Burma

I was so blessed last week to be able to spend some time and share the Gospel at a children's home in Burma. This home serves 36 kids ranging in age from 6 - 17 years old, with the majority of these children made orphans by Cyclone Nargis in 2008.

These children, who lost everything but their lives in just a few moments, are so strong in spirit. With so much destroyed by the cyclone, this children's home was started in an office building. All the children live together on one floor of an office building, and have for far too long. A few months ago, a nice piece of land was purchased and God has just now provide the funds for two homes to be built on the land. Each home (one for boys and one for girls) will provide living quarters for 24 children. These children have been praying and praying for God to provide them with a place to live where they can run and play and be outside more, and they are so excited to see God's faithfulness as He has answered their prayers.

I was able to take the children on an outing to an amusement park and swimming pool. It wasn't much of an amusement park or swimming pool by our standards, but they were so excited to go, because with 36 kids and only five staff, they don't often get to go places just for fun. Another night, we bought ice cream, topping, candies and cookies and let the children make their own ice cream sundaes.

During the day we spent time playing games, learning songs, and letting the kids just be kids. Life is so difficult in much of southeast Asia, that children don't have much of an opportunity just be kids, and so when they do, it is really a special treat and their faces light up!

In the evenings, the children have a worship time, and it is incredible. Words cannot describe the way I felt to join these kid in worshiping God. Most of them lost everything, including family to the cyclone and it would be easy to think they would have no reason to worship God, yet it is so apparent they worship with their entire being, offering everything up to Him. The depth of their faith and the way they continually encourage each other in the Lord was unbelievable. They are continually sharing the true love of God with each other. It just pours out of them. As I worshiped with these adolescents and teens, and as I watched them worship, I could feel the Holy Spirit speak to my spirit that this room full of children were going to change their nation! And, if there is any nation needs hope, change and love - it is Burma! And, I know in my heart of hearts, and these children are going to bring the hope and love which can only be found in Jesus Christ to this dark nation. I could see that these children are even now dreaming big dreams - dreams driven by the power of God! Lord willing, I hope to be able to return to this place in 7 or 8 years and see all these children have accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit within them. It is going to be incredible. God is even now doing so much in these young lives, and it is only the beginning of the plans He has for each of these very special children.

I cannot begin to express how blessed I was to be able to spend a week of my life with these children and the dedicated staff who care for them, teach them and love them. My only regret was it was my stay was not longer! I went hoping to be a blessing to them and I walked away far more blessed and having learned so much more than I ever expected. God is so good and so faithful!

"If you listen obediently to the Voice of God, your God, and heartily obey all his commandments that I command you today, God, your God, will place you on high, high above all the nations of the world. All these blessings will come down on you and spread out beyond you because you have responded to the Voice of God, your God"
(Deuteronomy 28)

As always, none of this would be possible without your support in prayer, as well as your financial support. The children's whose lives are touched, who grow a little closer to God and some who hear about Jesus for the very first time are because of you, just a much as me, because your partnership in this work allows me to be here!

When I had the opportunity to stay twice as long as I originally intended, I have had expenses far beyond what was first anticipated. Even when I'd left to begin with, I left without the funds to purchase my flight home. I had to recently leave the country to extend my visa, which prompted my trip to Burma (an unexpected expense, since we had to fly.) I still need to raise the funds to support me for June and July (at least $800) and also the money for my return flight home (about $1800.) If I can raise an additional $300, I will be able to travel home via China. When I was a junior in High School, I was in an exchange program with a young lady from China. We sent home a Chinese Bible and she and her parents have been reading it. She is now graduating from college in July and has often asked questions about the Bible, and this would be a wonderful opportunity to see both she and her parents and to be able to talk to them about Jesus. I am trusting God to provide, so I can witness to this family already being touched by God's Word.

More to come soon (including pictures)! Exciting things have been happening since my return from Burma!

May God bless you for all you are doing for these wonderful children and for me!

Because of Him!

Katie