Don’t fear to come before Dupade
Ca oyo cocho cochógome Dupade yui Dijaide and others
Nacore’s words:
You know what Dupade’s words say. I’m referring to Bai and all of you young men. Don’t fear to come before Dupade when we meet together. Josuedé’s teachings are good. Don’t quit following Dupade.
We need to have other young men to lead us, as well.
Dupade forbids some things; things he hates and asks us not to do are obvious. I’m right about that. But you know about these things, too, for as believers, you have read these words of Dupade’s on the skin of the cactus (paper). You know that he forbids having two wives. He also forbids you women from having two husbands. Just one husband for the women. And just one wife for you men.
These same things were forbidden long ago to me. But I had not yet heard Dupade’s words in the jungle back then. I did those things long ago. But now we have leaders, and we are with Dupade’s other children, and are doing Dupade’s will.
And that’s the truth. Let’s not be a bother to Dupade. These are my thoughts for you, Ucaré, and for Jómone, Urúidaté, and Gatemitódacóde. Confess what you’ve done, your ugly ways. And then they’ll be gone. Stop sinning and shake hands. Because that is what Dupade wills. And that is all I have to say.
Dijaide’s words:
*Rósade’s thoughts are very beautiful. Our wisdom comes from Dupade, he gives wisdom to us. He knows what is wise.
Rósadaté’s words:
This is what I did for three nights. I slept poorly. I was worried that Satan was on the watch for us even though we were hearing Dupade’s words and going to meetings. I wondered about those who were traveling and was looking forward to seeing my daughters, for all of my daughters were going to be arriving. And I was hoping all would go well for them. I wanted nothing to hinder them, the ugly things that can happen in this world. I was happy that my daughters were all coming to see me. I didn’t attend the woman’s gathering, and it was probably then that Satan was laying his plans against my house. I was staying at home. So, I didn’t hear anything at all. Now, that’s the way Satan works.
I was in my house. And I saw that Eruidaté was at my house’s door. I thought she came to visit, and to hear Dupade’s words inside my house. I listened to her, but her words were about Ucaré. Everything seemed good to me. And I thought everything would be fine. Despite my preoccupations, I would never have asked my daughters not to come.
Eruidaté said: “Ucaré, I’ve come for you.” This is what she said and then she said: “I’m tired of you causing trouble for Elena everywhere you go in this world!”
Elena started to cry.
The earth was not good for me at that moment. I wondered what bad thing my daughters might have done? And I had been looking forward to the word’s of Dupade so that nothing of Satan could reach me. But here he was with me.
Eruidaté hit Ucaré in the head. So, I grabbed Eruidaté. I pushed her and turned her around. But she came at Ucaré again. So, I went for a stick. I picked it up. And I was about to hit Eruidaté. But I looked at her. I thought, she’s my brother’s friend!
I said: “I think you are someone else!” I said: “You are our longtime friend! You’re my friend! Isn’t that what we told Dupade the other day in his house?” that’s what I said to her.
Eruidaté was standing there before me. Satan was standing before me, looking for an opportunity to overcome me right here in my house. I started to think, we’re fighting like our forefathers used to fight. I thought, I’m acting as ignorant as they. And I heard myself, but Satan stood his ground in front of me, and was taking over my life, and I couldn’t do what I wanted to do.
Quickly I said to Eruidaté: “I think you’ve been acting like someone else. I almost hit you. I almost killed you over Ucaré.”
I hadn’t slept for three nights before my daughters came. Satan was there observing me, so he could attack when Eruidaté came.
But pray to Dupade for us. What we did was wrong, and maybe Dupade will erase these things we did. And we can like each other again. How quickly I reacted badly yesterday.
I said to Eruidaté: “Let’s confess to Dupade what we’ve done on Sunday.”
And Eruidaté said: “Shall we both do it?” Shall we do it together?”
