Home  Newsletters Ben Ben's May 2007 Newsletter
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Ben's May 2007 Newsletter |
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Dear friends
As I walked the dark path with my small flashlight illuminating the narrow trail that laid before me, I was careful not to dislocate the bone in my chest that for the past two days has been popping in and out dropping me to the ground in utter pain. Although I have been prayed for many times I felt no relief, the only hope I thought was a chiropractor stationed at a medical tent up the path from my camp.
I heard tribal drum beats coming from up the path. Screaming and howling chants where surrounding me as I approached to what seemed like the ritualistic voodoo possessed kneeling on the ground on both sides of the trail flailing around as if they where serpents themselves. As I walked through this hell and on to the medical tent the oppression that I have felt since stepping foot into the rainbow gathering had reached its pinnacle. The eyes of the people I passed glowed of the red that reflected from the fire, as I stared at the emptiness in there eyes they would hiss at me and spit, I realized what Jesus must have felt carrying that cross, but I also knew that greater is He who was in me then he who was in any of them.
With the medical tent in sight I prayed again the prayer that I had prayed earlier, “God I want to know that it’s you who healed me and not anything that someone did here.” Right then something happened for whatever reason I new that I was healed; I went back to the camp and praised God.
This was my first year at the rainbow gathering back in 1999. It was one of the hardest experiences I have ever had to deal with. I wasn’t prepared for the spiritual confrontation that was so apparent there. It wasn’t until much later that I realized how much God was teaching me and preparing me for my future. The passage that God kept in my mind was that, greater is He who is within in us then who is in the world.
Through the years of going to the rainbow gathering my heart has gone out to those who normally attend the gathering. I have found that they are made up people who are broken and in need for someone to love them. I have talked to so many people over the years who just want to belong and not be alone. There are those who know who Jesus is but have never experienced his love and mercy. Unfortunately, I have also talked to those who are there to spread lies and deceit, those who are there to up the lost.
The lines at the Gathering are thick, to preach that there is only one way to salvation is hard when everyone else preaches that there is no “one way”, that whatever makes you feel good is the way to go. Universalism is the number one religion at the gathering and one of the hardest to deal with as a Christian. The truth is that the Holy Spirit does all the work, not us. Almost every year God encourages us with people who return as Christians who had that seed planted by people at our camp.
So, now I am off again to the rainbow gathering, for one month I will be helping to train and lead a group of Christians for another mission trip to the rainbow gathering. Please keep us in prayer for the month of June and into July.
As I realize God’s direction in my life, I can only hope that I will be equipped to do the job. I know that God has been training me for many years but I am still scared to make such a leap, I guess that’s a good thing.
I thank those who have been giving extra support and prayer. My last day of work will be at the end on May. I have enough to cover rent and some bills, I am still short on money for the Gathering, it will cost $500 plus expenses.
I can’t say enough about how overwhelmed I am by all of you and your prayers; I truly thank you so much for everything.
Your dear friend in Christ
-Ben Pothier |
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