When God Opens Doors
This was an unexpected door as I went to the prayer meeting on Tuesday where the missionaries gather. I was there last week but did not get to see Joan Eubank who is the mother of David Eubank; who has been in some of the history I have been gleaning from.
A man came in and sat down beside me and after some wonderful singing --(these solid long term missionaries are ones who have been tested and tried on the battlefield and are looking forward to meeting Jesus.)
After the singing the man beside me could hardly keep to his chair he was so excited to share some really good news. Some people he has been seeing way up in some remote mountains that is very difficult to get to---(Used to be by elephant and hiking now they have a dirt road and then a dirt trail --today with the rains they are washed out!) This man said he has been working with a tribe for 28 + years and now seeing a break- through; as some have accepted water baptism and cut the strings of the evil nats. He said he is going back up next week and asked for prayer for the party going back in and the new Christians. (7-31-08)
I asked what tribe he was working with and he said, “Karen” electrified I asked, “What is your name?” He said “Allan Eubank.” this is Joan’s husband and David’s father. I was elated to be sure. He asked me to write my name and e-mail after I whispered that I was doing research on the Karen tribe. Later I e-mailed them a short note of who I am and what I am doing and they responded--- come to church next Sunday and we can talk a bit. Joan said she gave my letter to the Free Burma Rangers and her son David so hopefully I will meet with both.
The next day Pastor Jerry took me to the Christian rehab home where William (My Chinese friend.) is. We had about an hour to share and it was so good to see him laugh and at time-- cry a bit. He told me that when he was little his mom beat him for nothing and if his dad showed any tenderness he would be beaten again. Then in one of the prisons he was in they beat him terribly. So he can see that the drugs were his scapegoat from the pain and humiliation. I shared with him the same beatings and cruel treatment happened to Jesus. I was able to meet some of the Thai Christian leaders and they are doing their best to help although they cannot speak English and he cannot speak Thai. I did get permission to send letters so that will help. This is a drug rehab out reach for drugs are every where. He was from Singapore and well known for a drug addict but no one had sat and listened to him. I met him as we spent many hours in a van going to the Burma boarder to get our visa’s renewed.
Today Siami told me they had gone back up to Musikee to bring the lady we saw Sunday with some skin problems down to Chiang Mai to the doctor . They picked me up and I was able to go to the Christian clinic with them. It is a bit of dermatitis I think as I saw pictures on the wall while waiting. After they came out the doctor said it was not dangerous and gave her a shot and some pills and soap that would not dry her skin. They said that the olive oil I left with her Sunday did help. So I gave them a big bottle as it is all over her body. I believe it is what I had on my elbow as I think about it. Caused by sweat and dirt. They have no bathrooms like we have and just a pan of water to work with. They live pretty much in the dirt. And that is why they have their house on stilts. They take their shoes off outside and go barefooted on the bamboo floors. She was relieved to know that as the Bible says, “This too, shall pass.”
I love that song, “To God --Be the Glory for great things He has done.”
Next meeting on Friday the 25th I had arranged a meeting with a man named Craig Garrison at the office of Partners Relief & Development, my friend Joanna had told me about them. I did arrive and Craig was busy so another man talked to me and gave me some information of what this group of Christians are doing followed by a video of the people they work with. They work with Free Burma Rangers and David Eubank as well. It was so good to see Christians working side by side with different goals to work for the Lord but loving and helping each other.
Much of what I learned I had already seen much of, but now more in depth of the Burma Politics and much more of the flood victims down South where Adoniram Judson began work near Rangoon. It is called the Delta. When I got home I was so depressed I could not think straight. I wanted to cry and couldn’t -- you feel so helpless to see the horror closer. The damage was so much more than any one can describe and the Burmese refuse the nations help so more would die of disease and relive them of the hated Karen and other ethnic groups. This Delta is where the Karen Christians began with the Apostle Ko Tha Byu
These Christians have a passion that is unequalled to help where they can. They have developed a program called Save Five. Alone we cannot save 2.5 million people but we can save 5. So they ask people to skip Starbucks every other day for a month and save $30 which will give 5 people enough rice, water , and shelter to get 5 people through one month of this crisis which is still going on today. We need 2,600 people willing to do this right now. Any luxury you can give up for --every other day for a month-- and send that money in will help save five. It only takes 14 grande lattes a month $30.00. (The Karens used to sacrifice a chicken so you might just add some chicken broth to your pot of soup and save that for a sacrifice to God.)
The worst is to come if they contract any diseases as this is the mosquito region with malaria and dengue fever that killed so many of the Christians during Adoniram Judson’s time. Many other diseases follow when you have no adequate food and water supply. Try eating only rice with out salt for one meal. Gives you some idea of what they eat here. A good sacrifice as well and put that money aside, add a coke or pepsi kids!!
Although I am concentrating on the Karen there are many other ethnic groups and they are all suffering. What I have been seeing staggers the imagination as this has been going on with ethnic cleansing about the same time--60 years--as Israel fighting the same type of cruel enemies as the military of Burma. While the Jews came back to their land to fight for it-- the Karens have been fighting for their land. Their enemies are the same. We just cannot see the spiritual fight that Jesus described in John 10:10 “The thief cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they may have life, and that they may might have it more abundantly.”
I asked myself and I asked Jesus what are you doing? Where are you heading? What is going on here? and how can I work with you? All people are made in the image of God and yet we have to go back to Genesis chapters 1-4 to see the big picture. God and his purposes to bless the world and the enemy who wants to destroy it. Man always has a choice and the missionaries here see the challenge and take Jesus’ commands seriously. Craig Garrison tells us frankly that Jesus meant it when he said, “ we the followers of Christ are to storm the gates of hell and take back what rightfully belongs to the Lord whether it be land or people. Keep up the prayers for all of us here in Thailand. Parthenia for God’s glory.
Contact them at www.partnersworld.org
Partners Relief and Development PO Box 27220 Albuquerque, NM 87125-7220 USA
You can order a CD “OUR STORY” plus “THE ENEMY CAME HOME” and “THIS IS OUR HOME”.
