{"id":67495,"date":"2015-03-16T16:00:52","date_gmt":"2015-03-16T16:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.freeburmarangers.org\/?p=60463"},"modified":"2015-03-16T16:00:52","modified_gmt":"2015-03-16T16:00:52","slug":"maw-la-saying-good-bye-to-a-hero-a-leader-and-a-friend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.freeburmarangers.org\/my\/2015\/03\/16\/maw-la-saying-good-bye-to-a-hero-a-leader-and-a-friend\/","title":{"rendered":"Maw La: Saying good-bye to a hero, a leader and a friend"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Pu Maw La<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Maw La: Saying good-bye to a hero, a leader and a friend<\/h1>\n
March, 2014<\/address>\n
Karen State, Burma<\/address>\n

One of the oldest Free Burma Rangers, Pu Maw La,
\npassed away in September, at 84 years of age. Maw La
\nwas our dear friend, uncle, example, encourager, advisor,
\nenabler and a man of God. He grew up during World
\nWar II, and as a young boy helped his father fght the
\ninvading Japanese army in Burma. His father, Saw Digay,
\nwas a leader of the northern Karen and worked closely
\nwith the Allies and Major Hugh Seagrim, \u201cGrandfather
\nLonglegs.\u201d Maw La helped his father do his part in the
\nliberation of Burma. After World War II, the Karen and
\nother ethnic groups were attacked by the Burma Army
\nand war broke out between the dictators of Burma and
\nthe Karen and other ethnic people
\nof Burma.<\/p>\n

As he grew up, Pu Maw La became
\none of the most respected leaders
\nof the Karen freedom movement.
\nHe gained renown as a brilliant
\nfighter and protector of his people.
\nHe was also a master hunter and
\non two separate occasions killed an
\nattacking tiger and bear with only a spear and knife. He
\nwas one of the first to help us as we formed FBR and his
\nsons were some of our most outstanding leaders. One of
\nhis sons, Digay Htoo, died on a mission.<\/p>\n

Now we have lost Pu Maw La and this is a great loss for
\nthe Karen people and all of us. He helped his people
\nsurvive years of attacks and his own village was burned
\nthree times by the Burma Army, but he never left. He
\nsaid, \u201cI would rather die here in the land God gave
\nme, than live as a slave somewhere else.\u201d Pu Maw La
\nhelped rebuild his village, school and church each
\ntime they were attacked and never gave up hope. He
\nprayed for all people and led us all at each New Years\u2019
\nworship ceremony to pray for the Burma Army and
\nall our enemies. He never stopped loving – us at FBR,
\nhis people, his land – even when there were many
\nreasons to give up, he never did. He was an example
\nof perseverance and strength, of hospitality and care,
\nand of irrepressible joy and love of life. We thank God
\nfor him and all that he has shown us
\nof our Father and how to live in the
\nworld, through both good and bad
\ntimes. We pray for his family and his
\npeople, and look forward to seeing
\nhim in heaven where all that joy of
\nlife can fow and fy unweighted by
\nthe gravity of earth.<\/p>\n

Pu Maw La inspired us to obey God at
\nall costs, to love all who come our way and to live boldly
\nand with care for others. Once, when a journalist asked
\nPu Maw La if FBR was good or not, he answered, \u201cIf FBR
\nfollows God it is good, if it does not follow God it is not
\ngood.\u201d<\/p>\n

Maw La helped us follow God and we thank God for him.<\/p>\n