Easter Eggs

At Easter time we think about how the egg symbolizes life.  According to an ancient Ecuadorian tradition, the egg itself actually has special powers.  In the hands of a shaman, an egg has the power to cleanse a person from diseases of the mind or body.  During the "egg" ceremony, the healer takes an egg and waves it around in front of the sick person, focusing on the sick parts.

Then, he sets down the egg and repeats the procedure with a live guinea pig. 

For extra power, smoke from a cigar is blown into the sick person's face. 

Does this ceremony sound stange?  Yesterday I was taking care of a hospitalized baby with malnutrition.  

Baby's Aunt: "May I take the baby out of the hospital for a few hours to get her cleaned?"

Me: "We have baths right over there."

Baby's Aunt: "Well, I wanted to take her out to be cleaned with an egg."

Me: "Hmm, I'm not sure if that's the best idea.  Do you have a faith?"

Baby's Aunt: "Yes, we're Christians."

Me: "Isn't the egg ceremony performed by the shaman?  I mean, I think prayer would be more powerful."

Lady in the Room Who's Been Eavesdropping: "He's right, the egg ceremony doesn't work.  Only prayer works."

Me: "Would you like me to pray for the baby now instead of doing the egg ceremony?"

Baby's Aunt: "Oh, please do."

Many people in Ecuador have learned about Christ, but they are still wrestling with how the Christian life collides with their cultural beliefs.  Those of us from Christian backgrounds still wrestle with the same question: "Upon whom or what are we depending?"  When it comes down to it, are we clinging to Jesus as our only hope?  We're here in Ecuador to teach the people about the only One who can bring real life, the One who died for us and had the power to rise again.  Through that same power, though our bodies waste away, we will never die.