In the presence of my enemies
As my sister and I were going to the village to share God's Word with other Middle Eastern women, we encountered a hostile man—a man with a reputation for causing trouble for Christians. He had been waiting for us by the bridge that connects the village to the main road. As we reached him, he shouted at us to go back to where we came from. He knew we were on our way to lead a women's Bible study, and wanted to prevent us from getting there.

Soon a crowd of people who heard the commotion encircled us to join in the taunting. So we lifted our hearts to the Lord and prayed. Suddenly a village security officer appeared and protected us, letting us go on our way. That day, our women's Bible study group prayed for the Lord to touch the heart of this angry young man.

Though we made it home safely after the Bible study, we wondered what would happen when we made the trip the following week. Our concern wasn't as much for the man or the crowd, as for the security officers. We were afraid they would tell us not to come to the village anymore, to stop any further trouble.

The next week, before the meeting started, someone came to tell us that the hostile man was very sick. We went to the village elder and offered to go and visit this young man and to pray for him. The elder welcomed the idea.

So we went to the young man's house and prayed for him. He was touched by our act of kindness, he was ashamed of his behavior, and he repented. God healed him that same day.

When we walked to the village for Bible study the following week, that man was again waiting by the bridge. But this time, he smiled warmly and welcomed us. Word spread throughout the village about the amazing change in this young man; and God opened the way for us to continue our work.

-Eva, Middle Eastern Bible League-trained worker