Published: Monday 07 December 2009
Burma (Myanmar) -Provision for the Hungry and Homeless
Project(s): 75-763, 75-793, 75-821
Country: Myanmar, Burma
| All the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. Isaiah 52:10 |
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The Christian minority makes up 9% of the total population of Burma (Myanmar). Most are from non-Burmese ethnic minorities. The Karen are one of the ethnic groups with many Christians amongst them who are severely persecuted by the military government. Frequently the Burmese army will raid their jungle villages and destroy them, killing any of the inhabitants who do not manage to escape in time. Barnabas Aid has provided hymn books in the Karen language for Christian refugees in Burma, as well as shelter and food for displaced families.
When Barnabas partners distribute the aid, groups of children and families are sitting together, singing about God being with them at all times. One visitor who frequently takes food and provisions to Burma says “Here are people who have lost so much, who are still smiling and singing and who haven’t given up!”
Another ethnic group with many Christians are the Chin, who have suffered terrible famine after the native bamboo plant fl owered and produced fruit, an event that occurs once every 50 years. This fruit greatly increases the rat population, which then devours everything edible, leaving the Chin people little to eat except the rats themselves. Barnabas sent aid to the hungry Chin Christians. In 2008, Cyclone Nargis caused devastation, leaving hundreds dead and over a million homeless. The Burmese government were reluctant to accept much international help, leaving thousands without adequate nourishment, clean water or a secure shelter. Many Christians had to wait months before any relief reached them. Barnabas Aid is continuing to help desperate Christians who lost everything in the cyclone, which also left thousands of children without family to care for them. Barnabas is supporting a number of orphanages that now care for these children.
Barnabas Aid projects include:
Aid for persecuted Christians (Ref. 75-763)
Chin famine relief (Ref. 75-793)
Christian orphans (Ref. 75-821)
Extract taken from Barnabas Aid's Advent prayer booklet 2009
- Thank the Lord for the faithfulness of Christians in Burma, who are standing strong even in the face of daily persecution.
- Praise God that all the children managed to escape unharmed when Burmese soldiers attacked an orphanage in the middle of the night in July 2009.
- Pray that these people will have the strength to continue worshipping the Lord and for continued and safe distribution of aid, especially to those who have taken refuge in the mountains.
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