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Today is Loy Krathong in Thailand.
"Loi" means "to float". "Krathong" is a raft about a handspan in diameter traditionally made from a section of banana tree trunk decorated with elaborately-folded banana leaves, flowers, candles, incense sticks etc. During the night of the full moon in the 12th month of the Thai calender, normally in November, many people will release a small raft like this on a river. In addition, fireworks and beauty contests take place during the festival. It was a ceremony to honor the original Buddha, Siddhartha Guatama. Apart from venerating the Buddha with light (the candle on the raft), the act of floating away the candle raft is symbolic of letting go of all one's grudges, anger and defilements, so that one can start life afresh on a better foot. Many Thai believe that floating a krathong will create good luck, and they do it to honor and thank the Goddess of Water, Phra Mae Khongkha.
Megan made the krathong on the right in Thai class. Jack made the one on the left in Pre-K. The kids could have attended Loy Krathong ceremonies at Dan's work or at the Nichada pool near their school, but we didn't - mostly because we had Life Group from church tonight. But, while making rice for dinner tonight, Megan started talking about how the krathongs are made by the Thais to thank the god of water. She told me that it makes her sad that most Thais don't know God or believe in Jesus and she doesn't know how they will learn. I told her we have missionaries at our church that want to tell Thai's about Jesus. She made me name some. I told her Mr. Matt and Mrs. Tricia are here in Thailand to teach Thai kids about Jesus (and Math, English, Science, History, etc). I also got to tell her that the Thais are right - there is a God of water, but He's also the God of everything else. He made the water and the heavens and the earth and only He can command the winds and the waves and they obey Him. She was sad that the Chinese don't know Jesus either, so we prayed there in our kitchen for Thais and Chinese to come to know Jesus and to know who He is, that people would teach them and they would know the Truth. I love that she has a heart for people to know Jesus, but I struggle with how to explain to her why they don't know Jesus, how we have to be careful here in Thailand (Buddhism and the King are beyond taken seriously) so that we can share with people without offending them. Any thoughts or suggestions?
1 comment:
Wow-what a sweet heart God has given her. i don't know how you would instruct her because so many situations call for different words. It might be best to focus on allowing the Spirit to move when she talks with people. You could talk with her about praying for the words to say when she is talking with people about Jesus or Buddha or other beliefs. I'm anxious to hear other's suggestions.
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