Chinese funeral

A few years ago, we were invited to a wedding. It felt odd back then to be invited by other guests to a wedding where we didn't know the people getting married. Today those types of invitations don't feel quite so strange. It's a collective society, and people often want us to experience the culture and see things that the average tourist doesn't get to see.

While we were in Isaan, Kaimook's father had a person in his "adopted" family pass away. I'm not sure exactly how the relationship is defined, but I know they are not blood related. The grandmother (the deceased person) is part of the family that helped Kaimook's father as he was growing up and attending Chinese school. So they are family. When the family heard that Kaimook and Lili were with us in Isaan, they invited us to come to the funeral also when we returned. The funeral lasted 14 days, and we were able to attend the last two days.
When we arrived there were offerings piled in front of where the ceremony was taking place. There were two large pigs that were offered also. There was a wide assortment of fruit, candy, and other prepared dishes.
The body was kept in the house where she lived and eventually passed away. The family had to stay with her 24 hours a day for the final days of the funeral.
Throughout the day before the final day of the funeral, various family members had to burn incense and bow for part of the ceremony. They went at various times based on their relationship to the deceased. For example, all of the children would go at one time. Nieces and nephews might go at a different time. There was a funeral coordinator that kept everyone organized and made sure they did the right thing at the right time. Our host said this is a dying tradition. The newer generation is not really interested in following the old ways and beliefs. Some are turning to Christianity or just abandoning religion all together.
Throughout the day, many of the older guests played this tile game. I didn't get to learn how to play as they probably wouldn't have played a non-gambling game with me. :) They like to play for money. The drawers on each side of the table is where they keep their money.
Before each section of the ceremony, they set off a large amount of firecrackers. At first I jumped every time, but then it just became normal.
We ate a lot. Meals were served by the family four times a day. The Chinese food was excellent! We had pork leg, fried pork, small sausages, soups, cashew nuts, and I'm sure a lot of stuff I can't remember. The highlight for many people was the black chicken soup. After all, black chickens are the most delicious.
We took a walk around the town and saw the local Chinese school. It seemed to be a nice town. During the evening part of the funeral, I ended up sitting behind this guy. This is his smoking contraption. The fan was blowing the smoke into our faces so we had to move. He put his face into the end of the pvc pipe in order to inhale the smoke.
The beginning of the second day found us with some time to spare so we started rolling washcloths and tying them with red strings for favors.
They removed the body from the house, and we followed it to the cemetery. The Chinese here bury the dead rather than cremating. It felt really weird wearing white to a funeral. For the occasion black and white were acceptable colors--no really happy colors of course.
The people wearing the white outfits are family members of the deceased. They have to keep these outfits on until after the burial.
The female family members put rocks and dirt into their mouths and spat it into the grave. Rusty didn't see any male members doing it.
The funeral directors also prepare items that are made in a similar fashion of pinatas. These represent the items that the family wants the deceased to have in the next life. This particular funeral included items for the woman's son also. You can't burn items for the children until both of their parents have died. So the items burned included cars, houses, servants, clothes, money, food, a stove complete with a propane bottle, a driver for the car since she didn't drive in this life, a motorcycle, a t.v., etc. There were enough items for the lady and her son.
After the burial is completed, they burn all of the goods that they built. They also burn the items that the family members wore. Guests are also given red strings to wear for good luck.
As the attendees return to the village, they have to enter the same way they left because they have to wash their hands in this bucket of water and step over the burning tree branches before re-entering the village. This is to cleanse the body from the burial. After this the family can clean up and change into regular clothes.

One lady was telling Rusty that they don't do everything the same in their village. She was interested in having us come to her village to see the differences. Everyone was really friendly and very happy that we came to see their culture. It seems strange to say that a funeral was fun, but we did enjoy meeting all of the people.

At the same time it was a very sad experience for me. The beliefs and the absence of a hope in an eternal life with Jesus is heart-breaking. We can't take our stuff with us, but we can have the assurance of a home in heaven through what Jesus did on the cross if we put our faith and trust in Him. Please continue to pray for us as we continue to share about the hope that is within us.