I made sure I was there the day Alex got off the airplane.  I didn't want the devil to have one opportunity to strike him once he got home.  I talked Alex into trying to go the states with me since it had been a year since his denial.  Alex took the chance and went with me.  He called his old friend Armalee asking her to pray.  She interceded on our behalf and they decided to let Alex into the USA but only for two weeks and no longer than that for the entire year!  

     I wish I could say it was a pleasant two weeks.  But the two weeks were awful.  He did not feel well at all.  He kept saying, "This doesn't even seem like the same place I visited a few years ago.  It's not the same!"   Under intense oppression Alex's whole world seemed dark and dreary no matter where he went.  I remembered this from his past.  His favorite place had been where I lived.  He loved the country.  But under this much oppression it didn't matter that it was spring time and sunny.  

    I was hoping the two weeks would give him a chance to calm down.  I thought perhaps he could at least get some rest.  I let him sleep in my bed since his back ached and I slept on the floor.  As we settled down to sleep I prayed for him to have a good night's rest.  It was an errie quiet until we heard the noise of a chirping frog out in the backyard.  I tried hard to ignore the sound but it continued on and on.  I worried that Alex would focus on it and not be able to tune it out.  I was right, he couldn't tune it out.  Aggrivated he said, "This is why I can't sleep at night.  My ears don't shut.  They don't tune out the noises.  I hear every little thing.  That frog is so loud!"

    I had to agree.  I never heard this frog before.  It was relentless.  I could not even sleep myself.  The following night the frog was at it again.  I wished I had a shotgun, if I did, I would have gone and shot up the whole back yard to get rid of this frog.  I could not believe this was happening!  I thought to myself, "This is like being trapped in some bad movie!  I want to get out!"  Something supernatural was happening.  I could not believe it.  Something invisible was truly haunting Alex.

    The lack of sleep affected me as well as Alex.  He was very irritable.  "I can't believe you'd expect me to want to live here someday."   I was astonished at his behavior.  "When did you get that new kitchen mat?  I hate it.  And these sheets on your bed, I hate the feel of them."   If there was something to complain about it he'd find it.  I had actually purchased these new things for my home in hopes that on the day he came back that it would be a more comfortable and homey place for him.  

     He was insinuating that he was going to kill himself when he went back home.  I finally had enough and said, "If you kill yourself I am not going to your funeral."   I guess he had plucked my last nerve.  

    "How can you do that to my parents after all they have done for you?"   He replied.  This was far from the romantic notions I had about him returning to my home.    He was not happy anywhere.  

     I thought that perhaps when he was finally well that I would write out his testimony story for him.  I said to myself, "That's it.  I'm not telling this story, what a nightmare!  I think I'm the real crazy person for putting up with this!  And that damned frog won't shut up!"    When Alex spoke I didn't even know whether I was talking to  him or his demons anymore.  Maybe it was just the demons saying all those things?  I was almost too tired to care.

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