All of you pray to Dupade for me right now. About the ugly things we did. That’s all I have to say.
Dijaidé’s words:
You’ve done the right thing by confessing to Dupade what you’ve done. And for confessing your sins to your brothers and sisters who believe in Dupade. For Dupade says: “Confess to your brothers in Christ first. And then Dupade will forgive your ugly ways. We are thankful you’ve done this, for Satan is busy all over the world.
Dupade words say we should we watchful and always remember Satan is at work, trying to deceive us.
Let’s never be ashamed to come before Dupade. Because Eruidaté, our true sister, was here with us not long ago. She is here before us now, and we consider her to be our sister. Let’s help her, for Dupade will never have words like these pass his lips: ‘Don’t help each other. Let Satan into your hearts. Don’t let me into your hearts. Don’t have faith in me. Go away.’ These things would never be on Dupade’s lips.
*Josuédé compares his teaching to that of Joshua who lived long ago:
One of the men that lived long ago named Joshua counseled his countrymen. He said to his countrymen: “Make up your minds in this land. If you will believe in Satan, or believe in the one I believe in. You must decide.”
He went on to counsel them and said: “Listen to this great leader of ours for he was the one our forefathers believed in, he was their Dupade.”
These words stuck to the believers who were Dupade’s countrymen. Joshua was their leader, and he told them what they should not do. He said to them: “If you don’t believe in Dupade, that’s alright, don’t believe in him. But don’t fool around with Dupade. Dupade is puyac. So, if you would rather follow Satan, follow him. Don’t even say Dupade’s name if you don’t believe in him.”
And let us make up our own minds while we’re still alive in this world. We have time. Time to put our faith in Dupade. Let’s be brothers and sisters. Let’s not be strangers. That’s all I have to say.
Bai’s words:
What our sister Rosadaté taught us is very good.
She hadn’t heard anything yet, because of staying home to read Dupade’s words. She was happy about the fact that her daughters were coming. She was excited to to see them. It was as though she was about to see Dupade. We welcome Dupade’s coming when we will see him arrive in the future. We don’t know if he will come today or in the future. Just like Rosedaté being happy to see her daughters, Dupade will be happy to see his daughters when he comes. And when he arrives, his daughters will be happy to see their Father Dupade, also. You know that it was Dupade who made us – he made our mouths so we could talk. And he made our ears to we could hear things.
I only read Dupade’s words in the words of the Cojñone. I can only read very few verses in our own language.
It is a little like what Rósadé and them have said. They said we should love each other. And be kind to each other. And to really listen to each other. And try to agree and think alike. And not to listen to gossip about each other. Not to think we are better than others. And to only love each other sincerely. Ready to listen well to our fellow-Ayoréos.
Isn’t it possible that someone else might know more than you do? It’s Dupade’s will that we think alike and honor each other even though we are in this world. We should be patient with each other. But you women know what it says in the book of James. I’m not sure of where that verse is. ***Josuédé might know. I can’t remember where it’s found so I can’t tell you where it is. But it’s in Dupade words. It says: “Be patient.” (James 4:1-6)
These are just a few words of mine.
Dijaide’s words:
The verses that Bai read to us from Dupade’s words were very good. And he read them in our own language. When he said: “Don’t think too highly of yourselves.” (Romans 12:3)
Dupade hates that. We hear the Apostle Paul’s words about himself. He says: “Don’t think too highly of me. I don’t want anyone to say, ‘Paul is really smart. He knows everything.’ I don’t want you to say things like that about me.” This is what Paul the Apostle said about himself.
That is how we should be. We shouldn’t think we’re better than others. Dupade hates that kind of thinking. We should admit that we don’t know everything.
*Carolinadaté’s words; first she prays:
Dupade, you are the one we believe in. I’m very thankful that we are all together here in your house. Josuedé brings your words to us here. Dupade, we know that you see the ugly things we do. We don’t see them, but you do, because you are a great Daijnai. Please forgive the ugly things we’ve done.
