Witchcraft In My Backyard (Part 2)

In my last blog, I shared about Ana our former house-help who often told me stories of witchcraft in her family to the extent that I became so conscious of this practice, you could think It was happening in my back-yard. I often thought these really just exaggerated stories but I have since changed my mind!

Last week, just before they would meet their father who had disappeared for the last 22 years, I met up with her for updates about their lives and the preparations that were underway for the much anticipated meet-up. As we eat away our meal, I asked her about what was happening in her head and emotions.

She said “auntie, there is a lot going on in my mind but I am glad that a lot of prayers have gone into this preparation. We have ‘fried’ him in prayer and we believe all will go well with the meeting. She went on to tell me many of the dreams she had had that gave a positive picture of what would happen”. She said she sensed a lot of mystery surrounding their trajectory and that this made her feel both excited and apprehensive. On the one hand she believed that all would be well and the other hand she felt some little anxiety because the dad had not been expressing excitement about this meet-up.

She then went on to tell me what she remembered about the day of her dad’s disappearance – he had walked away smartly dressed, with a small paper bag containing a few of his belongings. (By the way, he was a blind man). The day after he left, the rest of the family also backed and took a long journey to join George – a man who would be Ana’s step-father.  I was shocked at this fact! “Whaaat!” I exclaimed as I observed Ana’s eyes filling with tears! “Anyway, go on. Let me not interrupt you” I said. She went on. “As soon as I saw this man, fear came over me and I could see the same in my sister, Robinah’s eyes.  George was cruel from the onset and as children, we were utterly confused. What was going on? I kept asking myself”.

I asked whether her mother and George had planned all this and she said that is how it looked. “The next 21 years were hell until George passing away!” She went on to narrate George’s witchcraft practices, dedications and evil behaviour. She still has marks of his physical abuse. She went on to tell me how she was married off to George’s friend at 17 and how this husband of a teenager often went with her to consult witchdoctors. Listening to this girl is like watching a horror movie I tell you. Oh my good-ness.

Ana also has amazing testimonies of how God led her to give her life to Christ at an early age when she was in grade 6. She believes that this commitment brought Christ into their space and that He has been working behind the scenes to bring about their redemption.  She later fell out with her husband and headed for Kampala for jobs. When she came into our family she started seeking God for her family. She went through deliverances and did warfare prayers on behalf of her family. At some point I sent a pastor to go with her to her home with her and set up an altar for the family. She prayed persistently and consistently until today.

They had agreed on the time and venue and they were just counting hours though the excitement had reduced. I lent Ana one of my smart phones to capture those moments of their first encounter with their father, we prayed and we parted ways.

Ana came home the day after they had met with the father to update us. What?! I wished I could take a TV program there just to record the story. I wished I had been there!  The father who had sounded un-amused on phone was very happy to meet up with her three daughters! It was a happy meeting. They talked, laughed and took pictures. They later saw her off and returned to their house to celebrate and give thanks to God! Wow!

Today, as I write this, the wider family – including the mother – is waiting to meet him. I am waiting for this story. How will they greet? How will they look at each other? Meanwhile, Ana’s father is no longer blind.  He was operated upon as it was just cataracts – all along!!!

For sure we wrestle not with flesh and blood but with principalities, powers and rulers in the heavenly places. But we have been given all the powers to overcome in Jesus’ name! All authority in heaven and earth has been given to Christ and He has graciously past it on to us.

In case you are out there and you are a victim of the devil’s oppression, remember Jesus was revealed as a redeemer. We are no longer the devil’s slaves but we are overcomers in Jesus name! Witchcraft is real but Christ’s power to overcome is even more real!