Small Villages Overlooked by Many Relief Efforts

We share the same ecstasy when we heard the news last night about the government opening to all aid workers, but for now it's only news. Many are asking WHEN? At our meeting, the group felt that we should go as far as Lapoda because that's where many small villages are neglected, and there are talks that the ones without relief aid are buddhist. According to them, the majority of the populace in the delta region are baptist Christians. With the Karen's baptist group relief machinery (that we can atest), the baptist burmese in the delta region have sufficient relief supply now. The small villages with buddhist beliefs are the ones in dire need of relief goods.

Church members here feel it's a good time to show the love of the living God to our buddhist freinds now in small villages in the delta by going there and helping them. After dinner last night, we went straight to get some fresh info from uncle Ronnie, Winsome's boss, who is now the president of Myanmar Coordinating Council for Relief-composed of churches, medium business and political groups. We went to his house late last night so i wasn't able to email you because the internet cafe here closes early. He just came from the delta a few days back and said the same thing- that the relief stage has diminished because most people there have enough food supply, except for the small villages that were overlooked.

One has to ride a boat to reach these villages. The rehabilitation stage has commenced and his organization will start with the housing and procurement of tractors, diesel-fed engines, saws, and others. He is wanting to join us and allowed us to use their contacts there in the delta region. Most of his staff are already there, except for his secretary who is going to the church tomorrow to have a meeting with us in regards to our delta trip. There is NO official word that foreigners can go there now, but we are hoping that it will come out tomorrow after the UN meeting at the hotel. Please continue to pray for a favorable outcome because even the locals are hesitant to bring us along with them to Lapoda. Yes, Winsome made arrangements with our small limo to pick up the Barrier brothers tomorrow. They've been here six times so even Uma Win knows the two Americans.

As for our activities:
Last Thursday, May 22, Dr. Conrad, Phillip, and I went back to Kyauk Tan for medical consultation. We were told up on arrival that the Laos medical team went around the area that morning, too, so we went straight to the people we had befriended the day before, and Phillip distributed to them the jc choate book in burmese. We even prayed for the friendly guy who offerd you a chair the 2nd time we were there. His house is a shanty now. We also gave a little amount for the bed-ridden patient; enough to bring her to the hospital and pay for routine physical tests. The doctor consulted about four patients that time. Nim Mou and the others helped with the relief pack preparations at Sister Esther's house that day. We joined the group later that afternoon, after we canvassed for the generator set for the Bible College.

Friday, May 23, we had a medical consulation at U Ba Htay's residence. Many neighbors came. There was a total of twenty-two (22) patients who sought medical consultation. I had a patient there, too. His 4th daughter was suffering from neck pain.

Today, May 24, we visited the Bible College in Hmawbi. There was a medical consultation there as well, and the good doctor saw at least twenty-three (23) patients, not including the children from the orphanage whom i served with multivitatmins. I will give the money needed for the expense of removing the big tree that fell and blocked the entrance of the school tomorrow. They are only asking for that lone tree to be cleared. They will leave the other nineteen (19) trees on the ground, keep them a little green, and use them for firewood one tree at a time. We will try to purchase the generator set tomorrow because I need to see their situation first as per Winsome's advice. We scheduled another mini-clinic after worship at Winsome's place tomorrow, Lord willing. Pray for a clearer delta trip planning tomorrow.

MINGKALABA!
Shem