The Lindermans in Tanzania have shared the following story. [Note: In December 2009, Landmark took up a collection for a device called the "Proclaimer", a solar-powered audio Bible in the Sukuma language. More than 25 devices were sent]
A couple weeks ago, a local church leader in Tanzania, John, travelled to a distant village to visit his sick sister. When he arrived, he found that she had been taken for treatment--not to a hospital, but rather to a witch doctor’s compound in a more distant village.
John decided to follow after her the next day, and found his sister amongst the sick receiving treatment. When he introduced himself to the folk healer, named Sulemani, they began to have a spiritual conversation. The old man wanted to hear more, so John pulled out his Proclaimer audio bible, with which he always travels. They spent the rest of the day engrossed in spiritual conversation.
John soon visited me and shared the good news of this diviner, whose heart was opened to the word of God. The following week, we made the long journey to this village to meet with this man again. He shared with us his story, of his Muslim background, of how he received knowledge to treat the sick through dreams, of the skill he has gained over the years and the wealth he had accumulated.
But his heart began to turn a little over a year ago, when he was attacked one evening while driving his motorcycle to another village. Two robbers, armed with machetes, tried to stop him. When he tried to pass anyways, one struck him in the chest and throat, causing a massive wound—but Sulemani was able to stay on his motorcycle and get to the next village, and receive the help he needed.
He could not understand how he survived the attack—and knew that it was not his own power that protected him. It was a far greater power than he had ever experienced, and he knew it must be almighty God. (Coincidentally*, this attack occurred in December 2009—the same time Landmark was contributing money to purchase these audio bibles).
He began to remove his shrines to the spirits, and took off the charms typically worn by diviners for spiritual power. Over time, as he treated the sick that come to him, he stopped using divination methods such as throwing shells and inspecting entrails of chickens. He was on a journey toward a greater power.
Amazingly, Sulemani told us that he wanted to give his entire life to the Lord. He even wanted his entire family (3 wives, plus numerous children and grandchildren) to turn their lives over to the Lord. When I asked him why he wanted to do this, this dreamer-diviner gave us one more surprise:
“The night after John was here, I had a dream: I was sitting with others being preached to.”
We accepted his request to teach that evening, and after playing the Proclaimer for about half an hour, we taught about true worship of the Almighty God. We enjoyed a meal together, then Sulemani offered to help pay John’s bus fare to return to this village, stay for a week, and continue this teaching, so that a church might be planted on his compound.
Sulemani continues to treat people with herbal medicines, and tells people that the power of the medicine is not from him, nor from spirits, but only from God. His faith may be growing, but his understanding is weak. We left with him a bible, a small booklet of with some lessons on worship, and two promises: John would return to continue teaching, and we would pray for he and his household.
Please join us in praying for Sulemani, his household, and for all others here in Sukumaland that are on the journey discovering the greater power of our Almighty God.
A couple weeks ago, a local church leader in Tanzania, John, travelled to a distant village to visit his sick sister. When he arrived, he found that she had been taken for treatment--not to a hospital, but rather to a witch doctor’s compound in a more distant village.
John decided to follow after her the next day, and found his sister amongst the sick receiving treatment. When he introduced himself to the folk healer, named Sulemani, they began to have a spiritual conversation. The old man wanted to hear more, so John pulled out his Proclaimer audio bible, with which he always travels. They spent the rest of the day engrossed in spiritual conversation.
But his heart began to turn a little over a year ago, when he was attacked one evening while driving his motorcycle to another village. Two robbers, armed with machetes, tried to stop him. When he tried to pass anyways, one struck him in the chest and throat, causing a massive wound—but Sulemani was able to stay on his motorcycle and get to the next village, and receive the help he needed.
He could not understand how he survived the attack—and knew that it was not his own power that protected him. It was a far greater power than he had ever experienced, and he knew it must be almighty God. (Coincidentally*, this attack occurred in December 2009—the same time Landmark was contributing money to purchase these audio bibles).
He began to remove his shrines to the spirits, and took off the charms typically worn by diviners for spiritual power. Over time, as he treated the sick that come to him, he stopped using divination methods such as throwing shells and inspecting entrails of chickens. He was on a journey toward a greater power.
Amazingly, Sulemani told us that he wanted to give his entire life to the Lord. He even wanted his entire family (3 wives, plus numerous children and grandchildren) to turn their lives over to the Lord. When I asked him why he wanted to do this, this dreamer-diviner gave us one more surprise:
“The night after John was here, I had a dream: I was sitting with others being preached to.”
We accepted his request to teach that evening, and after playing the Proclaimer for about half an hour, we taught about true worship of the Almighty God. We enjoyed a meal together, then Sulemani offered to help pay John’s bus fare to return to this village, stay for a week, and continue this teaching, so that a church might be planted on his compound.
Please join us in praying for Sulemani, his household, and for all others here in Sukumaland that are on the journey discovering the greater power of our Almighty God.
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