Remember Ambassadors

As you know, Remember has had significant work among the Christian Karen in eastern Burma.  The Karen State was one of those hit by the recent cyclone catastrophe.  While the cyclone cannot be categorized as "persecution," it has greatly affected the lives of these brothers and sisters that live in constant fear of very real persecution by their own government.  They need our prayers.

Tim Bunn is a Remember Board Member who has done extensive work in Burma, and I received this update from him today.  (For more on Tim's work, visit New Foundations International.)

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Dear Tim,

 

I am emailing you from my house. I was so fortunate that I am able to get my access to internet. Its only my phone line that is good in my area.

 

Yes, today there were no less than ten thousands corpses that were found on the sea side as the sea dried.  There are still many who are not yet found by people. Yes, it is now estimated that there have been no less than 30000 thirty thousands and still there are many who are not yet found. We just pray that the Lord moves the heart of the authority in such a way that they would feel compassionate about their own people and that they would allow other relief organization to help the people.

 

We looking forward to our new beginning and we pray that it will happen soon. Thank you once again for your concern and prayer. Your prayer, word of encouragement meant a lot to us and to the country.

 

Everyday if full of work. Cleaning our houses and helping others as well. It is a great time to best show our love for the people, more importantly to reflect His love for the people.

 

On Friday, 2th of May 2008, Yangon area was struck down by cyclone. It blew so great it destroyed so much of the building, especially zincs. Many good and big trees were all fallen down because of the storm.  It was terrible because it was the first time in our life and history that we saw the storm striking us so great. It destroyed so much for of the trees and those power holders.  Many have lost their life. According to the news, there have been more than 300 (three hundred who lost their life) but according to the witness there have been no less than 500 (five hundred people who lost their life). Personally, I believe there must have been no less than  ten thousands who lost their life. Many were sunk into the deep of the sea and they are not yet found.For those of you who have seen the power grids in Myanmar, you can just imagine how it must have been.

As for my family, we are OK and doing good. But our toilet was completely destroyed and our boy's dorm of Yangon Grace Bible School was full of flood without any good place for cooking. Things are so much expensive and insufficient. For example, one bag of rice was 25 $ last month and now it is 50$ and in some place it is about near 100$ for one bag. Normally, my family eats this one bag for a week but since last month we have been having guest and because of the circumstance, they cannot get out of our house either. At this present time, we eat almost two bags in a week.

We have the privilege to show our love and give the best of our hospitality but there is also a case to worry. We've been thinking how will we survive next month if things are still expensive. And there are thousands who are in the same situation like us. There are thousands who are starving. We do need your prayer.

Sincerely,

Philip

 

Burma (or Myanmar, as it is called by its military dictatorship) is a country that often flies under the international radar.  Despite the fact that its ruling junta is one of the world's most repressive regimes, it almost never gets the "air time" of a Sudan, North Korea, or Iran.

That has changed this past week, as massive protests and demonstrations have rocked the capital city of Rangoon.  Prompted by the government's hike in fuel prices last month, these protests have combined Buddhist monks, college students, human rights activists, and hundreds–perhaps thousands–of disaffected citizens.  The international community is getting involved, as well.  (For instance, you can read the statement by President Bush at this link.)

From anything I can tell, these protests have nothing to do with Christian persecution in the direct sense.  But that certainly does not stop our God from working through it!  As international scrutiny grows more intense, the plight of minority Christians will come into focus, giving them a chance to speak out against persecution, and even more importantly, giving them a stage to show God's faithfulness to a watching world.

Let's pray that as the government cracks down on dissidents in the wake of these protests, that God would give His hand of protection to Burmese believers.  Let us also pray that these protests against more general human rights violations have a direct, positive impact on the situation of our Christian brothers and sisters living in that oppression.

Two United Kingdom ministries (Christian Solidarity Worldwide and Burma Campaign UK) are encouraging people and churches to dedicate a special time to praying for Burma's many needs–spiritual, physical, and even political.

Having been there, and seen those needs firsthand, I wholeheartedly echo their encouragement to pray!  Let us all join in to raise the needs of these brothers and sisters before the throne of grace.

You can get the full background by reading the ANS story. 

This morning's news from Asia brought a sobering reminder of the suffering that our brothers and sisters face on a regular basis.  Over 1,000 Karen people have been displaced from their villages by the Burmese army.  Free Burma Rangers, a group that advocates for the Karen people, has released information on two villages that have been burned down in the past 10 days.  The army has spread a trail of suffering over the past days, destroying food supplies, killing villagers, and forcing many to leave their homes and seek refuge in camps.

The report does not give any indication of the religion of the displaced people, so it is probably that some are not Christians.  Even if none of them were, which is not likely given Karen demographics, this story goes to show the oppression that our Karen brothers and sisters live under.  Please keep them in your prayers.

For more information–

More than 1000 Karen flee their homes (Democratic Voice of Burma)

More than 1,000 Homeless Burmese Flee to Border in August (Irawaddy News Magazine)

After this morning's post, it is appropriate that I should be able to update you with the doors God is opening worldwide for His people.  After decades of hard work by numerous organizations, the Karen people in Burma have had the resettlement door opened to them.  And after months of talk about the opening door, the resettlement is underway.

Mercy Htoo, ready to depart for a new life.

While there are many more to come, the first of the children has departed the Freedom House Orphanage for the United States.  Mercy Htoo is now officially a part of the Unaccompanied Refugee Minor program.  We saw her in Thailand just weeks ago, updated her medical records, and bid her goodbye.  But I am hoping to see her again soon!

I cannot even imagine the life change that this will be for her and the people that will follow her.  I have to wonder whether she has ever been on a bus before–much less an airplane trip halfway around the world to a completely new culture and way of life.  But what a step!  She has left the violence that was described in the Free Burma Rangers report and been presented with the opportunity of a lifetime.

Let us pray for her and the many to follow.

Sadness…and excitement. 

I share the following link with a bit of caution, because it is graphic in its portrayal of the persecution being experienced by Karen Christians in eastern Burma.  With that caution, though, I would encourage you to be aware of the suffering that these men and women are going through.  While it is hard to read, it is worth empowering your prayers with.

Free Burma Rangers Report 

As a word of background, Free Burma Rangers is not a group focusing on Christian persecution, but focusing on the general human rights violations perpetrated by the Burmese government.  Even though some of the people mentioned in this report may not be persecuted believers, these are the circumstances that our Karen brothers and sisters are living in.  Please also pray, though, for the unsaved!  Pray that God would use the violence to turn people's hearts to thoughts of eternity, and the truth of eternal hope.