Apache Reservation (pt.3)

            The familiarity among the native people with demonic spirits continued to amaze Betsy and I during our time pastoring on the Jicarilla Apache Reservation in Dulce New Mexico.  Archuleta mountain, which stood just north of the reservation along the Colorado border, provided an amazing example of this. Numerous times while ministering on the reservation, people spoke of the “little people” they at times saw high on Archuleta circumventing its barren slopes. We had heard similar stories while ministering in Alaska where natives, especially in the far northwest of the state, often spoke of “little people” appearing in their villages. In one instance, an Eskimo brother told me a story of these “little people” descending down a rope into a crowd of people at a party in his village.  It became clear to us that these “little people” are demonic spirits that manifest themselves in small human form in accordance with some ancient native traditions. Some also equate these “little people” with the Leprechauns of Irish folklore.

            The positive side to the familiarity common in the native community with spiritual apparitions is that even those who are not ‘religious’ often turn to the power of the Spirit of God when these evil beings actually impact their lives.  One example of this came during our first winter on the Apache Reservation in Dulce. A woman in our church named Ema Jean, one of the ladies who was part of a very powerful prayer ministry we were involved with, came over to get Betsy and I to go pray for two sick children on the reservation.  The parents of these children did not attend our church, or for that matter any other church on the reservation.  Still, when both their four-year-old twins became suddenly and seriously sick, they contacted Ema Jean whom they knew to be a praying Christian.

            On the way over to their house, Ema Jean filled us in on what to expect when we entered this home. The young couple who were parents of these two boys were very typical of the Apaches we grew to know and love in Ducle.  They were very straightforward, no-nonsense people. If Christians, and especially the pastor, came to pray, they expected results.  In fact, Ema Jean said that they would do all they could to keep us there in their home until their children were healed.  Like Jesus’ words concerning the Roman centurion who came to Him for the healing of his servant, we did not often “find such faith even among the children of Israel”.

            When the three of us did arrived at the home, we were taken into a room where two beautiful little boys lay comatose in their beds.  These boys were named as many Apache twins or children of similar age were, with names that sounded almost identical. One boy was called “Shorde’” the other was called “Shorda’”.  Even though the parents told us that the temperature of the boys exceeded 105 degrees, we took their temperatures again to confirm this. We wanted to be able to have an honest testimony to what we believed the Lord would do. Both boys registered just over 105 degrees.

            With Betsy laying hands on one boy and me on the other, and Ema Jean standing in agreement between us, we prayed with sincere and compassionate hearts for these dangerously sick little boys. After ten to fifteen minutes of prayer, we decided it was time to check their temperatures again.  Both boys registered a temperature of 103.5.  That was improvement, but not the complete healing we were looking for and the parents expected. The parents were encouraged, but were adamant that we continue praying.  We agreed!

            After another ten or fifteen minutes of prayer that was definitely inspired by the improvement we had seen, we stopped again to take their temperatures.  This time both boys registered 101.3 degrees.  We were encouraged again as we knew that the boys were improving and moving out of the danger zone. Both parents, even though very serious and even stoic people, showed signs of relief on their understandably concerned faces.

            We again returned to prayer, more confident than even that the Lord was hearing our prayers and healing these boys.  Our prayer this time was largely focused upon praising the Lord for the miraculous work He was doing. We praised Him in confidence knowing that as the book of Philippians says “He who has begun a good work in you is able to bring it to its fullness”. 

            Our next time stopping to take the boys temperatures showed the continued healing of these boys was nearing the normal range. Both boy’s temperatures continued to come down at the same pace, this time measuring just under 100 degrees.  Knowing that the generally accepted temperature of a child was just over the 98.6 considered normal for an adult, we were determined to pray until the temperature was below 99 degrees. 

            After praying for what must have added up to over an hour that night, we took our last temperature of the boys. It read 98.9.  The boys were back to normal, sitting up in their beds, and like all small boy they were ready to get up and run around the house.  Before leaving we prayed with the parents, giving the Lord the glory for the healing we had all witnessed. Both mom and dad, even in their stoic personalities, emotionally expressed their sincere appreciation.     Although I cannot say this couple became regular attenders in our church, they did show up that next week in service and hear the gospel message. The Lord was working on their hearts and we continued to reach out to them.  God does use all things in this life, even our trials, to share His love power with those who will ask. That is especially true of those who recognize that the battles of this life are not all natural, and that only by turning to the all-powerful “Spirit of God” can the works of darkness be defeated, and life can be lived as He designed, with evidence of the power and presence of the living God.