Sri Lanka Nov 2009

Well, it's been a while coming, but here it is. The update from Sri Lanka.  The trip started off with a tiring 22 hrs travel to get here.

 

Once we arrived in the Hotel on Monday morning it was a case of getting cleaned up from the trip then filling my belly and getting a quick rest before i took a look around the hotel and area. Generally, we get straight into the schedule of meetings and shooting shows, which leads to near exhaustion by the 3rd or 4th day, but this time we had a day and a half to get rested from the trip. Ben, Jacques and Greg had already been in Dubai for a week before Sri Lanka, so they definitely needed the rest.

 

 During the first few days here in Colombo, we started to hear thoughts and vague ideas that the crusade that was to be 1 hr away in Negombo may not be able to go ahead. This was due to the government of Sri Lanka declaring it illegal for any public church meeting to go ahead that may end in people converting from one religion to another. This announcement came 2 days before our meeting was due to go ahead.

The police heard about the meeting and banned it from the first location, the Town Hall, then it was banned from the second location which was a hotel, and we were told that no meeting was to go ahead, and if there was any violence (by the Buddhist Extremist) the police would not help or offer protection. There have been over 100 churches burnt and destroyed here in Sri Lanka. 

The nation has just come out of a 35 year civil war, and now even though there is relative peace there is still huge hostility towards Born Again Christians. The Devil is angry. God is raising up people here who will stand upon the rock of Jesus no matter what. It is an honour to be here and stand with them. 

I have met some fantastic people, in just a few days. No matter who you are, you will get a smile out of 9 out of 10 people you pass in the street. They are beautiful people. It is hard to believe the stories of violence i have heard.

Here are a few images from the first few days. Up until this morning.

 

Team Prayer. An integral part of our trips. 

 

The first meeting was in the garden of a mansion. 

 

Ben preaching in the Garden. 

 

This young man was very blessed. 

 

The people are very passionate about what they believe. This lady in clearly being blessed. 

 

I forgot this mans name, but he is part of the leadership that brought Ben here. I believe he owns shares in a resort in the Maldives. Holiday anyone? 

 

Ben passionately  preaching the word. This is what he was made for.

 

This young lad was healed of acute abdominal pain. Thats his dad behind. God is REAL and wants to heal.

 

Ben just after finishing. He is always worn out after giving it all. 

 

After the meeting we were invited to another house for dinner. As you can see we are sat in the garden. It was pretty large. 

 

Driving from Colombo to Negombo. Police and military are everywhere you look because of the recent end to the civil war.

 

I added this image because i love it. We were driving over a bridge as the light faded. 

 

Terrell hiding from the Mosquitos. 

 

0530am. The first fishing boat of the morning making its way.

 

The boats keep coming. 

 

I brought my swim fins, because i am not able to bring my surfboard. These waves, although small were super fun. Barrels are good whether you are on your belly or a board!! 

 

I would like to take one of these boats out for a sail and catch my dinner. 

 

After the brief time on the beach i went for breakfast and then we had to leave town because it was unsafe. We had to use different names in the hotel to make sure nobody could find us!! My name was Ranjitt Perera. Buddy was called Samantha! Ha ha, and Greg was called Mario Fernando! I think he suits it. Greg must have chosen the names. 

 

I will try and update this again on Sunday. But you can keep up to date with us if you follow mine or Ben's Twitter. 

 

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