Hannah, Rosie & Krisztina In October 2015 we went to Budapest to visit the Danube memorial known as “Cipők a Duna-parton” or “The Shoes on the Danube Promenade”. Made in 2005, it gives remembrance to the 3,500 people, 800 of them Jews, who were shot into the Danube during world war 2. They were ordered to take off their shoes and were shot so that their bodies fell into the river and were carried away. “How is it possible to commemorate the victims of such incredible brutality in a way that is fitting?... The memorial is so effective because the touchable, corporeal shoes along the river, left behind empty and without their owners, force us to confront the question: whose shoes were they? Who were the people that are missing from the sculpture? Further, each of the shoes is different ...Each shoe was considered, each individual was envisioned. This reinforces the individuality of the owners that makes the monument so intimate and striking.” Cast iron signs read in Hungarian, English and Hebrew: “To the memory of victims shot into the Danube by Arrow Cross militiamen in 1944-45.” And so our mission was all to do with putting on the shoes of others... Hannah: We took with us shoes that belonged to a friend’s family who are Jewish and had survived entering the ghetto because her father had red hair, so the Nazis believed he was German! A few weeks before we arrived, my friend had accidentally found another cellar hidden under the cellar in their house. Among other things, she found shoes hidden belonging to her father, mother and some of her early years shoes. God knew we were coming and had already prepared for the work He wanted us to do! We took these shoes along with some teenage shoes from Kristie (1940s young women’s shoes, significant because Kristie’s feet had walked in Israel) and laid them next to the memorial shoes. We prayed to reverse the blood shed (many natural accidents happen there apparently) and then walked the shoes back in a walk of penitence to the Rumbach synagogue in the ghetto. Although our walk was mostly in silence, we felt the Lord gave us some scriptures to declare there. Rosie collected leaves on the way, which she laid in the box prophetically for the healing of the nation (revelation 22:2). Fred called the box the ’box of teaching’ because it contained so much history and it was important to pass this teaching on to the next generation. When we finished our assignment, we passed it onto our local Jewish Hungarian friend who has a strong teaching anointing so she can do that. We brought red fabric to represent the blood of Yeshua, which we laid over the shoes in the box as we stood in the gap to repent on behalf of the blood that had been shed and we prayed for reconciliation. As we did this, there was a powerful moment where it felt like we stepped into eternity - the past, present and future collided and we felt the shift from sorrow to joy. That was the most beautiful moment and touched my heart so deeply. The next day we returned at dawn when no one was around to dance psalm 113 (a song that releases joy) & Am Yisrael chai! We declared the year of the Lords favour and reversing of the curse. We shared communion and threw bread soaked in communion wine on the water while declaring Ecclesiastes 11:11 TLV “Send your grain across the seas, and in time, profits will flow back to you.” It’s very good and significant that the prophetic acts both mornings were accomplished at dawn in dark and walking the shoes into light … While we praying together for the assignment, my Hungarian friend shared a story she just happened to have seen on TV before we came. It was discovered that a man had escaped drowning, so his story was televised. Now living in the USA, the man had pretended to be shot and fell into the river. Holding his breath, he then clung to an iron bar underneath the squad who were firing. He walked out so traumatized that he only recently could face returning to Budapest after about 45 years. Fred felt it would be good for us to prophetically walk a pair of shoes out of the river as this man had, so we all dipped our shoes in the water of the Danube and walked out declaring freedom!!! From there we went to parliament. As we prayed we saw a small window open - our prayers make a way for Him! It began to rain - really fine, gentle rain. Rain speaks of God’s blessings and we felt it also represented the pure word of God able to cut through the darkness. We were encouraged that our proclamations have access to parliament! Later we found out the prime ministers’ son became a Christian. (Ezekiel 34:26, Isaiah 45:8, Malachi 3:10) After our trip, we found out that the Jewish community had a breakthrough regarding the burial of bones found in 2011. While renovating the Margit Bridge, divers found hundreds of bone fragments from the WWII shooting. DNA testing revealed that the majority of them had markers common to Ashkenazi Jews. The Jewish community petitioned for them to receive a Jewish burial and after 4 years (just after we went), they finally won. They received a Jewish burial attended by the Jewish community and Christian leaders. The memorial tomb was inscribed “Son of man, shall these bones revive?”.
