Being in Thailand for a second time I am really loving it so far. When I first heard I’d be staying at the AIM base in Chiang Mai for the month I was a little disappointed because I had already spent so much time there. But being back in Chiang Mai after a month in Yangon I’m realizing my love for Chiang Mai. There isn’t trash everywhere. It smells… normal (which is a nice change from Yangon). It is a very touristy city and there are things to do within walking distance of where we are staying. Night markets filled with a delicious variety of Thai foods. Street vendors with nick nacks, clothing, and the like. Night bazaars with all sorts of Thai things. Restaurants, coffee shops/bakeries, and massage places are everywhere. Not to mention the mall with a BIG C grocery store right across the street.
LONGEST CIVIL WAR IN WORLD HISTORY
I’ve really loved ministry so far. We are working with an organization called Free Burma Rangers (FBR). It’s crazy what is going on in Burma (Myanmar). We didn’t know about any of it even though we were living there for one month! This morning we got the chance to watch a couple videos and hear from some of the FBR staff why all the conflict is taking place. Here is my rough rendition:
Basically Burma has been in civil war for over 65 years! The division (between the main central government and the ethnic peoples living in their local villages) really started back in the late 1800s when Britain colonized Burma. They came in and got rid of the king and queen and deported any leaders that the local people might follow. They then distributed power to the people rather than keep it with the central government. This caused a bitterness in the central government for the ethnics around the country which developed into hatred.
So when Great Britain was forced to pull out of Burma in the 40s the central government wanted to regain control but the states full of ethnic locals weren’t going to give up their freedom. Much of the land in Burma is rich with jade, diamonds, gold, and oil. Power, money, greed, and hate are what have continued to fuel the fighting these long years. The central government of Myanmar habitually creates ceasefires with states so that they can concentrate on attacking one state fully. The ceasefire treaties are always being stretched though because there is so much mistrust. And this has been going on for decades.
The unstable peace treaties and fighting leaves ethnics in these states in terrible danger. Villages have been and are destroyed. Millions of people have been forced to flee their homes. These oppressed peoples face horrible living conditions as they wonder about what their futures hold. Many are hurt, hungry, sick, and have nowhere to go or no one to turn to.
And all the while the Myanmar government attempts to cover up all the fighting; all the violations of human rights and human dignity. Many people in Myanmar don’t even know what is happening to the ethnic groups in the surrounding states. And those that do know can’t afford to care; they don’t have the resources to help.
HELP, LOVE, AND HOPE
FBR trains local ethnics of Burma to go back into oppressed areas and do whatever they can to love and serve. Trained rangers stands with these oppressed ethnics, oftentimes on the front lines of the fighting. They provide medical treatment and services that would otherwise be impossible for these refugees to receive. They provide what protection they can while supporting local leaders. They are a light of hope and love in places where hate, despair, and pain are everywhere. They are literally putting their lives on the line for the sake of helping and loving others.
I am so inspired by what FBR is doing! Sitting there, comfortable in the AC, as I watched these FBR videos I had to hold back tears. Seeing the oppression and horrible things these refugees face filled me with compassion. But what moved me greatly was seeing the rangers; seeing them boldly risk their lives; seeing them choose to serve and love and lay down their lives for others. Seeing the hope and love that they are shining in this darkness; I was overwhelmed with conviction.
I’m not sure what I was convicted of… convicted to live a life of bold and fierce faith and love and sacrifice. I want to live for others. I don’t know what that means for my future, but I know that I’m proud to be here serving with this organization.
This month I’ll be doing a lot of things around the FBR base in Chiang Mai. A lot of things to make life easier for the staff here. That includes doing a lot of tedious tasks such as organizing disc and bookshelves, doing yard work, washing windows, etc. Our first day here (Friday) we had to measure and cut 1400 pieces of string and count and bag 10000 beads to make bracelets. These bracelets will go to displaced kids in Burma at a kids program led by FBR people called Good Life Club. The beads are different colors and represent part of the Gospel. Tedious work but for such a good purpose!
A big thing I am doing each day is going out with posters and fliers to businesses along the streets (restaurants, coffee shops, hostels, massage places, etc.) to hopefully get sponsors for a 5k run that will be put on in March to raise awareness and money for FBR and all the work they are doing to help ethnics in Burma. I will be leaving Thailand before this race is held which will be disappointing to not be able to see the fruit of my labor but it’s still a privilege to help.
This afternoon Jordan, Will, and I spent probably three hours reading through the sign up sheets from previous years Run for Relief typing out their emails so that we’ll be able to get into contact with those same people for this year. It was honestly hilarious trying to make out some of the names written in horrible handwriting. We definitely had to guess our way through some of that.
This month working with FBR I won’t be doing anything glamorous or even things that seem to create noticeable fruit. I’m not a ranger serving on the front-lines bearing my cross and laying down my life. But I am trusting the Lord with the season he’s put me in and trusting He has me here for such a great purpose. And I’m proud to be apart of doing even the small things that make what the rangers do possible.
