and Women of God, warriors of the Most High, we are praying for you out here; and we thank God that you remember us and pray for us, as we face the attacks of the enemy daily. Especially during this school, as the enemy hates what God is doing here!
God bless and keep you all,
Paul and Aguste Street
Drunk in the Spirit? No…Sober.
04 Jan 2012 1 Comment
Please read all of this letter, I promise it’s worth it.
New year, new start…they say. A Roman calendar marks my practice of reviewing my life for the past 52 weeks…and making adjustments that, one can only hope, will last. One thing I know to be true, though, is this: If you ask God to help you review and revise your life, HE WILL ANSWER. But be prepared for what’s coming next, God doesn’t hold back out of modesty or politeness. He’s brutally encouraging…as well as correcting.
I was led to compare “my 2011” with a measuring stick found in the Bible: Matt 25:31-46. You know this passage, the “sheep and goats” parable. My salvation decision plays no part in this parable, simply my application of the Gospel. The following is me being completely transparent, in hopes that you, too, may find yourselves reading this passage and measuring up your love and devotion, for a clearer mission in 2012! “Not by works, so that no man can boast”, but in humility, realizing that salvation carries a weighty responsibility of “Producing fruit in keeping with repentance.” Remember, God doesn’t speak to us this way to make us feel guilty, but to encourage us to align our lives with the Word which brings us hope of salvation, and Paradise with the One who created us and loves us.
- Did I seek out the hungry and feed them/Give them drink? (strangers or familiars) Yes, Lord. Occasionally. Perhaps not as much as one would expect a “missionary inAfrica” to…but yes. Give me more Grace to have eyes to see.
- Did I invite strangers in to my home/pull over to help a stranger on the road? (the list goes on and on how this could work…) Rarely. Truthfully, hitchhikers are plentiful out here, and you have to be careful who you pick up. I did walk the communities praying with many people this year, and love on many children in the slums that get little attention at home.
- Did I clothe those in need? The naked or poor? Yes, actually. I gave away more clothes this year than I needed. I actually had to go buy some clothes at a thrift store, because I had none left! LOL. Clothing on the missions field needs to go a long way, for a long time.
- Did I look after the sick? Auguste and I were rarely sick this year, but I come across the sick EVERY HOUR OF EVERY DAY out here. Did I visit hospitals to pray/encourage the sick? No. Did I pray for many sick on the streets? Yes. Did I fear getting too close to those extremely sick around me? At times. Is there room for improvement in faith in this area? Oh Yes!
- Did I visit anyone in prison? I assume Jesus was speaking of Christian brothers and sisters who have been imprisoned, or who have become believers since being imprisoned. Either way, no. In fact, I have only gone once in my entire life to visit and pray with someone in prison. I believe this may be more important a practice than we are giving thought to. I am a bit timid of starting to do this inAfrica, but I can find someone who does this here, and begin to go with them.
There it is. My sobering review of 2011 with God. He encouraged me, loved me, corrected me, and empowered me to GROW. The word I heard for 2012 is the word, “INVEST”. It is a calling for a year of investing time, money, love, strength, might, heart, mind, and soul to those He calls me to. My wife, the students of the DTS, strangers, and whoever else. If you don’t know where, to whom, and how you have invested your time as of late, check your Facebook activity the past few months, or even your last bank statement. Again, I am only speaking to you from a place of what has “sunk in my heart first” as Ezekiel was called to do.
The DTS starts in a little over a week. Church, friends, family-please pray for Auguste and I that we have the patience, wisdom, and creativity to serve as leaders for the next 6 months. May God richly bless and direct your new year, I have faith that He will, “If we only ask”.
In His service,
Paul and Auguste Street
Gifted to Serve
13 Dec 2011 1 Comment
Gifted To Serve
“Gifted to Serve” is the theme and name that the Lord gave us for the DTS. It is based on 1 Peter 4:10- “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms”. This is a very important time in the history of the world to be a believer, and I know we are playing our part in God’s divine plan to see that all of His children would be given an opportunity to know Him.
Quickly, I want to share a few things that have happened this past week. Auguste and I have been getting quite intentional about looking for opportunities to stop and pray/share about Jesus with people as we do shopping or banking or whatever. You may think, “well…yeah…you’re missionaries…” But, this is something I believe goes beyond the category (whoever made this office up) of missionary or “full-time minister”.