Rosie: We had visited the Rumbach synagogue a few months before this trip. It was crumbling and needed 1000s spending on repairs, which they didn’t have. Inside the synagogue we sang the Shema, worshipped and prayed. We prayed on our knees repenting. Along the wall of the synagogue I saw splattered red paint (I’ve no idea why it was there), which looked like red blood stains. At the side of the synagogue two doors had been removed placed either side of the red paint. The light from windows shone in. I felt this was significant. As I looked at it I felt God show me a picture of the Lord of Hosts on a horse coming through the wall and between the doors to the space where the paint (which represented blood from those who had been shot) was. It was as if the blood of Jesus was now covering it all. On this trip, we found the money had been released and the restoration work of the Rumbach had started! This trip we visited the Danube and walked the shoes back to the synagogue. Along the Danube riverside was an avenue of new young trees. It was misty and quiet as golden leaves were gently falling from the trees, it was so majestic! I felt the Lord ask me to pick up some of the fallen leaves to represent the healing of history and the land (Rev 22:2) and to represent new life. When we arrived at the Rumbach, we placed the shoes on steps - back to where they should have been because the people should never have been taken to the riverside. We laid down red material (to represent the blood of Yeshua). We all took a pair of shoes and ‘stepped into their shoes’ as we identified with them. In pairs we walked slowly, silently, solemnly, prayerfully and with reverence over the blood remembering the people who had worn the shoes and what had happened to them. Then we laid the shoes and a prophetic memorial box on the steps. Inside the box we placed the shoes along with an Israeli flag, the blood and I laid the leaves on top. The steps outside were all falling apart, so we all took a stone as a memorial in honour of the people. Krisztina: When went to parliament to pray and God reminded me of what happened while at a conference in Israel in June 2015. Our homework from the conference was to pray for our nation. When I got to my room, I found it so hard because I was so disappointed in my nation for all the anti-Semitism. I said to the Lord “how can I pray for my nation? My heart is so empty, so hurt, I have nothing.” Then Holy Spirit came powerfully and changed my heart and I saw how my nation has never heard the gospel. Hungarians were originally ‘Huns’ - 7 tribes led by Atilla, the Hun. Atilla the Hun led the tribes from Asia across to Europe. Istvan Kiraly became king and realising they would never conquer Europe, he settled the people as the nation of Hungry. Being the only pagan nation amongst many Catholic nations, he also made Hungary Catholic so they could trade and blend in with the surrounding nations. However, this conversion was brutally enforced and was not because they were evangelised. They never had a true revelation of Gods love, of God the Father. So their female god was just replaced with prayers to Mary I saw my nation like an orphan with no siblings in a strange land, being able only to rely on herself, striving to survive and not knowing the Father’s love. It was so touching to see my nation from Gods eyes. To feel His love for my people, so different from my disappointment. Then I was able to pray. After I shared this with the group outside the Hungarian Parliament, we prayed and then Fred noticed an open window ‘look, our prayers got in!’
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Written by Jane Hopkins One Saturday tea time, after a dance rehearsal, The Sh’ma dancers had a time of prayer. While sitting waiting for them to finish, I became aware of an extremely bright light and initially, I thought that one of the church lights was flickering. When I looked again, I realised the light I had seen was nowhere near any of the light fittings.
