If you are a regular follower of our website, you will recall my analogy of the onion. There are so many layers of needs, and levels of aid needed, at times it can feel quite overwhelming. Where we are placed in Uganda, there is a common belief in the power of witchcraft, even among some Christians. There are many witch doctors and performers of magic around the slums that try to take hold of people’s fears by claiming to have special powers.

 

I have heard stories of witch doctors who claim to have placed coins or stones inside a person and for a small “fee” will gladly take them out. Then through seemingly miraculous powers, the witch doctor pulls the object out of the person’s abdomen, amazing the person and any bystanders witnessing the event. Even those who are sick go to these “miracle workers” in search of a healing and of course for some money, these charlatans begin driving their hand into the person’s side, stomach or back depending on where the ailment is located and then once again, miraculously produce stones or even what looks like tumours, leaving no trace of any incision. Christians who live in these dark areas don’t know how to respond when faced with such evidence of the power of the dark side (vague star wars reference).

 

Enter my friend Mike (not an actual Jedi). I have been buddies with him since my early 20s and he is an incredible magician and mentalist who travels the U.S. amazing thousands of university students and corporations every year. He’ll be the first to tell you that what he does is all slight of hand and years of practice. So imagine my excitement when Mike told me that he wanted to join me on my trip to Uganda. What an opportunity I would have to expose the deception gripping many of the children and teachers alike.  For those of you who can’t imagine how excited I was, I felt like a squirrel in a walnut factory who had just downed a couple of Red Bulls…well maybe not that excited. I knew it would be a tremendous opportunity to peel back the layer of fear and misunderstanding surrounding this community and shine the light of truth on it.

 

Mike picked up some kiddie tricks and…well…they even blew me away. He then exposed the truth behind the magic and showed the children how he did each and every trick. We then taught a simple lesson on how there is no magic and how Jesus is the only truth. They were amazed at how simple the concepts of magic where and that everything that seemed unbelievable always had a logical explanation. It was hilarious to see the teachers gasp and at times look genuinely frightened as Mike seemingly pulled red lights out of his body, vanished coins into thin air, disappeared handkerchiefs into his thumb and even punctured a pen through one of their own money bills leaving no trace of any tear. It was equally enjoyable to see the delight on the kids faces as they laughed and giggled as all children should.

 

Mike is a prime example of how we can use our specific talents and abilities no matter what they are to further this great kingdom of God. My other friend Paul, used his amazing talents to take all of the pictures and video on this trip, don’t expect the quality to be as good ever again!

 

Click on the youtube link to see a video of Magic Mike.