Eastern Lawa in Thailand

The Eastern Lawa have only been reported in Thailand
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Despite their present small numbers, written records show that the long history of the Lawa dates back at least as far as the Tai kingdom of Kengtung (in today's north-east Myanmar) at the end of the 13th century. Documents from the time record how King Mengrai "sent troops to expel the Lawa, a tribal group that was formerly very influential in the area. Many Lawa people were exiled to live on mountains outside the city, while others became servants of the royal families at the court of Chiang Mai."

The Eastern Lawa language is not intelligible with Western Lawa. Speakers of each language in Thailand can understand some words, but generally they revert to the lingua franca of Northern Thai in order to communicate. A script was invented for the Eastern Lawa, but few have learned how to read it and today less than 1 per cent of the people are literate in their own language.

The Eastern Lawa are most concentrated in the village of Bor Luang (population approx. 3000) and 10 other villages located between Hot, OmKoi and MaeSariang. The Eastern Lawa are all located in Chiang Mai province. When you get to MaeHongSong province, they are Western Lawa.


What Are Their Lives Like?

For the most part, the Lawa people live like the Thai majority. They are noted for being expert craftsmen, especially iron workers.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Like many tribal peoples in Southeast Asia, the Eastern Lawa profess to be Buddhists, but a deeper examination reveals their dependence on animistic practices and spirit appeasement. One source says, "The Lawa worship a vast array of spirits. They are believed to be in contact with a much greater variety of spirits than many other tribal groups of northern Thailand.

Those Lawa living in remote villages still honor all good spirits, who watch over their families, the sky, the jungle, the mountains and the entrance to their village. They sacrifice pigs, chickens, rice wine and, when available, even buffaloes in order to propitiate the spirits. Since most of the Lawa have already been converted to Buddhism, only a few Lawa villages still hold such extensive and costly sacrificial rituals."

The Eastern Lawa also worship their ancestors. Most villages have their own shamans and exorcists to meditate between the people and the spirit realm. Many Lawa wear lucky charms around their necks or waists in a bid to ward off evil spirits.


What Are Their Needs?

Both foreign and tribal missionaries have visited the Eastern Lawa with the gospel, but they generally receive a lukewarm reception. The Eastern Lawa community is largely closed to outside influence, and the village leaders have tight control over the people. They don't like change, especially religious change, which many Eastern Lawa fear will bring disgrace on their ancestors and invite retribution on their communities from a host of evil spirits. Despite these pressures, a small number of Eastern Lawa families have embraced the gospel. Some have been forced to leave their village because of it.


Prayer Points

* Pray for the authority of Christ to bind hindering spiritual forces to lead them from darkness to light.
* Pray for signs and wonders among them and for great breakthroughs with a rapid multiplication of disciples and house churches.
* Pray for bold workers who are driven by the love of the Holy Spirit to go to them.
* Pray for an unstoppable movement to Christ among them.


Scripture Prayers for the Lawa, Eastern in Thailand.


References

Peoples of the Buddhist World, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawa_people


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Lawa, Eastern
People Name in Country Lawa, Eastern
Natural Name Eastern Lawa
Pronunciation Lah-wa
Alternate Names Eastern/Northern Lawa; Lawa; Lowa; Milakkha; Northern Lawa; Wiang Papao Lua
Population this Country 8,500
Population all Countries 8,500
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 18888
ROP3 Code 102866
Country Thailand
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Chiang Mai province: Hot district, Bo Luang and Bo Sali subdistricts, 16 villages.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Thailand
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Chiang Mai province: Hot district, Bo Luang and Bo Sali subdistricts, 16 villages..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Primary Religion: Buddhism
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
79.76 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.24 %)
0.24 %
Ethnic Religions
20.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Lawa, Eastern
Language Code lwl   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Thai, Northern
Primary Language Lawa, Eastern
Language Code lwl   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Thai, Northern
People Groups Speaking Lawa, Eastern

Primary Language:  Lawa, Eastern

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (2021)
Bible-New Testament No
Bible-Complete No
Possible Print Bibles
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National Bible Societies
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Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Mobile App Android Bible app direct APK download SIL
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Peoples of Laos, Asia Harvest  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source Joshua Project / Global Mapping International  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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