It was Wednesday morning when we arrived, exhausted after a dramatic 36-hour journey and running on barely two hours of sleep. A kind man from a local church picked us up and welcomed us into his home. As we sat together making small talk, he began to sing a Swedish worship song, sharing from his time as a missionary there. In that moment, the weight of the journey caught up with us, and we began to cry. Questions filled our minds: what was going to happen on this trip, could God really use us like this, and did we even have the strength to be there? He gently encouraged us to rest, and after a short nap we were picked up by the pastor and reunited with the rest of the team. After breakfast and several hours of sleep, we felt more alive—still tired, but ready. We were reminded that in our weakness, God is our strength.
Later that day, we visited a facility for teenage girls who had experienced sexual abuse, many of them now mothers. As we listened to their stories, something shifted within us. God’s compassion filled the room so tangibly that our exhaustion disappeared—we were suddenly wide awake. The Holy Spirit led us to share short testimonies, and it was powerful to see how each story connected with the girls and opened their hearts.
This led into a time of prayer. One staff member shared that she had suffered from back pain for years and believed it might be spiritual, as it only came while working at the facility. We gathered around her and prayed, and the presence of God became undeniable. When we finished, she was in tears. She told us she had felt something move from her back, down her legs, and out through her feet. The pain was completely gone. In that moment, we were reminded that it is not about our ability, but about saying yes and trusting Him.
We continued praying for the girls and their children. One young mother asked us to pray for her five-year-old son, who had never been able to speak despite surgery. As we prayed, we sensed a deeper spiritual aspect and spoke life and freedom over him. Before leaving, we prayed for protection over the entire facility.
A week later, we returned. The atmosphere felt lighter from the moment we walked in. The little boy who had not spoken a word now ran toward us, speaking nonstop, full of joy and life. His mother told us he had started speaking right after we left. The staff member also shared that her back pain had not returned.
This experience stirred deep faith in us. God is not dependent on our feelings, energy, or circumstances. Even when we felt empty, He moved powerfully. All He asked for was our yes—and as we stepped out, we saw His power bring freedom and transformation.
