Lor - Un-Reached People Group Of Laos

Population : 10,000
Location : southern Laos near the border of Vietnam
Language : Mon-Khmer
Religion : Ethnic religionist
% Christians in this country : 1%
Scripture : none
Jesus film : none
Christian Radio Broadcast : none
Gospel audio recording : none
The Christmas Story : none
Mission Agency / church planting working among them : 0

The Lor people group is one of the East Katuic language group consists of a number of separate tribes living in southern Laos near the border of Vietnam. These groups include the Ir, the Kantu, the Katang, the Pacoh, and the Upper Taoih. Although they speak distinct dialects, they all belong to the East Katu branch of the Mon Khmer language family.

For thirty years, recurring warfare in this region has disrupted the traditional way of life for the East Katuic-speaking tribes. Today, half of the land in Laos is peppered by cluster bomblets that were dropped by U.S. warplanes during the Vietnam War, and by landmines. Both are still a serious problem. Deaths and injuries most commonly occur when villagers are working in their fields or gardens and many children have been seriously injured while playing in the fields as their parents worked. Although the Laos Bomb Removal Project is in place, it has not yet reached the Saravan Province, where the Lor and the rest of the East Katuic-speaking tribes are located. However, mobile teaching teams have begun traveling to these sites, making the people aware of the problem and teaching them mine clearance techniques. The villagers are largely self sufficient. They grow their own rice; have their own vegetable gardens; gather fruit from the forests; and fish in the nearby ponds, rivers, or even in the rice fields! Surplus rice and produce can be exchanged in the market for salt and other necessary items.

All of the East Katuic-speaking tribes are between 95 and 99.9% ethnic religionists including the Lor. Although they may recognize a creator god, they also worship and fear a large group of spirits called phi. The phi have much influence over the daily activities of the people. They are known to be very skilled in dealing with the spirits that inhabit the rivers, forests, and mountains. Sacrifices are used to manipulate and appease the phi.

The Lor people are still in need of the Scripture and other Christian literature to be translated into their own language. The villagers daily need God's protection over them as they work in the fields laden with bomblets. They also need more education teams that can teach them how to clear the mines. Many of the children play in the fields while their parents work and eventually get injured by the explosions. Medical help, especially with prosthesis and physical therapy, are desperately needed. Perhaps these needs will provide opportunities for Christian medical missionaries to gain access to these people.

Take authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that are keeping the Lor people bound.
Ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into Laos to live and work among the Lor.
Ask God to raise up prayer teams to break up the soil through intercession.
Pray that God will reveal Himself to these precious people through dreams and visions.
Ask the Lord to call forth medical missionaries to work among these tribes and share the love of Christ with them.
Pray that God will raise up qualified linguists to translate the Bible into the Lor language.
Pray that God will open the hearts of Laos' governmental leaders to the Gospel.