Want to hear an amazing story?!?!?!

Here is a great story! But first, here is what you need to know: a few weeks ago, I went on a short, five day outreach in the Eastern Province of Rwanda - a place called Bukora. We (my team and I) took 20 teenagers and led them in evangelism and discipleship. The teens we took come from homes affected by HIV. Some are orphans, some are infected with HIV, some have lost parents or other family members. Aprecom meets with these teens regularly to pray, worship and encourage them. We do what we can to help support them.  BUT...this is the most amazing group of teens I have ever seen! The love and passion they have for the Lord = inspiring! They love each other (and us as leaders! They treated us so well!), they are bold, unafraid to speak out.
Now, the rest of the story...

Her name is M'kashaka (or Shaka). She is from an area called Gatstata, about 20 minutes outside of Kigali. She has been apart of our group of teens for a bit. She has been doing the church thing for a while, but only because her grandma told her to. She would go to church and then go out to party. She was an alcoholic and had no desire to change. She came on this outreach because her grandma made her. So she went along with the worship times and ministry times, simply mimicking what others were doing.

Every evening, we had a time of worship. This one night was specifically intense. We were worshipping in the pure, uninterrupted presence of Jesus! But, as I later found out, all four of us Aprecom staff felt that God wanted to do something BIG. Like break some chains, change some lives, redirect some paths, BIG. We continued to worship and pray, proclaiming freedom over the group. As we prayed, the four of us felt that we should specifically pray for one person - Shaka. We moved closer, laying hands on her we prayed for freedom from whatever was holding her back. Soon after, she began screaming. She fell to the ground, swatting at the air, kicking her legs like crazy. We continued to pray. At this point, it was obvious - we were dealing with a demon. Personally, I was kind of freaking out. I do not have a lot of experience in this. However, I know who Jesus is, so I kept praying and speaking what I felt the Holy Spirit saying.
Eventually, she stopped screaming and moving, laying on the ground - almost like she was unconscious. After she "came to", we talked to her, still praying over her. She told us what was going on.

When she was screaming, kicking and swatting the air, she was having like a super vivid vision. It was incredibly realistic and actual reality disappeared. There was a crocodile coming at her, trying to eat her up. She was screaming and fighting it, but it wouldn't leave. It was taking over. Right before the crocodile bit her, she almost like passed out.

Now, I know what you may be thinking... "What?!?!?! That didn't happen!", or "Um, she lied, you're insane". But seriously, it did! To be honest, if someone would have told me this story a year ago, I would deny that it was true. But, Satan, demons and demon possession is real, people. BUT...Jesus is bigger! This story may seem dramatic or impossible, but it was what Shaka needed! She told us that her sin, her life was like the crocodile. It was coming at her, eating her up, swallowing her whole. No matter what she did, how hard she fought, she was miserable. Because of her life of sin, life without Jesus - she was dying. She told us that right before she blacked out, right when she was about to be bitten by the crocodile, Jesus stepped in. She saw Him in a real way. She saw that He loves her and was saving her from death.
That night, she gave her life to Jesus! She said she was all in, nothing would hold her back! Guys, Jesus is so good!

And, here she is! After giving her life to Jesus, she was like a light that couldn't be hidden! She brought joy wherever she went. Her life is different, and it's so evident!

P.S. thank you Jesus for spell check. Apparently, I don't know how to spell crocodile without the help of my computer.