A worker in Morocco shares with us:

We were invited to a traditional village Muslim baby naming party by a friend who married last year. They trusted us not to bring the “evil eye” and allowed us to see their firstborn baby son. Most Moroccans will hide their new born away or cover it up with lots of blankets so that no one can see the baby. They are afraid that people will bring the “evil eye” on their baby.  The “evil eye” is usually associated with jealousy or envy, and sometimes just with ill feelings, and brings curses on the one who the “evil eye” is directed at.  The mother welcomed our prayers for protection as the guests arrived for the party.

I connected with one of the village men who was a more fundamentalist Muslim on a personal level. This was a breakthrough as he began to share with me on a personal level as we worked on erecting the large tent lighting together. Beyond his intimidating big black beard and butcher knife (he cut a slaughtered sheep into chunks as I held them), I found a heart broken father.

His first daughter, now 6 years old, was born normally. Then two of his daughters died from major birth defects. His fourth girl was born disfigured with cleft palate and external ear and eye abnormalities. An Operation Smile volunteer surgical team performed the first stage to close her palate.

Earlier, this man tried to get me to argue over the Son of God. The Holy Spirit guided me to a simple Biblical answer that seemed to “sink in”. He listened intently to my experience of Jesus.

I could see him drop his guard further when I told him, “You are a good man. You value your daughter to care for her. God bless you and your family.” I was reminded of when Jesus healed the man born blind. “Whose fault” was the big question. Traditional society here wants to blame others (likely the parents) for the birth defects of sicknesses of their children.  Many parents of handicapped children try to deflect blame by getting really religious. Perhaps their pain explains the anger of some Muslim fundamentalists.

How you can pray:

• Please ask God to further reveal the love of Jesus to this man and his wife, and their daughters.
• May God open their hearts and minds to receive the Truth.
• Pray that they may have dreams of Jesus.
• Ask that they will be open to further conversations with the workers if given the opportunity.
• Pray that Jesus’ love for them will win them over.
• Pray that Jesus will bring healing and hope to their hearts after the loss of their 2 daughters, and the struggle with personal pain and blame because of their other daughter’s birth defects.