I just back home and meeting with my ‘connect group’. I’m telling them where I ‘ve been. One of them who work at the embassy said, “Olive, that’s the most beautiful war zone in the world, don’t you know that?” I didn’t know that this place have that “name”.
Let me begin: “Olive, you choose the place we are going to stay. I just followed whatever you pick.” Phia voice with excitement. Yeah…!!! Finally we are going….after booked a flight, canceled the flight…waited for the green light to fly in. The news weren’t good at all, it wasn’t safe to go. Until our contact said, “Okay guys you can come. ”The place that we want to go is “kind of close”. Very seldom people make this place as their destination due to the ‘conflict’ in it. This place at the border between three countries, constant frictions and cease fire for years.
Why we want to go there because we already at one the country near their border so why not…..??? Also there are a group of young people who love the Lord and we were told to encourage them. Yes, we are actually very near, only 50 minutes flight.
I’m so excited as I search through the internet. All the information seems lead to the same suggestions, the safety place to stay is in a boat house. Holy Spirit help me to pick the right boat house, I prayed. I picked one with the name of big city in America. They also give us free pick up from and to the airport.
We were at the airport waiting to embark the plane. We heard the news, last night four civilians have been shot to death by soldier of other side, the place now under strict guard and curfew. Oo…Then we heard the announcement, we were walking happily to the plane. We were the only foreigners.
We landed nicely, good job mr. Pilot. A very small and simple airport. An old guy came to us, he speaks good English. He assisted us to the vehicle. Praise the Lord finally we’re in here. I noticed they were soldiers every less than a mile. The guy mentioned about the shooting last night and he explained that the place we are going to stay is the safest place. I feel peace and said to myself, good job Olive hahhahahhah.
The car stopped by the road side beside a lake. He pointed to a boat with a beautiful canopy, full of colors, it’s like the king and queen boat. We jumped it and sit at the best place. Of course we took photos… queen of the day. Only us in the boat, it’s a private boat.
We cruised through the lake, go further and further…we passed by old wooden boat houses….seemed abandoned long time….looked like a haunted house in the movie, I can imagine by night….dark…moving because of the wave and the wind, plus the sound of wrecking windows and door not mentioned the creeping water plant all over it…hahahhahahha.
There were other boat passed by us from the opposite direction they are friendly people, wave their hands to us. All local people….no foreigners at the side.
Then we passed a floating village, all wooden boat houses, school, market, children playing, ladies selling fruits and vegetables. A very unique village. Our boat keep cruising deeper….this must be a very big lake.
And suddenly we arrive in a place surrounded with many beautiful boat houses….so unique, so colorful, so alluring to the eyes. Each have a big name in front of the boat, maybe that’s for the postman to deliver letters and packages, I think… What a shock…all are the name of a cities in America. We are extremely far from the state.
Our boat anchored at the most beautiful boat house. We both keep saying wow…wow…omg. Even they have a stairs from the boat to the veranda, they decorated with flowers. The front part is a large place with chairs and table the whole place full of pots of colorful flowers and lamps. I couldn’t believe it…am I in Europe? We went inside the boat house, wow a very cozy and big living room, with chandelier and carpet too. Dining room is great, they have whatever you need. We keep walking, we see 3 bedrooms, each with own bathrooms with shower, sink, toilet and hot water. All decorated so beautiful. We were amazed. Phia said to me,”Very good choice Olive.”
They prepared tea and traditional delicacy for us. We sat at the living room. Surprise the tea was so so fragrance and taste so so good. I don’t drink coffee, I drink tea, I know tea, this is could be one of the most tasty tea. If you like tea, you should try Vanilla Bourbon tea so addictive. We brought our beautiful cup of tea to the front, we looked at the quiet, beautiful lake. Really what a privilege that God is bringing us to experience this. So romantic….like we are in Venice.
I said to Phia, they said this is the most safe place if war broke out. Hmmm, maybe yes, maybe not. If the war is on the land, yes. If the war spread to the villages on the lake, we are in the boat house….where can we run? All my eyes can see is water. I don’t think I able to swim to the shore…This is only a thought.
We grab our backpack and start our adventure. The street was quiet, only few cars passed bye. The center of this place is around the lakes. I said to the driver, “Stop! Stop! Can we park in here?” “WOW! WOW! Where are we? Phia, think! This place is look like somewhere else, very similar.” It’s look like we stand at the lake of Geneva in Switzerland. No wonder they said this is a little Switzerland. Gorgeous…!!
