Help, a snake in the church!

Last year we wrote about the "snake shocker". It continues to be an on-going and interesting subject, so here we are writing and update about it again!!

Sometime ago, a church in Alphen a/d Rijn (Netherlands) decided to collect money for the manufacturing of more “shockers” after they read the story on our blog. The “shockers” have been ready for a while and in June we were able to organise a workshop for people from different villages to give good instruction and training on the use of the “shocker” in the event of a snake or scorpion bite. Some participants were still a little doubtful as to whether this “shocker” could really be effective – does it really work? But after they heard stories from several participants who have already used the “shocker” effectively for a number of years now, they became excited about using it. They practised ‘dry’ (that is without batteries) on each other.

A participant telling how he has succesfully used the shocker for many years now

Practise makes perfect, but without batteries!

Workshop participants

To the amusement of everyone, during the workshop, a snake entered the church hunting a lizard. Everybody jumped up frightened and the snake was killed. ‘Fortunately’ the snake did not get the chance to bite somebody – although that would have been the perfect demonstration!

the snake at the church was killed

After we came home from the workshop, our neighbour was bitten by a snake. One of our neighbours knew we had a “shocker” and asked us to treat the bite. This was done successfully. The next day the son of the neighbour we treated came to visit us and asked us how much they owed us for the treatment. We told him, ‘nothing’!

Last week we visited the Chief of our village and presented a “shocker” to him, as there are always people in the Chief’s house so people can be treated there with the “shocker” day and night. The Chief told us that the neighbour we had recently treated with the “shocker” is his sister. He said that the son of his sister came to visit him before coming to us and asked the Chief how much he thought he would have to pay us for the treatment of the snakebite. The Chief told him that he did not think we would ask for any money because as Christians we were not likely to do that. For different kinds of sicknesses people here visit herbalists or diviners for treatment. These kinds of treatments are mostly given in return for cash or kind. People therefore continue to be amazed by the fact that we do this treatment free of charge because of Jesus’ love for them. It is a wonderful way to testify about His compassion – even for people with snakebites.

One of the villages who received a “shocker” sent us a message that since the workshop (a little over a month ago) they have treated about 20 snakebites! Also a clinic in one of the villages where there is a “shocker” always refers patients with snakebites to the church!

Treating our neighbour with the "shocker"

Thank God for:

• The church in the Netherlands for donating money towards the shockers
• This practical way of sharing His love and compassion with others
• The new Chief in our village who is a Christian!

Please pray for:

• Protection against snakebites, especially the farmer
• That the people will be able to use the “shockers” effectively and that they use it as a means to share God’s love
• The farmers, that they will get a good harvest
• The Chief, that he will continue to put God first in leading the people