Posts

Rice donation

Image
Dear Dr. Neil, Diana, and FOB Donors, We would like to thank you and the FOB donors for your kind and generous donations that have made a difference in the life of many poor families and individuals in Myanmar. Even before the current crisis, Myanmar was one of the poorest countries in the world. Needless to say, the poor people have become poorer and depended on the generous donation from people like you for survival and hope. Whenever we received donations from FOB donors like you, we bought bags of rice (and bottles of oil which we cannot do at this time because of the rising prices of cooking oil and others) and distributed them to the more needy families and individuals. This time, we went to the outskirts of Yangon and gave away some bags of rice to the needy there. Since they unexpectedly received bags of rice when they could hardly put food on their tables (many don't even have tables for food), your donation gave them hope for a better future. Literally, donations like you

Diana raising money

Image
Diana Sowards, training for 100 meter race in 2022 Indiana State Games , June 11, 2022 to raise money for a generator to allow the Matthew25 Love hospital to keep helping sick people in Pathein, Burma. Donations can be sent to Friends of Burma through PayPal, check, or money order . For PayPal, please specify in the description.

Please! Let My People Go

Image
My name is Saw Peacefully Thomas, I am a Karen pastor from Thai Myanmar border. I am the president of one of Migrant Learning Center in Thailand, hosting more than a thousand students from the Internal Displaced People from Myanmar. I entitle with the role of Kawthoolie Karen Baptist Church’s general secretary. I would like to tell you a short story of my life and I hope that it will be representing Karen and ethnics groups of people in Myanmar. I was born in Karen state, Pi Ta Ka village in 1977 during the time when Burmese military government raised the “four cut four operation,” as characteristics of ethnic cleansing. In the course of this intervention, my family had to fled and moved to Thai Myanmar border. Since I know that I am human being, I have to run for life, move on place to place. My village was burned down. I live, sleep and eat together with wars. Death and arbitrary arrest, brutal violence is hot news and story that I hear for my whole life. When I was 12, in 1989, the

Updates on Burma (Myanmar)

We are monitoring updates on Burma (Myanmar), and people demonstrating against the military take-over of the country. We are in contact with our mission colleagues. The Christian leaders in Burma are doing their best as they always did during the previous successive military regimes. History is repeating itself for those of us who lived through 1988. The language and tone of the current State Administration Council sounds like the generals back in the 80s, ready to repress any dissenting voices.  The only difference then and now is this generation is equipped with mobile phones with Internet access, and has been exposed to relative freedom in the last decade since the country opened its doors after 2010. They know that their generation didn't have to pay exorbitant fees to buy a mobile phone number unlike those in the 80s and 90s, when people paid Kyats 2,500,000 (US$ 2,000) for a SIM card. Their demonstration techniques are more sophisticated with humor and witty messages to let t

Mosquito Nets for the Internally Displaced People

Image
Sayama Nang Thu Zar Mon from Myanmar Baptist Convention said that 100 mosquito nets from Friends of Burma were donated to Internally Displaced People from Rakhine State at the Helgu IDP Camp. There were over 800 people at the camp. They also donated rice, medicines and other household things from Myanmar Baptist Convention, International Myanmar Baptist Fellowship and individual donors.

Christmas Gift Response 2019

The report for the Christmas Gift is available here .

Rev. David Horton

Image
We are sad to announce that one of our long-term supporters and emeritus board member Rev. David Horton passed away. David Horton is a retired American Baptist minister and denominational worker living with his wife, Mary, in Arizona. He became interested in the ministry of Friends of Burma when attending a Bible class that Neil taught. David has visited Burma on two (1999 and 2007) different occasions. He has worked to get sponsors and support for orphans in six different facilities. Securing medical supplies and equipment for the KBC Hospital (aka clinic) has been one of his high priorities. May he rest in peace! Long Bio: David E. Horton of The Terraces in Phoenix, Arizona died April 7, 2020. Born December 10, 1931 in Fort Wayne, Indiana to Thomas E. (Ed) and Bernice M. (Bair) Horton, he served God and others faithfully throughout his life. Dave grew up in Fort Wayne, graduating from Northside High School in 1949 and Fort Wayne Business College two years later. He served i