Three months ago Book and her husband were driving at night delivering a load of shrimp to market. Her husband momentarily fell asleep at the wheel causing the car to careen off the road and plough into a tree. Book’s husband escaped uninjured. However, Book had cracked ribs, broken front teeth and a fracture of the spine. She was rushed to hospital where she was put in a full body cast. Months later she was still recovering from the injuries sustained from the accident.

As Book and her family are Buddhists, they believe that if something bad happens to a person it is because “bad luck” or that they have offended a “spirit”. So they consulted the head monk of the temple. The monk told Book that the “spirit who ruled  the province” had punished her for leaving the province without permission. In order for Book to recover and not have anymore “bad luck” she would have to become a Buddhist nun for 1 month. Book’s family is very poor. To become a Buddhist nun it would cost the family more than 3 months wages. Even though the family could not afford it, they borrowed money so that Book could become a nun, and earn back her “good luck”.

Many Thai people live in fear of “offending the spirits” which may lead to “bad luck”, ill health, loss of job or problems within the family. Pray that they will know “the Truth that sets them free”.