I kept it a secret for two years. No one but my family knew how sick I really was.

One day, as I walked along a dusty road, I fingered the layers of cloth wrapped tightly around my neck. Underneath, the gaping, infected holes in my skin were causing me excruciating pain. It was also an unbearably hot afternoon, and my dress clung to my legs. I longed to feel the breeze on my bare neck, but I did not dare remove the wrappings. The witch doctor had warned me, “If you show your disease to anyone, you will die.” 

Fear kept me silent. I walked on, feeling like I was surrounded by a dark shadow.

Unexpectedly, a woman I did not recognize smiled at me, and began to draw alongside. She was not from my village of Lin Thae, and looked harmless—but with the civil war skirmishes getting closer, my guard was up. 

“My name is Lai Ya,” she said. “May I walk with you?”

Something in her eyes made me want to trust her. It was only a brief encounter, but her gentleness touched my heart. I thought I would not see her again, but over the days and weeks that followed, Lai Ya persisted in seeking me out. Over time, we became friends. 

Eventually, she asked about the cloths around my neck. I told her, “It would only disgust you.”

“No,” Lai Ya shook her head. “Nothing will make me turn away from you.” 

Slowly, I unwrapped my neck to show her the seeping, infected ulcers beneath. I could see that she was shocked, but the expression on her face was not disgust but deep compassion. She said, “I don’t know what this disease is, but if you allow me to take a photo, I will send it to my Canadian friends and teammates in Thailand. They will help us find the answer. Right now, though—we need to take you to the hospital!” The nearest hospital was a full day’s journey away. I could not believe that anyone could care enough to do this for me! 

As we travelled together, Lai Ya began to tell me more about the god she serves. I had heard of Christianity, but never before spoken with one of its followers. “Jesus saw you on the road that day, and sent me to you,” she told me. Listening to Lai Ya, I felt comforted to think that there was a God like that, who saw me, even in my hiddenness.

The doctor was alarmed when he examined me. He took an x-ray of my lungs, thinking that this could be the source of the infection, but the x-rays were clear. Meanwhile, Lai Ya heard back from her missionary friends in Thailand. 

“We showed the photo to a doctor in Bangkok,” they said. “He is sure that it is Tuberculosis! TB usually affects the lungs, but it looks like you have the disease in your neck. The doctor says that if you start medical treatment now, it will save your life!”

I was so thankful to hear this. But why had the witch doctor told me to hide my condition?

During my time at the hospital, I recovered fully and the scars on my neck began to heal. When I returned to my village, I felt deep gratitude toward Lai Ya. I considered telling my family about Jesus, but again, fear held me back. I had disobeyed the witch doctor, and with my family’s strong animist and Buddhist convictions, I was forbidden to have anything to do with Christianity. 

To my shame, I avoided Lai Ya. 

Life became more difficult. The war was close; work was scarce. Our family often went hungry, and struggled to afford school fees. During this time, Lai Ya kept seeking me out. “Why don’t you come and work with us on the coffee farm?” she asked, on one occasion. “We always need extra hands during the bean sorting season.” I gratefully accepted. 

The farm was full of women just like me–Buddhist, internally displaced by the war, and very grateful for a safe environment to work in.  Each day, we heard stories about Jesus from their holy book, sang, and prayed.  When I was told, “God is love,” I knew it must be true; I felt so loved and accepted. During that season I saw twenty-eight of my fellow workers put their faith in Jesus and receive baptism. I wanted to follow, but I was afraid to face the anger of my parents. So I told them, “I don’t believe Jesus is God.”  

After the season ended, I returned to my village. The problems my family was facing were even more than before! I wanted to tell them about Jesus, but was still hesitant. Then, I wondered, “What if I prayed in secret? Maybe He will hear, and answer me.”

I told no one, but began quietly praying to Jesus. Almost immediately, we began to experience unexpected help and provision and, the more I prayed, the more peace and joy filled my heart. So, when Lai Ya asked me to return for a second season, my answer came quickly: Yes! 

On the first day of work back at the farm, I surprised myself. All the new Buddhist coffee sorters were sitting there, and I stood up and declared, “I have seen with my own eyes that Jesus is God!” That year, I studied the Scriptures with faith and love in my heart for Jesus. Everything I read felt fresh and alive and personal. 

I knew it was time to tell my family. Upon returning home, I shared my testimony of God’s healing, power and provision in my life. My two sisters and brother could see the change in me, and they immediately placed their faith in Jesus. After listening to an MP3 Solar Bible I gave him, my father said, “This story is truly amazing! I never knew about the goodness and power of this God before!”

I was glad they believed, because I knew God was calling me to serve Him for the rest of my life, sharing the Gospel with others. My life was once marked by fear, silence and shame. Now I love to testify boldly to others about Jesus–the God who sees all, even in the shadow.

PRAY

Ask God to continue building His Church in Asia through the bold testimony of believers like Wai Wai and Lai Ya. Pray for many families and entire communities to put their faith in Jesus.