"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the Master has put in charge of the servants to give them their food at the proper time?"
Matthew 24:45
I never face a more difficult task than trying to put into words the amazing works of God for the many who have been so faithful to support and stand with us in prayer as we travel the globe! Stating the facts would be simple as there is always much to report but the miracle that never ceases to amaze me is how God birthed the plan in our hears, gave instruction and counsel through every phase of planning and then brought it all together to produce a harvest we could never have dreamed of.
The vision for Ethiopia was birthed as early as January 2007 as we set our hearts to pray and seek the face of God inquiring what he desired to do. It quickly became obvious that this would be an unprecedented trip that would take us into uncharted territory. We knew nothing about the country, had no contacts, and no clue what we were to do once we arrived! While our visit to the embassy in Washington D.C. was a story all it's own, it was not the door God would open. Rather, it was in the coffee shop of a hotel that we encountered divine providence that ultimately provided the contact God had intended. It was mid June when we left Redding feeling somewhat like Abraham of old, departing for a distant land, unsure if anyone would be meeting us at the airport, having no hotel reservations, and no agenda except to obey God who said "Go."
Having cleared customs in Addis Ababa, the Holy Spirit spoke saying someone was there to meet us just outside the doors and we were very happy to see four curious faces and a sign with our name on it. I had to marvel at any pastor who would open his heart, his home, his church, and his schedule to nine strangers he knew nothing about from half way around the world. That is how it all began...
Accommodations had been secured for us as well as a van and driver for the length of our stay and that first night we were invited to minister at a youth service where we witnessed great hunger and a desire for more of God. The next morning we arose early to join a group of intercessors praying for the nation and received still more revelation about this amazing nation and God's purposes regarding this particular trip. Addis Ababa is considered the capital of Africa; being home to the African Union and to more embassies than any other country on the continent. We were told many ambassadors attended church where we ministered. This underscored God's word to us from Isaiah 61 that nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn. In several services throughout the week we witnessed God's power to bring many to salvation, heal the sick, increase faith, and encourage the church and many visiting pastors.
As the week progressed, the divine appointments began to line up one after another. At breakfast we encountered a man about to attend several high level government meetings concerning Ethiopia's Centennial Celebration. Ethiopia numbers her days according to the Julian Calendar which is seven years behind our calendar. Hence, the year 2007 ushered in a variety of celebrations of which this man was in charge. He was a believer battling godless influence and welcomed our request to pray for him as a divine appointment. Here was a gate of influence, and we were honored to have the opportunity to create an inroad for the Kingdom in such governmental decisions through prayer.
Another day God altered our plans with a broken clutch that ultimately landed us in the company of the Patriarch of the Orthodox Church - in status, akin to the Pope of the Catholic Church - with whom we had a 90 minute visit. Asking if we might pray for him, one could see by his expression, he had never been asked that question before, rather, it was he who usually offered prayers for the people! After informing us of the exact number of people under his influence in the Orthodox Religion (in the millions) and how our prayers would be fore them as well, he consented to our request. Another gate to the nation.
I am reminded fo the parable of the talents in which the reward for obedience was cities, and realms of influence! God had designed many such opportunities that week as we continually worshiped and prayed over each day.
A wonderful man, a board member of the church who had availed himself to be our guide for several days was also a prominent business man in the community who owned a newspaper. He begged us to go with him to meet his father-in-law who owned land he wanted us to pray over. This land owner was a man of influence in the Orthodox Church which holds much sway over governmental policies. It had been his dream to one day build a house for God on his acreage, a story quite similar to that of King David. When a Marxist regime took control of the government a few years prior, they confiscated some of his property, yet he held onto his dream and prayed. One day he had a vision that a group of people from a far away land would come and walk his land and pray with him and it would all be restored to him. Having heard of us and the miracles that God was doing in the services where we ministered, he was convinced we were the people in his vision. So we walked the land and prayed with him. It was a month later when I received an email saying he had met with governmental officials that week and all his land had been restored to him!
On another occasion we had been informed that a group of highly influential Muslim leaders were meeting at a local 5 star hotel to discuss strategy for making inroads of influence into the Ethiopian government. We knew it was an assignment to go and pray. In the huge lobby of this posh hotel was an amazing grand piano. Now it just happened that a member of our team was a concert pianist! God never misses the slightest detail! After much perseverance we obtained permission to access the piano and positioning ourselves around the room we each began to intercede as the pianist played. The room began to fill with people drawn by the music. There were several small groups of Muslims around the room who become the focus of our intercession and we knew there was war in the heavenlies that hour as the atmosphere was permeated with worship.
There are so many stories but most exciting for us all was having taken a step on faith into the unknown and seeing God create an agenda we could never have put together. Our faith has been enlarged to embrace even greater unknowns that we might know Him more. We have received word from the pastor in Ethiopia telling of the increased faith level of the church and the many miracles in their midst. Cancer had been healed and a 4 year old boy raised from the dead by his father in the first week after we left!
After leaving Ethiopia, Larry headed home and I went on to Mozambique to teach in the Pastor's Bible School at the Iris base. The lives of these men became so precious to me as together we searched the scriptures by day and came together for long nights of prayer where we met God face to face. We were plunged to depths of God's presence we had never touched before and I knew that this was a divine encounter that would have an impact on an entire continent as these men went out to plant churches and establish the Kingdom of God.
Returning home with most of summer behind us, it was time to focus on family and wait on God for the next season's marching orders! Over the past couple of months, Ethiopia continues to stir in our hearts and I sense that we are to return. More doors of opportunity have also opened in Mozambique. As well, we are in prayer for Tibet - a people God has been speaking to us about for some time. So this is the table God has set before us and with much prayer and waiting on Him, we look for His glory to be manifest in even greater measure in 2008.
Retirement is on the horizon for Larry and we continue to seek the Lord for guidance, counsel, and provision to live out the passion He has put in our hearts for the nations. Many have asked about our work in Haiti. We remain in contact with Pastor Westerne and await God's timing. At present he an his family are in the U.S. for protection as their lives had been threatened and the family attacked. Please continue to pray with us for them and for Haiti, that God will pour out upon His people in this very troubled land.
With Thanksgiving just a week away, we think of so many who have labored with us in so many ways. Without your support, we would not be able to accomplish so much for the Kingdom among the nations he calls us to disciple. To say that we are grateful is an understatement. We absolutely love that together we share in the spoil and rejoice in our partnership that God may be glorified in the earth. We pray that as you gather with family and friends this Thanksgiving, you will remember these nations who so hunger and thirst for more of God and receive from the Lord the bounty He has given as our inheritance that we may reap a harvest in the earth in this hour of His favor. It's not about what we do, but rather it's about the plans of God. It's knowing the times in which we live and the season of God's favor. It's having eyes to see and ears to hear and then stepping out in faith and obedience, parnering with God to accomplish His purposes among the nations for this generation.
Because of His Great Love,
Larry & Alison Humbert
