As my time here in Myanmar has come to a close, I wanted to write a blog as a reflection for our month here. It’s been an absolutely incredible month in a lot of different ways. The people here, first of all are absolutely beautiful and I feel incredibly honored to have known and gotten the chance to play with, walk alongside, dance, sing, and learn with them. I will not forget my time here, and just may end up coming back when I get the chance.
My team and I stayed at a bible college campus, where there were also a group of orphans, and all of the youth who were studying there. They all lived in community with us, where we got the opportunity to teach them English. The man and woman of peace, David and Nancy also lived here. We spent time with these students teaching then English, while also teaching them different parts of the bible. We were able to pair alongside the program that they had in place to lead classes from 9-3pm everyday, Monday through Friday. We were also able to lead bible study groups in the morings and evenings, where every person on all of our teams spoke and led devotional at least two times. Megan, a girl on my team and I, along with others from our squad, had the opportunity to lead worship as well for the students. The whole purpose of the work that we paired with David and Nancy in with their bible college was for them to learn English while also in the context of learning about the bible at the same time. That was so amazing, because we just simply walked alongside what was already being done here. We were able to help carry out David and Nancy’s vision for their community, and that was incredible. When we first came, the students were so shy, and barely would come out of their shells to even introduce themselves, yet by the end of it, we had them running, laughing, (having them run, catch, and bring us a goat), and volunteer to speak in front of the class eager to answer questions. I loved being able to not only stretch and grow out of my comfort level and teach, preach, and lead worship, but more so, getting to witness them so eager to learn and grow in their faith. Their dedication and passion is so contagious and beautiful to see.
Not only were the students in the class passionate for Jesus, but the orphans that I also spent a lot of time with, teaching about the bible, singing, and hugging lots and lots were also! The kids that also lived on the campus we stayed at, who were orphaned after a huge cyclone hit here in 2008 also had SO much heart and life inside of them. They were so full of conviction and zeal in their worship and their prayers. They just had so much LIFE in them, in spite of their circumstances. I feel like I have a lot to learn from them. They were truly an incredible and loving group of kids. When they sang? Woo! They sang with so much desperation and passion for God’s love, and when they prayed as a group, they prayed to God. They weren’t just following each other, with everyone stopping at the same time as if they were just doing it as robot’s. There was so much genuine HEART in it, that I felt in my soul. It was absolutely stunning to be a part of.
There were a couple little girls there who I really connected with, one of which who, Megan and I taught a dance to that absolutely stole a piece of my heart. Liza (her name has been altered for confidentiality), danced with so much freedom and life, and openly cried in front of the whole group of us on our last day. She told us how much she had grown to love us, and how thankful she was that we showed her how to dance. To give you some context, in Burmese culture, it is looked down on generally to show emotion, but this little girl danced freely and beautifully. She was so raw, and so in tune with the love that she felt from the father through us, and it showed all over her entire countenance. I am going to miss her, and all of those kids so so so much. It makes me sad. That’s one of the hardest parts of this whole thing. You build relationships, and fall in love over and over again, leaving pieces of you all around the world. It’s beautiful, but also so tough to say goodbye.
The language barrier isn’t even a big deal either. In spite of the fact that we don’t really understand each other a lot of the time physically with words because we speak different languages, there were so many moments when the spirit spoke. Language isn’t necessary when you have love, and when the source of it is able to be recognized. It’s stunning and mind blowing to be a part of. I honestly wish I could fully capture with words what it’s like to be with a group of people, in a community, that instantly feels like family because you are unified by the spirit and because you recognize them for who they are and that you are bonded by an unbreakable truth. We are all human beings, who all breath and need the same things, the most important of those being love. We are all connected through the spirit that dwells in all of us and around us. There were so many times we would be praying with them, and without a translator, yet they would be moved to tears! (In a culture where emotion is frowned on). It just seriously blows my mind guys! God is so beautiful. The way that he connects us all astounds me. Myanmar was an amazing month, and I am really sad to be leaving. My team and I will be going to India next, and working with Sarah’s covenant homes. I am excited for that, but truly, I am so thankful for the way the Lord moved and used us this month.
Thank you all for being a part of my journey and for following along this crazy-ness with me! You all are great! Please please please donate if you can also..even 5-10 dollars. Seriously, anything helps. But I really want to stay out here and continue doing these things with my team. Thank you all so much. 🙂
