Like many other Southeast Asian people groups, the Hmong believe that a person has many spirits.   All of them need to be present for an individual to have good health.   When a person becomes ill, it is believed that one or more of these spirits has wandered and must be called back into the person.    During a spirit calling ceremony, a shaman determines the sick person’s symptoms.   Based on these symptoms, a silversmith designs the lock.

At the top, two pieces of silver point to either side.  As the shaman chants, he bends these into curved designs.  The lock is then placed on the sick person to keep the spirits from wandering away again.    If the person becomes ill again, the old lock is removed; a new one is created based on the new symptoms.

Pray:

       -Thank You, Jesus, for bearing our sin-sickness on the cross and for interceding         for transgressors.

       -Reveal Yourself to the Hmong; draw them to Yourself that they would know         deliverance from sin.

       -When they hear the message of the gospel, help them believe its life-changing         truth. Seal them with the Holy Spirit of promise.  Let their lives be to the praise of         Your glory.

       -Open new avenues for leadership training; remove roadblocks to the development         of strong Christian leaders.