It was a warm, sunny day… not too abnormal in
Africa.
  We found ourselves trekking through winding paths blocked by cattle and goats, being led by three young boys.
  Patrick (a staff member in

Swaziland) had asked me to come with him to pray for a woman that was very sick.
  I put down my shovel and gave my blistered hands a break from building a playground at AIM’s orphanage-in-progress.
  We set off on our short journey with one of the girls on the FYM team, Christy.

About a half an hour later, we found ourselves at a homestead consisting of 6 traditional round houses with thatched roofs.
  Although these are common in the rural area, I felt like I had been transported to a distant land, secluded from the effects of the western world.

After being greeted by another family member, we found the woman we came to see.
  She came slowly from around the other side of the house, holding the wall for support.
  Her face lit up when she saw us.
  She had met Patrick before and was excited to see “her friend” (as she repeatedly referred to him).
  We sat down on a grass mat with her and tried to communicate as much as possible, using a young eight-year old boy as a translator.

After some small talk, she invited us into her house (one room with three mattresses inside) to pray for her.
  There was another woman inside with her child, probably another family member.
  The first thing I noticed, however, was the ornate sticks on piled on the side of the wall.
  I knew they served a purpose, but I didn’t know exactly what.

We sat down on the floor, laid hands on her chest, feet and head and began to pray.
  She has TB and probably HIV.
  She is a single mother of two and has no means of income.
  Unfortunately, her situation is not uncommon.
 

As we were praying, I was constantly being drawn to the passage about the woman who touched Jesus’ garment as he was walking by and was healed of her illness because of her faith.
  I read the passage aloud, although I knew she wouldn’t understand English.
  Although she talked as though she knew Jesus, I sensed a deep darkness in the room.
  I couldn’t explain it at the time.
  She was a pleasant younger woman, but there was a deep emptiness I sensed other than her illness and circumstances.
 

As we left, two men came out from a small round house to greet us.
  Patrick greeted him as “pastor” and I was a bit surprised.
  What was the cause if this looming darkness I sensed?
 

When we got back to the construction site, it all came together.
  Patrick explained that the man we had met was a Zionist pastor.
  The house we were in was used as a Zionist church and the sticks against the wall were used in the services.
  The Zionist church in

Swaziland is a twisted syncretistic denomination that claims Christianity, but focuses a lot on spiritism and animal manifestation.
  It is a wide-sweeping movement, consisting of mostly house churches, that is certainly a sign of the spiritual darkness of this supposedly Christian nation.
  Although some Zionist churches are genuinely Christian in their practices in doctrine, an overwhelming number of them are not.
 

Admittedly, my knowledge of the Zionist church is limited, but the feelings I had when praying for that woman are indescribable and go beyond understanding.
  After this experience, my trip in

Swaziland was changed.
  I began to feel that darkness in many other places and my heart grieved for the sheep that are being led astray.
 

This morning, I woke up to this memory penetrating my soul, remembering this woman and so many like her, male and female alike.
  Although their beliefs are a choice, I question whether they truly know the Truth and have had the opportunity to accept it.
  I don’t claim to know the mind of God and know why things happen, but I do know that there is spiritual warfare beyond our comprehension.
  Does that account for the physical situation of many in

Swaziland?
  I don’t know.
  But I do know that there is much more than physical suffering in this land.
 

Please pray for the healing of

Swaziland, not just physically, but more importantly, spiritually.
  Genuine hope in Jesus Christ can withstand any suffering.
  These people need the Truth!