The Uganda I know

Yesterday I had a very interesting experience.  I was at the women's program and teaching a Bible study on Romans 8:28-39.  I have been focusing on freedom in Christ and our identity with Him.  Many Christians know Romans 8:28, but few read beyond that point.  So we read together and then had a time for discussion.  Our English teacher Maureen told us about her mother dying of AIDS in 2001 and how that was the experience God used to call her to Himself.  She explained that through that tragedy, she believed and started walking with Christ.  Another story was much more chilling.  A carpenter in Kampala was cutting some boards and accidentally cut off half of his pinky finger.  Some time later he went back for a visit to the village and was ambushed by some "traditionalists".  They carried him to the local witch doctor to be offered as a sacrifice.  But when the witch doctor saw his finger he refused to sacrifice him because of his flaw.  He wanted a perfect sacrifice.  So loosing his finger was used by God to spare his life.  The story was amazing but got me thinking about the things I have read, seen and heard about village life.  I was helping one of the boys in the house, Kataregga, with his homework.  There was a part in the science section about making sure that you never take candy from strangers.  (good advice) but then his textbook went on to say that the reason why is that you might get caught by a witch doctor.  This was his textbook!  I had heard he reason why women pierce one of their babis' ears is so that they will no longer be perfect and unsuitable for sacrifice. But in the back of my mind I thought, "Naaaah."  Well guess what? Yeaaahhhh! All this to say, that is not the Uganda I know. The occult is alive and well in Uganda.  Human sacrifice still exists.  Tribal wars and rivalries still exist. Here in the city I see extreme poverty and extreme wealth.  I have walked through the part of Owino where they sell stuff for witchcraft, but I have not experienced it first hand.  But I need to keep in mind that the women have and the boys on the street have.  Isn't it interesting that the witch  doctors want a perfect sacrifice?  Jesus Christ the perfect One sacrificed once and for all.  Pray that the women and the boys will be able to loose any associations they have that are negative and break the bondage caused by a belief in witch doctors.  Help me remember that even though I may see a Mercedes Benz on the street, there is a dark underbelly that I know little about and they need to see the love of the only truly perfect One as well!