“Oh, Edith, the ‘mfazhi’ (driver ants that travel in armies) are here. One just bit me!”
I had gone to sleep as usual under the mosquito nets. But this bite woke me up. Once before Edith had gotten some mfazhi in her long hair. What a time she had combing them out!
So Edith quickly lit the candle and looking around exclaimed, “They surely are here! They are all over the place! The walls are black with them!”
There was no question about it, we had to leave the house. Carrying as much bedding as possible in our arms, we headed for the neighbor’s house. It was all dark over there, so we knew they were sound asleep.
After much loud knocking on the door, we finally heard our neighbor call out, “Who is there, and what do you want?”
When they found out who we were and what had happened, they opened the door and welcomed us. We all had a good laugh to think those little insects could drive us out of our home. We made up our beds on the floor. Then after an uncomfortable night we returned home.
It was our fault the mfazhi had raided the house. We had gone to bed without checking to see if the two doors were tightly shut. The houses were built of sun-dried bricks, and the windows and doors did not fit tightly. It was easy for insects and other tiny things to get in under the doors. They got in because of our carelessness.
Doesn’t this experience suggest to us what can happen if we do not read our Bible and pray each morning. Reading His Word and praying helps to keep us close to our Saviour. If we get away from Him (out of communion), then the enemy (the devil) comes in like a flood, just like those thousands of mfazhi. Then he tempts us, and because we are not walking closely with the Lord we fail. Perhaps we get angry, hit our friends, tell lies or take what does not belong to us, etc.
The Word of God is powerful. If it is hidden in our heart we will be able to resist the devil. “Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.” Psalms 119:1111Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (Psalm 119:11).
The mfazhi ate everything they could find that was good to eat. They even ate the flat, thin spiders that hide behind the pictures on the walls and also the mosquitoes and other little pests that are hard to keep from getting indoors. They got what they came after, then left. Not one remained behind. But even if they did eat some of our other pests, both of us would have preferred if the ants had not gotten in. We were more careful after that.
ML-01/31/1982