JULITA EXPLORES: Encouraging God’s people serving amidst persecution, witchcraft

A monthly column in which Julita Kok shares on living adventurously with God

It is the most wonderful thing to me that I am writing to you from Matema in Tanzania, right on the shores of Lake Malawi. As I am writing, I hear the soothing sound of the waves breaking onto the shores. Beautiful. Such a privilege to be here. I was invited to be a speaker at a women’s conference which will start tomorrow. But I arrived last week, as I wanted to visit some missionaries in Dar Es Salaam and Zanzibar.

God arranges our diaries

What was so beautiful in Dar es Salaam, is how God went before me. Tanzania is a huge country and, of course, I did not have the time to visit most missionaries. The house that I stay in when in Dar, is a safe haven for missionaries in transit. A stayover with breakfast before you travel to your next destination. When I got to the house, I was told that there were other missionaries staying over, on their way to somewhere else in the world. They were all people I know but who I could not, otherwise, have seen because they live too far out in Tanzania. But God arranged all of our dairies to line up in Dar on the same date. I was able to minister to some missionaries who are so tired from the many challenges they face — just seeing them, was awesome.

And then I traveled to Zanzibar. Now, I know some missionaries in Zanzibar, but please know, Zanzibar is 100% Muslim. So these guys are undercover. Cannot openly be Christian. But over the past year I have been unable to connect with them. Phone numbers are not working. So, I jumped onto a ferry and excitedly went to their business, only to find that they it been sold to a Muslim person and they have left the island, without leaving any forwarding information. So, I started asking around and, long
story short, it’s not going well with the handful of Christians on the island.

The missionary “in charge” in Zanzibar, had sent his three kids to Dar Es Salaam for their own protection and others had fled. I realised we are truly in the times where Christians are openly being persecuted. We have seen it in certain countries over the years, but nowadays, you hear of masses of people being beheaded, people being kidnapped and so forth. So, it is a very sad situation and we need to pray for Christians in such countries, and be so thankful for the freedom we still have.

Blood in soil

Zanzibar has a terrible history concerning the slave trade and slave markets and what happened there. There is even a little alley called “Suicide Alley”. The story is told of a master of the house, who simply loved guns. When he bought new guns he tried them out on his slaves. They were given the opportunity to run down this alley while he shot at them. No way could he miss, as the alley is quite narrow. So, many slaves were killed this way. No respect or value for the lives of these poor souls who had been abducted from their homes and countries. It is terrible when someone steals your freedom. So, you can imagine the blood in the soil in Zanzibar. And, if the Christians leave, who will redeem the land? But God is faithful. My trust is in Him.

But Zanzibar was a sad affair for me. I wanted to get off that island as quickly as possible, despite all of its spectacular beauty. I prayed there and I trust God to send many of His children. For me, it is a dark place and of course, those dark places are the ones needing the Light.

Witchcraft territory

After Zanzibar, I traveled to witchcraft territory, Mbeya. Not so long ago, tribes there still skinned people to use their skin in rituals. They would feed people certain herbs which would loosen their skin and then when “ready”, simply skinned them. In these places, witchcraft is very real. I have heard some horror stories which are so cruel, and so disgusting, you cannot imagine any of it to be true. But believe me, it is. So in Mbeya, missionaries and Christians battle other challenges than those faced by you and me. I had the privilege of speaking to some worshippers and evangelists on their roles in such trying circumstances. May God help them to bring change in the spiritual realm over Mbeya. What is being done to children there is something I simply cannot mention on these pages. I always so appreciate the life I have and my freedom to serve God, once I have seen what others go through. I have it just so easy. No effort at all.

And now, I am in Matema. So stunning here. Always so amazing to see what God has done in nature for the people of a land. Here in Matema, avos, bananas, coconuts (that natural water), cocoa beans and the fish in the lake, are more than enough for the people to never go hungry. And they plant rice, onions and tomatoes, grow coffee. And that miracle plant, casava, grows everywhere. So, the people here in Matema can say that they are well provided for by God. Is that not so cool? In the middle of nowhere and yet, surrounded with all this wealth of food. And also moringa trees!! Don’t forget those.

Spiritual refreshing

I am looking forward to tomorrow’s retreat for women in missions and ministry here in Tanzania. They have many challenges just to be in this country. Permits, taxes. And then language and cultural barriers and the spiritual atmosphere. These are very real, and the next few days are to inspire, uplift, energise and equip them as the Holy Spirit leads. They do amazing things here and just need to be refreshed a little. And of course, as always, I need that too.

So thank you for praying for Tanzania, Zanzibar and this conference. I am trusting God for these nations as we do for all nations. But right now I am presenting Tanzania to the Father. I love singing this song
over the nations.

I ask for Tanzania, I call her by name
I present her to the Father in Jesus name

I ask for the nations, I call them by name.
I present them to the Father, in Jesus name.

May our Father hear our cry for the nations
and may everyone called by Him,
hear His voice and heed the call.

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