{"id":65723,"date":"2013-01-10T04:43:26","date_gmt":"2013-01-10T04:43:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.freeburmarangers.org\/?p=58389"},"modified":"2013-01-10T05:04:14","modified_gmt":"2013-01-10T05:04:14","slug":"a-foundation-tested-by-war-and-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.freeburmarangers.org\/my\/2013\/01\/10\/a-foundation-tested-by-war-and-change\/","title":{"rendered":"A Foundation Tested by War and Change"},"content":{"rendered":"

FBR Report: A Foundation Tested by War and Change<\/h1>\n
Karen State, Burma<\/address>\n
9 January, 2013<\/address>\n

In some areas of Burma there is a new openness and reforms; however,
\nwhere we are in Karen State the Burma Army continues the buildup of
\nits camps and roads. In Kachin State in northern Burma an offensive
\nhas been going on for more than a year as over 100 Burma Army
\nbattalions pound Kachin villages and positions with mortars and
\nartillery, with support from attack helicopters and fighter jets. Over
\n100,000 Kachin people are now displaced and in need of security, food,
\nshelter and medicine. We are now in the middle of the first mission
\nfor 15 new relief teams here in Karen State.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Start of the Tha Dah Der Run for Relief<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Since 1998, we have been coming to the village of Tha Dah Der,
\nsometimes to launch new teams on missions, sometimes between missions;
\nwe\u2019ve spent Christmases and New Years\u2019 here, celebrating with the
\nvillagers, playing games around bonfires and worshiping in church
\ntogether. We first came right after the village had been burned in
\n1998, and each year after that, through the offensives of 2006 and
\n2007 where over 4,000 IDPs fled though the village, and in 2008 when
\nthe Burma Army, on the way to attack the village, killed three
\nvillagers who were our friends. The house some of us stay in still has
\nbullet holes from that attack. We were here through shellings and when
\nDah Kaw Toh Baw, a village 20 minutes away, was attacked and burned.
\nWe were here when mortar and machine-gun fire from attacking Burma
\nArmy troops nearby forced families to flee the village to camp in rice
\nfields out of range, while we stayed with the one family who would not
\nflee; and we were here when the villagers returned, with students
\ncarrying blackboards and books across the fields on a sunny, blue-sky,
\ngolden-brown day. We came in 2010 in the wake of the Burma Army\u2019s
\nburning of the village and its church, and were here in 2011 to
\ncelebrate the dedication of the new church. Now we are here again;
\nand it is good, in the midst of a changing Burma, to be standing
\ntogether on the foundation built by this shared history of love and
\ncommitment.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Burma Army builds up Maw Pu camp, Karen State, 7 Dec 2012<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In Tha Dah Der there are no attacks now but a reconnaissance of the
\nMaw Pu Burma Army Camp two hours away showed a buildup of the camp.
\nWe observed camouflage zinc roofing being put on new buildings (this
\nis a major improvement we had not seen before in this camp). There
\nwere also six new solar panels installed, the first time we have seen
\nthese in use here. The estimated 40 troops in the camp are from
\nBattalion 707 of Military Operations Command (MOC) 4 and as we
\nobserved them they were reinforcing their buildings, putting on the
\nnew roofing, and moving about their improved bunkers. Here, as in
\nother camps in Karen State, the Burma Army seems to be using the
\nceasefire negotiations to build up rather than remove their front-line
\ncamps.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
FBR team sings during Tha Dah Der church service<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On Sunday we had worship with the people at the rebuilt Tha Dah Der
\nchurch. We heard three different testimonies that moved many of us to
\ntears, as well as many songs. At the end of the service over 30
\npeople came forward to receive Christ and most of these were from the
\nBuddhist Mon and Plo Karen teams. The Mon team leader \u2013 a tough
\nsoldier \u2013 said, \u201cWhen I walked into the door of the church, I felt a
\ngreat presence and my heart was filled with love all the time I was
\nthere. At the end I went forward in response to this presence and to
\nknow God better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Also during the service, Nay Kaw, a long-haired, very athletic soldier
\nand FBR team leader \u2013 who was the first Doo Tha Htu District FBR team
\nleader and is also a classical Karen mandolin player who sings the
\nancient poems \u2013 performed a song he had written about the destruction
\nof Tha Dah Der and its church, the rebuilding, the unity, the love and
\nnow the reunion. He is an animist and before he performed he asked
\nfor understanding and permission to play in the church. As he sang we
\nwere all carried by the melody and power of his words and God\u2019s
\npresence seemed to fill our hearts. Nay Kaw too came forward at the
\nend of the service to receive the Lord and prayed again later to
\nconfirm that. Our family is growing and what cool additions!<\/p>\n

This year the teams included members from Karen, Plo Karen, Karenni,
\nLahu, Mon, and Naga areas of Burma and the next day at the GLC program
\nthey all introduced themselves to the children, who came from seven
\nvillages to participate. After introductions and in front of the
\ncrowd, we recognized some of the long relationships we have here by
\nawarding medals to those who have consistently helped FBR and the
\npeople of this area over many years, through attacks and in danger,
\nthose who have helped their people not just survive but thrive. The
\nprogram then moved into full swing, with singing, dancing, and dramas,
\nand tea and snacks provided to everyone at the break while medics
\ntreated patients, and reporters interviewed people to learn the
\nsituation in the area.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Teams treat patients during GLC program<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Karen, Karenni, Lahu, Mon and Naga singing at GLC program<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Junior rangers learn navigation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

New this year is the Junior Ranger program, designed to inspire young
\npeople to become servant leaders and also give them a practical skill
\nthey can use to help their community. Young people in 5th grade and
\nhigher separated from the younger kids and FBR teams gave them a
\n30-minute leadership training and then they were given the chance to
\nchoose one from among three ranger skills to learn more about:
\nreporting and camera use, map and compass navigation, and medicine.
\nThe ranger instructors were surrounded by eager students taking notes
\nas they learned how to use a compass, or how to make rehydration fluid
\nand take care of a wound. The rangers were also excited to share the
\nskills they had finished studying only days before.<\/p>\n

The program ended with song and happy shouting and the students began
\nthe treks back to their villages. For us, it had been a good three
\ndays, of worship, and fun and singing, and spending time with new and
\nold friends in a beautiful place. As everyone left after the GLC
\nprogram, we gathered the teams to make plans for the future, for the
\nrest of the mission. Just so, people all over Burma and here in
\nKaren State too are now looking to the future \u2013 with a new hope but
\nalso tempered with caution. We don\u2019t know what it holds; but, being
\nhere, we do know that the joy of these friendships, the commitment of
\nshared history, and the depth of these relationships help make a solid
\nfoundation upon which the future is being built. Thank you for being
\npart of this foundation of faith, love and service. We are grateful
\nfor all of you who help.<\/p>\n

God bless you,<\/p>\n

The Free Burma Rangers<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
FBR medic works on a patient’s tooth in the field<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n