One by one they spoke their prayer needs. I was thankful there were only six people sharing. I wasn’t sure my heart could hear another request for prayer. It would appear they had very little to be thankful for, yet each one started by thanking God for His protection and provision in their lives. They followed with how grateful and encouraged they were to have us with them tonight.
We were at a Burmese house church in the capital of Malaysia. The setting was very simple. A small apartment. A few chairs. Church tonight was one family with 3 young children, 2 men in their 40s and 2 younger men in their 20s. Jamie and I spoke to them through a translator.
As they went around the circle and told us what they needed prayer for, we heard story after story of divided families. One man had not seen his wife for over 2 years. He had 2 sons that made it to Australia, but his wife and 4 more sons were still in Myanmar (Burma). The 22 year old was separated from his entire family – four sisters, 2 brothers and his parents still in Myanmar. He was alone in Malaysia. Each story was like this…families torn apart due to the horrible situation and unrest in Burma.
I don’t fully understand the state of Burma. But I know there is genocide taking place. The tribal people (who are not pure Burmese people) are being killed by the Burmese soldiers. After our house church meeting, our translator shared his story with us. During a church gathering, the Burmese soldiers raided. As a leader of the church, he was arrested. After several days in jail, they were on their way to the higher court. The soldiers stopped for some drinks and our friend ran into the jungle, not knowing what would happen, but knowing he couldn’t stay. He eventually escaped Burma, traveled through Thailand and made it to Malaysia. After 2 years, he still does not know what happened to the other 4 that were arrested with him. After 2 years, he is still waiting to know where he will go next.
Over 80,000 refugees from Myanmar live in Malaysia as they wait for acceptance to a third country. They each requested prayer for quick processing of their UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) application. They don’t have much. They have been separated from family, not knowing if they will see them again. Forced to leave their country. Living in a foreign land. They don’t even know what their future will look like, but they sure do worship God with their entire beings. It is humbling, and an honor to be with them. Something about persecution takes you into the depths of God.
Pray prayers of deliverance over Myanmar. It is absolutely not ok that genocide is taking place there. It is not ok that so many families are separated. It is not ok that children are hiding out in the jungles. This needs to change. And it needs to change on our watch.