Dupade, we know that Satan influences us. But you are greater than he is, and you can erase sin, for you are a great and powerful medicine man, you are Dupade the one we believe in. We know that we can’t always see evil ourselves. It’s all around us. But you will do something about it. I would be so thankful right now if you would give me knowledge, and your good thoughts. I have faith that you, Dupade, can do it. And I am taking steps to follow your ways with all my heart. I’d be so thankful if you help me right now. I pray to you in your Son Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.
Margarita came, and she taught us. Margarita said: “Carolínadaté, what do you want to hear?”
I didn’t know the names of the people who lived long ago. She asked: “Do you want the story about the man whose son left him?”
I said: “Margarita, of course I want to hear it. I want to hear Dupade’s words too. I’m still a young woman and I don’t know how to read but I think about it. I would like to know these things.”
Margarita taught us then. But others were using Satan’s ways. I was weaving a bag. But I wasn’t making it very well. I looked at Margarita and she was showing me the picture of the young man that left. She told me about it, and told me about it. And I didn’t understand much. About that time, they arrived. And they walked by us, paca, paca, paque. But they brought their gossip with them.
This dear little sister of mine was truthfully saying: “I thought something was going on over there.”
But then Eruidaté came. And she didn’t sit down. Her face was red.
Eruidaté said: “I have something to say to Jómone. But Ucaré took off alone,” she said.
But I quickly stood in her way. But my fellow women wouldn’t listen to me. I called to her, and said: “Eruidaté! It would be best if you talked to Jómone this evening,” I said.
But my fellow women said to Eruidaté: “Go on. Go to Ucaré. It’s ugly what they’re doing.”
And so Eruidaté left. She said: “I’ll go to her.” And she was gone.
But I started off too, to go with her. But Ironguené said to me: “Mother of Irongué, don’t say anything.”
“I’m just going to see what they do,” I said, “Dupade may want me to do something about it. I’m going to counsel her to stop what she’s doing.”
So, I left yesterday and went with them. But she was planning to hit Ucaré. I watched what was happening, bewildered because we were brothers and sisters. I watched them. But I counseled Eruidaté, saying: “Eruidaté, go outside, go back.”
But the other women said: “What? She’s counseling her to stop? Leave her alone, let her hit Ucaré,” they said.
But I said: “No! That’s not what Dupade wants at all, for her to hit her fellow-woman,” I said. They were ready to scold me for trying to counsel them to stop being angry.
But I said: “This is what I must do, I won’t stop.” I had become a believer right away a long time before. So, I took off. I went along with the those who were telling lies. I said to Ucaré: “They say she is going to hit you!”
I’m really grateful that Dupade erased them, and that I could stop sinning. As if I would listen to them!
Carolínadaté tells what happened to her:
I was in Urucu where I used to live, when some lying, trouble makers arrived. They called: “Ebedérodaté! Have you heard this? They’re saying that you’re going to make Goránaté leave.”
I felt bad. But my husband spoke to me and said: “It’s true.”
I said: “Ironguené! What should I do about these gossips who want to cause trouble?”
But my husband said to me: “Pray for them, these who trouble you. Don’t pay attention to their lies,” he said. “I’m thankful that we have chosen to listen to our teachers and not to lies.”
After what my husband said to me, I stopped worrying.
Then, one night I began to feel sorry for myself. I started remembering the many bad things I had done.
I used to live in Rincón – that was my town. And I prayed to Dupade. Then I went to Tobité. I was still rebellious. But I heard a message of Oroné’s. He spoke to me, and said: “Ebedérodaté! Dupade allows you women to have trials.”
My husband died there in Rincón. My daughter Ebedéro said to me. “Mother, stop listening to whoever she is. They’re dead now. She curses widows.
