Freedom From Spiritual BOndage

Ann is a missionary living in a strongly Buddhist area. She built a friendship with Ploy and Lek, who worked in her apartment complex. Doors opened to share her faith with them and they began to attend church with her, drawn by the caring atmosphere for them and their son. Before long both Ploy and Lek prayed a salvation prayer.

Soon afterwards the family began to experience deep problems. Lek was arrested for drunk driving. Ploy began to suspect her husband was being unfaithful. She started to have bad dreams. Her health deteriorated, forcing her to quit her job. A Buddhist friend suggested the problems were happening because they abandoned Buddhism, and that they must continue going to the temple, giving food to the monks, and making merit for Ploy’s deceased parents.

Ann discovered that both Ploy and Lek had once invited a spirit to be their protector and guide, a common practice in this area. They became extremely concerned about offending their spirits. Ploy sought the advice of a fortune teller who warned her that to avoid upsetting the familiar spirit she must not participate in Christian ceremonies. Ploy was very afraid because she had already participated in communion and prayed the salvation prayer, and now bad things happened frequently.

Ploy attended church for a while, but never stopped her Buddhist practices, and she could not forsake her familiar spirit. She wished she could be both Buddhist and Christian, but ultimately she retracted her profession of faith, stopped going to church, and returned the Bibles Ann had given her. She hoped Ann was not disappointed or angry and would understand that it is too hard for someone born Buddhist to change religions. Ann still visits Ploy and is praying for her salvation.