To tell you fully what has been happening would take another update, but simply stated, we have prayed for a crippled boy with Polio out in front of the mall, and watched as he felt healed, but was afraid to get up and walk because he feared that would mean he could not beg for money any longer. We have prayed for a woman who shared through tears that working 2 jobs as a single mom still isn’t bringing enough money in for her and her three kids. I prayed for a man even last night while shopping for a durable pair of sandals who just walked right up to me and began to share with me about his life! Have you ever had that happen? It’s a God encounter for sure!
I have prayed that in sharing stories like this, those who read don’t simply marvel at the fruit of a missionary in the far away places of Africa, but would have some spark ignite in their spirit while reading, and head to Wal-Mart with miracles in mind; or to the library with a deeper purpose than studying on their heart. Perhaps today is a day where your workplace is less about production, and more about the book of Acts.
At top, I have posted a picture of a rock that I picked up during one of my morning prayer walks around the base. It stood out because it was reflecting multiple colors upon the ground around it. Namibia is the leading diamond exporting nation in Africa, and one of the leading countries in the world. I was tempted to run into town and inquire if I had found a diamond, as they are very prevalent here, but I heard the Lord say this:
“This is for you. It is different that all the others around it, and is clear to reflect the multi-faceted glory of the light shining on it. You, as well, are different than those around you. You must be clean and blameless before me, so that I may show the fullness of my power and authority in and through you for the sake of my people.”
What a command! To be Holy, as He is Holy. May your December week be about dreaming with God, meeting your spiritual potential, and taking your light out from under its basket, being that city on a hill, as we are commanded to do.
With thanks and longing to be with you all,
Paul and Auguste Street
Ps- my wife wanted me to add the gem that she discovered in the Word this week. Psalm 15:1-5 is a plain instruction on the conduct of those who will see Heaven. We have it posted on a wall of our house as a reminder, every morning, of His expectations!
New Pic Update!
25 Nov 2011 1 Comment
Finally…A Photo Update!!!
It’s been too long. My wife is the picture taker, so now that we have a sharp digital camera, I have pictures to share! If one says a thousand words, then I’ll let them largely speak for themselves. Enjoy!
The famous mountain in the background where we nearly lost a group of volunteers when locals performing a “rites of passage” ceremony attacked them.
One of our favorite pics!
Auguste rocking a 2 Rivers shirt!
Judging a talent show in costume…
Leading a youth group!
Auguste sitting in our South Africa apartment.
Auguste with Rich and Lynn Hodge, the Americans we have been staying with, who taught us the Father Heart.
On our way to Namibia!
Five men, 4 different nations…Taco night!
Some of our friends from multiple nations that we ministered to in South Africa.
My Wife’s prophetic art…she’s good!
Our new home in Namibia!!!
I hope you enjoyed a few pictures from the
last few weeks of our lives. There are many
more to come! Quickly, I wanted to let you
know how the DTS planning is coming. We
have 12 students from 5 nations thus far. 6 staff
members will be leading, including us. We are
currently doing admin work in prep for the
school which starts in mid-January. We have
been given the honor of coming up with the
theme for the DTS, which God will lead us to
discover. In fact, I wanted to know if you, my
friends and family, would pray as well, emailing
us any words from the Lord on the direction of
the DTS that you receive! I will update you soon with pics and names of the students, so you may pray for and with us.
I would also like to report that God
miraculously provided us with a vehicle for very
cheap, and we are now able to travel & minister
as we please, not having to rely on others for
rides. I also want to humbly give our thanks for those of you who contributed extra support toward our car. Auguste and I were on our weekly date night last night, and received an email from my mother telling us that money had come in above our monthly support for our car. We wept tears of joy right there in the restaurant, as we marveled at your love and generosity for us. We had not publicized that we were buying a car, aside from a Facebook status update that I posted the day we purchased it. Nearly half of the $3500 we spent on the vehicle came in! Now that’s God’s provision, and your obedience! To those who have sewn into our ministry, including our car, share the fruits and rewards of anything we have and will do. Our Heavenly rewards are yours too, as it is credited to you as righteousness in God’s Kingdom!
We thank you, and will continue to keep you all posted on our lives as we prepare for this school. We believe God is going to do amazing things through it, and wish you all could be here to see and experience it; just as we wish we could be there to experience what God is doing there! Love all of you, and in case we don’t get to write again in 2011, Merry Christmas!
