Another Midlander in Mae La

Earlier this year, a group of Midlanders, joined by Christian friends from around Texas, had an opportunity to visit Mae La Refugee Camp in Thailand, and worship with their community, mostly people of the Karen ethnic group who had fled persecution - a persecuted people and a persecuted church - in neighboring Burma (Mynamar). Now, another (former) Midlander has visited Mae La, and that visit is sure to get a lot of people talking ... not just around Texas, but around the world.

"MAE SOT, THAILAND (AFP) — US First Lady Laura Bush, a vocal critic of Myanmar's junta, toured a refugee camp on Thursday and called on the military regime to open dialogue with the pro-democracy opposition. Highlighting abuses in military-run Myanmar has been the chief cause of the first lady, and with her daughter Barbara she made her way through a muddy settlement which is home to tens of thousands who fled the junta's repression." Read the rest of the story In her own quiet way, from her own bully pulpit, Laura Bush has a way of spreading the word about these refugees, and bringing their plight to the attention of a worldwide audience. From our own experience in the camps and villages of western Thailand, one of the first requests we would receive - after 'pray for us' - was, 'tell others about us.' The First Lady of the United States can do that in a BIG way.