The vast majority of the Lisu people live in China or Myanmar, but a few reside in Thailand or India. The Lisu people in India are called Yobin.
Most of the people live in villages. A small number are employed in government offices. People make their living through agricultural. Rice, potatoes and maize are their staple foods. They also grow cabbage, cauliflower, and beans. Each family has a rice paddy field and gardens to plant vegetables. Yobins rear cows, buffalos, chicken, and pigs for food. Buffalos are used for farming the rice paddy fields. Pigs are usually the main meat for festivals and weddings. Access to Lisu Yobin villages is limited. The villages are about 100-150 km from the nearest paved roads. People have to walk this distance to purchase necessary items from towns. It takes four days to walk by foot! The other alternative route is through cargo flight. It just takes an hour to fly into the village. The problem is the Yobin never know when a flight is coming.
Almost all Yobin claim to be Christians. Some may never come to church, but they do not belong to another religion either. They observe several festivals, mostly Good Friday, harvest, Christmas, and New Year. Yobin people celebrate Good Friday one or two days. Harvest festival is for two days in October. They celebrate Christmas for three days. On Christmas, Lisu Christians from all the villages come together in one village. Weddings are usually done in November and December. That is when harvest is completed, people are free from work, and the weather is dry which makes preparations easier. Some of the Yobin also practice folk religion with their Christian faith. They believe that spirits inhabit the objects of nature. These evil spirits must be appeased or they might bring harm on the Yobin people.
The Yobin people need to put all their trust in Jesus Christ. They need trained pastors who can lead the churches and teach them the Word of God. They need new job skills to improve their standard of living.
Pray for a spiritual hunger among the Yobin for the Bible and for trained pastors who can teach the Word of God. Ask the Lord to move the Yobin to share the gospel with peoples around them who do not know Jesus. Pray for a disciple making movement among the Yobin this decade.
Scripture Prayers for the Lisu Yobin in India.
| Profile Source: Keith Carey |
