A TESTIMONY OF FAITH AND TRANSFORMATION

Jessica was in the middle of cooking when Missioners arrived in her home.  With a warm smile, she quickly arranged seats under a cool shade, noting that it was too hot for everyone to remain standing. After learning the purpose of their visit, she joyfully welcomed them, expressing her gratitude for those who bring the word of God to her home. Without hesitation, Jessica disappeared among the scattered trees on her compound to call her neighbors so they too can listen in.

Once everyone was settled, Jessica opened up about her struggles and joy, sharing how she battled against the powers of witchcraft and jealousy that threatened her marriage and well-being. “I studied up to Senior Four but couldn’t proceed further due to financial struggles, so I enrolled in a vocational institute to study hotel management and catering. After completing my course, I worked in a hotel in Kampala and later moved to Jinja to work at a resort. That’s where I met my husband,” she began.

Jessica’s life took a turn when she became pregnant and decided to return to Soroti. Shortly after the birth of her second child, she got a new job. However, her home situation had become so bad and unbearable because of witchcraft and constant conflicts. worsened. “My parents had to remove me from my marital home. The witchcraft practices were so intense that I feared for my life. I faced unexplained illnesses, and my husband’s businesses always failed,” she recounted.

The jealousy and greed of her in-laws further complicated matters. “My husband was the only son, and his stepbrothers, who had many children but no land, tried to take over his property. They seemed to want him to end up with nothing, not even a family,” Jessica explained.

The situation became so overwhelming that she left her marriage for seven years. During this time, she was homeless, living from place to place and streets despite being an educated woman. “It was only by God’s grace that I survived those years. This home you see today was just a bush back then. There was no house, nothing,” she said, reflecting on those dark times.

During her time away, Jessica sought spiritual guidance and learned how to fight spiritual warfare. “It was just too much. If I hadn’t taken that step, I wouldn’t be here today,” she admitted. When she eventually returned to her husband, things began to change. Her commitment to prayer and her strong faith became a protective shield against the spiritual attacks she had previously faced.

Jessica’s relatives noticed the difference. “They realized they couldn’t harm me anymore because God was with me. I prayed with friends and faced spiritual battles head-on. When they saw they couldn’t succeed, they stopped trying,” she said. Jessica invited a Bishop to her home to break the curses and cleanse her household of witchcraft. “To this day, no matter how much they try, they cannot succeed. I am seeing blessings coming,” she said with a smile.

Her home, once a barren and hostile place, is now a haven of peace and beauty. “Without God, this home would not exist. It was just a bush before. Now, it’s a place of blessing,” Jessica testified.

Her prayer is for God to continue lifting up her family and for His name to be glorified. “I want God to be honored through our family. I pray for the provision of school fees for my children so they can get an education and break the cycle of poverty. People used to mock us, saying that as believers, we couldn’t even educate our children. But I know that God will make a way,” she concluded with faith.