"Who are You?"

“Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” Acts 19:15

It was a long day. Once our seminar concluded we were scheduled to travel close to two hours to a village. Pastor explained there was not even one believer in the entire village of over 1,000 people.

As we left the city, the roads leading to the village got darker and darker. We wondered what we would find when the road came to and end.

The ministry van with ten of the missionaries left earlier than we did. They loaded up lights, speakers and the generator. The Pastor’s cell phone range alerting him the van had a flat tire, and was now parked off to the side of the dirt road. When we came upon them, the missionaries were all standing on the side waiting to load the speakers and light into the car and press on.

A local bus passed by and the stranded missionaries boarded to take the high road, the calling of Christ Jesus. We were excited the enemy really was trying to stop us! As we entered the outskirts of the village we passed numerous shrines and temples with worshippers looking into the darkness for protection. Sadly there was even a shrine where children were sitting chanting to the garlanded gods of their parents and culture.

When we stopped the car and began setting up the generator, speakers and lights, the children came running. We were soon surrounded. The Pastor and missionaries were busy, A was talking with several young men who were English speakers and appeared friendly. But something changed in the atmosphere. The young men who at first seemed interested turned to the Pastor and missionaries and demanded we leave. The argument went on and on. The Pastor was quiet and prayerfully maintaining control over the growing heated situation.

The children were unfazed, they still surrounded K playing hand games, shaking hands, pulling away, laughing unsure of the heated debate going on right behind them. They were all eager to use their English “what is your name?”

As I questioned the Pastor what was happening, in hushed tones he explained the rebels had already called authorities in the city and we needed to leave. Several of the missionaries were breaking down the sound system and wrapped up the cords. They pulled the switch and the system lights went out.

“If I say, ‘surely the darkness will hide me and the light will become night around me, even the darkness will not be dark to You, the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to You.” Psalm 139:11-12

A spoke to the young men. Why had their hearts changed from friendly exchange to anger? The young men had no answer – they only said “Get out.”

“What is your name? My name is Legion,’ he replied, ‘for we are many.’ And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.” Luke 8:30

As we made our way to the car, the children kept crowding around us. They certainly understood we were being asked to leave, but as they touch our hands and stretched forth to get one last hand shake they said “thank you.”

The Pastor started the car and quietly said, “Are you discouraged?” And in unison the “A Team” replied, “NO!”