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A barber's blessing
From his seat atop the torn vinyl seat of the wooden barber chair, Grandpa Voh Keokanya listened to the words he had heard countless times before. Prasan Latsaboon’s voice spoke calmly over the hum of the electric clippers trimming at Voh’s temple. Each time Voh stopped for a haircut, the two men would talk of Voh’s health problems — breathing problems sapped his strength, and the medication for his tuberculosis did little. "Why don’t you pray to Jesus?" Latsaboon asked. "He can hear you." Voh, a lifelong Buddhist, finally prayed. In April, several years after his baptism, Voh sat on a low table beneath Latsaboon’s elevated home. His coughing has stopped. His medication has worked. He feels well and fears little. "Now God is with me wherever I go," he said.
Thirty years ago, Latsaboon was laden with amulets and fetishes to ward off the polio that twisted his legs. When a missionary preached Christ in his village of Koklang, he threw the charms into the forest. He didn’t get better physically, but his spiritual senses soared. When not working in the fields, he learned to repair electronics and cut hair. Though he would walk haltingly with a cane, he would not be helpless. He worshiped with three other believers in his village and told others of his faith. Even his wife, Poi, and their three daughters dismissed his beliefs. The worship group disbanded. For 28 years, he was the only Christian in his village. Several years ago, Pat Houmphan and Thongbai Sadlane came to tell him of a new church — Living Water. They shared with Poi, who opened her heart. The family began attending church together. Now all three daughters believe. Latsaboon continues preaching from behind his barber's chair, but now he is not alone. His wife and daughters talk of Jesus. Voh, also, has turned evangelist, convincing at least one neighbor to trust in Christ In this issue: Features Highlights Viewpoints |
