Each day that passes I can see more and more the mixture of emotions about us being here. Walking down the main street through town always proves eventful. The little children run from front doors to wave and scream “hello” with giggles. There is another handful of any age range that stares blankly because I am within the the first handful of white people they have ever seen.
Some young adults and elderly folk approach me with smiles and the Ethiopian greeting that consists of going to shake hands while pulling into one anothers shoulders for a type of hug. I met this particularly friendly man selling shoes one day.
The last group of people are usually sitting on the road sides with angry faces. When walking past them they shout, “I hate you!”, or “We do not want you here, leave!”. Now that I think of it, they are probably the parents of the boys that tag behind us to throw rocks at our legs and poke our backs with sticks.
It is hard to figure out what to do with the mixture of emotions. Just keep smiling is the best I have come up with so far, even if you happen to get spit on during your grocery run to the farmers market (which is an otherwise amazing experience)…
No, I am not mad at them. Also, no, I never worry about them becoming violent, but it is quite obvious they feel this way because of my religion and nationality. An American-Christian come to spread the gospel through a place that has not long been switched from a communist government. For the longest time it remained Muslim, Orthodox, and an African religion that believes in one god and derives its morals from within the culture without any kind of specific doctrine to follow.
Then, a new religion began to spread. The Christian population here is easily the minority. I am told that while physical violence towards Christians is uncommon, many of them are run out of their communities during the night and told to never return. Church bodies are small but pray fervently. I have so enjoyed attending Ethiopian church on Sunday mornings. I got to attend three different ones throughout my time here.
They interceed through the beginning of church services commanding evil spirits from the air. They face walls and pace behind the pulpit raising their voices at the end of each sentence saying “Iyesus” and then sliding their volume and pitch up for the word “sim”. “Iyesus SIM! Iyesus SIM!” Meaning, ‘in Jesus NAME! In Jesus NAME!’
I am looking around during church at this army of people going to battle with the Lord in the spiritual realm. When they feel rejoiceful during praise they send calls into the air of short notes that find their way pass fluttering tongues. They tell me the sounds they make are their noises of joy.
Psalm 98:4
“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.”
Around their bowed heads and gesturing hands are the four walls of a small room that are covered in pieces of taped up computer paper that have verses typed out on them. The ceiling holds the decor of rainbow colored garland, happy birthday balloons and even the occasional drapping of toilet paper.
The pulpit is of plywood with a glass front that shows bouquets of paper flowers inside. And at the top of each pulpit is a red cross that has been painted on. A 40,000 wat speaker system sits on the floor with prayers booming through it in the Oromo language. Sometimes the choir comes dressed in robes and are accompanied by a member with a drum slung over their shoulders. The rhythm beats on while they sing, sway, jump up and down, and dance.
The spiritual battle they fight here is a heavy one. Throughout my traveling I am finding more and more how common it is for people to be directly involved with the dark principalities. Witchcraft and other practices are very real, and occur often. Here it seems that just as often as we are operating in the Holy Spirit, others stand in open fields and behind closed doors chanting curses against us.
Many nights in this countryside have been invaded by bad dreams, mostly to those of us who sleep next to the windows. We have often been awakened after midnight hearing the Lord saying , “Pray”. Praying has been key for all living here.
It has been important to remember that just because we have to keep fighting, does not mean we are losing. While it seems to be a firm spiritual tug-of-war here, being a follower of Christ means we are able to praise that the battle is already won and we can stand in the authority we have been given through Him.
This is the battle the church in Ethiopia fights each day. Keep them in your prayers. Pray against persecution. Pray for courage, perseverance, and for the Christian community to grow.
Luke 10:19
“Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.”
