We have no electricity again and it is a big spiritual holiday for Cambodia the next 3 days so dont know who will put power back on and when, fun fun fun. Battery not ful so I will make it quick.
Please remember to pray especially for the young Cambodian Christians who are at home right now with their families who still worship idols and visit temples over this time . Pray for them for wisdom, sensitivity and that they would stand strong.
Letter from a friend about this holiday:
Holliday of the Dead
Prayer for our kids as they are with family for this period ..it ends this Tuesday with the closing of hell until next year. Pray our kids can be strong and remember the story of Daniel and his three friends ..
Every year Cambodians dedicate 15 days to remembering their ancestors and deceased relatives. During these days people go back to their birth places, visit temples and simply take the time to think about those who are no longer in their lives. Monks chant Buddhist scriptures, waiting for the ‘gates of hell’ to open, the event during which ghosts of the dead enter the city. For some of these ghosts it’s a chance to end their period of purgation. Others, according to the traditional belief, return to hell. That’s why people make food-offerings as a way to benefit the ghosts. Pchum Ben is a unique spiritual event based on hundreds of years of religious beliefs and traditions. You will not be able to experience it anywhere else except in Cambodia.
The day is a time when many Cambodians pay their respects to deceased relatives of up to 7 generations.[4] Monks chant the suttas in Pali language overnight (continuously, without sleeping) in prelude to the gates of hell opening, During the period of the gates of hell being opened, ghosts of the dead (preta) are presumed to be especially active, and thus food-offerings are made to benefit them, some of these ghosts having the opportunity to end their period of purgation, whereas others are imagined to leave hell temporarily, to then return to endure more suffering; without much explanation, relatives who are not in hell (who are in heaven or otherwise reincarnated) are also generally imagined to benefit from the ceremonies. Ghosts are thought to have pin hole sized mouths making the suffering more difficult
Bonn Pchum Ben is the festival held for commemoration of the spirits of the dead. The highlight is on the 15th day of the waxing moon during the tenth month of the Khmer calendar. This will me Monday the 22nd this year
The festival does not just begin and end on one day. In fact, it lasts 15 days, each of which is called a day of Kan Ben. A Ben is an offering. The word of Ben is derived from Sanskrit pinda, or balls of rice to be offered to the souls of the dead.During the first 14 days, people take turns offering food to the monks of their local pagoda in the hope that their offering will reach the souls of their ancestors by virtue of the monks’ sermons.
The final day of Pchum Ben is the most important for all followers. On this day, at every pagoda around the country, the mass collection of offerings (Bens) is dedicated to the souls of ancestors. Khmer must rush around to visit at least 7 temples in hopes of finding their deceased relatives before hell closes and the chance is missed .
If this duty is ignored, it is believed that the soul is cursed and will haunt the neglectful descendants for the rest of the year.
We are so thankful to God for the growth of the home churches in the province. Please pray for the elders or the pastors to grow spiritually and wisdom and provision. Ps Samai held another outreach, we praise God for this faithful man.
Mordegai s leg not doing good these past few days,very swollen. Becoming a bit discouraged and stressed.
Thank you
Love
Rossouws
Facebook: http://facebook.com/mordegai
Blog: http://mordegai-whateverlord.
Skype: mordegai.rossouw
Blog: http://mordegai-whateverlord.
Skype: mordegai.rossouw
Among the weak in faith I become weak like one of them, in order to win them. So I become all things to all people, that I may save some of them by whatever means are possible. 1Cor.9:22
No comments:
Post a Comment