What do you do when your tooth causes pain that spreads across your face and puffs it up, and you suspect that there is a spirit behind the problem—a spirit you inherited from your mother when she died? If you were an animistic Buddhist, you would immediately ask yourself what you had done to upset the spirit. And if you had started moving toward Christ—gone to a small group, had someone pray for you, and then gone to church—you would likely conclude that the spirit did not like your new pursuit. This was the conclusion of Grandma Long’s sister, Khun Mae.

We were all excited when Khun Mae came to our small group several weeks ago. The Sabbath before, Grandma Long had told me over potluck that her sister was interested in Christianity. I smiled, as I do every time I talk with Grandma Long. She is 87 years old, stout, strong and determined. Pastor Wanlop reached out to her a little more than a year ago when he moved into her neighborhood, and she was baptized a year and a half ago. She cannot read and has relied on teaching, preaching and participating in Christian community to grow in her spiritual understanding. It is inspiring to see how her biblical and experiential knowledge of God have grown. Now her testimony is impacting her family.

Khun Mae came to our small group in need of prayer for physical healing from her toothache and swelling. We surrounded her and another grandma in need, and we called on God to help them. But, instead of getting better, her symptoms worsened—especially after she went to church.

We know God is working to save Khun Mae. He is more powerful than any spirit troubling her, and He is able to reveal Himself in ways that cut through superstition. We believe God will finish the work He has started.

This story’s conclusion is yet to be written, but Khun Mae needs your prayers now. We also want you to know, in real time, what is going on here in Khon Kaen—the challenges we face every day as we live by faith and not by sight. Please continue to join us in this effort through your prayers and support.

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