Prayer Letter - New Guinea News

May 3,2005
The Neighbor is a Ghost (part 2)

"When my elbow cracks I know the evil spirits are here," my language helper told me in a decisive tone. When I first told him about the dream the man had told me about with the spirit coming down from the tree and hitting the dreamer, he just laughed. Later, my language helper confided in me that he laughed because I had surprised him with the story and that he was scared. He went on to tell me about how he gets rid of evil spirits.

As a side note to this story it is important to understand what the term syncretism means. Syncretism is incorporating a new belief in with an old belief. In the Patpatar case it often comes in the form of "adding" a belief of God/Jesus in with their traditional belief and practice of the evil spirits. For years the Patpatar lived in fear of the spirits without any knowledge of God. For the last 50+ years "missionaries/religions" have passed on their "beliefs" about Jesus and God in the trade language. Now many of the Patpatar have simply incorporated what they had believed and what the new religion believes. The message of the Gospel has not been presented clearly in their own language and has left them with a confused mix of traditional and modern religions.

My language helper told me of a special powder and a special chant he had received from his mother. He showed me how he holds the powder in his hand, speaks the chant and then blows the powder in all directions. He told me that he would call on the name of his ancestors to indwell and give power to the powder to drive away the evil spirits. In a very proud tone, he told me that he now calls on the name of Jesus to give power to his powder. After his ritual he would extend his arms very quickly. If his elbows cracked the spirits were still there. If they did not they had been driven away.

He told me he would work this ritual whenever one of his children got sick to drive the evil spirits causing the sickness away. He would also do it when he was in a new area and suspected there might be evil spirits there.

Pray for the Patpatar as they continue to fear their traditional beliefs and can't find true peace in the "new religion" they have added.

Pray for us as we strive to learn their language and culture so we can one day clearly present God's Word and His liberating truths (not just another god to add to the worship).

Ironically, this morning Sierra woke up sick (one of the few times in her life). She is showing signs of malaria. Please pray for her. Pray for the testimony we present - that we don't need special powder, a special chant, or a need to call on the ancestors for her healing.

For His Glory,

Aaron for the family