My home is in the community, a ten-minute walk from the Children’s Centre at Zimpeto. I moved there two years ago to live more closely with my Mozambican neighbours. One afternoon when I was walking home, I heard a voice calling me. I turned and recognized one of the regulars from the local bar that I walk past most days. He asked me if I would come to his house and pray for his sister who was very sick.
He took me to a one-room reed hut where I found a young woman lying on a mat. Ducilia greeted me with a huge smile but was obviously in pain. Her feet were completely covered in open, infected sores.
She told me that she had become a Christian some years ago. I told her Jesus could heal her but she must choose to only trust in Him and not go to the witchdoctors, which she agreed. We prayed and the next day I gave her a Bible and some specific scriptures to read.
Ducilia began attending the Iris Clinic 3 times a week, where her feet were cleaned and dressed. She could barely walk and the pain was excruciating. At first her feet would not heal even with treatment, and the medical staff advised that she would need skin grafts. We continued to pray together, desperate for God’s healing power... And He healed! Gradually her feet began to improve and after a few weeks, Jesus had healed her completely!
After this, we met regularly for discipleship and prayer. She had two daughters that she had sent to live elsewhere when she became ill. She told me about her desire to have her own home so that her daughters could come and live with her again. She was full of faith and sure that Jesus had a plan for her life; we prayed that He would help her.
A few weeks later the ministry gave Ducilia some work assisting an old woman, a widow, living near her in the community. She was stronger and ready to work! She opened her first bank account and began to save money in the hope that she would soon be able find her own place to live.
One day Ducilia came to me, upset that her father and family were insisting she take part in an animal sacrifice, as part of a witchcraft ceremony. She refused, saying she trusted in Jesus and only Jesus. The ceremony went ahead but without her. Afterwards, she was brought a bowl of goat's blood and told she must wash in the blood. They now threatened to throw her out of their house if she didn’t take part. She continued to refuse, professing her faith in Jesus. She was thrown out of the house and could not return.
Within a day, Ducilia was able to find a house to rent – her heart’s desire! She has now been reunited with her daughters and they’re making a life for themselves, trusting in God at every turn. Although she has been hurt by her family, she has forgiven them and returned to visit her sick Auntie. She knows she is a child of God and that Jesus will always take good care of her.
Ducilia is so thankful that her daughters will now grow up free from witchcraft, knowing Jesus and receiving their Godly inheritance.
“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15”