I was putting Hannah to sleep in the house, while the boys finished up worship with the older children. The waterfall was making a pleasant gurgling sound, while jungle bugs sang their good night songs. I could hear the babble of the children’s voices as they finished worship out at the classroom. Their voices began to sound a bit more excited than normal. I lay there beside Hannah wondering if I needed to go and check on things, but dismissed the thought since Jason, Travis and Elani were all out there.
Suddenly, I heard rapid footsteps approaching the house. Elani came running in and said “Momo, I think you had better come right away!” I jumped up, wondering what was happening this time, and grabbed my flashlight while breathing a silent prayer for wisdom. I had no idea of what was going on, but they usually don’t tell me to come quick unless I really need to come quick!
When I arrived at the classroom where everyone was, I saw that Chowin and her sisters were out behind the building, and Chowin seemed to be in great distress. I went to her side, thinking that she might be sick. Right away, I could feel that there was something very wrong. After she threw up, I led her back into the classroom, and she collapsed on the floor. I sat down and held her head, while asking what had happened. She had been fine a short time earlier. (Chowin has only been with us a couple of months. Her father died when she was very small, and her mother married a drunkard that was so violent that the girls have had to live on their own for most of their lives. She is 11 years old. )
The kids told me that she had been asked to have prayer for the end of worship, and had refused. She is not a Christian, and does not know how to pray yet. She is shy, and having to learn to pray in front of everyone is hard for her. This caused her sisters to get upset with her, and a fight ensued. She suddenly started complaining that her eyes hurt and she could not see. This quickly escalated into hysteria, throwing up, and an intense pain that kept moving.
I had already noticed a very evil presence in the classroom, and so right away I recognized that this was not a health problem, this was a demon. While I held her, the pain went from her face to her hands, disfiguring them. She cried in pain and fear, loud sobbing cries. I held her close, and told the children who had all gathered around, that it was time to pray, that we were dealing with a demon.
If there is one thing that a jungle child who becomes a Christian can do, that is pray! They take prayer very seriously, and they pray long, heartfelt prayers. So, the prayer circle started, amid Chowin’s cries. They went around the whole circle, but she was still crying, and the demon was still present. I told them to start singing, that the devil hates it when we sing about Jesus. So, we sang.
As I listened to these children sing, it really struck me how brave they were. In this part of the world, demons do not hide behind medical titles, but are open and are seen by everyone. They are a very real, but terrifying part of life for these kids. I have spent the last year teaching the children not to fear the spirits, since they are defeated foes. These kids, who last year were terrified to go to the outhouse at night, were sitting in the same room that a demon was in, praying and singing, and acting with courage in the face of this horror. The pain had moved all over Chowin by this point, but as they prayed and sang, she calmed down a lot, and hung on to me for dear life. But, it wasn’t until we started to sing “Power in the Blood” that the demon left.
I told the children that the demon was gone, but they sang and sang until all were calm and peaceful. Once again, prayers ascended to heaven, this time they were prayers of thanksgiving.
The good news…the news that these children would never know unless we tell them…is that they have a friend who can deliver them from the power of the devil. Most people…people all around us here, do not know. They live their whole lives in constant fear and harassment. They spend the little money that they do get on worthless stuff to try to pacify the spirits. They give their food, which should be for their hungry children, to the spirit shrines.
 The only way to reach these people is to live with them, share their joys and their sorrows. Understand their fears and hopelessness. It takes a long time for them to open up to us and start to ask questions about why we are not afraid. It is such a tremendous joy to be able to share with them the good news that we have in Jesus. To be able to see their fear replaced by confidence in a sin pardoning Savior.
Chowin is doing much better now. She is a happy, affectionate child, and she has a new trust and respect for us. I am teaching her to pray, and she no longer refuses to try. One day soon, I hope to be able to introduce her to you in heaven.