“Anyone can do it.”
05/24/2014
I was looking at their feet as we sat in a large circle in this lean-to shelter that provided shade from the baking sun. Everyone was barefoot–men, women, and children in tattered clothes. As I studied their feet they conveyed stories of hardship. These feet were worn, calloused, dirty, and overlooked. With no electricity or plumbing, these village people had no transportation of any kind. Sitting there, I caught one of them looking at my shoes, and suddenly I felt self-conscious in my shoes, and then I noticed my socks. I had layers of material advantage.
We were with Oliver and Rhoda in Mangochi. Malawi. I wanted Kalyn to see Mangochi and feel what Oliver and Rhoda were experiencing. We strategically planned our trip over our wedding anniversary, May 16th. Mangochi is a sprawling town/area/region of more than 100,000–mostly Muslims embedded in witchcraft and superstition. This Yao tribe keep the form of Islam with Imams, Mosques, and the Koran. But most cannot read–so the Koran is for the Imam who teaches according to his preferences.
oliver and rhoda in mangochi
Knowing Oliver and Rhoda since 2008, after two outreaches here, they sacrificially left their jobs and security in Cape Town to bring the Good News to this extremely impoverished region in March, 2012. We heard the amazing reports in bits and pieces from texts and phone calls, and then last May they visited Cape Town for our leadership retreat. There we heard the complete and surprising stories of numerous healings, deliverances, salvations, and emerging leadership with multiple house churches. We were wowed by what we heard. I wanted to go see them again, but the trip is not an easy one on several fronts.
But our inspiration from Oliver and Rhoda motivated Kalyn and I to take this arduous trip. During the first two days of our stay, the stories simply spilled out of Oliver and Rhoda. Listening attentively, Kalyn and I felt compelled to meet with those whom the stories were about. Oliver and Rhoda graciously invited some of their emerging, radical leaders to their house. Completely captivated by Jesus who has so dramatically transformed their lives, these believers have left Islam. Most cannot read. So they hear the Word (in the language of Yao from an audio tape), they worship together, pray and fast, and share Jesus to those around them. These poor, under-educated, ordinary looking individuals see healings and deliverances that etch across their spirits that Jesus is absolutely real, personal, and full of power. He has dramatically and visibly changed them and they believe He can change anybody. They are motivated to spread the Good News to other family, friends, neighbors, and the needy.
What could Kalyn and I say to this spiritually vibrant community in the body of Christ? We asked the Lord. We spoke encouragement, imparted more vision for them and their community, declared who they were, and what they were capable of doing. They were nodding, grinning, and stirring while our message was translated into the Chechewa and Yao dialect. Kalyn and I had a blast. We told them that their faith would overcome anything. That people would be jealous of what God was doing in their midst. After some time, they asked if we could pray for them.
Pause. Pray for them? These are the ones who have been praying for others and have seen dramatic healings and deliverances by the Holy Spirit moving through their hands. But. False ideas take time to displace with the truth. In impoverished areas people tend to think that because one is white, has more education, and more material goods, that they might be more spiritual. I like to challenge that notion.
I spoke how God gives gifts to men according to His pleasure so that we may change our places and our circumstances for His great Kingdom. We are all carriers of His powerful Holy Spirit. I told them that they had incredible gifts and miraculous power that was perfect for them. Then we prayed together for each one in the room. They believe that God actually answers prayer and none of them wants to miss out on that opportunity. While we were praying for one young lady, she spontaneously exclaimed, “I have faith to pray for people to be healed, but I don’t have faith for God to provide for my daily needs.” Everyone needs help. Each of us needs the body of Christ to help us in our weakness.
