The Maribo Part 2

It just occurred to me that I have not included the conclusion of the story about the traditional healer in the Baka camp. It is a bit long, but if you are interested in hearing more about what is going on in the lives of these precious people, read on, it's worth it. Here is part 2, part 3 to follow:

Part II
In our last update, I explained that a big decision was looming before us all- whether to accept an invitation to see a visiting maribo perform his healing 'treatment' ritual over a young neighbor boy with tuberculosis. After much prayer, we came to believe that the Baka would interpret our presence positively; as an evidence of our concern for the things happening in the lives of our friends here. We also decided that the men would make the trip to the camp alone, accompanying some of our neighbors.

The 3 kilometer walk from our homes to the camp provided a great chance to spend some pleasant and unhurried time with many of our neighbors. We stopped to sit and enjoy some honey under one of the shelters at the camp before moving on to the area where the maribo was to perform his 'healing' ritual. A few of those who had accompanied us were able to translate, and explained what was happening step by step. I prayed continually, asking that such rituals will soon be revealed to be just that and no more, and that this whole counterfeit spiritual system will one day be dissipated by the powerful reality of God's own Holy Spirit working among the Baka people.

For the ritual, we were all seated in a semi-circle around an elongated fire. Someone explained that this was no ordinary fire, as it holds a certain medicine. A couple of young men played the drums, and a wave of sound ebbed and waned from a chorus of young children also seated around the fire.

The maribo was dressed in shorts, with an animal skin around his head, which was supposed to help him 'see' the source of the sickness. He danced around the fire, joining in the song; and periodically stopping to stare into the fire- as though searching for something.

After an extended time of repeating this ritual, he invited the sick young man to join him at the fire. The young man was instructed to stretch his arms over the fire repeatedly, and then to bend backwards over the fire. This ritual also continued for some time before the young man was given a potion to drink, derived of forest medicines.

As neither of us felt any sense of fear, we were sure that God had answered our prayers. At the same time, I was acutely aware of the reality and the significance these rituals hold in the daily lives of the Baka people. As the ritual continued, I prayed to be open to the leading of the One True Spirit throughout the remainder of the evening.