Spiritual Healing
I have spent more than five years studying Filipino faith healing. During my first two trips to the Philippines, I was conducting research for my dissertation. While working toward my Ph.D., I had been neglecting my own health needs. So, during my trip last November, my intention was to get healing for myself. I had always believed in the healing power of the Holy Spirit, and now I have met the Filipino espiritistas who believe they are simply continuing Jesus Christ’s healing ministry, utilizing the Holy Spirit to accomplish their healing goals.
Following my research, I realized there were no conflicts between my belief system and Christian Spiritism. Last November, I went to the Philippines expecting a healing miracle. I prayed and meditated with the group, and I believe I experienced some miraculous healing experiences as the Holy Spirit worked through the hands of the Filipino espiritistas.
Over the last five years, I have endured two long and very unpleasant courses of treatment for my liver condition. Because the treatment is so painful and unpleasant, many doctors do not put depressed or mental patients through the course of treatments, as there is even the risk of suicide. In addition to stage four liver disease, I had type-two diabetes. I had complicated interactive symptoms from the combination of both these two conditions. I had also been diagnosed with a stomach ulcer. I had been neglecting my health for a long period of time.
Following my research, I realized there were no conflicts between my belief system and Christian Spiritism. Last November, I went to the Philippines expecting a healing miracle. I prayed and meditated with the group, and I believe I experienced some miraculous healing experiences as the Holy Spirit worked through the hands of the Filipino espiritistas.
Over the last five years, I have endured two long and very unpleasant courses of treatment for my liver condition. Because the treatment is so painful and unpleasant, many doctors do not put depressed or mental patients through the course of treatments, as there is even the risk of suicide. In addition to stage four liver disease, I had type-two diabetes. I had complicated interactive symptoms from the combination of both these two conditions. I had also been diagnosed with a stomach ulcer. I had been neglecting my health for a long period of time.
This was now my third trip to the Philippines to visit healers. This time, I joined a healing pilgrimage with seven other travelers I’d never met before. We traveled to Manila, Baguio City, and Pangasinan, the areas where Christian Spiritism was founded and still flourished. I was meeting famous healers that I had read about but had never met before. The group received eight treatments from Labo in the mornings, and in the afternoons, we visited other healers, most of whom practiced psychic surgery.
I asked Labo if he had fasted as a part of his training and if he had continued to fast. He spoke right up saying, “Yes, I am an Espiritista,” meaning a member of the Union of Espiritistas Church, a group which advocates the practice of fasting to alter states of consciousness. In the Philippines, the Holy Spirit is not an abstract concept referred to in the Bible. The Holy Spirit exists as a powerful healing force whose presence is felt by patients and healers alike.