Wigwam Woman

Wigwam Woman

  A gentle but firm sounding masculine voice awakened me with these words, “Wigwam woman, get up and drink the Mango juice that has been provided.”

  In 2008 I had been in the African country of Burundi at the Maranatha Academy giving a series of meetings. There was a large section of students that put their heads down the second I started the altar call at the end of each meeting. I wondered what was happening. The translator learned that there were some faculty that were not Adventist Christians and not in favor of the meetings. In fact, they encouraged the students not to listen. These teachers led the students in prayer for me to get sick and to die. Students informed the translator who informed the principal of the school. There might have been 50-70 of them. They sat together. They prayed earnestly that the meetings would stop.

  My symptoms fit that of one who has been poisoned.  Poisoning is a common way in Africa, yet the only way I could see it happening to me was if it was passed through the water or on certain food items we purchased because I did a lot of my own cooking.

  I had become violently ill shortly after cooking some broccoli that had a very bitter taste. The cramping started in 30 minutes. I had heard that many bodies of the war victims were still not buried. It is common that these have dirt thrown onto them just where they were. I wondered if a garden was planted over such a corpse and if it could pass toxins into the plants. I don’t know of any documentation on this. There are strict laws in USA about putting bodies in cemeteries or cremating them. So many health problems are avoided that way.

 I was so sick that no food was staying with me. I had treated my symptoms but the pain increased in my abdomen so sharply and I also had respiratory difficulty. I struggled to get air into my lungs. My legs felt like spaghetti and there was some blood oozing from nose, mouth and with loose waste. I could not support my weight. I drank so much charcoal thinking if it was poisoning, I could stop the results quickly. In the ceiling above me, I heard bats and figured their guano could also be a health risk causing the respiratory illness. I thought of Ebola. There were some known cases not too far distant from that region.

  When I went to and from meeting, I was supported by a kind student. Other students carried my computer and projector and cords.  As soon as I made the altar call, I went to the back room  behind the stage curtains and laid on the floor. My stomach emptied itself. I was lying on the floor too weak to move. It was too ugly to tell you about it all. During meeting, he students saw me walking freely with good animation and teaching the sanctuary truths. They had no idea how sick I was. Even the translator who was nearest could not realize it. It does seem rather fake unless you have read of stories of the same kinds of things happening to Ellen White.  Though very weak, she was given strength and freedom during the presentation as God was speaking through her. It is not by might nor by our power that these important Three Angels Message warnings are given. God gives the strength, and speaks through His messenger that He has called and ordained by His Holy Spirit.

  Back in my sleeping room, I fell into a deep sleep. The kind voice awakened me and commanded me to drink Mango juice. Now, there is some great healing with the vitamin A in this juice. I have seen vitamin “A” in carrot juice save the life on another younger missionary person, who no one, no doctor, not even the pediatric, gastroenterologist specialist could figure out.

  The command was firm so I began to move out of bed, puzzled at who was talking to me. I knew there was no one in Burundi who could speak such perfect English the way I was used to.

  I wondered about the way He called me “wigwam woman”. I am part Native American Indian. The famous Pocahantas Indian woman who saved the life of Captain John Smith, is an ancestor. My little grandma Laura Logan told that history to us. Pocahantas was Mattaponi Indian.  The Indian name for home was typically called a wigwam. On my feet were a pair of socks with the brand name “Wigwam”. Now if he was my angel, or Jesus, I do not know. It seems he does have a sense of humor and by speaking this name of “Wigwam Woman”, He showed he was no ordinary African calling in through my window. Those words are totally out of their vocabulary! I moved out to the little fridge they had provided for me.

  The nice cold juice tasted so delicious. I kept the little fridge locked as they requested. My heavenly watcher knew that my blood sugar was dangerously low. He saw no food remained and that I really should be in the hospital on an IV.

  I kept sipping away on the delicious Mango nectar till I had finished one liter or a bit more than a quart. I fell back asleep and recovery was on its way. Many came to pray for me. As Sabbath arrived, there was a grand baptism of 86 students. The leaders of the Division had come by for a visit and saw how sick I was. They returned on the day of baptism and took many pictures and praised God for the miracle demonstrated  that it was Jesus Who did that seminar. He was the instructor. I was weak till his power came on me. I spoke freely and moved about the sanctuary as though I was very strong and healthy.

  I like being His Wigwam woman. God can use anyone who is willing to take up the cross and follow Him. He can use this woman, who is part Native American Indian, and studied Theology, Biology minor, masters in Pediatrics, and Is a board certified family doctor.

Isaiah 40:30    Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 

 40:31  But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.