"Don't bow down to them and don't serve them because I am GOD, and I'm a most jealous God, punishing the children for any sins their parents pass on to them to the third, and yes, even to the fourth generation of those who hate me." Exodus 20:5

One great desire of all Tai Dam families is to have a son. This desire is not unlike many other societies around the world. However, for the Tai Dam, the need for a son is not only in keeping the family name alive, but also to remember the ancestral spirits through their spirit room.

This spirit room or "Klau Hong" is where the spirits, who belong to the family, dwell. Every 10 or 12 days, the male head of the house would make an offering to the spirits, i.e., a glass of whiskey, a plate of food, some fruit, or a few sticks of incense. This would be left for 20 minutes to an hour and then taken away.

As you can imagine, this is an enormous obstacle for Tai Dam (especially men) to truly follow Jesus as Savior and LORD. All men are expected to visit this spirit room and show honor to the ancestral spirits, but the oldest male is the one who is responsible for caring for the spirits on a regular basis. As long as the spirits are satisfied, they will watch over and bless the family. However, if something bad happens, like a fire or a sickness, then the spirits are instantly thought of and a ceremony is done seeking their favor.

If the males in the family and especially the oldest male were to become Christians, they face great inner turmoil; they are abandoning the family to serve themselves. They also come under fire from other family members and the community as a whole.

Please Pray:

1. That God would work in powerful ways in the Taidam villages and lives so they would know He is the Great Spirit over all.

2. That Satan would be bound in his attempts to confuse and blind the Taidam eyes to the glory and greatness of God.

3. Mankind would get tired of living in fear of the spirits and seek a different way in this world!