Missionaries Richard and Wendy Rees share that studying the Pwo Karens’ world view often feels like working on a very large, very complex puzzle.  There are many areas that require focused attention in order to make the pieces of translation fit together accurately. 

One way to zoom in on those critical areas of the puzzle is through interviews with Pwo Karens aimed at understanding what a word means in their culture.  In a setting that is relaxed and personal, many interesting insights begin to fit together.

Richard and Wendy share an example of an interview that was an attempt to get a better handle on the cultural context for the word “sin.” 

Richard: What is sin?

Language helper:  Sin is breaking the five precepts taught by Buddha.  Don't steal, don't take life, don't commit adultery, don't tell lies and don't drink alcohol.  

Richard:  What about anger or greed?  Are they sin?

Language helper:  No, they are bad, but they are not sin.

As the interview continued, it became increasingly clear that to use the common word that the missionary has learned for “sin” will not accurately convey what God says about sin in His Word.  How important is this little piece to the big puzzle?  It is critical to a clear understanding of the Gospel.

Every puzzle piece is essential and it must be fitted carefully into place.  Pray for Richard and Wendy and for the many faithful translators who pray and persevere in the essential task of Scripture translation.  Pray that God will graciously give insight into languages and cultures that will enable accurate communication of His loving message of hope and salvation to the Pwo Karens and to people all over the world who so need to hear it.

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For retired missionaries Don and Janet Schlatter, a trip to Thailand was for more than just a visit with their daughter Mary Aspinwall.

Don and Janet worked with the Lawa people for many years. They have many dear friends who first heard the Gospel from Don and today are still following Jesus.

“Last weekend I was able to make the trip with my parents,” Mary wrote. “Our main purpose was to attend the wedding of a couple whose families we have known for years so that was very special to be there for that.”

While there Mary was able to visit with people she grew up with and saw a new church building being built in a Lawa village.

Mary and her parents attended the Sunday School and church services at the church where Mary grew up. They all had a wonderful time visiting with believers in the church where Mary grew up.

Don is going to make another trip to Lawa villages and will attend a conference for Lawa leaders. He was asked to be the speaker for the conference and intends to use an interactive study through the book of 2 Timothy to challenge the church leaders.

“It will be a wonderful opportunity to spend time with this group of people who are helping lead the rest of the flock,” wrote Mary. “God has blessed the Lawa church abundantly and there are thousands in over 20 churches who are seeking to reach others and bring honor to Him.”

Pray for Clark and Mary as they minister among the Bruu people and pray for Don and Janet as God continues to use them in the lives of the Lawas.

Lea Betts was talking with a Karen friend when the friend told her about a woman who had sold her son for 2 baht (about 7 cents).

Every conversation for Lea and her husband, Leigh, is not only about relationships, but learning, as they seek to understand the Karen culture and language deeply.

“It could be tedious to keep on doing the same things – adding to our store of cultural knowledge, honing our language skills, analyzing grammatical texts – if it weren’t for the people,” Lea wrote. “The Lord has blessed us with many friends here ... and He uses them to encourage us to keep on being learners.”

So when Byie told Lea about the sale, Lea started asking questions.

“First of all, you have to understand that Karen moms don’t like their babies to cry – not at all,” Lea wrote. “Babies are fed, swung, walked, sung to, and held non-stop just to keep them quiet.”

If that doesn’t work, a mom will “sell” her baby to an experienced mom. “For two baht, she will tie the baby’s wrist and give him a new name,” Lea wrote. “This new mom becomes the Big Mom and the real mother is called the Little Mom. Of course, the baby doesn’t actually live with the Big Mom.

“It is one type of spirit ceremony that has been passed down through the generations. I don’t know yet if it is trying to trick the spirits, or to keep them from bothering the baby (which was why he was crying so much) or what. The baby somehow receives some of the Big Mom’s merit. And since she already has many children herself, she must have a lot of this merit to pass on to her children.”

Pray for Leigh and Lea as they build relationships and understand the culture and language of the Karen people.

The Isan people in Thailand had a three-day ceremony to drive the evil spirits from their village and exorcise the man-eating spirits from some people who they thought were involved in black magic.

This is the first time in ten years that the ceremony has been held and Dan and Laurie Fuller were able to observe and learn more about the Isaan culture.

They observed the spirit doctor putting his foot on a searing hot hoe and placing it on a lady to exorcise her demons. He stepped on her over and over until he was sure that she was free of demons.

The Isans had decided to hold the ceremony because there had been four deaths recently. The people felt that a man-eating demon was in some of the people and was causing the deaths.

The Isans also made braided grass wreaths that were supposed to ward off evil spirits. These were nailed on all the houses, except the missionaries'.

Each household brought sand and rocks to be blessed by the spirit doctor. They then sprinkled it around their houses to ward off evil spirits.

The third and final day of the ceremony the villagers brought sticky rice and different foods to be passed in front of religious men to be blessed. The men took what they could eat and put it in bowls on the table. Then the villagers ate the rest of the food. At the end of the ceremony the people returned home with white string tied on their wrists to protect them from evil.

Pray for the Fullers and their co-workers, Martin and Christiane Schumacher, as they learn more about the Isan culture and language so that they can present the Gospel message to the Isaan people. Pray that the Isans will hear the message of Life and will be freed from their fear of evil spirits.