Cults
This first is an article found in a Zimbabwean weekly newspaper, The Sunday Mail of 3 to 9 of May 2009. It talks about a girl who claims to be Jesus Christ reincarnate. See my response and analysis at the end of this article.
The Sunday Mail, 03 May 2009
http://www.sundaymail.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=2501&cat=17
‘Girl Jesus’ back with a bang
By Roselyne Sachiti
A BELL faintly rings from a room as The Sunday Mail crew’s car slowly drives into the home of Tepsy Nyanhete, Guruve’s self-styled "Jesus" reincarnated.
It is 11 am and members of the Mudzimu Unoyera cult at Chatiza Village move in different directions while others continue with their chores.
The "cult village", formerly a hive of activity with children who were Girl Jesus’ followers three years ago, is deserted though painted buildings, a boat and effigies of a three-headed snake still remain a major attraction. A frail-looking woman being treated at the "cult village" sleeps on the lawn while a group of eight children, mostly five and six-year-olds, play with mud and water under a tree. Clearly, the cult has weathered the storm and is getting stronger by the day.
Upon explaining the purpose of our mission, three men offer us seats under a tree and tell us that further instructions on what we would do next would be communicated.
"It’s true that Girl Jesus has resurrected following a lot of negative things that have taken place at this church. It was mainly because of a bad cloud that had covered our church, but what I can assure you is that our saviour is back and more powerful. She will be conducting healing sessions at Britten Farm in Mazowe from May 18 to 21 to prove her improved power," said one of the cult followers.
For three years, Girl Jesus (now 17 years old and grown into a fairly beautiful teenager) had "disappeared", following the arrest of her mother Entrance Nyanhete (also known as Mai Maria) and father Okinebheti (Joseph) after they beat up policemen who had come to rescue children kept at the shrine.
"Mai Maria" had to exchange her white satin clothes and all luxuries for green prison dresses when she served a seven-month jail term at Chikurubi Female Prison after she was found guilty of assaulting policemen.
Girl Jesus’ younger sister Gimos (now 14), also known as "Moses", is in the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and staying at Hupenyu Hutsva Children’s Home in Highfield. She visits her family during school holidays and expects to permanently join them this month when her probation ends.
At six years "Moses", the last born in the family of five, shocked a news crew that had visited the "cult village" after they failed to lift her up and concluded "she was like a piece of iron stuck into the ground".
After sitting on a wooden bench under the tree for an hour another bell rang producing a different sound from the first. Inquiries revealed that the second bell signalled that Mai Maria was ready to see us.
We were told to form a beeline and follow a handful of cult members who sang praise songs in their titinoia piridia language.
The singing and dancing continued at the entrance of the temple until Mai Maria gave us permission to enter. Trees and shrubs in the room have grown taller and thinner while new ornaments brightened the room.
More rituals were performed before we could see Mai Maria, who was seated on a bed in a cubicle surrounded by veils and mosquito nets, beads, Christmas decorations, a doll, bouquets of flowers and many other appurtenances. It took a while before our interview began as the cult members had to sing more songs like "Tambirai Maria akapiwa simba" (dance for Maria who was given power) to "raise" Mai Maria’s spirit so that she could come out.
Sporting a pair of white satin slacks, a matching blouse, light blue scarf, and several beads hanging from her headdress, Mai Maria, who finally agreed to come out of her "nest", sat on a stone-sculptured chair in their "temple". She opened up and said her arrest in 2006 made her daughter stronger and it did not weaken her faith.
"Our arrest made our church stronger than before. The arrests made our followers believe more in us because my daughter had told us that something like that would happen.
"She told us that she saw a small jail ahead of our church and we were arrested just like she predicted. I also continuously read a verse, which says Jesus predicted war would come. I knew this was the war," said Mai Maria as a young girl sprayed perfume on her clothes.
She claimed that the seven months she spent in jail were interesting though adapting to the new life and environment was rather painful. She was initially placed in a cell with other female prisoners but was later transferred to her own following a series of problems with fellow inmates.
