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A Few Words Go A Long Way
By on July 23, 2008
While Nathan was here with his team, Frontline, he had a unique opportunity to spend a few days with a South African witchdoctor. His experience is a testament to the power of a few simple words, and how easily they can change lives:
When we arrived (at the witchdoctor’s house), we offered to help out with chores to get a better understanding of the culture, but that offer fell on deaf ears as we found ourselves sitting in the kitchen discussing the differences between the two cultures. It seemed like the first day was more of a spiritual test — an attempt by the witch doctor and her husband to see whether or not we were true Christians and to test our depth of Biblical knowledge.
We returned the next day to open arms. The small talk quickly turned to deep conversation regarding the AIDS pandemic, why God allows the virus to run rampant, and other hard questions. To be completely honest, I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but it was by divine intervention that I was able to come back with Biblical examples and answers to each of their difficult questions. By the end of the day, we had built a sincere bond with the family. They understood that we were “disciples of God” and were able to offer them encouragement through the Bible. Although I do not know whether or not the witchdoctor has stopped practicing her ancestral worship, she did swell up when we explained God’s forgiving love and she noted that she “wished she had never been born with such a gift”.
Since it was apparent the family had limited resources, we decided to purchase a Bible for them. But, when we went to present the Bible, we discovered her brother had passed away. She was an emotional wreck. So, after giving her the Bible, we got into group, laid hands on her and prayed for her. I hope that our presence and our conversations have led the family to a new level with God and that the Bible has been able to bless them with a deeper understanding of the true Word of God.
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Kevin says:
That is so awesome!!! I will be praying for the women and her family. It is always encouraging to hear testimonies about the Holy Spirit guiding and ministering.