Just to share a good experience. We visit a Mayan Vilage not far from Hopkins there I am blessed with calling on 6 different people. One named Adriana is about 60 years old. She has 14 children who most live with her. Her house is concrete with hammocks hung. The kitchen is the old fashioned hearth- she is fortunate to have her hearth in the house with a higher ceiling to let smoke out. Her husband is very involved with the Baptist church--BUT the Baptist have to share a preacher and service is not regular. Her husband agreed to let her study with us so that a regular bible study would happen.
The Mayan have strong faith. Are desperately concerned with current events and their meaning as well as where are the dead. Adriana speaks Mopan and cannot read english. She listens and asks questions. Her youngest daughter vanessa would come home from school and ask if her mom had her study. IF she did she would say " why can't she wait until I get home". She now has her own study. Adrianna, Vanessa and many grandchildren came to the memorial.
Yesterday when I went to the study she gave me a Mayan blouse. She wants a bible in Mopan or Cetchi? (not sure how it is spelled) She is just understanding what Gods kingdom is and a little confused how heaven fits in to what she already believed. Her older children come and ask questions often so the study is slow but very regular. Often I go twice a week.
Then there is Mellie. A 17 yr old with two children. Her family is Garifuna and strongly believes in Ancestor Worship. She however, not so sure. She does believe that if you dont go along with it the spirits harm you. She has had an Aunt killed by the spirits and her grandmother got very ill because she did not do what was expected of her.
She would often come by our house or call to me on the street. Of course, what do we do when that happens?-- she is now a very regular study. She wasnt sure if she believed the bible. She thought it was man's book. That has changed. Once she started studing regular the demons harrassed her for several days. She had a mans voice calling to her in her head until she got severe headaches and saw visions. I saw her cry three days straight. We went over the brochure Dead Spirits Can the Harm or Help us. She started attending some meetings. She hasnt come into the building yet. She doesnt want to be seen(very typical in Garifuna culture) Our building is an open aired thatched roof. She hides in the shadows. She came to Memorial and the demons have left her for now. She is also reading her Bible Teach to her uncle. Love this study