18 – 24 February 2017
It was already the 6th fasting and prayer week for Switzerland, February 18-24, 2017. This time it was in Genolier, not far from Geneva. The group of 32 persons consisted of many familiar faces, in addition to several new participants whom we greeted for the first time in such a week.
I have attended all the fasting weeks, each with its own high points, this time included. One of the high points this time was the first evening. Our accomodations were three group houses in the Colonie de Genolier, belonging to the organization Insieme. Our group lived in two houses and in the third, over the weekend, was a group of mentally handicapped persons, plus their caretakers. When they saw our guitars, they spontaneously asked if we would sing a few songs for them in the evening. It’s a good thing that music knows no language boundaries, so our considerable group of 32 persons set out cheerfully to visit our French-speaking neighbors. We had chosen especially joyful songs. After the first few sounds of the guitars and our voices we saw pure joy and happiness on the faces of these people who have the fantastic ability to understand things not with the intellect, but with the heart. So it was not surprising that they were soon singing and dancing vigorously. In closing we were able to pray for them and one of our group even yodeled. With full hearts we returned to our prayer room and thanked God that we had this experience already on the first evening. And of course we also prayed for once more that God would work in these men and women.
An additional high point of the week was our prayer outreach in Geneva. We drove first to the CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) grounds. Even from the outside it’s an imposing research center for basic physics research. In particular, the structure of material is studied, with the aid of large particle accelerators. There we prayed for God’s plans and divine creation order. Then we drove into the city of Geneva to the Nations’ Square. This is Geneva’s contribution to world peace. And blessing really has gone out from this place because several demonstrations for Israel were already held there. On this square is the UN’s main headquarters, the Palace of the Nations. There we prayed for various matters – for Israel, Switzerland and the nations.
In addition to these external events, the group prayer meetings in the prayer room were always highlights. This is because on the one hand we worshipped God as a group, as well as reading together from His word. Once again we experienced a strong week. And with all the fasting, plus the investment of our time and our lives, we returned to our everyday concerns richly blessed.
KW
„Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.“
Joel 2,12-13
