Rural Uganda, January 18, 2023
I am Susan, mother of twelve children, and five grandchildren. I am 62 years old now–a widow due to witchcraft. Here is how it went:
Birth and Life.
I was born to the late Jacob and Tercilla who are from strong witchcraft background. I stayed most of the time with my father and this made me see many people come to his shrine. In this shrine, we had different gods represented, i.e Wajumbe, the god of death and Wamugona, the fertility goddess.
People would visit my father’s shrine and give sacrifices which to my surprise we would eat in the names of gods for they don’t eat, see, talk, or even do anything . . . but we still had to believe–nothing more, nothing less.
In the year 1980, I lost my father, but was made to inherit the shrine as I was the only surviving child. I made a decree to serve [the gods] wherever I go, including marriage.
Marriage and death of Children
The worst thing–I continued serving and when I got married, I dedicated all my children to the gods of the land, as I was so much possessed with demons. I offered a lot of sacrifices–not only in the shrines, but also in the graves to please my ancestors and their gods.
To show my love to Walumbe, the god of death, I sacrificed my firstborn and that’s how tragedy began in my family. Every year I would have to offer till at last my husband.
Every year I would go to their graves. I hated myself, serving the gods, offering my children, animals, community members as I did all the human offering in secret, but animals I did publicly.
Chronological story and Salvation.
It was last year when I was lost in thoughts and hoping to die that I met these good grandsons of mine–Mnakenya and Mnyolee (referring to Felix and Joseph).
Though people feared my house, [Felix and Joseph] would come and share with me from small booklets about the holiness of God, His love, and I was so much touched when I came to learn how [demons] told our ancestors to slaughter their children. This touched me because it was not only my ancestors, but me as well. At this moment, I chased them out of my house to let me be judged and condemned.
As they started teaching in Busolwe this year with the next lessons, I called them to my house to share different dreams I have been getting and to pray with me.
It was a struggle but as I prayed a burden was lifted. I felt a great joy–my grandchildren are so happy that I am transformed. Every night they read to me these booklets as I have loved to listen to the stories, but I don’t know how to read. Though I can listen to small English, they tell me the stories in Luganda.
Thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ for accepting to die for me, and teaching me that He don’t need human sacrifice like my ancestors did. I am transformed child of God.
Thanks for my sons Mnakenya (Felix) and Mnyolee (Joseph) for bringing me this good news with love and being patient with me everyday.
These booklets are good. Indeed, I lost my children, husband, and family but God has given me another family of love, peace, and joy. My prayer is to get these books “talking” so I can listen everyday by myself and share with people of my age.
This testimony is so amazing that I called Felix three times to make sure that I understood all of the details. Felix told me that Susan sacrificed ten of her babies (one baby died “on its own”), but one of her sons survived, and had five children. Susan believes that her husband died because she put a spell on him, but her son died because of a car accident. Susan is now looking after her five grandchildren.
As I wrote above, we are currently working on a Luganda translation, and will hope to put together an audio translation after the written in order that people like Susan who cannot read can listen to the audio. With the testimony above, you can see the degree of evil, yet the hope of salvation with a simple presentation of the Word of God.