There is Power in the Blood

It’s not uncommon for folks to knock on our door at all hours of the day. Sometimes it’s people we know. Sometimes not. Sometimes it’s a friend who came to visit. Sometimes it’s a stranger asking for money to help build a shrine to a saint.

Recently, we opened the door to our friend Felicity. She had come to visit with 3 of her 4 sons. (They like to come play with our children.)  I put on some hot water for coffee and set out a dish of freshly baked cookies. (Yep, just call me Betty Crocker!) Then, I sat down to visit with Felicity.

Her husband is out of town, working in Cancun. The normal pleasantries contained questions about his work, the family’s health, etc. All was well. At least until I asked about her mother.

That’s when the conversation got difficult to follow. You see, part of the ZK culture (possibly Chiapas indigenous culture) is lots of circling, or saying the same thing multiple times, but the subject isn’t always mentioned by name. And since the 3^rd person subject pronoun is optional, it’s often excluded. And somewhere along the way Felicity switched from talking about her mom, to talking about her second son.

I was confused. But I knew that there was something that needed further investigation. I understood something about throwing a knife, fainting, leaving the house without a shirt. (I still thought we were talking about her mom!)

I was thankful when Clay came home and I suggested that she tell him the story, from the beginning. This time I understood. At least as much as could be expected.

Felicity’s son, Tony, had been suffering from fainting spells where he would “lose his mind.” He wouldn’t have any recollection of what had happened, but during that time he did things, like leaving the house without a shirt or shoes, or throwing a knife at his older brother. (He later said the voices told him to do it.) These incidences occurred primarily when he was at his grandma’s.

Felicity’s mom was convinced that Tony needed to be taken to a curandero, or healer. (Witchcraft is often a part of their healing techniques.) It was going to cost about $3,000 pesos or about $240 American dollars, which is at least a month’s salary.  Felicity didn’t agree with her mom, so she came to us.

Our response was to pray for Tony. We really believe there was a spiritual battle occurring and we prayed boldly for Satan to flee. Then we talked to Felicity and her boys about the promise, “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them (the spirits); because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) We told Felicity that if she sees this happen again, to pray!

A week later Felicity and the boys came back to visit us. Felicity was quick to share with us that Tony hasn’t had another incident. Her mom wants to know, “What did they give to Tony?” because she sees the difference too. Felicity’s response to her mom, giving all glory to God, was simply, “They prayed to God. And, they taught me to pray too.”