"I faced serious communication problems as I failed to communicate with prison officers and other women who were in my cell. They told me that continuing to speak in titinoia piridia would result in me being taken back to a doctor for more mental examinations. Things went back to normal after they put me in my own cell," she said.
While in jail, Mai Maria said she had thoughts of "escaping" but Girl Jesus sent a letter to her telling her to be patient and finish her term.
"I wanted to fly and escape from prison, but she told me that I would have broken the law if I went ahead with my plan. She sent me letters while I was in jail and it made me stronger because I knew she was guiding me," she said.
After completing her sentence, Mai Maria went back to Guruve where she met with Girl Jesus who had "prophesied" her release and return the previous day. She said their life went back to normal and their cult "grew stronger". She said a lot of developments took place as the church anticipated the return of Girl Jesus.
"A new bedroom had been built for her while she was away," said Mai Maria.
The bedroom contains a bed surrounded by mosquito nets and lace. In the bedroom there is also a large mirror, glass tables and a chair made of soapstone. A small radio, CD player, kwaito CDs, perfumes, trays containing sweets and soft drinks are also on the table.
Though small, the major attraction in the room is a small doll named Dilliard dressed in baby clothes. Despite it being 2pm Girl Jesus lay on her bed covering herself with a thin white fleece cover. Her doll lay beside her when Mai Maria uncovered her.
While the manner in which the doll was handled like a real baby was uncommon, a white wardrobe meant for the doll’s clothes left us stunned. A picture of the doll, which was in a frame and placed on a table, revealed the close and unique relationship between the two.
"This doll is my toy and I have had it since I was young. I like my doll just like any other child would like theirs," said the soft-spoken Girl Jesus.
Girl Jesus, who has never set foot in school, said she tried to enrol in Grade One after her followers were removed from the shrine in 2006 so that she could lead a normal life.
"We went to the Department of Social Welfare to ask them to help us enrol in Grade One, but they could not help us. Instead, they told us to look for a private teacher for home-schooling and I was hurt. I realised that going to school was rather a mistake and continued with my faith," she said.
Girl Jesus, with manicured nails and sporting a bandana on her head, said even though she has grown up, she has not changed her mind on getting married.
"I will never marry because I follow my teachings. My sister Moses will also never get married, so men should not try their luck," she added.
To make sure that no man tempts her when she travels, Mai Maria said she makes sure that Girl Jesus moves around in the company of other people all the time.
"Men might try their luck because she goes everywhere, even to the Harare Agricultural Show, to the growth point and many other places. She even plays soccer and their team was about to go to Namibia for a tournament when our church was temporarily destroyed. She moves around with many other people so that men do not tempt her. I do not know whether a boy has asked her out before because she has never told me," said Mai Maria.
Girl Jesus’ sister, Moses, said she is doing well in school but wants to return to Guruve and attend a nearby school. She said she behaves like any other child while at the children’s home and does not practise her faith there. "I want to come home permanently and learn at a nearby secondary school. I am not happy where I am," she said.
l Let’s chat on roselyne.sachiti@zimpa
pers.co.zw, [email protected].
MY RESPONSE AND ANALYSIS TO THIS ARTICLE
Jesus Christ actually said, and promised his disciples that he would come again, for the second time. In John 14vs 1-3, Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled. You are trusting God, now trust in Me. There are many homes up there where my Father lives, and I am going to prepare them for your coming. When everything is ready, then I will come and get you, so that you can always be with Me where I am. If this weren't so, I would tell you plainly. And you know where I am going and how to get there." This just point out that Jesus is in heaven, and when time is ready, he will come again. However, the question still remains, how is Jesus Christ going to come back?
This has been a matter of many ideological arguments, but the bible makes it clear in the following verses, in Acts 1 vs. 10-11, "It was not long afterwards that He rose into the sky and disappeared into a cloud, leaving them staring after Him. As they were straining their eyes for another glimpse, suddenly two white-robed men were standing there among them, and said, 'Men of Galilee, why are you standing here staring at the sky? Jesus has gone away to heaven, and some day, just as He went, He will return!' This means therefore, that Jesus Christ will not reincarnate but will come back, in the same way he went up. However, the following verses can also help, Luke 21 vs. 27, NIV. "At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
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