In His service,
Paul & Auguste Street
Reflecting back…
07 Nov 2011 3 Comments
To whom it may concern:
That’s the only way I know to begin this update, highlighting and thanking those who poured into me; and ultimately my wife’s life and ministry, during my trip home to Arizona last month. My trip was to be one of raising support, visiting aging members of my family, and vision casting with those closest to me about the future. My wife, Auguste, was gracious enough to loan me out to my family at 2 Rivers Church for a little over a month, as we wanted an opportunity to report what God is doing to and through us in Africa, in person, because we knew that you deserve to see it for yourself, even if you can’t make it to a land far, far away
During that time, I had the extreme pleasure to share twice on Sunday mornings, speak at a few different youth group meetings at different churches, meet with various pastors and leaders, and have amazing intimate conversations with over 40 families and friends, many of which I had never met before this trip! Not to mention, I had the honor of facilitating my first Father Heart Experience in America, where we saw 14 people receive healing and growth in a matter of less than 24 hours…Go God, Go Daddy!
I was wondering if you would allow me to bullet point a few of my favorite moments, and the things that really blessed me about being “home” with so many of you. If I leave something out that perhaps you feel should be included, please add it on HisHerald.com under comments, or email me at: alfombra35@aol.com to remind me. So much happened, I may have forgotten it-I’m learning to journal…it’s not a strength of mine! In no order of importance, or even chronological order:
- Pastor Tom. I’m nearly moved to tears even writing this. I had entered into this trip with prayers that I would have an opportunity to simply pick the mind of this great man of God, and…my friend. He was and is so supportive of Auguste and me, and truly desires to see the Kingdom advance in the USA, and the world. His insights and support, as well as concern for me, left me speechless often, and even more moved as I saw what God has done in him, and through him as of late. Truly, 2 Rivers, you have a servant-leader that is as rare as diamonds, as precious and honest as any man alive. Cherish and honor him, because he honors us.
- Seeing God move on Sunday Mornings/Youth Meetings when I spoke. What an honor to see God move on the hearts of His people, reminding us that He is good, He is love, and we have nothing to fear in approaching our Heavenly Father for correction, forgiveness, and healing.
- Father Heart Weekend. The things shared, and the ground gained by those who attended speak of the Father’s love and victory over the enemy, and the effects of a fallen world. Thanks ABBA for letting me partner with you in this.
- Having coffee/dinner/walks with old and new friends. Some of the greatest conversations, thoughts, and experiences of my trip happened over a cup of coffee, a long walk, or a meal in the home of my friends and family. The awesome part? Many were new friends that I had not known previously. You know who you are, and I cherished every moment with you, thanks for hosting me and/or meeting with me. Your time is precious, and I am honored you wanted to use it talking to me.
- “Wild at Heart” trip with my dad at Mt Lemmon, Tucson. Jeff Street and I, his son, headed down to the mountains of Tucson for a cabin retreat in the beautiful autumn foliage of oranges, yellows, reds, and greens. We hiked a 13 mile loop, all the while catching up, and having a true “men of the Street family” trip. Thanks dad, you are my hero!
- A plethora of unforgettable moments: Late night talks with Shailesh; Pints with Bill Moberly; Dinner with friends I met on my plane trip home; Treasure Hunts with Nate Moehring in Fiesta Mall; Praying/Seeing Aimee’s leg grow out to its proper length; Spontaneous Father encounter with a man who works at Chick-Fil-A; Receiving financial support from the most unlikely places; Blessing Justin Smith; Walking in the prophetic gift God has bestowed on me; and giving/receiving hugs to those whom I love and cherish so dearly.
- Hanging out with my mom. If you know her, need I explain more?
Please know, my family, that this trip EXCEEDED any and all expectations that my wife and I had for my time in AZ. Where as I began to think that perhaps I had booked my trip for too long, God showed that it was right on His schedule. How I wish my wife would have joined me this trip, as we may have done whatever it took to stay a few weeks longer with all of you, thanking you and celebrating life with so many of you.
It seems that because of your faithful support of us in prayer and financially, God has provided for us exactly what we asked for, and we go to Namibia on the 18th of November ready for the future. Thank you so much for your love, hospitality, and prayers. I now make it my personal mission to convey to you monthly the good work God has set before us here, and show you pics and tell you stories that encourage you in the work that YOU are partnering with me in accomplishing. Together, we are forcefully advancing His Kingdom, and His Coming!!!!
