January 31st, 2007 - Died in Prison
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Lao Quick Facts:
-Population of 3.3 Million in Laos  and over 17 Million in N.E. Thailand
-Animist with a veneer of syncretistic,  folk Buddhism
-Daniel McGillvary was the first  missionary to the Lao in the late 1800's
Died in Prison
Mr. Y was in prison for 7 years.  He was arrested in 1999 on charges of treason against the state, but in fact his only crime was that he believed in Jesus Christ.  He and another brother served together, encouraging one another year by year to stand firm in their faith.
         
Life in Lao prison is pretty dismal.  The state does not provide food. Families must bring rice and other edibles to the prisoners daily or weekly. If the food is too nice the guards steal it.  Living on less than nutritious food is not easy on anyone, but especially not on older people.

Mr. Y’s health declined over the past few years until, in early 2006, it was clear he was quite ill.  A Christian sister in town asked for permission to take Mr. Y to the hospital. Permission was denied.  In September Mr. Y died.   The other brother in prison was devastated. Not because Mr. Y died, but because of the way he died, by being denied basic medical care.  “What will happen to me when I get sick?” he asked his wife. 

Meanwhile, back in town a key house church leader spoke to believers from across the province.  She encouraged the brethren by sharing from John 12: 24 “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”   The message challenged the believers to think of Brother Y’s life, imprisonment and death from God’s point of view, as a life lived to Him which would produce much fruit even in his death.
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