Ashaninka volume 22

Kati is a 20 year old Ashaninka woman, married at the age of 16, and has two children.  She is the wife of Edison, who the village families accepted just recently to be able to have his own property there and live among them.  Kati believes that Jesus died and rose again and was probably already saved, but feels so guilty about her sins that she was sure last night that she would go to Hell if she were to die.  I think she hasn't fully grasped what it means to be God's child.  Holding her small, cold hands, I fought the tears as she prayed and told God that she believed and wanted to be part of His family.  We rejoice with her and now, she and Edison can grow together.  Beautiful!

Baby Driu is still very sick.  His mom, Janet, finally took him to a pediatrician after 7 weeks of an apparently severe stomach infection.  The doctor scolded her harshly for waiting so long and gave her several prescriptions that she did not have the money to get filled.  I didn't know if she would want help from an outsider like myself, but I could not bear to see that baby so sick for one more day.  She graciously accepted our help and thanked me with a hug and a big bunch of bananas from her tree.  We are hopeful now that Driu will get better very soon.  More than that, we are hopeful that she will never go back to a witch doctor and that she will be open to God's love for her.

The Ashaninka communities have their own laws.  I really don't think they fall under the same laws as everyone else.  The police are intimidated by them, and for good reason.  This week, there was a protest march having to do with a new university in Pichanaki.  Well, the mass of people were getting too close to the village, they were blocking the road and the men at our little village, Bajo Kimiriki, did not like it.  They painted their faces, armed themselves with bows and arrows (and these are HUGE bows and LONG arrows) and went to "ask" the protestors to leave.  I have to chuckle.  The protestors left.

We learn every week just how different this life of theirs is.  One thing that's for certain, though, is that they are people who need Jesus and beyond the many barriers, He is allowing us to share Him with them.  May they hear and understand.