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Many of our readers are not aware of the complicated situation in Venezuela. The severity and critical nature of things has caused a mass migration and refuge crisis across the world. Personally, I know of families that have moved to every country across Latin America, the U.S., Canada, Spain, and even several who have moved to Russia. The conditions in Venezuela are a humanitarian crisis. Many, when they moved, left everything they had (homes, cars, jobs, etc.) and left with what fit in their suitcase. Children arrived in the new country malnourished and sick because of the scarcity of food and lack of basic medicines.

In our ministry bulletins, I have shared the joy at being able to see my beloved Venezuelan brothers and sisters no matter where I travel across the Americas. Their love for the Lord and His work is contagious and they are serving in their new congregations. They are making the best of their difficult circumstances, but they are fighting with intense emotions and frustrations at having to start over in a new country.

In light of this past month’s theme (the Holy Spirit) and this month’s new theme (restoration), I want to share the perspectives from four Venezuelan friends who now live outside their home country. Their answers to the four questions I asked are found below, referring to them as Venezuelan Sister 1, 2, 3 or 4, instead of using their names, out of respect for their privacy.

1. How do you feel in your spirit when you see what is happening in Venezuela?

Venezuelan Sister 1: Even before leaving Venezuela, I was sure that everything was and continues to be a great spiritual battle. Of course, my human mind goes through many frustrations and anger. I felt trapped, discouraged and like I couldn’t breathe. Now, from the outside looking in, I continue to see the fight and how sad and bad the situation has become. My prayer for years has been the same: that God will hinder the enemy from planting his seeds of thought in our people, that the leaders and those that are in power will repent of their evil ways and change the direction for the country, that there be massive conversion to Christ, that many will be saved, and that God will protect the innocent.

Venezuelan Sister 2: I have had mixed feelings. On one side, I feel sad and unsettled to see how evil has spread and dishonesty has grown across the Venezuelan population; in general, every time things escalate and become more dishonest, confused, ineffective and selfish in light of the needs and chaos that grow daily—and without realizing that it is a vicious cycle that is perpetuated. Yet on the other side, I have felt the protection, covering, and blessing in the midst of the difficulty, not only in my life, but in the lives of others, in tangible and personal ways that the Lord is with His children, even in the valley of the shadow of death. The Holy Spirit has been my comforter at all times—in the streets, in the middle of protests, in scarcity, being violently threatened at the door of my residence building and in our church building. I can see that at those times, my faith has been tested and I can find joy in middle of these circumstances, in spite of the fear and sadness.

Venezuelan Sister 3: I feel so sad when I see how the devil has worked through selfish desires for power in order to manipulate many directionless souls, taking the country to the point it is at currently.
I am led to seek God more when I see human beings seeking their own good without considering the needs of others.
I am deeply pained when I see my country suffering in so many ways, but when I go to God’s Word, I understand that what is happening will continue. This is a call for us to be light in such darkness—to reflect Christ at all times. The situation in Venezuela is an opportunity for many souls to come to the Lord’s feet. We should be ready to work no matter where we are now.
Matthew 9:37

Venezuelan Sister 4: I have mixed feelings when I see the many shortcomings of my country. My spirit is saddened. And I am pained by what my Christian brothers and sisters and my family are going through. The situation in my country allows me to pray without ceasing for my beloved Venezuela and her people.

2. How have you seen the Holy Spirit working in Venezuela in the midst of the current circumstances?

Venezuelan Sister 1: I see the work of God in the brothers and sisters there (in Venezuela)... Their strength, how they fight so that the Lord’s work will advance, even at this time. And they keep giving the glory to God. There will always be a remnant, no matter what happens. God is with His faithful everywhere.

Venezuelan Sister 2: I have been amazed to see how the Holy Spirit acts in the Christian brothers and sisters who share, support each other through the scarcity, go out and preach with courage, do not give up meeting together, help others, and are aware of the needs of others. It has been a time in which the children of God have experienced what it means to have all things in common. Things like sharing your lunch with a brother even though you don’t have much in your own home, or share your rations with a homeless person, or give medicine in spite of the tremendous medical shortages, or serve at a time and place when your own life is in danger. The church continues to persevere and find joy in the midst of the overwhelming trials.

Venezuelan Sister 3: I have seen that, in spite of such a crisis, God is caring for His children. He has provided what we needed and much more. The family of God has united without being limited by distance.
Psalm 27:35

Venezuelan Sister 4: Giving strength to my brothers and sisters, keeping them strong in their faith and hope, in spite of the trials and tribulations. Only through the Holy Spirit have our beloved Venezuelan brothers and sisters been able to survive what they are facing. I know that our prayers are heard and answered in the care and provision for those who are in Venezuela.

3. What is the Holy Spirit doing in your life currently?

Venezuelan Sister 1: He’s working patiently on my character, as always. He’s increasing my faith and gratefulness to our merciful God. My life has totally changed—my routines and way of life, but He has always been faithful to fulfill His promises and He has remained faithfully at my side, giving with generosity everything I need and more.

Venezuelan Sister 2: Currently, the Spirit is encouraging me, lifting me up and comforting me through this transition and emotional sadness from having left my family, friends and Christian family in Venezuela. At the same time, He is using me to listen, serve, encourage and exhort others here where I am currently. I am still in a stage where I am asking, in prayer, that the Spirit guide me to be useful in the way the Lord most needs here.

