Wow! That's a lot of questions, Reporter.
Truthfully, I don't know the answers to your questions. My parents were one of those early converters but not one of the very first. I think there was a conference some years ago where the very first Hmong Christian converter was introduced (or so I believe – I mean I can't exactly recalled if he's still alive or had passed away).
As far as what "frightened" them to convert...I don't think it was anything "frightful". It was more of having a Savior. Even none-Christians need to "save" their own soul (plig); hence, the tua qab, tuab npua theej txhoj ceremony so the Shaman can bring back a "trap" spirit. Am I right?
And as for the story, I would very much appreciate all of the details if you don't mind or have time.
Is your family Catholic or Protestant? There were different conversion stories for these groups. The Catholics converted simply because their leaders back in the 1950s just liked the Bible's story of Adam and Eve better than the Hmong's story of Nkauj Iab and Nraug Oo. That's according to Zam Nob Yaj, one of the first converters under Yves Bertrais (Txiv Plig Nyiaj Pov). (I have video to prove of his words, by the way.)
Ntxawm Hlob and Ntxawm Yau lived on a remote hill surrounded by primitive farms and wooden and bamboo thatches and barns. Society was no different than elsewhere at that time. It's one of those once upon a time folktales, although they didn't know that it was.
Upon reaching the witch's thatch, the witch asked what and whom the two siblings were looking for. "Our granny," they replied. "Oh, then I am your granny," the witch replied.
"But our mom said our granny has a big mole on her face," they demanded.
The witch turned aside, magically planted a mole on her face with a sticky black rice, and turned back. "See here? I have a mole on my face," she said.
Whatever they claimed their grandmother had, the witch was able to glue up something to resemble it. All the while, Ntxawm Hlob was entirely and enthusiastical
ly convinced, while Ntxawm Yau was skeptical throughout.
"It has been too long," she told them after preparing them to go back home. "I want you to take these grey ashes and sprinkle them on the way home, so that I can find the road to your village...agai
n," she added.
Each with some ashes in her sashes, the two sisters sprinkled them here and there on the way back home. But Ntxawm Yau refused to continue doing that when they were about to cross a river. She dumped her ashes on the river, washed off her hands and her sash and no longer sprinkled any more ash for the rest of the trip. But Ntxawm Hlob was obedient and slower, so she kept it up all the way to the edge of the village.
The villagers were alarmed upon hearing of their encounter. They knew the witch did not want to eat up just two persons. That was why she had not killed off the two sisters right at her place. The witch wanted more.
The feast abandoned, everyone also abandoned the village and ran wild in their own directions. They knew the witch would come for them. And soon, too.
The knowing elders demanded to leave the two siblings in the village. Then the witch would not think there were more people to hunt for. Ntxawm Hlob and Ntxawm Yau's parents agreed and fled the village elsewhere without them.
No ash sprinkle in order to leave no trace. Everyone left like the wind!
Ntxawm Hlob was covered up on a tipped over wok, while Ntxawm Yau was kept covered by some sacks in their family's thatch.
The witch followed the ash trails to the village. She looked like a dried up lower pig jaw as she walked from the woodlands and hills towards the village, struggling to balance herself side-to-side.