Page 115 - Unseen Hands by Nona Freeman

Svx:h as Should Be Saved
During the 1950's Salome had a shop at Nazareth, and there she had met Mamma Elfenesh, the most feared and renowned witch in Ethiopia. Royalty, state officials, nobility, and ordinary folk alike came to this woman for counsel, for charms to overcome real and imaginary enigmas, for foretelling the future, and for vengeance on enemies.
Salome's compassionate heart perceivedher as a lone ly, desperately unhappy old lady who needed a friend. Salome became her friend, treated her with kindness and consideration, and ignored her profession. Elfenesh, in turn, confided in Salome.
Her family told the following story concerning the supposed source of her spiritual powers. Her father, esteemed as a war hero and a hunter, killed a demon- possessed deer one day. The demon entered him, mak ing him violently ill. Elfenesh, the child of his sickness, began making true predictions at the age ofthree. At the age of seven, Elfenesh was picked up from her mother's home by a demonic whirlwind and was carried to remote mountains. Satan kept her and trained her until the same whirlwind deposited her at her widowed mother's door seven years later.
She operated as a powerful sorceress from the age of fourteen and received many gifts from her clients, though Satan never allowed her to accumulate anything. She trained many witches; one of them. Mistress Arussi, became famous beyond the borders of Ethiopia.
Burning with zeal after the Holy Ghost came, Salome told Sophia, "I feel that we should fast and pray for Elfenesh; she is over fifty years old and has never known peace or happiness." While they sought God for Mamma
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