Karen State, Burma
3 April, 2009
“The thief comes only to steal, and kill and destroy, but I have come that they might have life and have it abundantly.”
— John 10:10
Northern Karen State, Burma: here civil war has torn normal life apart for over 60 years. The sound of mortars is normal and the threat of attack is constant for the people in this part of eastern Burma. But now, on this day, in this village, the war seems far away. The sun beats down out of a cloudless blue sky; it’s two o’clock, the heat of the day, and there is no shade on the brown-stubbled field that grows rice in the rainy season. Five hundred children are gathered, not in fear and not to run away again: today they are laughing, singing, dancing and the heat hasn’t slowed them down at all. Nor has it slowed down the team in the middle of the circle. About ten Free Burma Rangers including people from most of the major ethnic groups of Burma, are leading the program that began that morning at nine o’clock. They stride around the circle – or dance, or jump – trying to engage each child. There is joy and fun on their faces and this is soon reflected in not only the children’s faces but in the shouts and laughter coming from the on-looking parents.
This is the tenth program this team has put on in about a month of travel between villages and IDP hide-sites and across two districts of northern Karen State. Not all the programs are so big. On December 16, the Good Life Club (GLC) team walked into Thaw Nge Der, where 17 families have been living since they had to run away from the Burma Army last April. The small group of children that gathered was quiet, timid – they looked on with big eyes as the rangers dropped their gear, set up camp and prepared to begin. The program begins with introductions: the team members from the other ethnic groups teach the children a phrase or two in their language; by turns and with a lot of laughing they show everyone a cultural dance. Then the singing starts. The children can only stay serious so long with ten rangers jumping and laughing around them. The program includes a Bible story and drama, a snack at lunch, a health lesson and games, each part interspersed with singing. A clinic is also set up; here in Thaw Nge Der the medics treated 70 patients. At the end, the team hands out donated clothes, mosquito nets for each family and gifts for the school. Today it is not easy to end the program; these children, who took so long to get comfortable, don’t want to stop singing. We sing song after song with them and then sing the same songs over and over. The next day we move on to another IDP site, another program, another group of children. continue
http://www.freeburmarangers.org/Reports/2009/20090403.html
democracy for burma 
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