In the remote corner of Oaxaca, Mexico, where 12 year old Alicia lives, worshiping Jesus comes at a great cost. When her family refused to take part in the ancestral rituals they were threatened with violence and had their basic services cut off.
VIDEO SCRIPT
Alicia
They held a meeting specifically about the Christians where they decided whether to tear down our houses or burn them. They agreed to take away all of our benefits. They cut off our electricity and water, and they fenced off a piece of land that my dad owned. They took everything my firewood and all our earthly possessions.
In the remote corner of Oaxaka, Mexico, where 12 year old Alicia lives, worshiping Jesus comes at a great cost. When her family refused to take part in the ancestral rituals they were threatened with violence and had their basic services cut off.
Alicia
Sometimes our own families were against us. They were also the ones who spoke out against us.
They wanted to ban us children from going to school. They also wanted to stop us from receiving medical care in the community. They took away our right to express our opinion here in the village. Our right to freedom. I had to finish my homework early, making sure I would have enough time because I couldn’t do it at night.
And all this time, my sister and I couldn’t watch TV and we couldn’t play in the house because it was dark. It made me feel bad and sad, both for myself and for the people who wanted to do this because we are not doing anything wrong. We are following God.
Open Doors came alongside the Christian families in the village, with practical help and Biblical training about how to face persecution.
Alicia
There was a hard time and words of encouragement were what we needed when they talked to us and chatted to us. We felt that we were not alone, that God was sending some of his children to talk to us and encourage us to.
To help her to process her feelings during this period of persecution. Alicia started writing a diary.
Alicia
I felt that writing would help me to release my emotions a little higher. I believe that God does listen to me when I write about my anxieties and worries. I wrote down the dates when certain events occurred, and some names of people whose lives I won’t take God to change.
After a period of prayer and fasting, Alicia’s family had some of their services restored in return for payment of a fine. But they are still restricted in how they can follow Jesus. And so Alicia prays for an end to their persecution.
Alicia
I think that we should pray for those who have done us wrong or hurt us, because in that way we don’t fall into the desire to take revenge, but we leave it in God’s hands.
In the future, I would like them to stop being aggressive about the faith we have in God. I would like them to leave us alone and respect that we follow God. I think that, well, in order to change this, we should be in prayer, right?
For the towns, cities, countries in continents so that someday this can be changed.
People Interviewed and their Titles
Alicia
Recording Location
Oaxaca, Mexico
Organization featured in this Story
Open Doors UK – www.opendoorsuk.org
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EN