Litchfield pool offers healing to the sick
Since the emergence of a ‘healing pool’ in Litchfield some years ago, several persons have been travelling to the south Trelawny community to be cured of various illnesses.
Called the Pool of Refuge or the Healing of the Nation, the water body was discovered by the late Latesha Johnson. She claimed that she was directed by God, in a vision to the area, and told that she should use it to restore health to the ailing.
The Pool of Refuge is located on a fenced property and the water appears murky.
“It is pure water sent from God for his people. If someone wants some of this water, they simply have to come on a Wednesday because it is for the people,” said Gwendolyn Ellis, who has replaced her mother as the ‘woman at the pool’.
Ellis said that her mother, before taking her last breath nine months ago, charged her to continue the mission of healing the nation.
“We are not a church, but we have service every Wednesday because I gave the commitment to my mother to continue the mission and I am committed to that promise,” said Ellis, who says she is a devoted Christian.
“Every Wednesday morning persons come and get their water, some drink it, some bathe with it ... I even carry a bottle to use as medicine if I am on the road and anything goes wrong,” she said.
Despite the seeming popularity of the ‘healing stream’, the community members are not all believers in its powers.
Valerie Ives, when asked if she believes that the water source in Litchfield can cure diseases, said: “It could be, for those who chose to have an interest, but not for me.”
Ramona Clarke, another community member, said: “It might be possible, but to each his own.” “It is not for me,” she added. Ellis, meanwhile, said that one cannot be delivered if he does not believe in the powers of the water.
“You must believe in the water for it to work. There are two ways to use the water, you can drink it or bathe in it and many have received healing,” she said.