The Country of Burma or officially the Union of Myanmar is a country smaller than Texas.
It is from this country that many of the refugees are from.
My entire class is from Burma.
The most wonderful people I have ever met.
Their struggles are like none other.
Their faith so strong.
This is their story.
The ruling military regime in Burma is one of the world’s most
oppressive and abusive. Currently, the Burmese government is involved in
a military campaign against the largest indigenous ethnic group in
Eastern Burma, the Karen. The Karen practice Christianity, whereas Burma
is a mostly Buddhist nation. The militarized government has developed
plans to eliminate those who do not fit in to what is thought of as
being “Burmese.” Many Karen accuse the Burmese government of “ethnic
cleansing” due to major counter-insurgency campaigns that have led to
widespread mass atrocities against the Karen people. Such atrocities
include summary execution, severe torture and rape, as well as forced
labor, extortion and displacement. Aid agencies estimate that more than
200,000 Karen have been driven from their homes during the decades of
conflict.http://worldwithoutgenocide.org
Imagine having to flee your home.
Imagine having to run for your life.
You finally cross the boarder into a new country.
You find a refugee camp.
You register.
You wait for your name to appear on the list.
The List...
Your ticket to a new life.
Less than 70,000 refugees get that new life a year in America.
Every year you hope and wait.
Your children grow up.
Their childhood is spent in a cramped camp.
Hundreds of thousands of people.
In shacks.
Tents.
Makeshift towns.
You wait.
And Wait.
Years.
Your children are Teenagers.
Its been 17 years.
Still waiting in a camp.
Till that day....
The day when your name is on the list.
After years of waiting.
You are granted safety.
People don't often stay in refugee camps for a few months. Not even a few years. I've met people from Burma who have spent as long as 23 years living in a camp. Thats longer than my entire lifespan. Think about the life you have...and then being forced into a camp to live like that for 23 year...
Pray for our world.
Pray for the people in Burma.
