Spring update
Global Lutheran Outreach missionaries George and Shary Frahm (serving in Cambodia)
Immanuel Lutheran Church Snor
Even though the world has been changing, our basic human needs are constant. The need still remains for people, community, life-on-life, and the hope of a Redeemer who breathes life and sustains in and among the broken fallen context called earth and the here and now.
We’ve never been more thankful for technology and cell services as it has allowed for connection this past year between here and Cambodia. Since right now we are doing most of that work remotely, this give us a great opportunity to use this season to work even more so in how the Holy Spirit is leading our efforts. Amen!
Chinese New Year
While Chinese New Year comes every year, last year most of us forgot it because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Usually, it is filled with a great deal of celebration, feasting and visiting, but not in 2020.
Chinese New Year is based upon the lunar cycle and the twelve animal signs of the Chinese zodiac and is celebrated over the next 19 days with the first 7 days being used for visiting and celebration. The Chinese New Year started on February 12, 2021 when we left the Year of the Rat (2020) and entered the second animal of the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of the Ox (2021).
The ox is supposed to carry career advancement, business success, and prosperity. The road will be a series of ups and downs with improvements in love and relationships. But, we will have to wait and see.
A year ago during the pandemic and new year, the borders were closed. As Shary said in an earlier article, the tourist trade which is vital to Siem Reap, ground to a complete halt and the borders were closed causing detrimental economic effects similar to many countries around the world. This situation has gradually improved but the majority of flights are now flying into Phnom Penh where tourists are quarantined for two weeks in government selected hotels at their expense.
Covid tests within 3 days of entering Cambodia have also been required and of course the number of flights significantly reduced.
All this seemed initially to have worked and while there were early cases of Covid, they were very limited in number across the country. Cambodia seemed to have missed the first wave.
However, that has changed! Recently, the US State Department has issued a notice that access to Sihanouk province (which is partially situated on the Bay of Thailand.) has been eliminated and the province quarantined..
Samuel Forges On
God has protected Samuel and his family from the virus so far. This has allowed him to continue with classes and small
group meetings. We have received short messages from him that he has had eight people accept Christ in Prign, Roseylok Commune in Siem Reap Province and baptized four of them.. Samuel describes this village as 35 families located about 55 miles from Siem Reap with no electricity. The children walk 2 ½ miles each way to school barefoot.
Back in Snor, Samuel continues to preach and conduct bible classes and confirmation for the students. It is amazing to see the wall hanging of Christ on the cross smiling down on the activities.
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