In Cambodia, hundreds of villagers flock to the Prei Veng province, hoping to be cured of their illnesses. Here in the Koh Rok community lives an unusual boy who is believed to have healing powers. The child's name is Rai Rong. He's three years old.
People bring water, candles and money as offerings and place them on the ground next to the boy's house. They hope that his touch will relieve them of their ailments. In addition, the miracle child, together with his father, makes a folk remedy from plants.
Patients are not required to pay much, but everyone must bring at least half a dollar in local currency for the boy to touch their belongings. Some bring in a large sum, wanting to be among the first to be touched by a three-year-old healer.
Rai Rong's grandfather says that the boy became famous after being able to help his aunt. She became seriously ill, but the ordinary doctors could not help it. The child collected medicinal plants and said that they should be brewed and drunk. By doing this, his aunt recovered.
News of this event spread throughout the villages, and people began to come to the boy for treatment. And for almost two months now, patients have been walking and walking to the little doctor's house.
Rai Rong is the third of five children in the family. They call him a saint.
Yom Un, Rai Rong's grandfather:
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“I saw that the holy boy does not speak much, only - take this and you will be healed. Then he touches things that patients bring him, walks on them, and they become sanctified, and patients use them for treatment.
This 66-year-old woman says she felt better almost immediately after using the Rai Rong-sanctified water.
Chuon Yen, patient:
“I can eat more, sleep better, and feel empowered again after using the holy boy's water and balm. Yesterday I could hardly walk here from the boat on which I arrived."
And this man brought his wife here, who had an unsuccessful operation in Vietnam. He says that now, after using the water sanctified by the child, the spouse has begun to recover.
Chea Gnin, the patient's husband:
“My wife felt better after the water consecrated by the boy. It is simply incredible that a bottle of water with a lid has such a power, even more than traditional medicine. A few days earlier a monk had been here. He drank only half a bottle of the consecrated water, felt good, and returned back to his place. Therefore, many people believe and come to be treated."
About three thousand people from different parts of the country came here in the hope of being cured. Some of them are said to have actually recovered, but this cannot be confirmed.
Now Rai Rong's relatives do not want him to continue to heal. They fear that the child himself may get sick, because he is very busy and sleeps little.
The boy's family does not allow media representatives to film the treatment process. According to them, the little healer does not like the presence of journalists.