But I said: “Ebedéro, no. It’s Dupade who allows us to have trials.” This is what I told her. And I went on to say, “When Tobité was our town long ago, *Santiago’s son (Jim Ostewig’s son) died,” I said, “And I began to believe at that time, and will always believe.”
Despite the trial, I won’t stop believing. I’m always hearing about things that my fellow-women accuse me of saying. But Dupade isn’t directing them to say that about me. But it’s not Dupade’s desire, not his desire at all that I should again listen to lies.
My husband spoke to me and said: “Ironguedaté! Don’t listen to lies. Don’t pay attention to them.”
I think the lies have to do with pulling me away from Dupade’s words. But I don’t want that to happen. That’s not Dupade’s will at all for me to backslide. Whenever I would start to backslide, I would always repent and come back. Dupade’s word will never be a temporary thing for me.
I don’t want to lie at all. Or to hit someone I’m related to, a brother or sister.
When I was a young girl long ago I was never in a hurry. Possibly I never gave it a thought. But good thoughts are here in Dupade’s house.
I was carefree long ago. But then my husbands would die. And so, I would play around, and play and play. I had many husbands. I did many ugly things. I couldn’t stop. And all I did was play. I almost took another girl’s husband. But finally, I thought about it and stopped acting like that. That was when I was still in the jungles and didn’t know better.
But afterwards now I did not want to be a bother to Dupade. That’s because his word has entered my heart. I drink Jesus Christ’s blood. And I am so thankful that he has washed away my sins and those of my husband.
My husbands died here in my presence.
I am thankful that Dupade will forgive my sins and those of Ejábiadacóde, also. I know we are believers, that those of us who believe are sisters and brothers on this earth. I’m sure, very sure of this. And so, I don’t listen to what my fellow-Ayoré says. As if I would make something up about what another person says to make her angry! I am thankful that we believers can tell Dupade all about it.
This is all I have to say.
Dijaide’s words:
Edebérodaté’s words that she has shared with us are true and full of wisdom. For they are from Dupade’s words.
Jesus counseled his disciples and he said to them: “People are going to make trouble for you. Satan is going to make trouble for you. He will deceive some of you. People will say you are crazy. The things they say about you will be ugly. But that’s because they don’t believe in Dupade, but you do.”
Pacádaté’s words; she first prays to Dupade:
Our leader Dupade, we are thankful that we have come before you again here in your house. But it’s not something else that Satan is doing when he comes into our midst. We are thankful that you can erase what he is trying to do these days. There is nothing else anywhere that can make wrong doings and sin go away. Only you can get rid of them. You know all about us right now, about Rósadé, Rósadaté, and all of us. We are going to stop being confused and worried about the ugly things that have happened. We only want your word to prevail among us. We are opening our ears to hear you. May your Holy Spirit enter all of us right now. And may we not listen to others, only to you. We speak to you in the name of your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.
I’m glad that we are gathered here in your presence. But we don’t want to be talking about anything but the matter at hand. Only about when the men returned from cutting down mahogany trees. We were as excited to see them as if it was Dupade returning to us here on earth! That’s how excited we were when the men came back. It seemed nothing could go wrong. Had we not been awaiting their arrival, nothing would have seemed right.
I said: “I’m leaving. I’m going to my garden. I’ll bring something back to eat. I won’t need anything. As if sinful happenings were on my mind! I didn’t want for anything. We got back and I started getting things ready. I didn’t pray to Dupade about anything. I was only concentrating on the things I had to do. Nothing else was on my mind. I was taken up with my own things. But there was something, I entered my thoughts. But it was still there and I kept pondering it. But nothing bad was on my mind.
It was late afternoon. They started talking about things. But I didn’t want bad things to enter my mind at all. I didn’t want anything to do with sin. I heard their words with my ears.
What said: “Jómone and Ucaré want each other.”
I still didn’t want anything to enter my mind. I didn’t want to hear about what Satan was doing.
I said: “O.K., we’ll talk about it later.”
