I’m going to start off by simply saying I know you may not
believe every part of this story but I promise you, it’s all true. It’s easy to
ignore the spiritual world in the States, but there is no denying it in Africa. It is real, and it is a controlling part of their
everyday lives. So please understand that
I’m writing about what we have encountered over the past two weeks.
A Mile in Their Shoes
After a few days of
teaching and encouraging a small congregation in Mozambique, Lisa and I were extremely
pleased with the progress we were making through our planned training program. Everything was going really well and we often
bragged about how amazing our group was. The people in the church were
friendly, excited to have us, and excited to learn. Everything seemed normal, but it only took a
few days before everything started to come to the surface.
On our third day there, we started by going to different homes
and praying over people in the community who were sick. While we were praying over a man who had a
migraine, one of the ladies in the church started to bark like a dog and make
all kinds of strange grunting noises. Lisa and I looked up, but no one else seemed to noticed. They all acted as if everything was normal. When we were finished praying and exchanging pleasantries,
we started to head back to the church. While we were walking, I started praying about what we had just
witnessed. I knew that there were a lot
of witchdoctors in the area, and I wasn’t sure if it could have something to do
with it. So, I prayed that if it was a
demonic presence that it would continue to manifest itself.
When we were all back in the church, Lisa began to
teach. She was about ten minutes in when
the lady who had been making the animal noises passed out. I jumped to my feet and Lisa stopped
teaching. Some ladies quickly carried
her out and encouraged us to keep going, everything was fine. Unsure, Lisa began teaching again. We heard commotion behind the thin walls but
we could not see what was going on. After a few short moments we were told she was awake, but then the
animal noises began again. Lisa asked if
we could go pray and they told us no. Everything was ok.
When I got up to teach, the animal noises and screams got
louder and louder as if something was competing with me for the church’s
attention. When I couldn’t handle it anymore,
I explained to the church that Lisa and I were going to go pray for this lady
and who ever wanted to come could come. Everyone else could stay in the church and invite the presence of God by
worshipping. I was scared and unsure of
what I would be confronting when I walked outside. I had seen a possessed woman before, but
never was I the one that had to confront it.
When we got outside, we were shocked to see that the noises
and screams were coming from another young lady. One of the elders of the church was holding
down her legs while another was holding her head steady. She was screaming and convulsing and Lisa and
I just went to her and started praying. When she had finally calmed, we started asking questions from her and
the elders. We were told that she was a
witchdoctor and when we expressed our concern, they quickly informed us that it
was ok and accepted in the church.
spent some time with the young women, shared the power of God with her and
spent time praying with her. We briefly
addressed the church, but since the pastor was not there and it was getting
late we decided we would address the issue more the next day. I was in over my head and so was Lisa. We needed time to piece things together and
collect our thoughts.
