Some thoughts after a recent visit to a Hmong village...

Doua Her leading a woman to Christ: It took more than half a day of talking and spending time with this woman to convince her that ignorance and family relations shouldn't be a barrier for her to make the decision to put her hope in Christ

A typical Hmong house in the village made of bamboo and sticks

This girl not more than four years old was baby-sitting her baby brother by carrying him on her back around town

Going to the Hmong village with Doua Her has been such a wonderful experience. She is truly a wonderful woman of God and I thoroughly enjoyed our time together. When we talk, she has so many stories and experiences to reflect on that it’s amazing how she never runs out! Haha. I love having conversations with her. It’s like talking with a long time friend—you just never get tired of talking about God’s faithfulness and how He has worked in your lives as well as your loved ones.

One thing that really caught my attention was how hospitable many Hmong villagers are—they’ll invite you to sit down, eat, and would talk about anything for the longest time. You can keep talking with them about the many problems and hardships that they have faced in life and you can tell them about Christ, but before they are willing to accept Him as Lord and Savior, most of the time I’ve heard them say that they’re going to wait first for whatever reason. I think it usually has to do with their relatives since making such a big decision usually involves not only the individual, but their family and clan as well. Never before had Luke 9:59-61 made any more sense than now:

He [Jesus] said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-bye to my family."

I had always thought to myself, What’s the big deal if you let them go and say good-bye to their family first? There’s no harm in that, right? Obviously, Jesus knew that if they went, they would never make the critical decision of following him. I heard a preacher say once that the man who wanted to bury his father didn’t mean that his father was already dead at the time. He wanted to first wait for the death of his father, bury him, and then, if he still wanted to, he’ll put his faith in Jesus. And believe me, I’ve heard many Hmong people (even in the States) say that before! “Oh, so and so doesn’t really approve of Jesus so I’m going to wait for him/her to die first and then I’ll believe.” Another important thing to note is that in the Hmong culture, it’s rude to say no to someone who makes a request. Therefore, even if you’re not going to do something, you just tell them that you’re going to do it (to save the other person face) and then they’ll find out later that you didn’t mean it.

In my personal opinion, it seems that the Hmong like to stay in their comfort zone. Perhaps that’s why for the past century and a half, as far as our historical documents date back in the mid 1800s, it’s been noted that we are a hill-tribe minority that prefer to live in the mountains, carrying on the traditional life of farming as our ancestors did before us. Even some Hmong videos that I have watched before interviewed a couple of teenagers in Laos. They said that the elders refused to allow them go to go school because no one would help them work in the fields nor would they have anyone to look after them in their old age. And, with the youth marrying at such a young age, they are likely to start a family and farm just like everyone else. When your culture tells you who you’re going to be and exactly how you’re going to do it, more than likely, you will to fit into that mold like everyone else—not to mention the fact that it’s also rude to speak otherwise against your elders.

But don’t get me wrong—it’s not entirely the elders’ fault. It’s difficult for the youth to have motivation as well. For those who aren’t used to having an education, getting used to the process of studying and turning in homework at a certain time may be quite a challenge. It’s also good to keep in mind that hill-tribe kids, even here in Thailand, do not have the opportunity at such a young age to develop motor skills by participating in various activities. Many times when I’ve asked a couple youth in the villages about obtaining a higher education, many have said, “Oh, it’s too hard...all the studying hurts my head. I’m better off working in the fields…” I just want to yell, “No, it’s not! You can do it! Just pray and God will help you make it through! That’s how I did it! Otherwise, I would have never been able to finish the way I did…”

Still, leading a modern life may be a difficult concept to grasp for those who are not motivated. Change in one’s lifestyle, being away from family, relatives, and friends, everything you’ve ever known, and having to learn another language to get around in the bigger cities just may be too much for anyone to handle.

Yet, I can’t help but ask myself how relevant their lifestyle is compared to the fact that they are truly living joyously for Jesus right where they are. So what if they never get to enjoy the same lifestyle I have? Are they truly enjoying their lives with the peace, joy, and freedom that only the Holy Spirit can give them? And are they truly committed to the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength and living according to all that God demands of them? If that’s the case, then nothing else should matter.

Yet, there are just such strong barriers that are keeping the Gospel from penetrating the culture. Stubborn bonds of following ancient tradition, religion, and culture keep many from pondering the truth for themselves—they simply follow what has been because it’s simply easier.
I mean, being “led as a flock of sheep to slaughter” doesn’t seem to be as costly as someone taking a stand against the crowd and taking the beating, suffering, and hardship that comes with it (despite the fact that this person may be working toward a cause that might possibly stop all the sheep from facing such an untimely death altogether). If figures such as Martin Luther, James Hudson Taylor, Martin Luther King Jr., and especially Jesus Christ, hadn’t stood up against this crown mentality, who knows how pitiful our lives would be today?

Many Hmong leaders have met before and discussed why the Hmong are the way that they are—why, after so many years of hard labor in the mountains, why they are still impoverished, destitute, and uneducated. I am reminded of the old saying, “If you keep doing the same thing, you’ll keep getting the same results.” How similar is that mentality to those of us who live in the States, who seek only our own comfort in this life with the mindset of “the survival of the fittest”?

I am now absolutely convinced that no matter where you are or what you do, if it’s not compelled by a genuine love from God for God and for your neighbor, then whatever you do or wherever you are, whether rich or poor, comfortable or not, you’re useless and you’re going to be tossed in the fire along with all the chaff when He gathers His wheat into the barn (Matt. 3:17).