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Story Laos | 14 August 2025

Finding Jesus, losing family in Laos

 

 
Show: false / Country: Laos /
Two women have endured so much for their faith … but through your support, you’re reminding them they aren’t alone
Imagine the joy of finding Jesus in your 50s. You’ve finally discovered the true source of life … the ultimate truth and reason for hope.

But then, imagine your spouse kicked you out of your house, and suddenly you’ve lost your family, your community and your village because of your new faith.

How would you feel?

This isn’t just a thought exercise—this is the real experience of Vanee* and Yaneh*, two women in northern Laos who come from the Hmong people group. These women have lost so much for Jesus … so how can they carry on?

‘You must renounce your faith’

Vannee* is 51 years old and began to follow Jesus in 2023, becoming the first person in her village to convert to Christianity. Her newfound faith quickly became known in the community, stirring discontent among the villagers. In some villages in rural Laos, embracing Christ—and leaving traditional faiths—can be seen as a rejection of ethnic identity.

As Vannee grew in her faith, the pressure and hostility toward her steadily increased. In March 2025, the village chief summoned Vannee to a meeting at the village hall, where villagers gathered to question her faith. “You must renounce your faith,” the village chief ordered. With confidence and courage, she refused to obey. Her defiance angered the villagers, who began persecuting her.

Unfortunately, her husband, Khampheng*, felt ashamed of his wife’s faith. He pressured her to abandon her faith. When she refused, Khampheng decided to separate from her and told her to leave their house immediately.

In that single moment, Vannee lost her home, her livelihood and her family.

Yaneh’s story is similar. She is 52 years old and lives in the same province as Vannee. She accepted Christ in 2024. When her husband found out about her conversion, he became furious and immediately demanded that she recant her faith. “I can’t live with you anymore—we believe in different religions,” her husband said. As a result, he forced Yaneh to leave their house.

Vannee returned to the village where her parents live. However, Hmong culture does not permit a married woman to stay in the same house with her parents. Now she lives in a small hut nearby. Her health continues to decline, and she is left without support or care.

Similarly, Yaneh is also ill and in need of medical treatment. But after being expelled from her home, she was left without support or money to see a doctor or buy medicines.

Both women seemed to have lost everything—they are totally on their own. But in the Body of Christ, no follower of Christ is ever truly alone.

Never alone

When Open Doors partners heard about the situation faced by the two women, they met with them to provide emergency aid and vital medical care support. Your gifts and prayers make this kind of critical relief aid possible. Thank you!

But it’s not just the immediate needs that Open Doors partners have helped with. Thanks to your support, these local partners are able to bring them encouragement through visits and by praying with them. This helps them to grow in their faith even as they suffer persecution—and helps them know they aren’t alone.

The problems are not magically over. According to recent updates from Open Doors local partners, both Vannee and Yaneh continue to live alone. Life at their age is difficult, especially as they are in poor health and have insufficient daily resources. They survive by growing vegetables in a small yard next to their shelters.

But now, they know they are prayed and cared for. Will you continue to pray for your sisters in Laos?

"Please keep them in your prayers,” shares Khamla*, a local Open Doors partner. “Ask the Lord to strengthen their hearts and minds, guide them through the Holy Spirit, and help them remain steadfast in their faith despite the ongoing persecution.”


*Names changed for security reasons.
*representative image used
 
please pray
  • Pray for Vannee and Yaneh to remain strong in their faith. Pray that the Word of the Lord would bring encouragement and strength to their hearts. Pray for the Holy Spirit to surround them in times of despair and hopelessness, filling those moments with love and the hope of a better future.
  • Pray for reconciliation of their families, that their husbands’ hearts would be opened to see the mercy and love of the Lord, so they may be reunited as families again.
  • Also pray for other Christian women in Laos who are experiencing the same situation as Vannee and Yaneh. Ask that they continue to see the beauty of following Jesus, even in the face of opposition—especially from their husbands.
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