June 2004: This page is being reconstructed with new information.
The information on this page may no longer be accurate.
KUI (SUAI, KUOY, KUY) OF CAMBODIA
LOCATION : along the border of Thailand & Cambodia
POPULATION : 16,000
LANGUAGE : Kuy
OTHER NAME : KUAY, KUOY, SUAI
CHRISTIANITY : 0%
RELIGION : Animism, Buddhism
SCRIPTURE : NT (1978), Bible portions (1965)
RADIO BROADCAST : None
JESUS FILM : None
GOSPEL AUDIO RECORDING : available
MISSION AGENCY/CHURCH PLANTING TEAM WORKING AMONG THEM : There is one group we recently heard about working to reach the Kui. Please pray they have success in learning the language and culture of the Kui and that they will discover open hearts to the gospel among them. Pray the workers will be encouraged today in their ministries. Pray that they would feel even more of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. (Added August 11, 2003)
The Kui in Cambodia are found living along the border of Thailand & Cambodia. They are called Suei by the Thai, which means "tax-paying", however, they prefer the name Kui, which means "human." They speak Kuy language which originated from the Cambodian Khmer languages.
Most Kui are rice farmers and many women raise silk worms and weave silk. Some have cattle and water buffalo to herd as well. In addition, the Kui are skilled ironworkers and elephant hunters. Most Kui villagers can also do basic carpentry and make certain items such as thatch, baskets, and mats. The elder Kui men and women enjoy chewing Beetle Nut, an addictive substance in Southeast Asia similar to tobacco. Beetle Nut leaves red stains on their teeth and lips, rotting the teeth to black decay.
Under their cultural structure, women make all decisions related to the family and men are responsible for leadership in festivals and village ceremonies. At marriage, the husband goes to live in his wife's parents home until the couple has one or two children. Arranged marriages are still customary.
The Kui practice Animism with a Buddhist veneer. Sometimes the two are combined. Many spirit ceremonies including sacrifices to village spirits, family spirits, and spirits of the forest are held in their society. They believe in a spiritual realm that contains both good and evil spirits. The spirits of deceased parents and grandparents are looked to for help and guidance. They also rely on mediums to communicate with the dead. The Kui believe in reincarnation and that there are spirits everywhere that need to be kept happy in order to prevent the spirits from causing accidents in the village. One elephant village even worships an elephant spirit and have erected a temple.
In the latter part of the nineteenth century, many of the Kui have become Buddhists as a result of influence from the Central Thai and Khmer. They try to earn merits by supporting the construction of new Buddhist temples, giving food to Buddhist monks, and studying in a Buddhist monastery. Many Kui communities now have temples in their villages.
The New Testament and some bible portions have been translated into Kui, and are available but most of the Kui are illiterate. There are some Gospel Recordings in Kuy.
PRAYER POINTS
- Ask God to raise up more people who are willing to go and share Christ with the Kui in ways that they will understand.
- Pray that God will encourage and protect the Kui believers from Thailand and ask God to equip and use them to reach their fellow Kuy in Cambodia and in other parts of South East Asia.
- Take authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that are keeping the Kui bound.
- Ask God to call forth prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through worship and intercession.
- Pray that strong local churches will be planted among the Kui.
links to related information: www.goods-th.com/aboutthailand/surin.html , www.strategicnetwork.org , www.joshuaproject.net
last updated: August 11, 2003
