Storm, Opposition, and God's Faithfulness
on our property. The thunder was deafening, hitting almost simultaneously with the lightning. The entire village lost power for an extended time. We perceived this as an expression of spiritual conflict in the unseen realm.
The next day, the official opening ceremony took place in the presence of many villagers. A local Buddhist monk strongly opposed the project. He spread rumors that a church was being established and tried to turn the community against the center. But the village did not follow him. Many residents described the center as a blessing. The monk found himself increasingly isolated. One villager openly contradicted him, accused him of stirring up unrest, and told him to stop — or leave.
Still, the monk did not relent. He sought to mobilize local politicians and Buddhist leaders against us. During the ceremony itself, he called the police and tried to file a complaint. But his plan backfired. The police detained him and held him until after the ceremony. Meanwhile, five plainclothes officers attended our event. They listened to the speeches, joined the celebration, enjoyed refreshments, and drew their own conclusions. In the end, they determined that our center poses no threat — and is in fact a benefit to the village.
Our local partner, Pastor L., now plans to visit the monk personally. Our heart is to live at peace with everyone in the community — not just to serve alongside them.«
