Training Camp (yep, way back at the beginning of January) our squad had the opportunity to stay at the Eubank’s Ranch outside of Chiang Mai, Thailand. The Eubank family are incredible people with an amazing ministry. Dave Eubank was raised as a missionary kid in Asia and then served the USA as an army ranger. He and his wife Karen are raising their three children (14, 12, and 8) in Thailand and the jungles of Burma.
The Eubanks, along with a partner, founded the Free Burma Rangers in 1997 to train local villagers in first aid and medical care, spread the gospel, and shed light on the situation and genocide in Burma. Because a team of foreigners would be noticed and would not know the language, they train villagers to work on teams of five: leader, medic, good life (shares the gospel), photographer, and videographer. The only qualification for being on a team:
1. Love the work and the people – it’s all volunteer
2. Able to read and write
3. Courageous – the team only runs if everyone can run and must be the last to leave.
The Eubanks spend most of their year illegally crossing into Burma and living with the people. They train teams, lead worship, and bring the hope and joy of the Lord to a forgotten people.
Getting into Burma and to the villages requires lots of hiking carrying their equipment and leading pack horses. All of the Eubank children were raised this way. Karen homeschools her kids and the family embraces life and adventure with such joy. The photos around their home show a family that skydives, rodeos, and rock climbs (the Eubank kids hold the records for youngest to climb the Grand in Grand Teton National Park. They were 6, 10, and 12 at the time) for fun. Their life is extreme by most standards but it is normal for them.
We only met the family briefly but their perspective on life and this world made an impact for life. The day we arrived they were leaving to spend several months in Burma. They drove away hours after meeting us and left their home, their possessions, their horses fully for our use. Nothing was held back. They have no desire to be martyrs, but they know that with God they have nothing to lose. They are following His leading and living a crazy adventure in the process.
Once again I was faced with a family that believes they are normal because following Yeshua is normal.
Check out their work at www.freeburmarangers.org
Dave is far left and Karen is second from the right.
#11n11 #WRFusion
