By Fr. Simon Lee (Darkhan-Mongolia)
and Fr. Samuel Ghouri (Quetta-Pakistan)

EAO Region, 7 September 2020 -- The Salesians from Timor Leste Vice-province (TLS) have shared: "For three months we did not have a single case of contagion. As of now we have only 2 new cases. After four consecutive months of lockdown, everything seems almost back to normal with the exception of public gatherings. We do not feel the need to continue any extraordinary services related to Covid-19." This might be the case for some other EAO countries as well.

After a long wait, the Darkhan community's (Mongolia Delegation) Rector, Fr Simon Lee, went for a picnic at the end of August with the DB Youth Center youth and some staff: "Slowly our youth are coming back. All our educational activities were disrupted since March (and the Mass still until today!). It is a blessing that our young people are coming to the Oratory. Last Saturday, after a very long time, we went together for an outing. Unfortunately just a few kilometers after departure our bus broke down - we were forced to remain at that spot. However our youngsters didn't mind and immediately began playing on the green grass. And after a very long time you can spot deep joy on the faces of all Oratory staff and the Salesians. We went to our Darkhan 'farm' and 'verified' that our vegetables and fruits are growing better than before the pandemic."

In the western-most part of the EAO region, the new Rector of Quetta Don Bosco community, Fr. Samuel Ghouri, was happy to kick off the first football match in our campus on August 31st, after a very long time. His comment is very meaningful: "The presence of the young gives life to the Don Bosco Mission in Quetta!"

As of now, there are still come countries or regions in the EAO region undergoing a lockdown situation, but on the other hand many others have already started the 'new normal' school year or new semester with the students in our schools.

When we look at the world 'corona-meter', we realize that today in the EAO region, new cases have been reported only in the Philippines (3,714), Indonesia (?), Pakistan (498), South Korea (198) and Australia (87). For the other 18 countries in the EAO region there are fewer than 10 new cases, and 'zero' reported in Myanmar, Cambodia, Macau, Fiji and Laos - while Solomon Islands and Samoa don't even appear on the corona map. Given the backdrop of almost 27 million cases and close to 900,000 deaths around the world, we are 'blessed'.

At the same time we continue to pray for those most affected countries, we pray for all those on the front-line all around the world. Let us continue to foster solidarity with those less fortunate at home and around the world.

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