Friends of Burma channeled some generous donors' contributions to the cost of an elevator at the Karen Baptist Convention Hospital. Here are some photos and a short video that the hospital sent us.
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...
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 ...
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.