Greetings in the Love of the Lord!
We are deeply grateful to the brothers and sisters who reached out and prayed for our family and the border village after hearing the news of the earthquake in Myanmar last Friday (28th). By God's grace, our family, friends in the border village, and the Hope Community Center are all safe. Although we were 600 km away from the epicenter, we could feel the ground shaking, and some light windows were seen opening due to the tremors.
The earthquake has caused significant damage to Myanmar’s second-largest city, Mandalay, with reports stating that 80% of the city has suffered varying degrees of destruction. Due to the ongoing civil war, the deployment of heavy equipment for recovery is extremely challenging, meaning the restoration process is expected to take a long time. As a result, a large-scale displacement of people toward less affected areas such as Yangon is anticipated.
Earlier in March, the World Food Programme (WFP) had already warned that 2.3 million people were at risk of famine due to the ongoing civil conflict. With this devastating earthquake, Myanmar’s situation is expected to worsen, and our hearts ache for the people suffering. While the military government has requested emergency aid from the international community to win public favor, they continue their relentless airstrikes against democratic parties and militias in pursuit of their own ambitions.
We received a message from Brother J in Mandalay, who shared that although the church building collapsed, believers gathered in unaffected homes to hold their Sunday service. We pray that God will be their comfort and help during these times of tribulation. Additionally, many Muslims were gathered at mosques for their Friday prayers when the earthquake struck. According to local news reports, between 500 to 700 Muslims lost their lives, and approximately 50 mosques were destroyed.
Please continue to pray for Myanmar, that God's mercy and provision would be upon all those affected. May His love and peace be with you always.
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.Psalm 46:1-3 (NIV)
🤲🏻 Please join us in a special week of prayer during the first week of April for the suffering people of Myanmar.
🛎️ In odd-numbered months, we share stories about the R people, and in even-numbered months, we update you on our ministry. (The R people stories are gathered through the R People Ministry Network: pray4rohingya.org).
Creative Connections
God has used many miraculous ways to connect me with the Rohingya, including the “green way”- meaning with plants
Eshmael has disappeared from my online literacy class and only told me a month later he was unwell with excruciating gastric pain. I was in my hometown and told him I would bring him an herb that is good for gastronomic disorders.
I gave him the herbs two days later, told him a healing story from the Injil, and prayed for him. Eshmael’s symptoms disappeared within a week, and he asked for a baby plant.
A friend from church gave him one, and he planted it in his backyard, hoping to help other Rohingya friends suffering from the same problem.
Ten months later, I visited him and asked if the plant had grown. He happily showed me the way to his backyard, and I was shocked to see that the plant was as tall as me.
Eshmael is totally healed from gastritis. I told him Isa Al-Masih is the healer, before, now, and forever.
- Pray for Eshmael and his friends to believe in the power of Isa Al-Masih to heal.
- Pray for more Rohingya people to experience the love and power of Isa Al-Masih.
- Pray for those reaching out to the Rohingya to be creative in how they connect.
NEWS & PRAYER
Smaill City Story
As our village continues to change, new children are joining us, bringing even greater joy to our hearts. Every time we visit, we are deeply grateful to see them welcoming us with bright smiles. It is especially touching to witness how they remember our previous cleanup activity—some eagerly pick up trash in front of the center, saying, "Look, teacher!" Their small yet meaningful actions are truly heartwarming.
Watching these children experience moments of joy at the center, listening to and learning from God's Word, fills us with gratitude as we see how He is helping them grow little by little. Please continue to pray that they will grow up with hope and become people who share goodness and love in their communities.
Spiritual Conversations uring the Fasting Month
During the fasting month, we had the opportunity to visit the homes of two friends and engage in meaningful spiritual conversations. As they shared their testimony of fasting to love Allah (God) more, we were able to discuss and pray about Jesus, the true Bread of Life.
In particular, we visited Ali’s family during Eid al-Fitr, the celebration marking the end of Ramadan. It was a blessed time of sharing the Word together, breaking the fast, and enjoying a warm evening of fellowship with his family.
Discernment for the Next Journey
Due to the ongoing civil war and the aftermath of the pandemic, we have been traveling through Thai border villages, serving those who have been scattered. As we continue to pray for our children’s growth and education, we are considering sending them to a dormitory later this year. Meanwhile, we are discerning whether to relocate to Y City in Myanmar or a border village to continue our ministry.
At the end of April, we plan to visit Y City to seek the Lord’s guidance for our next steps. Although the situation remains uncertain, we ask for your prayers for God’s clear direction regarding our family and ministry.
