Terror of the Night

I can hear the crunch of the dirt under the feet of someone walking outside my house. The light from a flashlight outside reflects off the ceiling of our tin roof. Laura calls out, “Who’s there?”. “Security guard” answers the heavily Nuer accented voice of our night guard. We had been in Nasir for about a week, and every night looked similar to this. Many strange noises awakened us throughout the night… loud thunks from things dropping on the tin roof, the squeaking of window shutters, the sounds of the wind blowing against the house, and many other unexplained noises. It seemed as though everything sounded like someone was trying to break in.

Laura and I had been sleeping inside the tent in our living room for almost a week. Part of this was due to the fact that our mattresses had some mold on them from the rain leaking into the house over the summer, and partially because when the sun went down we were both terrified to be inside our house. I literally dreaded night time.  Each night, after dinner with the team, we would be in our tent ready to go to bed by 7:30 because we were too scared to stay out of the safety net of our tent.

Despair crept in. I was growing weary with lack of sleep, and the terror of night that gripped me with fear kept me from do anything in my house after dark. There was no way I would be able to do this for two years. Every morning I would wake, happy that it was light, but not wanting to get out of the tent, just longing for something familiar.

As I prayed for the Lord to strengthen and protect me, I became aware of the spiritual attack I was experiencing. During this time, Psalm 91 became very real to me. Together as a team, we began to war in prayer over what Laura and I were experiencing. By God’s grace and the power in Jesus name, He delivered us from the schemes of the enemy. Many blessings were prayed over our house, and the intense fear was gone. The difference was like night and day. Thankfully, after treating our mattresses, Laura and I were able to move out of the tent a few days later and into our own rooms, free of fear and mold.

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you make the Most High your dwelling—even the LORD, who is my refuge—then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;” Psalm 91:1-11

Our livingroom/bedroom the first week