FBR Report: "A Closeness Born of Gratitude, Common Purpose and Love - Part 2"

The Free Burma Rangers (FBR) is a multi-ethnic humanitarian service movement. They bring help, hope and love to people in the war zones of Burma (Myanmar). Ethnic pro-democracy groups send teams to be trained, supplied and sent into the areas under attack to provide emergency assistance and human rights documentation. Together with other groups, the teams work to serve people in need.

"A Closeness Born of Gratitude, Common Purpose and Love - Part 2"

"Dear friends, Thanks so much for how you help us and for how you care about the people of Burma. We are relaying this out from Karen State and want you to know how grateful we are for each of you."

"A few days ago in a village we had visited before, the headmaster of the school came up to me and, smiling broadly, said, 'We thank God for you, you are such a blessing to us and are always bringing us the good things that we need. We pray that God will bless you and that you will keep coming here!'"

"I replied, 'Actually I do not have very much. It is my friends from around the world who give these things to us to give to you. Without them we could not do this. So they are really the ones to thank.'"

"'Oh yes, I understand,' was the headmaster's reply. 'We thank God for them and pray God's abundant blessing on them. Please tell them all how grateful we are and how they send the things we need. We see how they help you help us. Please tell them we will pray for them!'"

"So I am writing to let you know how you are a crucial part of this team. We are each in our different places and in our different roles, working together to help make a better Burma. Not only that, this service helps us to be the kind of people we want to be. Your encouragement and support makes us want to live up to the highest standards of love, courage and honor."

"Earlier, on December 6, our team held a medical treatment, fun run and Good Life Club (GLC) program in a rice field valley near Tha Dah Der village. The village had been burned by the Burma Army in July, 2010. It was the fifth time the village had been overrun by the Burma Army since 1958 and the third time it had been burned. In spite of these attacks there was an overwhelming feeling of joy as over 450 children, from four different schools, gathered here for the program."

"I would like to have two of the team members describe this day; one is 'Ant,' part of the GLC team [read Ant's report in last week's post], and one is my father [below] who, at age 81, traveled by foot, mule and elephant to be part of the training of the teams and the first mission after graduation."

Part 2: My Father

Tha Dah Der villagers worship next to ashes of their burned church

"Children, youth, and adults had come together for the races, songs, Bible stories, drama, health training and medical examinations. After the races the Karen Brigade Commander, General Baw Kyaw, addressed the villagers and the 17 FBR teams. The multi ethnic four man teams had come together to this village after completing their 2 months of training at the FBR camp. From here they will begin their missions to other villages further inside.

FBR medics treat a patient at Tha Dah Der

The General said, "I want to thank God and Tha U Wah A Pa [the White Monkey's father] for bringing joy to our people. With all the pressures and dangers around us we have not been joyful. [Earlier this morning, machine gun and grenade fire was heard from a skirmish on the road about an hour's walk away.] Today I see happiness on the faces of the children. I could not bring this joy, but you brought it, and I am grateful."

Feeding the elephants at the beginning of the day

Earlier, I talked to two new FBR team members, both university graduates. Daniel, a Karen, had been a concert pianist and the other, Naw Ya, is a Karenni woman. Both had struggled through the strenuous physical part of the training. I asked them, "What were some of the important things you gained from the FBR training?" I was very impressed by their answers.

Tha Dah Der congregation at the site of their burned church

Naw Ya replied, "Peace! I had peace all through the training because everything was done for and with God. I have attended many training programs but never where we did everything for God and with God. When I return, I will organize my training programs to teach what I learned here - doing everything for God and with God."

"Daniel answered, 'Closeness! I feel very close to the FBR team members and to the Karen all over Burma. Before I only felt close to the Karen right around me, but now I feel close to every Karen. Now, I feel close not only to my Karen people, but also to the Lahu, Karenni, Pa-Oh, Kachin, Naga and Mon, because they were with us in the training.'"

"Even though we are far away from you dear reader, we also feel a closeness to you. This is a closeness born of gratitude, common purpose and love."

May God bless you all,

A Relief Team leader
Free Burma Rangers
Burma