Welcome to Myanmar
Myself and thirty or so others [i have never personally counted us] walked across the Thai/Myanmar border—carrying giant fifty-thousand pound bags on our backs, and medium-sized twenty-thousand pound backpacks on our fronts, and smaller one-thousand pound purses over our shoulders.
Oh and I was an illegal immigrant for an entire day, which was more than exciting. Our visas had expired the day before, whoops! So as a newly-made convict, I decided that rules should be shifted a bit and I could have my way of it. And there, I began a life of thieving. Alright just kidding, I’m getting a head cold and it is taking everything in me to stay focused.
But we did overstay our welcome. It only took an extra hour for the border police to set it all straight and forgive us for our mistakes we made.
Then I walked across the ginormous bridge and into Myanmar; the view, houses, and people were completely different on either side of the bridge—an instant change.
The river under us, weaving through the dirt and green hills that were dotted with colorful wooden houses, was a muddy brown and carried a long canoe. The people walking toward us were beautiful and unique. I had no expectations of what this country would be like, but I was prepared to be amazed 🙂
Now, the sun sunk into the earth as lightning flashes lit up the dark and thunder reverberated in the night.
How eerie was our entrance into Myanmar. It took another all-night bus ride before each team parted ways.
My team and I are a twenty-four hour bus ride away from all other teams!
And we are nestled in the mountains of Myanmar. The weather is breezy and sometimes rainy. The air is dry and therefore, for the first time this year, I am not drenched in my own sweat. Well thank God it was always my own sweat, I’d never prefer it to be anyone else’s. I am CLEAN, which is a feeling I have gotten used to being without. The mountains are lined with pines, the color green, and notches in the earth here and there—rice terraces. Wooden houses balancing on stilts settle on the mountainside and bring vibrant colors to the scene.
The people here nod, smile, and shake our hands; for guests have come to this small village and are treated as distant family come to visit.
If nothing is there to tell me otherwise, no human nor house..just nature, my mind starts to trip and I feel like I’m back in Kings Canyon in California. Like my dad is somewhere around here with our fishing poles, fish bait, and Oreos. I feel joy, nostalgia, and sadness all at once. They really do look like west coast mountains.
We teach at a little school on the mountainside. [Truly. Just past the last classroom is the slope of the tree covered hill going down into the valley.] To get there, we ride an off-roading old school bus down a rough dirt road, teeth clattering and butts bouncing.
My children [there’s about eight or nine] are all five or six years old; though, little Nomie is only four, the lil sweetie. And I adore them! I teach English and God, letters and bible stories, songs and the knowledge that GOD LOVES YOU. They pray with me each day, thanking God for all He has given us, and for loving us so very much.
During break, they rush to pick all of the wildflowers to bestow upon me and show teacher all the very many grasshoppers that are just trying to live their little lives in a field, undisturbed…certainly not expecting to get their legs ripped off and be brought to a teacher’s giant face and then hear her scold the children for hurting them, far too late after the damage is done.
Teaching these kiddos gives me so much energy! Sometimes the day is going great and little hands are at work moving pencils on paper. And sometimes I’ve lost all control and two kids are trying to vanquish each other, while three are yelling at the top of their lungs just for the heck of it, and one little Nomie is trying to get her tiny voice heard above all “Ms Ms Ms Ms Ms”
“YES NOMIE?!”—Getting yanked back and forth by the two fighting children.
“Ms, you look like a star!”
Oh dear child of God bless your shiny heart yes yes I am a star!
I’ve also been said to look like a butterfly, fire, golden, beautiful, a dog, and a man…
all from Nomie. I don’t know if she really meant ‘man’ but I did ask for clarification and she did nod in the affirmative and she IS the best English speaker in the class….sooooo
I graciously exclaimed, “thank you Nomie!!! That is so VERY sweet of you, BUT…I am actually a lady…”
I have had to remove myself from the classroom on occasion for tears forming in my eyes from hysterical laughter.
During Bible hour, I very emphatically teach a bible story while acting it out AND drawing each scene on the board. Friday we taught on the creation of the world—and it was hard to keep their attention, but we got through it. Some days run smoother than others. I am learning what it means to have patience and compassion and peace. I am saying this with zero sass, it really has been such an honor to grow in these things. Wherever the day takes us, whatever the kids need, wherever their minds wander..I will travel with them there, where we will run around awhile, and then will head back hand in hand down to earth.
God’s blessings are good. All that He has placed before me is good. The opportunities I have to speak into a child’s life even if only for three weeks…it is good. To let them know about the Father who loves them with a love like no other. It is good. So, may I take these good things and serve with all my heart and love with all my soul.
Because, as we were learning in class this week…..
“God saw that it was good.”
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