But I don’t think Eruidaté had her mind on Dupade. I think Satan was in control of her thoughts. And I didn’t say anything to Eruidaté at all. I didn’t even say, ‘Wait. First, let’s do what Dupade says to do.’
Jómone and the others didn’t arrive until later. I heard what they were saying, but it didn’t register in my mind. I didn’t want to have anything to do with it. I didn’t want anything to do with Satan. I finished what I was doing and went to do something else, and when I got back Dapuré said: “Have you heard that Eruidaté hit Ucaré?”
I said: “I know. I heard about it.”
I came from Elena’s house, and reached my own, and I prayed to Dupade. I wasn’t thinking about Satan at all concerning my fellow woman, nor did I say, “I’ll go to her and bawl her out.”
I was only thinking about what Dupade wanted. I didn’t want to do anything ugly in Rósadé’s house. That’s because I knew that we had only recently stood up to accept Jesus and to be forgiven of our sins. And I didn’t want Satan to have his way and split Rósadé’s gall bladder. The only thing Rósadé, Josuedé, and our brother Jómone taught us was about Dupade’s ways.
But now we were praying for them, because of the ugly things that were done. And we kept praying to Dupade. Possibly he would take them back again. I did not want to make anyone angry.
I’m glad that Jesus Christ has forgiven my sins. They are taking sides, but I’m not lining up with either one.
I want to know how to read and to understand what I am reading. Then I I could teach my fellow-women. But it is hard for me. I don’t understand because I can’t read at all.
I wish that Ucaré and Jómone would confess what they’ve done, and not be ashamed before us. There’s no reason they should be ashamed for we are their brothers and sisters who also believe in Christ, just as Josuédé (Dijaide) and Bai have said. And he has erase our sins.
But Eruidaté didn’t understand this. And that is why she carried on with Satan’s violence. I wanted Eruidaté to do as I do, and not be pay attention to the things people do. I hear what is said, but my ears are open to being understand. I don’t let it affect me personally. I don’t want to say, ‘I’m going over there and see what’s going on with Elena.’ And then have Satan influence me. That’s not what I want to happen.
They said: “Aquesudé and them are arriving!”
I felt sorry for Aquesuidé, and wondered what I could do for him. I thought probably I would be moved to tears when I saw him. Aquesuidé arrived but it didn’t make me sad to see. My thoughts were upon Dupade. My husband was weak. My husband couldn’t walk because he was sick.
When my brother came to me. I was happy when he reached me. I was as content as if Jesus himself had arrived. For it was my own brother that had arrived. But right away my mind grabbed onto Dupade again. We didn’t cry.
I was thinking about my husband who was crippled. My brother didn’t want to eat my food. He didn’t eat it, because my husband was sick. I didn’t know what to make to eat. But his food would be Dupade’s words if I gave them to him and taught him about what Dupade does. His food would be this – spiritual food.
I am thankful that we have gathered here to confess our ugly ways, brought about by Satan’s deceptions. If a fellow woman came to my house and stood there and said: “I’ve come for you!”
I would say: “O.K. Do you want to bawl me out? Dupade could erase your anger.” This is what I would do.
I heard the voices of others in the night. They were saying: “You should confess before them what you’ve done wrong, tell who you have had intercourse with, your sex partners.”
I would say: “No, I haven’t done anything wrong at all. I have not made any of my fellow women angry.”
If another woman, whoever she might be, came to my house and bawled me out, I would say to her: “Thank you for bawling me out.”
I don’t want to be like that woman Sara that lived long ago. It’s said they spoke to Sara and said to her: “We’ve come to you to tell you that Dupade says he will give you a child.” Sara laughed at them. She doubted them. She thought they were lying about it, but Dupade was telling her the truth.
They gave her baby They had told her the truth. And Sara’s child was born, and his hame was Isaac. She was astounded and very old and thought her child would be illegitimate. But the father was her very old husband, and was not illegitimate. Dupade had told them the truth. We shouldn’t doubt what happened to that woman who lived long ago. It’s true.
