This time last year, I was in Thailand. Little did I know that if I looked a year into the future I would be planning my return.
At the close of my time in Thailand,
my team was really blessed to be able to spend some time in a city up north
called Chiang Mai. Our contact, Ua, has a pastor friend up there who runs a
Girls Home and he allowed us to stay at the church. We were able spend some
time getting to know the girls at the home and even hear the pastor’s
incredible testimony. The day before we left to meet up with the rest of our
squad for debrief, the pastor told us that he was going to take us to some
missionary’s house nearby where we could ride horses, swim, relax, and hear a
powerful testimony. Little did we know what we were really getting ourselves
into…
Upon
arrival to the property, we were greeted by this amazing American couple (the
Eubanks). They made us feel so incredibly at home, as did their two daughters
who within 10 minutes had saddled up ponies for all of us to ride. While
looking around the room we had been set up in to stay for the night, we got our
first taste of the ministry the family was involved in. It was unlike anything
I had ever heard of. We read all kinds of articles on the walls about the Free
Burma Rangers and their dangerous journeys across 250+ miles of landmine
infested lands to reach innocent Burmese citizens caught up in a messy civil
war. We also met with Dave Eubanks later to watch videos and hear more about
the terrible atrocities that are going on in Burma.
Basically,
Burma has been involved in a Civil War for the last 50 years. Many of the
Burmese people groups are being violently killed and forced from their homes
for no reason, by the Burma Army. We heard story after story about people being
chased from their homes, women being raped and abused, and children being
murdered. I watched parents cry and grieve for their children who had been
killed or left behind. I watched the graphic scene of a 17-year old boy, who
had returned to his village and had his leg blown off by a land mine that was
hidden by the army. His raw bone was fully exposed and flesh hung limp from his
leg. He had to be carried for four days in a hammock to an area where he could
have a proper amputation.
The
amazing purpose behind the Rangers is that they walk for weeks to go into
Burma and reach these people who are being displaced and murdered. They have
intense training in order to go on these missions. They are trained for
medical care, some counseling, health communication, you name it. The most
beautiful and amazing thing I heard though, was that their ultimate oath is to
protect the people from the army. That means that if the Rangers are with a
community providing for their needs and the army starts coming, the Rangers
stand their ground. They have committed to standing between the Burma Army and
the Burmese people and protecting them.
One of the
first things I heard Dave say about all of this was that he never thinks twice
to serve the Burmese people. To him they are all friends and as soon as he
comes into contact with the people in hiding, his heart just swells for them.
At that point it is just an obvious duty for him to lay down his life to
protect and care for his friends- whatever it takes.
I was so
inspired during my short time with the Eubanks. They are such gracious
servants and it was clear to me from the moment that I met them. I could talk
about the Free Burma Rangers and the impact their stories had on me for days.
Instead though, I want to encourage you to look them up for yourselves and see
the amazing things that are going on. I had no clue about everything that was
going on in Burma before this, but now I cannot ignore it. More people need to
be aware of the situation.
An
unacceptable situation is present in Burma and in other areas in the world, and
the atrocities should not be hidden. If we truly love others as we say we do,
what are we willing to do for them? What are we willing to do for our friends
abroad (or even at home)who are suffering injustice every day? The answer might
be different for everyone, but whatever it is, I hope that we can all become
more aware day by day of our ability, however great or small, to help those in
need. The Rangers are radical in their action and not everyone is able to respond
this way, but it is encouraging to know that there is a part in it for all of
us.
Website: www.freeburmarangers.org