With love,
Paul & Auguste Street
Smothered, Covered, and Scattered
24 Sep 2011 Leave a Comment
Stand in the ocean, just a few yards out from the shore, and wait. Wait for that one wave that looks menacing and powerful, bent on forcefully shoving the tide up the beach, and stand in its way. As it approaches, you prepare yourself for what you are about to feel, about to be thrust into, what you are about to experience.
This is where I am at right now.
The one comfort…God controls the tide.
As some may know, I am coming home to Arizona next week for a month. I am forced to come alone, without my wife, because the American Embassy will not allow her to come on a visitor’s visa. That is an entirely different story that I will be glad to share with anyone who asks when I come.
Nevertheless, one day she will come with me, as an immigrant, to see and meet and laugh and love and live with all of you, my family and friends. She stays behind to pray and intercede for my trip, and our future. I know when my wife prays, mountains move.
I wrote in my last letter that I would be letting you know about the big things God is asking us to be co-laborers in. I will definitely be sharing with anyone who is interested when I am home, and would love to come and visit for a cup of coffee and a chat with anyone AND EVERYONE who would invite me. I am eager to report what God is doing in Africa, yet I am even more eager to hear what God is doing in YOU. My mother has been keeping me up to date on things back home, and I am very excited to see the hunger and move of the Spirit for myself. Although there are multiple reasons why I felt the need to return home in this season, one is overwhelmingly in my heart: To see my friends and family, to laugh and testify and love and encourage. Perhaps just as important, I welcome any encouragement that you have time to sit down and give me, as the mission field can be a tough and lonely place at times.
One memory of just before I left continues to play in my spirit whenever I think of my calling and work out here: The last Sunday I was home, the elders and deacons “ordained” me through encouragement and a charge to run my race with vigor and endurance. I think of these great men and their wives, including Pastor Tom and Theresa, who blessed me to tears, and placed a mantle of leadership, a crown of anointing, upon my head to follow God’s leading, no matter what. I return home to report to you that I am running that race, I am following my Father, and I am learning to pick up my cross daily. Daily.
This last week was a busy one. We hosted 13 people from various ministries around the area to a 3-day weekend Father Heart Retreat on our property. Although I want to keep some stories for when I come to share, I will tell you we experienced the Father’s love like I have never seen before. One woman, Esther, shared that she was the product of a failed abortion. That is, when her mother went to get an abortion, the doctor found that there were twins. He was able to locate and abort her brother, but the doctor could not find her. She had been living under the false identity that she was a mistake, that she was bound to be fat and useless, because of something her older sister said to her. One of the worst things you can say to your child is: “Oops! You were an oops!”
Because we serve Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Nissi, and often Jehovah Sneaky, the Lord not only spared her life in her mother’s womb, but her and her husband are missionaries to the gypsies of Macedonia-a very difficult group to minister to. Complete immersion into their culture is necessary to gain any trust or ground for Christ. Even so, with this woman faithfully serving Christ for years, the pain and evidence of the emotional scars of false identities were crippling certain parts of her heart. I tell you, we do not serve an insecure God. We serve a God who allows us to love Jesus, while having a difficult time relating to Father. The true heart of the Father was revealed to these 13 ministers from every walk of life, including Esther, and major breakthroughs occurred. I would love to share more with you when I come.
Immediately after the weekend ended, we headed to the Kingdom of Swaziland to teach the Father Heart for a week at a Discipleship Training School. Again, we saw lies shattered, true identities established, and even physical appearances change. There is something sacred and holy about being present when truth outshines the lies of the enemy. I praise God that I could be a part of it all.
I have photos, which, for sake of the slow internet and price of uploading things, I will share and put up on my websites once I am in America. I want to be better about keeping in touch and showing you what God is doing.
There are conversations to be had, relationships to be mended and updated, new friends to make, and old friends to hug. I am so excited about all of this, as well as nervous about the season that we find ourselves in. We have been learning and are being broken and exposed through every experience we have with the Father’s love. We have learned what love, righteousness, holiness, and discipline look like in His kingdom, and we walk delicately into the next phase of life; almost as if we’re passing another veil in the temple closer toward God’s uncloaked Glory.
I humbly ask for you to pray for us in these areas:
- My trip. May I come safely to you this next week. May it be fruitful and powerful as God is surely up to something.
- My wife. She will be staying behind to continue visiting communities and pray and love on people here.
