In her ministry to rural people in El Salvador, Cecilia faces some unique beliefs and practices. The following excerpt is in her words:
“One of the new things I have learned is that a fruitless tree must be put to shame by hanging old shoes on it – it will then have no choice but to give fruit!”
Then she continues:
“The Lord continues to show me the depth of all kinds of beliefs and cultural practices here. People believe that when someone gets sick, more often than not, it is some form of witchcraft act that has been committed against them. Please pray for wisdom and discernment as I address these topics in my conversations with the local people.”
Clearly there is a difference between these two anecdotes. The first is rather humorous, and presents a quirky interpretation of life’s incidents. However, the second isn’t funny at all — it speaks to both a mistrust of community and a deep-seated fear of the whole spirit realm.
May these people in rural El Salvador find that trust in Christ overpowers fear, and brings peace!
Hi to all. I really appreciated the post about the control of superstition in the country of El Salvador. I have ministered for 3 years among the El Salvadorians in the USA. You are speaking the truth about the power of superstition over the lives of the El Salvadorian people. Until you see the superstition actually hurting the spirit, mind, and body of people, it is difficult to grasp the role of superstition in the lives of El Salvadorians– even those who have lived in the USA and Canada. Please keep your missionaries in prayer and keep encouraging them. Imagine trying to teach a Bible truth only to hear a child speak up about the superstition their Christian pastor has taught him. For missionaries, this is difficult territory that they face on a regular basis. You cannot ignore the superstition. Missionaries must be quick thinkers and constantly in prayer and fasting to get breakthroughs in even Christian communities.