If you know anything about the World Race you know it’s synonym could be ‘living in community’, better yet … an ‘amoeba’.
Yes, an ‘amoeba’ :
A one-celled microscopic organism that constantly changes shape by forming pseudopods, temporary projections that are used for movement and for the ingestion of food.
Amoeba examples:
Example 1: One person has a cookie, nope, not any more; The whole team has part of a cookie.
Example 2: One person goes to the find a bathroom, the whole team goes to find a bathroom. One person does laundry, the team does laundry. One person decides to shower, everyone else realizes that is probably a good idea … and takes a shower.
Example 3: One person buys a shirt a market, the whole squad buys the shirt at the market. Yes, sometimes we look like we are in uniform with the ‘same same’ (but different) clothes.
If this sounds annoying, I have you mistaken. Believe me, there is beauty in the amoeba. What is really happening is we are learning to do life together… ALL THE TIME.
THE ULTIMATE AMOEBA
Last month we worked with ATM (Asian Tribal Ministries) and stayed in a small Karen Tribe village on the Burmese/Thai border.
My friends, this village was possibly one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. To get to the village we took a bamboo raft then walked up a sandy hill that lead to a palm tree-filled mountain bowl. All of this nestled a handful of tree-house-like wooden buildings.
For two weeks we were teachers at the village’s boarding school. We taught English, played games, sang songs, swam daily in the river with the kids, and most of all built relationships. Our job in the village was simple, but what we learned was so much more.
I was trying to figure out why my students were so well behaved. Every time they understood the concept of something they would sit quietly, write it down, and wait for the next instruction. If one person did not understand an idea, they would willingly help each other. Get this; these students were 8-10 years old, WHAT?!
I pondered on this thought, and began to observe how the students would interact with each other outside of class.
10 year-olds would help bathe 3 year-olds, 8 year-olds would help collect each other’s laundry. The children woke each other up in the morning, did each others hair and traditional Karen make-up, ate all their meals together, and did nightly devotionals together.
Traditional Karen Tribe light yellow make-up
You see, this village filled with about 50 children and maybe 10 adults exemplified the ultimate amoeba.
They know they have each other, and for some, all they have is each other.
Many of these children are attending the boarding school because their families live in war-stricken areas in Burma, and this little village is a safe zone and a place they can receive education. Part of me wonders if they were so determined to learn English because they know that it opens up job opportunities, can provide for their families, and possibly be a way out of hardship.
BEAUTY AND ADVERSARY
We asked the teacher in the village if she had anything she would like us to specifically teach the children, she surprisingly did not say ‘english’.
Instead, she replied simply “teach the children there is something more to put their hope in other than war”.
She was speaking of our faith, our walk with God, how our goals are centered on peace, on His love. More than the kids know it, the way they love each other exemplifies this already.
The sad reality is war is all many of these children have ever known. Amidst the village’s natural beauty, crisp refreshing river, mountain air, starry nights, and children who selflessly live every hour of every day, there are still army men walking 24/7. Yes they protect the village, and the situation in Burma is currently under a ‘cease-fire’, but this is still what the children see every day. While our girl students often drew pictures of princesses, the boys drew pictures of themselves as the army men. I know this is normal for boys at that age, but part of my heart sunk a little.
One of the nicest, most selfless people I have met on the race is Loung, one of our ministry hosts from Asian Tribal Ministries. One night in the village, our team decided to ask Loung if he could tell us his testimony. His story shocked us. It made us realize the very real political situation in Burma.
Loung was born in the Shan region of Burma. He described his family being very poor, and remembers keeping dry handfuls of rice on his pocket as his meal for the day. At the age of 5 Loung’s father left his family. An army man came to take Loung and his brother away to become child soldiers. Loung tried to run away from this man numerous times unsuccessfully. This man then threatened Loung’s life, and publicly shot other children who had run away telling Loung this would be his fate had he tried again. Loung remained a child soldier from the age of 5 to the age of 10.
At the age of 10 he was released as a child soldier after the Shan tribal army surrendered in defeat. He was taken in by a local ‘grandmother’, and soon after what adopted by a pastor who lived near Bangkok where he would attend school, and see the work of the Lord unfold in front of him. At the age of 24 he know has a heart for orphaned children, and one day wishes to open his own children’s home.
Sadly, Loung is one of many with this story. Please keep the Burmese political situation in your prayers. Warning: It may take a bit of research, North American news will not cover it.
YES, I LOVE OUR AMOEBA
This village taught us to press into our amoeba. If you don’t know, I’m an introvert with extraverted tendencies. However these children taught me that I would rather be surrounded by people whom I love, who love me, who call me higher, and have to find alone time than be alone. It sounds simple right? Anywho, it has helped me press in, and I am extremley thankful.
To finish, a prayer said by one of our ministry hosts sums up the feeling I had leaving the village:
As Jesus told his disciples “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” John 14:27