The light I saw was bright silver and it resembled a very light-weight fabric. The word gossamer came to mind. This fabric billowed out like a curtain blowing in the wind. Suddenly, it disappeared. Then, I heard the words, ‘It’s alright. She’s allowed to see’. The light reappeared and remained in place until the prayer session was over. Approx 2 weeks later I was at church in a prayer meeting. A lady was sat under the spot where I had seen the light and I noticed a small dot of what appeared to be a focused light on her chest. I looked to see if it was a mirror, or watch reflecting, but there wasn’t anything. I told her what I saw and told her to expect God to be working in/through her in the near future. Two months later, she came to tell me that the Lord had done a significant work in her right where I had seen the light. She felt his presence glowing in her and heard him saying, 'Don't worry, I am with you'. Written by Virginia White After leading our slot at the 24 hour worship led by Brenda Taylor, we felt we should go to the Houses of Parliament at 3.a.m. to proclaim: ‘THE HOUR IS CHANGING’ ….prophetic word during the watch ‘ARE YOU AWAKE!’ Not just conscious . Luke 22 v 46 ‘Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.’ That’s all we knew…. That something was changing! (We had a bit of trouble all setting off together, some went a different route, but we ALL arrived in Unity!) There were many different proclamations and prayers from the dear saints who stood with us. This is some of what was recorded as we prayed together before we left Emmanuel: Dislodging of satanic stronghold – breaking of chains – proclaiming truth and building the kingdom Let my people go- severing from the E.U. – no compromise- John 18 v 17 -37 - Protection prayers Let those who serve, do so from a place of worship - That the government shall be upon His shoulders- John 14 v 12 - Something will shift at 3.a.m. – Road block prayers against lying spirits Arise mighty army of God – THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT WE SAW: At 3.a.m. we opened the wings, we stood silently –a wind sprung up from nowhere, we prayed silent prayers, Through the windows in Parliament there were still computer screens flickering – People stopped in taxis and shouted ‘What’s happening? Who are you?’ There were green lights, the time for moving was now – We saw crosses, a Union Jack- Prayed for Guardian Angels –someone felt footsteps- prayed against demonic lay lines - Prayed against ‘Rats’ in Parliament – Someone felt a shift in the atmosphere- We stood as protectors - We saw a statue of a dark King – felt a dark religious spirit - took authority over the administration in Jesus name – Sang ‘Lord take up your Holy Throne.’ We can only do what the Lord shows us, and that my friends, leaves everything else in His hands. Grateful thanks to all the amazing warriors who listened and came to this truly powerful 24 hours of worship! Sh’ma Team Written by Emma Freeman We had an incredible time at the CDFB* workshop with Marie Bensley! As always, we try to hear whats on the Father's heart for the day. We felt the day was about being free of all fear and to know our identity in Him so we can go forward in the victory He has already won! We opened with the scripture Acts 1:8 because we need to walk in the authority He has given us without interference from anywhere else! We warmed up with some Israeli dances and then taught our new dance 'We shall behold Him' to the powerful song by David Phelps. The beginning of the dance starts with time to be still and just behold Him, which positioned us to go deeper into worship through the dance. Ginnie prepared our hearts to connect with Yeshua's by reminding us that the scriptures say the bride makes herself ready (Rev 19:7). One way we make ourselves ready is by beholding Him. We learned and danced 'Beautiful Bride'. The beginning of the dance has a solo part, which Ginnie invited those who felt led, to join in with. The end of the dance flows into a time where we dance under a prophetic bridal veil (white fabric) as we allow Him to reveal to us what it really means to be His beloved bride. This then evolved into worshiping through spontaneous dance and lots of of flags. Then our amazing sound lady allowed the next track to come on (Glory come down) and we went into a time of freestyle dancing. As we were worshiping, Rosie felt prompted to bring out the secret place - a large prophetic canopy she has made. People worshiped in the secret place and Holy Spirit ministered to us. In between these deep worshipful dances, we learned various Israeli dances including a couples dance which always goes a bit wrong, but that's what makes it so fun! We felt to bring Glory Battle (a victory dance that doesn't deny the cost of following Yeshua, see YouTube page) because we felt the Lord wanted to call people into the battle with the knowledge that He has won the victory! We felt He also wanted to encourage and bring healing to His warriors who were growing weary, or wounded. A lady came to tell us that the dance really spoke to her as she realised the reality of the attack (2 Corinthians 2:11). One battle we face is where we stand with God's plan for Israel and the Jewish people. With all the negative media and lies going round, we have a voice to bring the truth in love and spread the good reports. We all danced Highways to Zion by Paul Wilbur and those of us who had the energy danced Na'ale L'irushalayim while others surrounded us with flags. The last dance we did was Heaven on Earth (see our YouTube page), which we changed as we felt led to invite people into the centre as a prophetic act of entering into Heaven as we establish it's fullness on Earth. Throughout the day our Lord healed, freed and changed us. One lady reported her back being healed and another came to let us know that the pain in her leg had significantly improved and had almost gone. Thank You God! It was a beautifully rich time of worship and an unholy mess as Holy Spirit took over and we did our best to follow! Thank You Father! *Christian Dance Fellowship, Bristol Virginia White & Emma Freeman When we were on our Safari day, and how wonderful was that, I asked the Lord specifically if we could have an elephant cross in front of us. Then when we were almost out of the park and out of the elephant territory, a large elephant literally crossed our path! I asked the Lord again, ‘Is there to be another miracle... maybe a lion!’
