COVID-19 has not just resulted in mass panic-buying of toilet paper, there have been other responses to the pandemic as well. Some of these have even been good news and Tatachilla Lutheran College at McLaren Vale in South Australia and the Lutheran Church in Cambodia have been part of one of those positive stories! For […]

COVID-19 has not just resulted in mass panic-buying of toilet paper, there have been other responses to the pandemic as well. Some of these have even been good news and Tatachilla Lutheran College at McLaren Vale in South Australia and the Lutheran Church in Cambodia have been part of one of those positive stories!

For the past seven years, Tatachilla students and staff have been visiting and building relationships with those living in Phum Krus village in Cambodia, in partnership with the Lutheran Church in Cambodia. Year 9 students have raised money for the village and some of the students, when in Year 11, have had the privilege to visit people there.

Once COVID-19 restrictions hit Cambodia, poor people in Phum Krus lost their jobs and, as they had no access to government assistance, were in dire need of support, not just for toilet paper but for their daily food, too.

Staff from Tatachilla realised the urgency of human need due to COVID-19 in Cambodia. The effects of the pandemic, both direct and indirect, had given them and the students, the opportunity to explore and demonstrate the relevance of the gospel to every aspect of life, and the desire of God to bring healing and wholeness to every aspect of human activity.

The stage was set for the college to demonstrate God’s heart for the vulnerable – the poor, widows, orphans, aliens and refugees – the spiritual gift of hospitality and Christianity’s foundational values of generosity and compassion. Along with current students, a group of old scholars which visited Cambodia two years ago was moved to join the efforts, demonstrating a service heart and the impact of visiting Cambodia.

Thanks to the fundraising led by staff and students, Tatachilla was able to meet the needs of 30 families through the provision of food packages. These were distributed by the Lutheran Church in Cambodia and have been a powerful testimony to people in the Phum Krus community. This has also been a blessing for us at Tatachilla Lutheran College, as we have had the opportunity to partner with and enable them – our brothers and sisters – as they share and demonstrate the love of Christ.

With the strength of the Holy Spirit, may we all continue to take opportunities to become more intimately connected to God’s heart for all nations and all peoples.

This story was also published in the December 2020 edition of Border Crossings, the magazine of LCA International Mission.

If your school would like to know more about how they can connect to the mission of God through a LCA International Mission service-learning and ministry partnership, you are invited to phone Erin on (08) 8267 7300 or email erin.kerber@lca.org.au. For more information, go to www.lcamission.org.au/join-gods-mission/service-learning/

Read more stories about school partnerships and school service-learning at www.lcamission.org.au/category/stories/local-partners/schools/