We visited an old fortress high in the mountain. Flowers are every where in the garden, they have huge flowers, bigger than my face….it’s true I didn’t exaggerate. Even color I never seen before. We climbed to the highest part of the fortress, a breath taking scenery over looking the town and far behind is the lake. This beautiful fortress is still look majestic after almost 400 years old.
We discovered more places…this place is really beautiful in its simplicity. We climbed stairs on both sides full of blooming flowers, the fragrance of it feels the air. We stopped at the end and we see few people bowing down and scoop water with their hands then drank it. They said this spring never dried for hundred of years and it’s very pure water, the kings and the queens of the past took water from here, people carried it to the palace. I didn’t drink it I have my bottle water which I satisfy enough.
Then I remembered a story when Jesus purposely met the Samaritan woman at the well of Sikhar. When He introduces the water of life, when you drink from it you never thirst again, He meant was Himself the source of the living water that gives our longing soul peace, love, joy, give us life again. That’s what happened to the women, she shared the joy to others after she met the Messiah. History said she become the first evangelist woman, who also died as a martyr. Her name was Photini, meaning the luminous one.
I also remembered my dream, I was at the first year of collage. In the dream I saw a little girl walking side by side with a man, he is holding her little hand. I can’t see the man face because he is tall only see his white garment. We are walking in the garden, full of blooming flowers, all colors. The ground blanket with flowers. I see a big tree also cover with flowers, can’t see the trunk and branches because flowers all over it. I can smell the atmosphere fill of the fragrance of flowers and spring. I can feel the wind, cool and peaceful. I see a well also cover with flowers, can’t see the bricks. Amazingly beautiful. Then I woke up. In my heart I felt that God wants me to get water baptism, I already accepted Jesus but no one ever told me about water baptism.
That morning at the college I met my best friend told her about the dream and my interpretation of it. I asked her if she baptized before? She said no. I can’t wait till the bell ring ended the class that day. Straight away we went to a house of a lady that we know she can help us. I told her that we want her help us to find pastor who’s willing to baptize us. She on the phone for few minutes, calling here and there. Then she smiled, said, ”Girls tomorrow at 3 pm go to this address find this church.” And she mention the pastor name. Yeah… thank you Jesus, thank you mam.
The next day after class we took a bus , changed another bus, changed again, walked quite far. We never been in East part of the city, we lived in the South. We saw the church sign board. We went inside, no activity, no people. “Hallo…!” Two young girls came out, we told them who we are. The pastor came out. He was so happy to see us. He opened a small pool under the pulpit and he baptized us. The two girls sang a worship song. Just five of us. They shook our hands, “Welcome to the family of God!” My joy can’t be describe. The pastor said that we can comeback next week to get our baptism certificate. We never came back to that church and seen the pastor again. I didn’t think the certificate was important at that time. My old life was dead and now rise with Jesus. I thank God for the pastor he was so gracious willing to do the baptism for 2 girls he didn’t know at all. Bless your heart pastor. I think it’s time for me to look for you and you can see that I’m still in the Lord.
We quickly went back to our boat house before the curfew time. We sat at our royal boat. This time the sun has set. No boats passing by. The lake was dark…after sometime….Wow….the lake became bright with lights from the boat houses. So romantic.
After showered with hot water, we ate dinner, we ordered special traditional food, which they prepared when they have wedding or special occasion. The whole table full with food. Smell good…taste really delicious. We taught we can’t finished it but we did…..hungry stomach and great food, what a fit partnership.
Because of the situation that arise we can’t do our meeting, it’s too dangerous for us and them. But we did enjoying our times there. Memory of a life time to remember.
One morning we woke very early, we went outside and look at the water no ripples, up the sky was still very dark no clouds, we can see stars. We both started pray for the city, for the country, for the people, for the authority. We declared unity, peace, love….speak the promises of God over this nation. We thanking God for created such a beautiful place, all the resources in the land, friendly people…We blessed and blessed.
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 1 Timothy 2:1-2
We left the town, another tight security check. Again we were the only foreigners at the airport.
We were very grateful even though we can’t accomplish what we came for. But I believe we accomplished it in the spiritual realm.
James 5:16b The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. In different translations written: For tremendous power is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer of a godly believer!
I believe the Word never failed.
Pray and keep praying without ceasing for your people, your country, your nation and the nations of the world. Intercede for the peaceful of your nation so you and your family will live in peace and enjoying the land that the Lord God has gives to you.
From my heart 2 ur heart 