After the world-changers returned to their homes, Oliver and Rhoda would not stop talking about the “Mountain people.” They wanted us to meet them. Thus our journey to this sitting circle of the bare-feet saints. This particular village has seen a move of the Spirit. The village is only a hundred plus people and we were sitting with twenty who were available that day. And all of their stories are widespread. Because of potential persecution I will not give the names of the believers.
kalyn and rhoda sitting with some of the villagers
The Imam of the village is sitting with us. All around us are villagers who have had their lives radically changed. Light and darkness is not a concept to them. To them good and evil is not something in abstract terms. Most of those now sitting with us were demonized by the sangomas (the witch doctors). Many of them experienced witchcraft at a very young age. Now they tell a different story. They are recounting how their lives have changed by the power of Jesus with smiles and bright eyes, and what Oliver and Rhoda have done for them.
kalyn and rhoda teaching the village children a worship song
The Imam tells us about his wife who is now sitting with us in the circle. She is smiling and nodding while someone translates for us. Keep in mind, they are all in tattered, worn, mismatched clothing. The Imam says that he and his wife married 22 years ago. But after 5 years of marriage with turmoil and horrible conflict, she moved outside the village to what is called “the bush.” After experiencing witchcraft at a young age, his wife became more and more controlled by demonic power. It was a relief for the Imam to have her move out from the village. Even though she stayed near others who did witchcraft. Over the years his wife desired more and more occult power, and to appease her, the Imam spent his money on over 20 visits to sangomas for ceremonial blood-letting, devil worship, and incantations. The Imam’s wife had been in this condition living out in “the bush” for 17 years. When Oliver and Rhoda saw her three months ago, physically, the Imam’s wife’s face was a milky color, with loose folds of skin, and her stomach was so distended that she looked like a full-term pregnant woman.
When they came to the village 12 months ago, the Imam had an encounter with Jesus. Many of the villagers had deliverance and healing. The Imam hoped that some day Oliver and Rhoda could help his wife. They have been casting out demons for two years now. Their faith is off the charts. They believe God can do anything as they make Jesus known all around them. Demonized people do not want to look into the eyes of Rhoda and Oliver because they see authority and power. But both of them persist and their faith is enormous for people to get healed from whatever they are suffering from. The words of the Scripture our lifted right off the page as they walk about: “Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil.”
Oliver and Rhoda came to the village on their bikes that someone had generously donated to them. It is a 1 1/2 hour bike ride one way up to the village. Often they get a flat tire because of thorns and dirt road hazards. Oliver and Rhoda met the Imam’s wife and knew she was full of witchcraft and they took authority of the situation. They said that they cast out demon after demon. “Many, many demons,” they said. Oliver and Rhoda said the Imam’s wife was the daughter of the “Spray woman.” The “Spray woman” was someone Rhoda delivered from demons who released an actual smelly, physical spray from her mouth when she was being set free. The Imam’s wife was finally delivered of all her demons. Then he and she gathered all of her sangoma witchcraft articles, clothes, trinkets, etc. and set fire to them. She has experienced the evil and darkness of witchcraft and wants nothing to do with it.
Also, the Imam’s wife received healing for her distended stomach so as to bring her stomach back to normal. The wife of the Imam returned to her home, her children, and her husband. Now she loves Jesus. E-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y knows her, and about her, and she tells everyone about the power that is in the name of Jesus. Her daughters to have also been delivered of demons.
now there is hope for each child in this village!
This is just one story from the village. One story. But these stories are happening throughout the village. And there are many others in Mangochi. Others are becoming healed of various sickness, diseases, handicaps and injuries in the area. Oliver and Rhoda believe that what they do for Jesus, others can do. Rhoda says to Kalyn and I, “It is all about faith in Jesus. I have an eighth grade education and I can do it. Anyone can do it.” They model and empower others to pray for the sick and cast out demons to make Jesus known. And they are filled with joy when they see their new believers changing lives around them with the power of the Holy Spirit!
While we were with them Oliver and Rhoda spoke to Kalyn and I about the importance of marriage faithfulness, of respect, and loving each other. They challenge their community to work hard, pray with faith, and speak words of love and blessing over their spouses and children. At every turn they were encouraging those around them to believe God for His goodness. As we spent a week with them the Kingdom of Jesus was seeping through everything they put their hands to. We left inspired! After all, anyone can do it.
Oliver and Rhoda and their kids
