Do you remember the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic? Soon after lockdowns and border closures were enforced, connecting across the globe in real time became a simple and affordable reality for most as almost everyone began to engage in livestreaming in its vast iterations. Face-to-face real time engagement is now a reality that is […]

Do you remember the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic? Soon after lockdowns and border closures were enforced, connecting across the globe in real time became a simple and affordable reality for most as almost everyone began to engage in livestreaming in its vast iterations.

Face-to-face real time engagement is now a reality that is ubiquitous. Live streaming and video conferencing, once the domain of the tech geek, has been transformed into a tool which is accessible to all. Online meetings have become part of our everyday experience, all thanks to a pandemic which became a significant but also positive disruption.

For me, the online world is now a regular part of my weekly interaction as I connect with young people living in countries which are closed to most people, especially educators. From Australia I have been able to reach out and develop genuinely supportive relationships with people in a wide range of situations across the globe as I spend time in English conversation with them.

Recently, I was involved with a team coordinated by LCA International Mission. This team of volunteers met regularly with teachers in Cambodia and supported them in a mission initiative which provided English language classes for young people. In that space we developed relationships with Cambodian teachers and supported them in their teaching and learning journey. Everyone who helped to support the teachers in one-on-one contexts was a volunteer.

The purpose of the Lutheran Church in Cambodia (LCC) teaching English to those in their communities is to open doors for the gospel to be shared through the teachers showing their students Christ-like love. Where there are barriers to the church connecting with non-believers, this English program enables LCC to build deep relationships with children as they meet regularly. The LCC teachers are then able to connect with the student’s parents and share God’s love with their family.

The most significant aspect of this online interaction was reaching out into communities who are often under-resourced or feel abandoned. The online world meant that the volunteers from Australia were able to provide an hour once a week to provide real support and hope for the Cambodians. And the Cambodian’s regular presence in our lives was a blessing and delight.

This story was also published in the August 2024 edition of Border Crossings, the magazine of LCA International Mission.

If you would like to consider the opportunity to serve as a volunteer in mission, serving in practical ways, teaching English, teaching in the seminaries and institutions of our partner churches, or in local churches, you are invited to phone LCA International Mission on (08) 8267 7317 or email lcaim@lca.org.au. For more information, go to https://www.lcamission.org.au/join-gods-mission/volunteer/

Read more stories about volunteering at https://www.lcamission.org.au/category/join-gods-mission/volunteers/