We are in the midst of Pchum Ben, the Khmer Festival of the Dead. The city of Phnom Penh is rapidly emptying as people head to their home province for a three-day holiday that usually stretches to at least a week.
Pchum Ben is actually the culmination of a fifteen-day observance called Dak Ben, during which Khmers are encouraged to visit at least seven pagodas to make offerings to dead ancestors and light candles to guide the spirits of the dead to these offerings. All this is an open invitation for a big gathering in the spirit world.
The tangibility of the demonic oppression associated with this was very real earlier on this month. Once you suss what is happening it is easier to rise above it. For Christians, this is a tricky but good time as they commit to love their families with grace and without spiritual compromise.
Our staff are all due days off to return home, so we have actually closed the Healing Home for six days. This has meant the Healing Home has gone mobile - we've brought Noul, his wife Nath and baby Jeea home to our place. Marty and Robyn have headed south for six days r+r so this all went very smoothly.
Nath and gorgeous baby Jeea - now resident with us for a few days
It is interesting to view our house a little through Nath's eyes. We have pantry cupboards full of groceries, a fridge-freezer with meat and a week's supply of food and veges ... let alone the furniture, stereo, tv and stuff. She looked very excited to be introduced to our kitchen.
To this little family, we must look like millionaire missionaries. It is all relative - I remember Sue and I feeling awed when we stayed with a lovely family in America for a week 10 years ago!
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