Clear answer, ‘No! But there is one more miracle, but wait.’ As well as the generous gift of a goat, the pastors also blessed us with some local crafts, which we laid out to decide who wanted what. There were 5 beautiful carvings of the Ugandan national bird, which was a shame since there were 6 in our group. We decided maybe the ladies would take the birds and Robert would be happy to have first pick of the rest (he’s a gentleman like that). However, when we got him, he looked at the birds “how many did you say there were? because I count 6...!!” The four of us in the room definitely counted out 5 birds, but now there were 6! We praised God and enjoyed the creative miracle. We felt it was confirmation that every one of us was meant to be there. This was powerful considering we had earlier been discussing the attack one of us had had to dissuade them coming. It was also a provocation to expect for the more, He is a generous God and He’s called us to a supernatural walk with Him! We asked John why the great crested crane is the national bird of Uganda and what makes it special. He said it is the bird that rises early to praise the Lord through song and dance, how apt! Virginia White, Emma Freeman & Rosie Smith We went on safari in Murchison Falls National Park. Seeing elephants, giraffes, lions so many wonderful animals, it looked like the garden of eden! At the place we stopped for lunch, our waitress recognised Hannah’s name and voice - she had heard us on the radio and wanted to let us know she had been encouraged! Then we went onto the Murchison Falls...Wow! We watched and worshiped as long as we were allowed (we had to catch a boat across the Nile to get home). Watching the water we considered the consistent power of God pouring out. Here are some of the things we meditated on: The power of His presence when we look at the water that purifies and so energises us! The power of the water images the power of God. The pouring out of His Spirit every second to cleanse and to fill us. That the power surging from God is available every second of every day. It never stops. The inquiry is whether we will just receive it, or not? We wondered what caused the water the water falls. Our guide told us it was due to the narrowing of the rock so that all the water was squeezed into one point creating the dramatic water fall. This is like when God squeezes us by leading us through the narrow way so that His power would work through us. On our way out of the park we got see another facet of His power, but that’s a story for the next post... In the evening we prayed for lovely sisters Blessed and Margaret under the Chuppah! The presence of God was beautiful. What an incredible privilege, and loved each other! Emma Freeman & Virginia White We were up early to go back to the radio station. Having been told we were to focus on salvation, they threw us in the deep end - without understanding what had been said by others (speaking in Ugandi) Virginia was offered the microphone! BUT the Holy Spirit filled her mouth and she finished with an alter call. Then the microphone was offered to everyone else...He again filled our mouths and some of us ‘just happened’ to have prepared what He wanted to say to the people. At one point the presence of God tangibly filled the radio station. There were 14 calls to the pastor, some received Jesus. Hallelujah! After breakfast we went to church. They said: ‘Your praise has lifted us to a new place!’ We were merely doing ‘our thing’ loving our Yeshua and worshiping Him! They asked if anyone was there who had been saved yesterday at the event. A few hands raised. They then asked if anyone else wanted to be saved. A young man came forward. He stood at the front while they spoke to the people. After waiting quite a while (I wondered if they had forgotten him), they lead him in prayer to give himself to Yesu (Ugandi for Yeshua) down a microphone in front of all the people - surely a challenge to our culture that likes everything to be comfortable and easy, but these ones know He’s worth it. Please pray for this man, that he would be bold and courageous for His Lord and a man after God’s heart. We presented the church with a Jerusalem flag after they decided to be a church to intercede for and stand with Israel. After lunch we went to see John’s 90 year old mum who hadn’t eaten for 5 days. She was only taking sips of water so she was dehydrated, her temperature was rising and she was in pain. When we arrived she was laid on the hospital bed motionless and looking like she was end of life. We felt to sing in the spirit. Then suddenly she rolled over and began to praise God! “Its only Yesu who has healed me! Yesu has already defeated satan’s power!”. Eruptions in the room, then she got up and walked about (with help), still praising Yeshua! She even wanted to dance! Last outreach! Prayed for many, danced and felt such freedom worshiping the great King under the Ugandan sky, we danced with the Africans! We ‘got down!’ There was a scramble by the kids to come forward for the alter call, followed by adults some really moved. Isaac gave testimony of his salvation from our first visit, and our little team ‘glowed’ as we shared the great love of our Yeshua!
