Myanmar

by an old (80+) old friend of Burma
2008

Beautiful people and spectacular scenery make Myanmar one of the most fascinating places on earth to visit; yet it is a country of amazing paradoxes. It has been called “The Golden Land” because of its magnificent temples. It is also called “The Land That Time Forgot” because, until quite recently, to go there was like going back several thousand years in history. In remote corners, it is still like that; people live by cultivating the land with working animals and age-old tools. It is largely a Buddhist country, with a small Christian population. Today this wonderful country is one of the most disadvantaged in the entire world and its people are among the very poorest.

Myanmar is ravaged by internal conflict, disasters caused by climate change, and shortages of everything including food, medicine, and water fit to drink. Inflation has made it impossible for some to afford even the most basic necessities. Malaria, leprosy, AIDS, intestinal and respiratory problems are high on the list of medical problems.

One of the reasons why there are so many orphans and abandoned children is that life expectancy is so very short. These children, if they survive early childhood, face a harsh future if they have no home or education. Many will be picked up by people involved in human trafficking, and sold as slaves to the international sex trade, or to a foreign army which will use them as suicide bombers. Visitors often long to adopt these children and give them a home, but it is not possible to take them out of the country. Christian and Buddhist orphanages, in spite of the lack of resources, do a wonderful job caring for the children.

What was it that stole my heart in Myanmar? I will mention two little vignettes that I hope will capture for you how one falls in love with these people, especially the children. One night I (who am elderly and have several physical handicaps) was groping my way along a dark path toward a sacred shrine near one of the orphanages. To my surprise, a little girl of about six years old appeared in the darkness and took my hand. She quietly led me to the shrine. I was helped by one of the little ones for whom I was feeling so sorry.

Another memorable experience was my visit to a leper camp. There were people in every stage of the disease. Some were completely helpless; others were somewhat able to look after themselves. There were children of lepers who shared the quarantine but were not yet themselves diseased. I was surprised at the peaceful atmosphere which was not at all what I had expected. I had never known people who had so completely accepted their own mortality. As I have no fear of leprosy (it is not very contagious and is easily treated in the early stages), I had no hesitation in taking them into my arms, hugging and kissing them, and treating them like family, which they are. Lepers are untouchables and they were astonished. Soon everyone was laughing, hugging each other, and having a wonderful time. I had never known love of this magnitude or intensity. It was some time before I could talk of lepers without becoming very emotional.

In sharp contrast to the above vignette, people in our secular and materialistic culture feel no need of God and depend on money, science, and governments. Yet the global economy is in chaos and our planet itself is threatened by climate change. Many people are in a state of denial or apathy. In the midst of all this, Myanmar holds an incredible gift for followers of Christ.

The people of Myanmar need our help desperately but we also need them. Many of us have forgotten or are unaware that Buddha is about compassion and that Jesus is all about love—everlasting and unconditional love. Let us help the endangered orphans of Burma for “of such is the Kingdom of Heaven”. With God nothing is impossible. Get fired up. Fill yourselves with love and take it into the secular world. Tell everyone about the love that is the world's true spiritual reality. Demonstrate God's love in action. Your enthusiasm will be contagious. People will see that our church is neither a dying institution nor a sleepy club of aging pensioners and boomers.

Maybe we can save not only the lost children of Myanmar but we can ourselves be saved in the same process. We can start a renaissance of spiritual values which may well be the only hope for our troubled world.

The Burma Child Foundation is a Trust established for orphans, abandoned children, and child victims of the human traffic business in Asia. The Foundation supplies ongoing financial assistance where it is most needed, especially to orphanages. All donations are invested and the income from investments goes directly to the orphanages. We are able to do this with the help of both Christian and Buddhist church connections.

The situation is desperate. The people of Myanmar need our help. As Myanmar is the companion diocese of our Diocese of British Columbia, let us do what we can for them and perhaps in return receive the surprising blessing that awaits us.

Anyone wishing more information about Burmachild Foundation can contact Aspire staff

Burmachild is registered with the Diocese of British Columbia