I am not crazy. At least not in the psychologically-medicated-Leonardo Dicaprio-“Shutter Island” sense of the word. You may think I’m crazy after reading this but “Dude, this is real!”
As we sat down for a lunch of Malaysian-style tuna fish sandwiches, baked beans and mashed potatoes, we prayed. Not as we always prayed for our food before consumption but with a steadfastness. I listened with intent and had a feeling of uneasiness upon my heart. I left it as an uneasiness toward the aroma of a sandwich that reminded me so much of my college days. Was it homesickness or something more? My eyes opened to my plastic plate set before me and I began to eat, reluctantly.
Upon finishing our meals, we gladly sat behind the large dining table as it was set for the 15 beautiful children of the orphanage home. There meal looked a bit more traditional; a rice mix with curry, chili peppers and vegetables. Without utensils, they ate quickly and seemed to enjoy this Indian dish. A few were still eating when the commotion began.
“Someone said he is possessed across the street!”, I heard Audrey say. The staff began to close the gate and proceeded to lock the fence that allowed entry into the house. A boy, about nine years old, began to lash out. Yelling by a 17 year old girl soon followed in a language I had never heard before. It all seemed too familiar. This place, that tone of voice, these sweet children, these four walls, the knives…
The boy was indeed possessed and we would soon find out by what. He walked about in a trance of anger. His eyes were glazed over and his body seemed to be out of his control. To see a child at the center of spiritual warfare saddens me to the core. How did this happen? Who will protect him? These questions would come later, but in the moment it took us back to Cambodia and back to the place where this type of warfare had left a permanent mark on our hearts. We had not forgotten about Teen Challenge and the war they are still battling there. This was a reminder to us that this is real. And it can withhold the hearts of the most innocent.
Jospeh picked up several pieces of furniture as if to throw them at the staff. The knives came next. He picked up two large butcher knives which were quickly taken from his hands and stored away. His mind seemed to be in a different place. We would need much more than a quick prayer to help this child.
As I held another boy,who was about five years old, in the room adjacent to where all the commotion was taking place, I tried to block him from seeing what was going on. Shielding him from the yelling and demonic presence seemed to be what God was pressing into my heart. I walked to and fro singing “Jesus Loves Me” softly into his adorable dumbo-like ears. But he seemed to more so be shielding me from the havoc the devil was placing on this place of refuge. I sat the little boy down onto a soft pillow and told him I would be right back.
In this moment, I felt prompting from the Holy Spirit to enter the room. The room where Joseph was being prayed over by my powerful teammates. And the room where the devil was manifesting himself into a snake.They feverishly prayed over him as the snake appeared. He began to slither on the ground with his tongue extended; hissing radiating from his mouth.. The serpent of the Hindus had taken over his body. Our praying continued until his body seemed to go limp with exhaustion. The little boy trapped inside finally reappeared as if nothing had happened. With the language barrier, it seemed a though he did not recollect what we had just witnessed. He was asked to sit in a chair to relax. Pastor Pakiam continued to pray for him as he sipped on what we proclaimed to be the Holy Blood of Christ.
The screaming now resided in the back corner of the room. 17-year-old Rebekah was now the one possessed. He was not done with us yet…
