Meet Wado
He is 31 years old and has lived in Mae La refugee Camp for 16 years. That’s over half his life. He was born in Myan/Burma but left to get a better education. But since he was about 15 he has not been able to really truly leave the refugee camp where he lives.
There had long been a division stemming from distrust between the Burmese and the ethnic groups. Probably due to the friendship between the british and the ethnic people when Burma was under British colonial rule. In 1984 it all started to change. Burmese troops began to enter these ethnic areas and began what can best be termed “ethnic cleansing”. They burned down villages, raped the women, forced the men to work for them, and executed many. Forcing these people to die or run for their lives. Many chose to run over the border into Thailand.
The Burmese people expected to live temporarily in this new land and the Thai authorities allowed them to build camps. Refugees from Burma living in Thailand do not have many freedoms. They live between two countries, its like living between worlds and having no place to call home. Longing to return to your country of birth and not fully being accepted by the country you now reside in, but having no choice. It is either face possible death or try to survive. Yet these refugees do more than survive they have made the best of things and have gone beyond survival and made the camp their home.
These refugees are extremely well organized and have managed to maintain their communities. Wado told us that it is all in the culture. Most of their governmental and social structures have remained intact as well. The Karen take care of each other, building houses, digging for water, building public buildings, teaching in schools and working in small health clinics. In the camps there is a camp leader, camp committees, section leaders, women’s organizations, and other organizations.
They are not with out their struggles. Cash poverty in these camps contributes to family tensions and depression. Even though these camps receive aid from many organizations and for the most part do not have to worry about food, they can not really fend for themselves. As Wado put it “they give us fish, but don’t teach us how to fish. We want to learn how to fish” As we spoke with Wado, we could see the frustration in his face.
This man longs to return home as do many of these refugees. They want a free and democratic Burma when they can go back to their peaceful way of living. Wado appreciates the help that others have given and I’m sure the others do as well, but all he wants to do is go home. To learn how to fish again.
Please join me in prayer for the Burmese refugees. That they one day be able to return to their homeland in peace and without fear for their lives. Please pray for the government in Burma and Thailand as well. Pray for the youth in these places.
“Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help.
Protect me, for I am devoted to you Save me, for I serve you and trust you.
You are my God. Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am calling on you constantly.
Give me happiness, O Lord for I give myself to you. O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.
Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord; hear my urgent cry. I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble, and you will answer me.
No pagan god is like you, O Lord. None can do what you what you do!
All the nations you made will come and bow before you Lord; they will praise your holy name. For you are great and perform wonderful deeds. You alone are God.
Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to yur truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you.
With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever, for your love for me is very great. You have rescued me from the depths of death.
O God, insolent people rise up against me; a violent gang is trying to kill me. you mean nothing to them.
But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faitfulness. Look down and have mercy on me.
Give your strength to your servant; save me, the son of your servant. send me a sign of our favor. then those who hate me will be put to shame, for you, O Lord, help and comfort me”
Psalm
86 (NLT)
86 (NLT)
