During my time in Myanmar, I developed a sweet friendship with a 13-year-old girl named Napa. She is from Shan State, Myanmar, but a year ago she left her family and moved into the children’s home in Yangon where my team and I were privileged enough to do ministry for a month. Napa moved into the children’s home due to lack of government schooling in her hometown; her parents wanted to provide her with the best possible future even if it meant that they wouldn’t be able to see her grow up. Napa’s native languages are Laa Hu and Shan, which are nothing like the traditional Burmese language that all the other children and adults speak in Yangon. Since she’s only been learning Burmese for a year, she is challenged every day at home and at school, but Napa is strong-willed and she loves to learn. I can only imagine how overwhelmed she must have felt when my team and I came in teaching English, but she tirelessly took notes and participated to the best of her ability. She has a heart of gold, she loves to sing and play musical chairs. Her favorite color is red. When she prays, Napa gets on her knees and bows before the Lord. Her requests include good health for her family and bigger land for the children’s home with more space to run and play. We never discussed it, but her love language is definitely physical touch; we spent lots of time in each other’s arms or holding sweaty hands. The language barrier prevented us from ever really discussing anything, but I feel like I know her and she knows me.
It’s crazy how love works. It’s crazy how much a 13-year-old Burmese girl can make me question everything in my life without speaking one word of English. I feel like I want to get her face tattooed on my chest and I don’t even know her last name. Again, the Lord dumps a freezing cold bucket of reality on my head and I am overcome with gratefulness and awareness. It hurt me to say goodbye to her but I know it’s nothing compared to the joy I’ll feel when we’re reunited in Heaven. If you find the time, please pray for my friend Napa today.
