Deaths prompt rare ceremony

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.