Before coming on the Race I wasn’t super familiar with spiritual warfare. Yes, I knew that it existed and that it was something that I should be mindful of, but I just never really felt it nor was exposed to it much back home (or at least in a way that I recognized). But over the course of this journey I’ve really gotten to see enemy strongholds in various places and people. Now granted, I’m still not a person who can really sense spiritual darkness in my own spirit, but several of my squadmates can and after hearing stories I can confirm their feelings. And this month in Swaziland has been no different.
At first glance, you wouldn’t think there would be too much spiritual bondage here. The people are friendly and it definitely didn’t feel as unsafe as it did in other countries. But after spending almost 3 weeks here at El Shaddai, there is no mistake that the Enemy has a strong presence in this country, particularly in the form of lust and sexual sin. I have never experienced a culture that struggles with sexual immorality as much as the people of Swaziland. Granted, sexual immorality is a problem everywhere and I’m sure there are equally horrific stories around the world (including home), but I’ve gotten to hear stories first-hand here and meet in person the people (specifically the children) affected by them.
I’ve had several opportunities to chat with Charmain (our ministry contact) about herself, the children that she has in her orphanage, and the spiritual environment in the area. She is a woman that is so in tune with the spiritual realm and hearing what she has to say is at times almost unbearable to hear. She’s talked a lot about the witch doctors in the area that perform their rituals and chant curses over her and her ministry. Witchcraft is very common in Swaziland (as it was in Mozambique). And we’ve actually gotten to hear them first hand. They normally come out during the night and since I’m such a sound sleeper, I miss out on a lot of it, but several of the guys here have woken up in the night to the sound of beating drums and voices on the mountainside. They feel a heavy weight during those times that lasts until the morning comes again and, even then, they still can sense the spiritual darkness throughout the day. Charmain has told us that many Racers have felt that weight during their time here.
But what really breaks my heart the most is the stories of the kids that we’ve been ministering to. Each kid has a story of being abandoned or left for dead or abused or countless other horrible things that Charmain has told us about. It’s amazing to see how much she remembers of each of her kids. She’s had a boy brought to her because his mom tried to decapitate him (he still has the scars on his neck). She has a girl brought from an abusive home where her parents would watch pornography with her every night (she was no more than 6 when she first came to El Shaddai). She has a girl brought to her after being born and spending her first 2 years in jail with her mother. She has kids who have been left at bus stops by their moms, never to return. She has kids who have mothers that are prostitutes and their pimps would force them to watch their moms at work. And her most recent additions were 2 boys who just came in a couple days ago. They were found hanging upside down in a tree by their father. It was found that he was beating them and sodomizing them. They are 8 and 6 years old. There are many more stories that I could tell, but I think you get the picture.
This is reality in Swaziland. Yes, I’ve heard of similar things even back in America, but I’ve met these kids. I’ve played with them. I’ve gotten to know their names. I’ve gotten to interact with the two new boys that just came in (I still haven’t heard them speak yet). These are real people, real events, and real horrors that occur here and around the world. My heart often can’t bear to hear all these stories during one sitting so I’ve had to come back again to Charmain many times to hear more. I’m amazed at the faith and perseverance of this woman. Her heart for these children is one to be admired. But even more so, is the faith and trust that she has that God is still working here and that His light is shining through the darkness. Because it is!
There is an anointing on this place. For as strong as the spiritual darkness is outside, there is a force field of light that surrounds El Shaddai and protects it. These kids are growing in the knowledge of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God has healed kids who were given only a couple days to live and are now starting their third year of school. And He has continually provided for Charmain’s ministry so that it can continue to operate and serve these kids. It takes almost R80,000 a month to run El Shaddai. That’s $8,000 USD! And of that, up to this past week, she only has R50,000 pledged. Each month, God provides in some miraculous way the remaining R30,000. And now, He’ll have to provide even more as she just lost R17,000 in pledged support only a couple days ago. Yet this hasn’t dampened her spirits one bit. It’s amazing to see the woman of faith that she is. It’s reminded me that although the darkness around us may seem heavy and thick, there is nothing too big for my God to handle. His light will always push the darkness away.
Please pray for the ministry here at El Shaddai. Pray that it will continue to shine brightly in such a dark place. Pray for Charmain, that she may continue to persevere and lay the burdens of her ministry at His feet. And pray for these kids. Pray that the love of Christ will break through the hurt and horror of their past. Our God is greater and our God is stronger than anything the enemy can throw at us.
