Around 60% of Laotians consider themselves to be Buddhists, but most practise a syncretistic version of Buddhism mixed with tribal animism; just 4% are Christians. Many believers are persecuted by family members or village authorities concerned that Christians offend the spirits, and the central government restricts Christian activity.
YeanFin is persevering in faith despite total rejection from her family and community. In 2015, YeanFin became a Christian and led her four children to Christ. Already a widow at that time, she was dependent on her extended family as she raised her children alone.
Her relatives and the officials of her Laotian village were at first curious about her decision but then threatened her to return to the worship of their ancestral spirits. They said they would not help her if she persisted in following what they saw as a foreign religion: “You should choose us, not choose God!” YeanFin, now 58, struggles to find work after being ostracised by the community, but she has declared that she will not leave Christ and thanks God for taking care of her and her children for the past ten years. “I love God,” she said. “Even though on this earth my relatives rejected me and have not helped me, in God I have hope.”
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