(Said in a stereotypical valley girl voice)
That’s a really pretty birdhouse!
Where is the bird bath at?
Why are you burning incense outside of it? Do birds even like incense?
Why did you paint it red? I don’t get it.
Wait, is that an urn? Did you cremate your bird??? … that is a BIG bird.
Why does it have a doorknob? Bird’s don’t have opposable thumbs?
Why are you bowing to your birdhouse?
Why is it so much fancier than your house?
Your neighbors birdhouse is bigger than yours?
Why are people obsessed with birds in this culture?
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So, obviously the picture above is not actually a birdhouse. It is, however, a spirit house. Spirit houses are believed to be an appealing shelter for spirits to dwell in. While traveling throughout Asia, one will see these spirit houses in front of restaurants, office buildings, malls, car dealerships, hotels, houses, temples, fish ponds, etc. They are literally everywhere…
They are extravagantly built, and decorated with offerings of flowers, incense, food, and more. People believe that by pleasing which ever spirit they are inviting, that in return the spirt will bring them good fortune/protection/happiness/etc.
During our morning walk to the Teen Challenge Center, the girls and I began to joke about how extravagant the “birdhouses” here in Asia are. It became a running joke that has still not gotten old.
“Umm…. there is a dog eating your bird’s food!”
“Wait, don’t birds like seeds?”
And while we may make light of the situation, it is truly heartbreaking to see these people inviting spirits into their home, bowing down, and worshipping them. I can only imagine God’s tear filled eyes as He sees yet another one of His children bowing down to an elaborate “birdhouse”. While they pray to spirits for protection, we walk by and pray for God to rain down His love and glory over them. We pray daily for Truth in these dark places. We praise God that He is a loving God who will never give up on His children, no matter how far they stray. We pray for strength for Pastor Map & his family, for Samuel, for all the boys at TCC, & for every believer we come across.
Keep Cambodia in your prayers my friends, the Holy Spirit is moving here, but we still have a lot of kingdom to bring!
