Learning About the Spirits

It has been a busy. It seems to go that way - either nothing much "interesting" happens or everything happens all at once!

Tuesday night we attended a burning - destroying the tools and medicines of a witchdoctor. The young man's name is Maginga (mah-ging-ah). Barely more than a teenager, he was in training to be a witchdoctor and claimed to follow Islam. His mother, Mama Janet, accepted Christ in February and through her influence and connection to the churc, Maginga accepted Christ Saturday.

That night the spirits, who could no longer be inside him, began attacking his arms making them quite painful. Pastor Petro and other church members prayed for Maginga and he was delivered from this torture. He attended church Sunday morning.

However, that was not the end of the battle. The spirits then attacked Maginga's legs, making them so painful he could barely walk. Pastor Petro explained to him that until he got rid of all the witchcraft paraphanalia he would not have complete deliverance. He asked Maginga to gather them together to be burned.

Pastor Petro was shocked at how many things Maginga had. It was much more than he expected, so much so that he decided it was better to burn them at the church. So we gathered together Tuesday night to pray for Maginga and burn all his witchcraft tools. His mother was there, who can barely walk, and a younger sister, Janet.

Before we prayed for Maginga, Mama Janet asked us to pray for the little girl. She had night terrors every night and was even trying to leave the house in her sleep. We began praying for her, asking for deliverance from the spirits. A couple of times Pastor Petro stopped to ask her how she felt. At one point she described a piercing pain in her chest, so they continued to pray. When the pain was gone they knew she was delivered. She has had no nightmares since.

We then prayed over Maginga for deliverance. At the same time I prayed for Mama Janet's healing. I have a great desire to see her body whole - even though it is not caused by evil spirits. I want with all my heart for this family to be a witness in this neighborhood, running from house to house with the story of God's deliverance.

Maginga's legs did not immediately heal, but they did improve. We burned all the paraphanalia as we sang worship songs and praised the Lord.

This afternoon I went to visit Mama Janet. As of this morning, Maginga's legs are healed! He was even able to walk from his house to her house! We praise the Lord!

However, as he was healed another sibling was attacked. Mwita (mwee-tah) is in high school at a  boarding school about 15 miles away. Very suddenly, and without any previous symptoms, his legs were attacked this morning. We will be going to pray for him as soon as we are able.

Please pray that the people in this place will see the truth of the spirits and that God is the One and Only Deliverer. We are tired of Satan's rule over this place and desire to see God exercise His Victory here to free His people. May His Name be glorified!

Pray also for us. Whenever we are used of God to His glory we are quickly attacked ourselves. Please pray for our protection that we may press on without interruption.

Blessings.

Sunday's Spirit

Yesterday was a great day at church. David did a good job teaching Sunday School. A guest pastor, who is leading a meeting for Sunday School teachers this week, did a great job, as well. Chloe's favorite part of the day, of course, was going to pick up a new kitten after church!

It is comforting, as a mother, that she does not get too upset when someone falls to the ground yelling because of an evil spirit. It still catches her off guard, but she does not seem afraid. Since moving to Tarime, it is something that she has seen often.

This week it was a lady named Roda. Every manifestation is different. This lady did not thrash too violently, but yelled quite loudly. When this happens the person is carried to a side room where they are prayed for but the service can continue uninterrupted. Several of us prayed for her until the spirit had left and she was calmed.

My understanding of our authority over spirits has changed through these experiences. What I learned through my years of church was 1) there might be/maybe/sort of a spiritual battle that includes demons and 2) if this remote possiblity is really true, demons have to obey us immediately.

My church didn't know what it was talking about.

I have to admit that I had a major crisis of belief when I first saw strong, faithful Christians praying over a demon possessed man for over 30 minutes without complete success. Several demons left the man but success was not won until the man admitted to a "contract" he had made. This sounds like a blood-oath, but is simply an inviting of the spirit into his life in order to gain money or some other desired object. This is done here every day by the witch doctor. The people do not know that they are inviting an evil spirit into their lives - this is the true deception of Satan.

I thought that all we had to do was invoke the all-powerful name of Jesus (and I do believe that the name of Jesus is all-powerful) and the demons would obey. What I have found out is that they argue, fight, literally run away with the person, yell, thrash, and refuse to go if at all possible. When I went back to the Bible I saw that they did the same thing to Jesus - arguing, bargaining. Jesus' authority is complete, so there was no question of their obedience, but our's is not.

So I have learned that some spirits cannot be cast out without the person admitting to being involved in witchcraft. Other spirits will fight for a long time, making us prove our seriousness and commitment. If I doubt that this is really happening or that I have any power, I am totally ineffectual. But when I know the power that is within me because Christ is within me, I see that what I say makes a difference.

I have also learned that when I start speaking aloud the basic Truth - Jesus is the Son of God, Jesus died on the cross, Jesus went to hell and defeated Satan, Jesus rose from the dead - the demons hate it and start to yell louder. They can't stand the Truth.

I have been doing some research trying to learn more about spiritual warfare because what I have been taught is just not accurate. What amazes me is that our national pastors take this all in stride. This is normal. There is no reason to question the reality of fighting a spirit and claiming freedom for another child of God. There is no reason to wonder why it sometimes takes longer than other times - this has no effect on their understanding of Christ or His power over demons. It just is what it is.

Roda's freedom did not take all that long. Once the spirits were completely gone, though she had not opened her eyes, tears began streaming down her face. Tears of a heart that can once again be soft, hearing the voice of the Lord calling to her. I won't quickly forget that sight.

Please pray that she will invite Christ into her life and that she will be filled with the Holy Spirit so that there is no room for demons to ever torture her again.

Blessings.

Habari za siku nyingi?

Habari za siku nyingi? This basically means - haven't seen you in a while. What's up? I can't believe that I haven't posted in two months! Please forgive me.

It has been a great two months. Lots has happened. On the family front, we had a great Thanksgiving and Christmas. We were blessed with family members from the States - which was a very needed lift to our spirits. The kids had all of December off from school. A couple of friends who used to live in Tarime came back for a lovely visit. Chloe attended a 4 night retreat for our Baptist MKs and had a blast (many thank you's to those volunteers). Jon and Abby elected to stay with Mom and Dad since they live their lives in a dorm! Unfortunately, school could not be avoided forever and RVA started back the beginning of January. Jon and Abby are busy but happy. Chloe is back to homeschooling.

Pastor Mwita used the Jesus Film kit that was donated to us to show the Jesus film several times over Christmas. Hundreds of people viewed the life of Jesus in their language. At least 50 accepted Christ. He was also able to visit 3 churches that are very far away. We had heard about these churches but had not visited or confirmed their existence. It is very exciting that he was able to go and give them encouragement. This doubles our Kuria churches to 6, though we also work with a couple of other churches in our association that are not strictly Kuria. We are hoping to go and spend some time teaching there.

Please pray for these churches. As they are far away from us they do not receive the encouragement and support that they most certainly need. Pray that we will have the opportunity to spend some time with them.

Pray for our ministry plans for this year - that we will have wisdom and focus and be able to run toward the goal with undivided hearts and that our language skills will multiply.

Pray for our pastors. They are wonderful men of God. Pray for the health of them and their families, that God will provide all their needs, and that the work of their hands will be blessed.

Pray for our family's health and safety. Pray for Jon as he is enjoying the benefits of his junior year and as we look at applying to colleges next year, for Abby's continuing freshman year, and for Chloe as she homeschools.

Thank you for continuing to hold the lines for us in pray. That is what gives us the strength to be here.

Blessings.