Now back in the village after a visit to the USA, Aaron and Amy Speitelsbach who serve in Liberia among the Glarro people, are uncertain where to pick up with the teaching. Aaron is currently thinking about going back to teaching on the fall and explaining that suffering and hardships are not caused by witches, but stem from a God-ordained curse to bring mankind to their senses so that they would repent and turn back to God.
Aaron and Amy had hoped and prayed that the witch accusations which started before they left would have had been sorted out by the time they got back. But instead, it got a lot worse. Whilst they were away two trees were cut down, under which some witchcraft items were supposed to be buried. The tree under which they used to teach was one of them.
Several people who are supposedly witches have been named by a Shaman causing huge divisions among the people in the village, and everyone is preoccupied with these developments as it has great impact on their lives.
One of the main reasons why the Glarro people are so upset about all of this is that, in their worldview, life is supposed to be easy and good, and witches are responsible for their hardships and suffering.
Originally, Amy was hoping to teach a few more Bible lessons in the primary school before it closes for the summer. But due the current difficulties in the village the school has already stopped functioning, and it is likely that it will not start up again until the new school year.
Praise God:
– That in the midst of this craziness in the village, He is still in control, and able to draw people to himself and glorify His name.
– That they were able to make it back to the village in His timing despite sickness and bad roads.
Please pray:
– For the Glarro people, who are blinded by darkness, that God would open their eyes to see the truth.
– For their translation helper, that he can come to see the truth, and that God helps them in how to talk to him and others about it.
– For wisdom in how to continue with Bible teaching and how to help those who say they believe the Bible, to see how it conflicts with believing that witches are responsible when life is hard and things go badly.
Thank you for your prayers for the missionary team and the Glarro people.