8/20/08
Breakfast conversation yesterday centered around witches. For our family that isn't all that unusual, with all the Disney movies we watch, conversations about Malificient and the Wicked Queen from Snow White are fairly common. But this conversation was a little different. It wasn't generated by Katie and had nothing to do with a world of fictional characters and talking animals. It stemmed from a visit the night before with a young man being discipled by Albert Churcher, one of our YLI Coaches.

Ash, Jatoe, Roland and Eric joined Churcher in a visit to Yaw. Yaw shared with Ash that during a period of extended illness, he was alone at the local hospital. Despite informing his local church pastors of his illness, it was only Churcher who came to visit him, offering companionship, comfort and a glimpse of God's love for this young man. Those visits had a huge impact on Yaw. Since that time Churcher has become a trusted friend and communicator of truth to Yaw. Having been so impacted by Churcher's friendship and discipleship, Yaw has begun to pour love onto others, sharing Christ's life with them.

During their visit, Yaw came to Churcher and the others for help and advice concerning a situation with a woman being discipled by someone Yaw is discipling ( You see how loving one person can quickly multiply into many?). Yaw shared the story of a young woman who has been tormented for many years by a most unconventional marriage. As a young girl, a relative who is a witch doctor arranged for her to be married to a spirit. Juju, or Voodoo, originated in Ghana and still has a very strong hold on many Ghanaians. This marriage has lead to her feeling bound and restrained physically, emotionally and socially. She has lost friendships, potential husbands and most recently her job do to this union. She has uncontrollable outburst, has been physically unable to move and prevented from saying or doing things that she longs to say and do. This girl came to Yaw and his friend for help, knowing that they have found something special in their relationship with Christ. Yaw approached a local Pastor who is known for his work with evil spirits and exorcisims, but found that the pastor was charging far more than they could afford for the 'service.' So Yaw has approached Ash and the other coaches for help and advice.
Jatoe explaine to Yaw that it is not a single man who will rescue this woman, but Christ. It is not necessary to pay large sums of money. Yaw and his friend will return to her, sharing the love of Jesus and His power over all dominions. It will be the power and presence of Christ that will banish this spirit and break its bond over her.

Returning home from this meeting with Yaw, Ash shared this amazing, hard to believe yet true story with me. He finished by saying, " Jatoe told them to call me if they run into any difficulties, but Carrie, I've never actually performed an exorcism before." We laughed, but the truth of the statement remained before us.

Which brings me back to our breakfast conversations about witches, something that is very much a reality that bears great power here in Ghana. I am struck by the casual way that Americans brush off the idea of witches and the spirit world. I can hear myself easing my children's natural fears of witches and evil with a simple, "Don't be scared, that is just pretend." I realized in that conversation that our children will need to have a different view of life, one that does not turn witch doctors into a fanciful Disney character of a harmless old baboon named Rafiki. One that says, witches do exist, but we know who has the power to overcome, and even redeem, them.