Venezuelan Sister 3: I have felt that God has protected me and has taken care of my family at all times. He has taught me that the family of God is immense and that His blood is what unites us. Christ is an indestructible bond. He has also taught me that God is in control of everything and that we should live one day at a time, because we don’t know where we will be tomorrow nor whether or not we will even be here. I am learning to be more patient and to trust the Lord.
John 6:68

Venezuelan Sister 4: He is helping me maintain my eyes fixed on the author and perfecter of my faith, Jesus Christ. He strengthens me in the changes, getting to know the congregational culture. I can see His gifts at my disposal in order to continue growing His kingdom and in the areas I am exposed to. I can also see how He has filled me with His great love. I am in a country where no one else in my family lives (other than my husband), yet I have never felt alone or abandoned. God shows His infinite love so that others may see how His perfect plan is played out in the lives of His beloved children.

4. Now that you are no longer living in Venezuela, how have you felt the Holy Spirit accompanying you, guiding you and using you in your new location and congregation?

Venezuelan Sister 1: It is wonderful to be here and learn from brothers and sisters with a strong faith like ours, but with a very different life, influenced by the culture and geography (just like us from our country!). It is exciting to serve and affirm that God placed me where my gifts can be used to bless other members of the church and the community in general—especially as I see how I can help spread the gospel.

Venezuelan Sister 2: I think that right now, where I am currently, the Lord, through His Spirit, has allowed me to see the need for gentleness, kindness, and a listening ear. These qualities have allowed others to confide in me, especially to share their struggles and doubts. Also, the Spirit has allowed me to see certain spiritual needs and pray for them so that His will may be done and even possibly, that I will be used by Him to meet those needs.

Venezuelan Sister 3: The Holy Spirit has accompanied me every step of the way. It has been a process to adapt to a new country, but it has been easier thanks to my brothers and sisters in this new congregation who show the love of Christ to everyone. I have learned that the most important thing is our soul—material things come and go. And I feel that God wants more of me. Actually, He wants ALL of me. He knows our thoughts and desires. When we seek Him, He will work.
Psalm 34

Venezuelan Sister 4: More than ever, I see the tremendous work the Holy Spirit has done in my life. He has given me the disposition to adapt and change to a totally different culture than the one I came from and was used to. He has given me patience and confidence to remain in the congregation where I am even though I prayed and prayed that we could meet somewhere else. God told me, “My grace is sufficient for you.” Through His Spirit, he has transformed the way in which I see things and He has given me the desire to do things for His honor and glory in this congregation. And here, where I find myself, I can continue to preach the love of God to others.
As I write this, I also think of my Venezuelan brothers and sisters... I have no doubt that God will guide them through His Holy Spirit, as He has done with me in this stage of so much change in my life.

Concluding Comments:
I give thanks to God and to my Venezuelan sisters for sharing from the heart their perspectives on what the Spirit is doing and the hope we can have for eternal restauration. May God restore the country of Venezuelan and continue to help those who are there and the Venezuelans across the world. We appreciate your continued prayers and thank God for what He continues to do in the midst of such difficult circumstances.

#IronRoseSister #prayforvenezuela #HolySpirit #restoration

We may look at the Common Threads as a to-do list of how we want to grow, an expression of frustration for our thorns, or a hesitant request for help and accountability by an Iron Rose Sister.

Yet true transformation comes through relationship, not an academic approach to a list of areas in which we need to work.

The Common Threads are designed to invite the Spirit into those areas of our lives in which we want to grow or bloom, invite Him to work on the thorns we wish to remove, and invite others to accompany us as iron sharpening iron, encouraging us in that transformational growth.

We are not in this struggle alone. We have a Helper, Comforter, Advocate... a paraclete.

Four times in the book of John, the Greek word, paraclete is used to describe the Holy Spirit. It is most often translated as Counselor, but the same Greek word is used in 1 John 2:1 to
describe Jesus as our Advocate.

According to Gordon Dalbey in Healing the Masculine Soul, the Greek word paraclete was an ancient warrior’s term. “Greek soldiers went into battle in pairs,” says Dalbey, “so when the
enemy attacked, they could draw together, back-to-back, covering each other’s blind side. One’s battle partner was the paraclete.”

A paraclete stays by our side, counsels us, comforts us, advocates for us, and is a battle-ready partner through whatever we face.

Let’s give the Advocate, our paraclete and speaker of truth the last word!

God not only gave us the Holy Spirit as a helper and one who walks by our side, but He also gave us His church.

The challenge is: Satan wants to do all he can to hinder us from tapping into the resources that God provides. He tells us that we are a failure if we ask for help.

How are you inviting the Holy Spirit to bring about transformation in your life today? Are you letting Him and others help you in that process?

References to the Holy Spirit as paraclete and giving God the last word are taken from Who Has the Last Word? Cutting through Satan’s Lies with the Truth of God’s Word.

[1] Dalbey, Gordon. Healing the Masculine Soul (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2003) 124-5.

#IronRoseSister #HolySpirit #paraclete #commonthreads