COVID-19 has had major consequences for Thais. Many people have lost jobs, and there are few support schemes for those affected. Organisations distributing food report long queues and in many places around Thailand, food cabinets have been set up to provide free food. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Thailand (ELCT) and the Deaconess Department have […]

COVID-19 has had major consequences for Thais. Many people have lost jobs, and there are few support schemes for those affected. Organisations distributing food report long queues and in many places around Thailand, food cabinets have been set up to provide free food. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Thailand (ELCT) and the Deaconess Department have been helping in this difficult situation. Among other things, they have distributed food bags to people in Bangkok, south-east Thailand and in northern Thailand. Church owners in Nan have learned to sew face masks which have been handed out to people who need them, and the Deaconess Department have created ‘face shields’ for distribution to health professionals.

At Home of Grace, pregnant women and girls could not be accepted from March to June, and those who gave birth and were ready to leave during this period could not leave. As a result, the eight women who lived at the centre during that period became very close-knit. They stayed within the fence of Home of Grace the entire time, except when they were in the hospital. Services and Easter celebrations were all held at the centre. The women had plenty of time to feel God’s care during this difficult time. Four of the mothers decided to become Christians and have since received baptismal training.

One of the women is Keng. She went home at the end of May, and has continued baptismal training online with one of the employees. Keng, like most people who come to Home of Grace, had decided to put the child up for adoption. She had become pregnant with someone who did not want a family life, and did not dare to tell those at home that she had become pregnant again. When the little baby girl was born, it became very difficult for Keng to give up the baby.  After many conversations with the staff, she finally plucked up the courage and told her family. The family welcomed her and the little baby girl with open arms, preparing a room in the house where she could quarantine for 14 days. The day after she returned home, health personnel from the municipality visited to check her for fever and see if the infection control rules were followed.

There are few cases and deaths from COVID-19 in Thailand. Only a little over 3,000 have been registered as infected and 58 died (as of July 3). Thailand started measures relatively late to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, but once they were started, the measures were many and strict. Among other things, local schools and kindergartens have been closed since March. They reopened on July 1, with strict restrictions. This also applies to Home of Praise, located in the Klong Toey slum. We are still waiting for local authorities to visit us and check that we have taken the preventive measures required. In the meantime, employees follow up with the children via phone and video meetings.

Many of our partner churches are working in new territory for the kingdom of God; therefore, spiritual attack is their everyday reality. As a member of a congregation, school, or family, or a couple or individual, you are invited to commit to praying for our partners in mission. For regular prayer point updates, go to www.lca.org.au/international-mission/act-now/pray

Read more stories about our partner churches in Thailand at https://www.lcamission.org.au/category/stories/international-partners/thailand/