- The future. We are planning on going back to Namibia soon to staff/lead a Discipleship Training School. This is a very big responsibility, and it requires wisdom, patience, and humility. I have never led an entire school before, and will need God’s guidance.
- We feel led to attend a Spiritual Warfare school through YWAM next year in Cape Town, SA. Please pray that we raise the finances for this, and it works with our busy schedule.
- Automobile. We are seeking God on the best way to purchase a cheap, reliable vehicle to travel with as we visit different places in Southern Africa. I will share more on this, but pray that God will provide the right vehicle, at the right price for us to have for our lives and ministry.
I cannot say enough about how thankful and excited I am to see you all. Your prayers for us every Sunday morning are heard and felt around the world, I assure you. May our time together be fruitful, and may His Kindgom expand through your lives
Blessings,
Paul
The Father Ran
08 Sep 2011 1 Comment
Greetings Family!
Please, allow me to be very open, in the hopes and trust that no judgment will be found in you, but perhaps a recognition of the struggles that lie within all of us, whether a plumber, a pastor, or a missionary.
Recently I was reading a book about mid-eastern culture, and how the parables of Jesus should be viewed through the practices and norms that Jesus’ hearers 2000 years ago would have perceived them. If you will allow me, to begin this raw and in-depth look at myself, with the faith that it leads to a powerful testimony of what God is doing in my life, I must share briefly this revelation.
A son’s job in the mid-east is to enlarge and expand the family estate, and to look after his parents as they get older. Much of his inheritance is spent on doing this, as to not bring shame or disgrace to the family by leaving the land or family in despair. It is accepted that this is what inheritance is used for, until the parents should pass away, then one is free to bring honor to the family name in a way that he sees as acceptable. Saving face in the mid-east is paramount. When Jesus spoke of the prodigal son, He was speaking of a much deeper intimacy and Kingdom Principle than I had ever realized before.
The prodigal son asking for his inheritance wasn’t an unwise premature request, it was an insult. According to the expectations of the use of an inheritance, to ask such a thing was wishing outright that his father was already dead! To give the inheritance without question, the father was accepting the ridicule and disgrace that surely the extended family and community would express. When the son finally comes to his senses that to be in the father’s service as a hired worker would be better than to wallow in mud, he returns home with the intention of begging and playing on any sort of mercy his father MAY have for his “former” son.
In the mid-east, to run, or jog as a grown up is seen as a loss of dignity. No self-respecting man runs, it is his glory to walk with a sort of majestic stride, and a man’s belly is his honor, as it denotes prosperity. In other words, men walk with their big stomachs stuck out, in their finest robes in public to denote their status in society. To run shows you do not plan well, and you do not have the pedigree to have others do for you the sort of things that demand urgency.
When the son returns, Jesus speaks 3 words that, to me, will forever bring tears to my eyes as I understand the full magnitude and weight of their power:
THE FATHER RAN.
The father had been shamed, humiliated, and hurt by the loss of relationship with his son, as well as what the extended family must have been saying during the time that the son was gone. The father running while the son was still far off denotes that:
The father was constantly looking, peering into the horizon, waiting for his son’s return.
He considered all further humiliation, any saving of face to be insignificant compared to reuniting with his son, whom had so selfishly humiliated the entire family.
The son had a plan to save his own life, to plead to be placed in a position of lowest significance and intimacy, to follow orders, if only to survive. But before he could even get the words out, the father acts quickly to make it clear to all servants, family, and community, that he is not to be received back as a detached worker, but as an intimate son and beneficiary of his love and affection. The father, in essence, ignores any request or plan of the son, and RESTORES his son to intimacy with his father.
The craziest part of all of this: The son did nothing. The son simply approached the father, and could only accept what the Father did. The embrace, the kiss, the robe, the ring, the sandals, and ultimately-the celebration feast were all in his honor, to re-establish what the father truly desired-relationship.
Our Father will HUMILIATE himself time and time again, if only for the sake of holding us in His arms. That’s Alpha, that’s Omega, that’s Jesus.
True repentance is when you show up empty-handed because you know only God can restore you out of the mess you put yourself in. When I come to the Father with a plan B, or a proposition for my navigation out of the storm, I haven’t come to full repentance yet.
I’m wasted for Him. Why? Because THE FATHER RAN.
