A visit to the Karen
I met these lovely people last month on the border of Thailand and Burma, in vast refugee camps and in the Burmese jungle. Many are Christians who have a faith which makes mine look feeble. They have been fighting for their own identity and their own land for 55 years. We were also there for their Revolution Day (31st January) and a little of their culture shone through, (wonderful dancing etc). Please pray they can soon return to their own home land. THERE IS HOPE.

We met the Karen vice president General Bo Mya who fought with the British in WW2. He meets to pray every evening in his home, with villagers and army colonels. It was a privilege to speak at one of these meetings. He has been talking with the Burmese authorities and is very hopeful that there will be a ceasefire and justice for his people. The political situation is very complex. Please pray for future talks. THERE IS HOPE.

We met Pastor Tim and Asian Tribal Ministries. Pastor Tim is very heavily involved in the political work happening at the moment, but at the heart of his work is training missionaries to work among the Karen people. These folk spend time in training and then work in the refugee camps. For many young people in camps and villages this is their only education. They learn the Bible but also how to speak English, Thai and Burmese (all of which have a different alphabet). For many, learning languages is the best hope they have, and knowing God's word the ultimate hope. THERE IS HOPE.

*We met a young woman whose Karen name means HOPE! In the refugee camp she had had Malaria, Typhus, Yellow Fever and Gastro Enteritis. Now she weighs only 5 stone but there is HOPE. She learned English, she works  with the Asian Tribal Ministries HQ, she now lives in better conditions, money was found for an operation to help her swallow and now she is married. The Karen Action Group (which is based in Uffculme) is able to help in situations like these. WE can do do something. THERE IS HOPE.