To our friends, family and church supporters
This letter is difficult for me to write as my emotions cannot be properly expressed, especially in a Christ like way. As I witness what is happening in Burma the anger inside me has risen up that I have not felt in many years. It has driven me to a point where I have a hard time recognizing the Burma Army dictatorship as even human and I struggle with many questions. How could these dictators be human with their neglectful attitudes and their power hungry hearts trying to take advantage of this disaster in order to make them selves richer? . How can these men be worthy of the title human? Or are we truly this bad as sinners? Are these men the perfect example of sinners without boundaries or is it more? I must admit my walk in faith as of yet does not provide me with adequate answers. Or maybe it does and I am just afraid to be obedient. One thing I do know is that I must continue to pray and in this prayer the words of “How long O Lord, How long?” must be shout out.
A few weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to be able to obtain a Visa to visit Yangon and meet with friends about their relief efforts, as well as volunteer and teach at a local seminary there. Within hours of my arrival I was shuttled to a number of meetings to discuss the Cyclone Nargis tragedy with Christian Church groups. The stories and pictures that were shared were horrifying if not shocking.
The most memorable meeting was with a Karen couple. The husband had been in the delta region when the storm had hit. The well educated man heard the warnings from the government a few hours before the cyclone made landfall. Still, he said, the Burma Army gave no instruction as to what to do and never said to move to higher ground. He said that if he did not understand the magnitude of this storm that was coming, how could the simple farmers surrounding him know any better? He believed that this was the primary reason for the high death toll.
His wife told me how she had been a teacher but during that time she was suspected of being an enemy of the state and was placed in prison without trial for three years. It was during this time She met her husband who was a jail guard. Knowing that she was innocent, he took pity on her during her incarceration. After she was released they were married. Still she could not teach in her village because of the risk of being imprisoned again. It was at this time that she began serving in the church. She shared with me that her village which is on one of the many islands just off the coast of Burma’s Delta, now has nothing left. All of the houses are gone and many bodies remain afloat in the flooded fields. Yet some of the people have survived. Those that remain face problems caused by the water that flooded over the dikes of their rice fields
As the woman talked I came to grips with how bad this situation really is. After receiving perhaps the greatest strike possible in this disaster, now her people are faced with the tragedy of not being able to plant their rice this year.
The men and women I met on this trip humbled me with their efforts. Truly they are the heroes as they continue to risk being imprisoned (for some another time) to bring essential relief supplies and aid to their people. I was also amazed at how our emotions fluctuated during the meetings. One moment we would be laughing together and then in the next moment there would be complete silence. At the end of our meetings, I would lead the groups in prayer asking God to help us all to do what is right in the face of diversity. May our Lord be glorified by our meager efforts.
In the past month, Farthest Corners has been able to raise over $5,000 to help with the cyclone relief effort. Thanks to brothers and sisters like you, this has been done while we also must continue to maintain our service and ministries in the war torn areas of Burma. Our cyclone relief aid has assisted pregnant and now widowed wives who are in desperate need for care; it has provided rice and shelter for every household in one village; it has given money for church groups; and it has outfitted a relief team that as I write this letter they are attempting to reach and serve in areas who have yet to receive aid.
This week we are now looking at the purchase of farm equipment and 18 horsepower tillers that must be sent soon. By July, the tilling season will be too late and the crops can no longer be planted. Unfortunately, most villages are unable to plant or are too scared to return to the fields where there are still so many decomposing bodies. However, all decisions I believe should be made by the people closest to the problem so I await the team’s safe return and report in the coming days. But please know and be in prayer for that the next year or two will be probably the hardest this country will ever face economically and emotionally.
I continue to ask for your prayers as we as an organization move ahead in response to this tragedy. I ask for your prayers for our brothers and sisters there who are in desperate need in the country of Burma. I also personally ask for your prayers for me as I wrestle a great deal with what I have seen and how God calls me to see my enemies. The Burma Army has become the greatest of enemies in my heart and the challenge of how Christ calls me to respond is a difficult step for me. Your support as always is overwhelming and I am humbled by it. Thank you so much and may God guide us all!
Pictures received during the trip from our national network of friends are available here