You may be thinking: “Ok, that’s powerful Paul…and I love a good sermon, but tell me how/what you’re doing, and how that speaks to you.” Gladly.
Here I want to be open and raw. I’ve been a bit messed up the past week or so. My wife, Auguste, went to the American Embassy to interview for a visitor’s visa to the States that would have had us coming to visit all of you in the near future. I have heard from my mother, and a few others, how excited you are to meet her, and we are excited too. Before going, we carefully prayed and prepared, bringing every document they asked for, and even felt like we received confirmation through a few words and visions that God is going to release favor upon us as we go to the interview. Twice before Auguste had been denied, but this was going to be different, she had a good reason for going: To meet her new Mother-in-Law!
I sat outside (I wasn’t allowed to come in with her to the interview) praying fervently for God’s release of favor. I even felt a peace which surpassed all understanding about her success. I know many at 2RC were also praying for us. As Auguste exited, she looked at me and said:
“Paul, they didn’t even look at any of my documents. They asked me 3 questions, and automatically denied me. They said I don’t have enough strong ties to Africa, they think I may defect.”
“This can’t be!” I thought. My home country wouldn’t deny an American citizen’s wife the opportunity to meet her new family! Surely, this cannot be true! She has no criminal record, and has brought multiple documents to support her(and mine) plans to return to Africa and work! Yet, they didn’t even LOOK at one document, didn’t even ask the nature of her work here, or her history here in Africa. They just took our $130 and sent her outside without answers. I went back in to speak to the interviewers and demanded answers about what constitutes “strong ties”, and how can you know if she does or does not have them without looking at her evidence. They were of no help, and told me to email them and they would respond…they still haven’t responded to my email.
On the car ride home (4 hours), I held Auguste as she wept, wondering why she isn’t good enough, or undesirable to go where God has married her into. America is her other home now, and they won’t let her come in, they won’t even review her situation…they simply take our money and say, “there is nothing more we can do.” What’s more capitalistic than that?
I felt betrayed, I felt irate. I was ashamed to be American. I questioned God in unbelief, in shock, then in anger. I spent many walks reviewing the days leading up to the interview, wondering how so many of God’s children misheard or were ignored by our Heavenly Father. What could God be up to here? Was He up to anything? Did He even show up that day?
As my frustration turned to downright disgust for “quiet times” and dreaming sessions, God began to re-engage me. I had allowed circumstance to disrupt my time-tested faithful relationship with God, and I had accused Him of desertion without allowing Him to speak wisdom to me.
My wife, the emotionally balanced one of our marriage, approached me and began to explain the amazing things we were experiencing as of late:
Ministry with many who had attended and graduated Bethel School of Ministry (we are weekly meeting with 3 people who just graduated from that school in Redding, it’s quite awesome!)
Connecting with Iris Ministries, Heidi Baker’s ministry, doing fellowship with them.
Going to Swaziland to teach for a week next week on Father Heart, as well as next weekend running our first 3 day weekend retreat on Father Heart here on the property.
The youth group we started 3 weeks ago is already growing, and we are really connecting youth to one another, and to Jesus.
We received word from God about the future of our ministry (which I’d like to share more with you on the next update, as it is big and deserves it’s own update)
I though Auguste would be crushed, but I realized I was more upset than her! A million thoughts ran through my head about flying home to America and starting some sort of political petition about this, but God reassured me that I will return home one day soon with my wife. Thank you God!
Ultimately, when I finally began to recount God’s goodness to me, despite my confusion about the embassy, I turned to God, literally turned my face to Him. And you know what? HE RAN TO ME. The Father sprinted to me and held me, letting me cry and apologize, and placed His robe on me, His sandals, and His ring. He reassured me that we are going to be taken care of, and the latter rain is going to be better than the former.
Family, I doubted God on the deepest level I could without renouncing Him. And I hope my transparency doesn’t offend you. Missionaries aren’t perfect, far from it. We struggle with all sorts of lonely, fearful, and frustrating obstacles everyday. Even now, I throw my fleece out, like Gideon, to ask you to pray for us. I also ask you to consider, and I hate doing this from across the world, praying about sewing into us out here with some small one time gifts, as we are about to embark on pioneering something big, and need the resources to accomplish it (more to come in the next update.)
We will try again sometime soon at the embassy, and with God’s help, we will succeed. Yet, I know for now, we are out here doing as he has faithfully done to us: loving our neighbors, whoever they may be today.
Love you all,
Paul