Fred Tabag, our amazing technical guy, who operated our music later told us he was so blessed because he got born again in 1996 to Angus Dei - a song we played and invited people to join us in simply worshiping with us on stage. Emma Freeman, Virginia White & Robert Hopkins We joined a praise meeting at the church. Part of the way through worshiping, the generator had to be changed, so without electricity the music stopped and everyone sat and waited... “Oh Lord, you’re still here and we have our voices, please can we can we continue to worship you with what we’ve got”. Shortly after asking this, one of the members of the church got up and started singing, so worship continued a cappella until the electricity was restored! Thank you God! After this the bishop said, ‘and now our sister will share the word’! Virginia hadn’t planned a thing, but God had and she followed the Spirit and delivered an amazing word! Then we were back for more outreach! We danced, we worshiped, we did the alter call and many came through the blood of salvation! Masses of children and young people came. By the end of our stay Robert had been renamed ‘Jatango’, which means miracle vessel/worker of God: I had the privilege of praying with so many while there. I will share a few stand out ones. The Pastors kept bringing people for me to pray with. A young man late twenties had problems and as I prayed a word of knowledge came and I cast out a bad spirit, He who the Son sets free ....and He was free, totally changed! On the first night of outreach when it was dark, the Pastors fetched me to the rear of the shelter we were under and asked me to pray with a young woman who had been bitten by a snake!! After prayer she was calm and full of peace, the next night she was dancing and singing with the rest of the lovely choir/dancers. This man had back problems and walked with a stick. After prayer I told him to dance...he did! He had to come back to take away his stick! On the final morning I got whisked away on the back of a motorbike to the Pastors house to pray with his house keeper and her young child. Amazing privilege that God should use me in such ways. There are many other people I personally prayed with but these are the standout ones. To God be the glory
That evening the pastors and leaders presented us with a live young goat…how do you get a goat on a plane and does it need a visa?! Thankfully none of this was an issue as our gift was served for lunch the next day! This is a high honour in their culture, which we gratefully received. Virginia White & Emma Freeman Went to meet the ‘Tribal King of the Town’ a believer, who had to formally invite us in! Then on to the Lord mayor’s office! Is everyone a believer in this town?! It seems 90% are culturally Catholic with witch craft, the rest Islamic, with a small percentage evangelicals. Everyone is sensitive to God, so different from the UK. We spent time in the afternoon interceding for Pakwach as God showed us His heart for the people and the land. Later that day with all our flags, loud speakers, choirs and massive numbers of children the ‘Muzungu’ (whites) joined the Jesus march round the town. Being in Africa, it was less of a march and more of a dance. People joined in as they went past and we even inspired a lady carrying a plate full of things on her head to dance! A shaman seemed to like following us, well, we know the deal... The march finished at a green where tomorrows event would be. A group from another village had joined us and were already singing and playing a giant Xylophone. They sang simple worship songs in the local language which declared truth as the people gathered to watch. In the evening we had a slot on Radio Pakwach where we were able to invite people to the event the following day, our team were amazing! Think we’ll let Robert start a Radio Sh’ma! A natural! We later found out that 11am - 6pm the whole radio station couldn’t air anything because the air conditioning had broken making it too hot to transmit. People had been trying to fix it all day. At 6:30pm it started getting some signals again and at 7pm Fred, one of the IT technicians wasn’t sure the radio was going to air, but it did! Praise God! Our slot was 7-8pm and about 30 minutes after we left the whole radio station went off again! They couldn’t broadcast again until 8 am the next day. Written by Emma Freeman As we traveled from Kampala to Pakwach, we waited on God for words He wanted us to declare as we crossed the gateway bridge over the Nile from Murchison National park into Packwach. The elders from Pakwach we were to work with led by our John Komogum and a few believers met us at the bridge, which was built by Israeli’s. We walked together symbolically over into their town.
This is what we felt the Lord gave us to declare: Psalm 24 Numbers 10:9 We blew the shofar and sang ‘Prepare Ye the Way’ as we all walked across. |
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