Myanmar Friends Circles

Comment

Comment by sherry on October 25, 2008 at 2:04pm

robin, my heart aches as i watch this video....

Comment by chuckquinley on October 25, 2008 at 1:48pm

Oh Robin, that video was so hard to watch. How death just swept across the land taking everyone. Somehow this has to be an opportunity for the Kingdom to reach out and declare the HOPE that is in Christ. You are a point man there. Nice Music. I noticed your voice.

Comment by sherry on October 25, 2008 at 12:43pm

Robin, How are you?? seems like FOREVER since we have communicated...i miss you! much love!!! mommy sherry

Comment by Robin Kung on August 23, 2008 at 8:05am

That eerie feeling after ninety hard days

Ninety days ago,


A ghastly storm visited us. Breaking the back bones of the people of Myanmar, whose incremental suffering too is well known to the well, cyclone Nargis left a trail of death and mayhem. Millions were left homeless, 150,000 were dead and hundreds of children were left orphans. A nation was in mourning. Fearless journalists penetrated the heart of delta, bringing in shocking stories of nature's ferocity against human beings. The world wept with us then. Offers of support came in. Despite all access constraints, many could visit our country. We were able to meet a stream of visitors from the Caritas family. Both the dioceses, Pathein and Yangon, put at the disposal of the relief work all their resources – human and finance. Offers of support led us to configure a robust response, bringing solace to hundreds.

To a church long used to restrictions, post - Nargis relief work was a unique challenge. We met that with the commitment of our people. Even now our volunteers are doing a great job, living in some of the most dangerous places.

Ninety days later, now,
There is a creeping and frustrating feeling of 'once again Myanmar is being abandoned'. Abandoned by all who visited us, all whom we hosted with great difficulty, abandoned by all who listened with rapt attention to our plea in the meetings and promised a great support for long time.
Already, most of our works are stalled because the promises and pledges never got converted into real support. We have seen this all for decades. Often it is our big brother in the north who grabs attention and diverts world's attention towards its problems. In the eighties China literally took away the attention of the world. Now when nature, in fury and anguish, uncovered the permanent disasters of the poor of Myanmar, the earthquake in China managed to grab all the attention, including that of some of our partners. We wish China well, its agonies need to be addressed. But can Myanmar be once again be forgotten?

The whole process of ERST (Emergency Response Support Team) was enriching. We are indebted to them for what has happened here in the Post Disaster relief phase. But we are becoming aware, painfully, that some of the problems inherent to a society like ours, has made greater news than what our simple people, whose capacities are never allowed to flower forth, have achieved against all odds. We seek not only a long term commitment in finance, but in capacity building of our people. The Relief work offered a window of opportunity to build a suffering church's capacity to serve the poor of Myanmar in a more committed and professional modus operandi.
This hope, we are afraid, is fast fading. While both the dioceses are determined to streamline and fine tune all mechanisms, changes are not fast paced in this country. Handling a process of rehabilitation needs a compassionate accompaniment.
Ultimately the poor of Myanmar will benefit by a comprehensive rehabilitation process. It is their brokenness and tears, brought us all together. Our obligations to them warrant a greater commitment from all of us-those who work at the ground level, with proper commitment, transparency and accountability. To all those friends who stood by us in our moment of agony, we plead for a continued commitment in getting the pledges and promises converted into real resources for the poor.
The recent joint report by the Myanmar government, the UN and the Asean points towards a very long rehabilitation phase, stretching to two to three years. The joint report points out that emergency assistance is yet to reach many remote areas. The early recovery and the middle recovery are delayed. Nearly 60% of the shelter needs are yet to be fulfilled. Thousands of school cannot function normally.
It is a long journey with a people broken by decades of suffering and the unkindly attack by nature. When it came, it traumatized the whole Church. But with the promises of support and compassion, we galvanized ourselves to serve thousands.
The Church reaffirms its commitment to meet all the expectations of all our partners in this service to the poor. It is your fellowship that made our work, a journey of hope and long term commitment. We were enriched by the presence of all of you who came to guide us.
Myanmar cannot be forgotten once again.
In Solidarity,
Archbishop Charles Bo SDB
Yangon

Comment by Robin Kung on July 22, 2008 at 5:24pm

The lady i am talking about and the one on the picture actually came out to the church after being such threats she got from the people around her. She came to the Church risking the criticisms of those around her. I was more than happy to actually see her in the Church.
How would you deal with people who come to church with the need of physical needs like this woman?

Comment by Robin Kung on July 14, 2008 at 5:03pm

I was going to the site where we've been helping to build houses. This is not the same area where we've built 15 houses, this is a new site which we started building houses for people in this area. I met with a widow there whom we help to help house. Her husband died about a year ago, and left them with no good house and with Three children. Right now the Eldest Daughter who is 17 years of age has to work to feed his mom and another two siblings. It broke my heart today when I heard her saying, "I have gone to rich people to give my children away because I no longer can feed them, but on my way there, I could not let them go from me, so I returned home again, I have tried many times like this," Today as I met with her, she was thanking us for helping her house being built, she said, "this will be the very first time that our family will live in a house warm and safe and really close to each other" .. Oh my! The stories she told me about how she faced life just to survive made me really sad, and I don't know, what I could do to help this widow? have any idea? Or would like to get involved?
Her husband died, before he died they were going to some church because this woman believed in Christ, and she was still seeking,, when her husband died, people around her told them that her husband died because she was going to church and their god doesn't like it. But now she says, she would like to come again to church if she could come.. she'd try to come to our church.. It's really sad to see many in needs, not just needs, it's a life that is struggling everyday to have a regular meal, water and safe place to lay heads on,,, Thank God that I am being enabled by God through friends to help this kind of people in this country!
Share your thoughts and here please.. and how we could help people.. she is not the only one,, in this area!
Blessings,
Robin

Comment by Dale Denham on July 1, 2008 at 8:54am

What a joy to "see" and "read" what is happening "now" in Myanmar. Thanks for taking the time to keep us "connected" when we cannot be as connected as we want in person.

Comment by MeeNge on June 30, 2008 at 10:50pm

Honey, thanks for inviting and sharing this program with me. I'm so proud of you what you are doing! Keep going a great job!! I love you.
Blessings,
Meenge

Comment by Robin Kung on June 30, 2008 at 11:03am

This is what people, Victims comment about Christians, "When Christians come to help , they bring their hearts with them" "it's so different from others! It's so true right! It makes me check my heart everyday!

Comment by chuckquinley on June 25, 2008 at 3:36am

Wow Robin! what a great idea for a group. Please post stories from Myanmar. So many are wanting to hear what's going on. Tell about the troubles, but also about how people cope in such times and how the body of Christ is rising up to deal with the circumstances which will either tear people down OR provide a powerful context for doing evangelism. this could be the greatest year of harvest ever in Myanmar! We are believing God for that. this group could be your opportunity to help others get on board with what God is doing and about to do. We love you!