The HOPE In Burma

As Ericka and I get closer to heading back to Thailand in a couple of weeks I'm reminded of the amazing people we serve - the Karen. The Karen are the largest ethnic minority group in Burma and parts of Northern Thailand. For decades they have been persecuted, tortured and murdered by a military dictatorship bent on forcing ALL ethnic minority groups out of Burma.

Yet, despite their plight and place in the country of Burma - the Karen people remain faithful to God and HIS Words, even to the point of PRAYING FOR THOSE THAT KILL THEM.

SAY WHAT??!

I get it, that is RIDICULOUS! Why PRAY for people who KILL your husbands, RAPE your wives, and ENSLAVE your children??? 

I mean, REALLY - that part in the Bible where Jesus says, "pray for your enemies", certainly He can't be serious! After all, that's not a today word for us!

Or is it?

The Karen people take a full month out of each year to do just that! And to me THAT'S THE STORY IN BURMA! Not the mounting death toll, the gruesome images or the horrifying tales. Yes, those stories are important, and they should be told. BUT it's the HOPE these people have in the middle of such terrible tragedy that makes us take notice.

That's what sets this story apart - HOPE found in such darkness. The kind of HOPE that only comes from God.

Below is a short clip from an interview I did earlier this year with Free Burma Ranger founder Dave Eubank. He's been running relief missions to displaced people, particularly the Karen for the last 14 years.