Pasaya [pah-say-YAH] and her family had to flee their homeland when the government threatened their lives. They lived in a refugee camp until they moved to America to start a new life. Like many Hmong [h-MONG] people, Pasaya’s family didn’t know about Jesus.
Pasaya [pah-say-YAH] and her family had to flee their homeland when the government threatened their lives. They lived in a refugee camp until they moved to America to start a new life.
Like many Hmong [h-MONG] people, Pasaya’s family didn’t know about Jesus. They worshipped the spirits and tried to keep them happy so bad things wouldn’t happen to them. Pasaya’s mother became a “healer,” a person who talks to the spirits for other people and tells the people what the spirits want them to do so they can have a good life. Pasaya hated the loud noise that the people made when they called the spirits.
Meeting the Owner King
One day after the family moved to America, Mother got really sick and had to go to the hospital. The doctors didn’t think that she would live. Pasaya was really scared. What will happen if Mother dies, she wondered. Who will take care of us?
But Mother didn’t die; she got better. And when she was well, she told the children that the Owner King had healed her. “One day when I was lying in the hospital, I felt the Owner King standing by my bed,” Mother said.
“Who is the Owner King?” Pasaya asked her mother.
“I’m not sure,” Mother said. “But our people believe He made the world. I want to know more about Him.”
A few weeks later some Christian neighbors told Mother about God. Mother realized that God is the Owner King, and His Son, Jesus, had stood beside her hospital bed. The family began attending church and learned more about Jesus and how much He loves them.
Courage to Speak
Pasaya wanted to share God’s love with her friend, Bua [BWAH], but she wasn’t sure how to do it. “Dear God,” Pasaya prayed, “please help me tell Bua about You.”
One day as Pasaya and Bua ate lunch together, Pasaya said, “I don’t worship the ancient spirits anymore.”
Bua’s eyes grew big. “Aren’t you afraid of what the spirits will do to you?” she asked.
“No, I’m not afraid,” Pasaya said. “We worship the living God, and He is more powerful than the spirits. He is the God who created the world. He loves us and wants us to follow Him. Would you like to go with me to Sabbath School and learn about Jesus too?” Pasaya asked.
“I’ll have to ask my mother,” Bua said.
Pasaya Continues to Pray
Bua’s mother wouldn’t let Bua attend Sabbath School. “That’s OK, Pasaya said. “I can tell you about God.” So Pasaya tells her friend what she has learned about God in Sabbath School. “I hope that maybe one day my friend will choose to follow Jesus,” she says.
We all can tell our friends that Jesus loves us, just as Pasaya does. And when we give our mission offering in Sabbath School, we’re helping others learn about Jesus, too.