I have done many things, but I always confessed them so that Dupade would forgive me. I never want to be angry with Dupade. I only want to be open with him and tell him about everything.
That’s all I have to say.
Dijaide’s words:
Dupade’s words tell what they mean. You know how it was with our mother Eve that Satan deceived. He said to her: “Eat, Dupade is lying. You won’t die.”
Satan comes to us who believe in Dupade by twisting Dupade’s words. And he enters other things when he comes to speak to us. But let’s remember this that Satan comes to us in other forms.
Say this when you want to dismiss Satan: “I have faith in Dupade. I do not want to do what the things Satan wants me to do.” That is all I have to say.
Jómone’s words:
These women have told the truth about what the things Dupade wants us to do.
But there’s something in Dupade’s words about how us humans are not strong. Ayoreos and Cojñone all over the earth are alike in that we are all weak in our faith. Isn’t that true? (1 Corinthians 10:12)
This is what happened: Ucaré and them were playing around. But it isn’t as though I didn’t participate. I didn’t tell them I was ghost. But to them I may have seemed like a spirit. For they asked to be with me in their camp. Bu only Dupade knows what goes one in our hearts.
Dupade knows all about us humans. He even knows when our end will come. And that’s when it will come. And he knows the woman that we sin with. For when we are doing it, right then we know how wrong it is. He knows things, the difficult, unexpected things, he already knows when they will happen. There is nothing difficult for Dupade, that’s why. That’s because he knows everything we think about.
But now we are will confess our ugly ways.
You know that there are things that were once puyac for us Ayoreos, that we have stopped and no longer observe. You know about the bird we once worshiped that she was puyac, but now we men have stopped doing the bird festival.
Dupade’s words address these things that were once puyac and forbids them. And that is why we should follow these words of Dupade’s, so that we can stop observing the things that were once puyac. On the other hand, he shows us other things he wants us to do. And when we do them, we no longer remember the things that were wrong.
For it’s true that Dupade is going to come. If it’s true and we believe in him, we know our future destination. As well as others that believe in Dupade, they, too will know their destinations. And these things are going to happen for those of us who truly believe. Let’s truly believe and do these things. But let’s not go back to being sinful.
We are telling our friends about this who are believers, standing here before them. Not as those who have no sin. For we have sinned. It’s about what it means to do the wrong things and to being someone who loves and hangs onto his ugly ways.
On the other hand, if someone believes, he stops doing the things of this world – flirting and playing around. He’ll cut it out and stop it right away and is done with it. On the other hand, if the person doesn’t stop it, he’ll go right one doing what he loves to do. Then it’s not possible to overcome sin. And that’s how I’ve been with women, weak.
Key:
Dupade – God
Leader, one we listen to – Lord
Great leader, one we listen to – Great Lord
Yoqui-Dupade – Our God
Dupade’s Words – God’s Word
Paca, paca, paque – Walking fast
Puyac – Taboo, holy
Skin of the cactus – book, paper
Daijnai – Medicine man, Shaman
*Santiago – Jim Ostewig. (Jimmy Ostewig who died at one years old, and was buried in Tobité where Jim and Helen Ostewig were missionaries. Carolinadaté became a believer when she saw the faith the Ostewigs had; that they really believed that Jimmy would come out of his grave when Jesus came back.)
*Carolínadaté (mother of Carolina) who refers to herself with other names – depending on the name of the child she was known by at the time: Ebedérodaté (mother of Ebedero), Ironguédaté (mother of Irongue)
*Josuédé – (father of Josué) Another name for Dijaidé.
*Rósadé – (Father of Rosa) Another name for Nacore.
Dijaide and other speakers – Tobité, Bolivia – July 27,1975.
Transcribed and translated to English by: Maxine Morarie.
