(written Aug. ‘06)

Little by little my eyes started to open to the reality of the suffering and evil here. I see it in the Voudou shops, where chickens and other small animals are sold for sacrifices. I saw it in the fire in a man’s eyes as he told me has seen the Messiah: a man who calls himself Yahweh bin Yahweh and cannot be killed even by bullets. I see it in many who have come here to live the “American dream,” believing the more they have, the happier they will be. I see it in the Rastas who worship a dead Ethiopian emperor, proclaiming him King of Kings and Lord and Lords, and smoking marihuana as a sacrament. I see it in the prostitution business thriving in my neighborhood. I saw it disguised in a woman named Rosie, in a wheel chair, selling roses outside of K-Mart. With her sweet smile, she told me that she is a curandera (witchdoctor) and that she needed to warn me of someone trying to harm me. I should wear a red ring at all times and I would be protected.

I have felt the spiritual warfare personally as it seems we (my team and I) have faced one challenge after another since we’ve been here; whether interpersonal, financial, or other issues. Almost weekly (sometimes daily) I have asked the Lord, “Am I really supposed to be here?” Why would He have me here when I am willing, ready, and desiring to serve Him overseas? Why, when many others don’t want to go?

Posted on September 4th, 2007 by Laurie Cook
Filed under: News