May Newsletter Web

GOD’S WORD TELLS US “RELIGION THAT GOD OUR FATHER ACCEPTS AS PURE AND FAULTLESS IS THIS: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” It has been a year since Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar, and the task we have been given, without the strength of the Lord, would be overwhelming. THE STORM LEFT 2-3 MILLION HOMELESS, 2 MILLION WITHOUT FOOD, 60,000 ORPHANS AND OVER 300,000 DEAD. It also left an opportunity for Christians to demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ to those in need - to be His hands and feet. To not simply tell people Jesus loves them, but to demonstrate His love. It is our responsibility to help these people, not the responsibility of the government, United Nations, or other agencies. It is the role of the Church. Jesus compels us to act on behalf of the least of these; believing what we do for them we do for Christ. In this spirit, out of obedience to the Word of God, acting out of love and compassion for the people of Burma, we have been working to make a difference. It is humbling to see how God has used us. Amidst the darkness, despair and hopelessness, we see Christ’s light shine even brighter. As we reflect on the past year, the devastation, the rebuilding, and the hope of Jesus Christ, His faithfulness is overwhelming. He has brought provision for His people, and used us as vessels to minister His love! Broken vessels that we are, he has chosen to use us. Teams from VBB have delivered 140 duffel bags full of supplies to Myanmar. Each bag weighs 50 pounds or more, so that is over 7,000 pounds! A container was also sent containing 270,000 rice meals. All

was done as a witness to the great love and compassion of our God. The cyclone also gave us the opportunity to offer a cup of cold water in the name of Jesus! After the storm an immediate need was clean drinking water. We were able to send a water purification system and water purification supplies. Jesus often described himself as the Living Water. In light of those words, what greater gift can we give than clean, pure, life-sustaining water? It reminds me of Jesus words in Matthew 26:37 and 40, “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”

funds for a medical clinic which offers free medical and dental care and the facility is used to distribute food and supplies. We are working to send a medical container to Burma. All is done to demonstrate the love of our Savior.

WITH ALL THAT WE HAVE SEEN, NOTHING HAS CAPTURED OUR HEARTS LIKE THE CHILDREN. As teams return, the picture etched in their minds is that of the orphans. We need to protect these precious children who are at risk of human trafficking. Girls as young as seven years old are at risk of being sold to work in the brothels of Thailand. Young boys are forced to join the brutal military government or at risk of recruitment by terrorists. Boys and girls are at risk of being sold as slaves to perform menial labor. In stark contrast, our goal is to place them in Christian homes where they can experience the healing and restorative love of Jesus Christ. Pastors and Burmese Christians have offered to work with these children. We are supporting a pastor who has received 28 children into his home. We have expanded a Methodist orphanage, more than doubling their capacity. VBB purchased a plot of land to build 4 orphanages, each housing 100 children. The first home is nearly complete and will begin housing children in June. Construction has begun on the next 2, and they are expected to be completed soon after the first. In addition we are raising funds to complete an orphanage that will house 5001,000 children. Teams that spend time with the children are changed. In spite of all these children have been through and their great loss, they remain full of the hope of the Lord Jesus. Teams go, intending to minister to these children, but are often taught and ministered to in return. It reminds me of the phrase, “And a little child shall lead them.” The following is an excerpt from Chylo Laszloffy on a recent trip to Myanmar.

We were able to purchase rice and feed people, but the Burmese people’s true desire was to be self-sufficient. On the Irrawaddy Delta many people made a living by growing rice before the cyclone brought the seawater inland and wiped out rice production. As part of the rebuilding effort we purchased enough rice seedlings to replant 3,500 acres of rice. For $90,000 the seedlings would yield enough rice to reseed the area and feed 63,600 people. We were not only able to feed these people, but offer them the hope of being able to support their families and feed their children. The people of Burma are very grateful for the help they receive. However, they desire to support themselves. We offer a microenterprise loan program in Myanmar to help women start small businesses and have a 100% payback rate! We are working to expand this program as now the needs are even greater. We assisted in purchasing a tea farm in Northern Burma to support pastors and employ Christians. We raised

“The children gathered in the small church that is there and sang for us. It touched my heart to hear all of the young ones passionately singing to the Lord. After spending a couple hours there, we went to a village where VBB has built a medical clinic. When we pulled up there were close to 200 village kids waiting there to greet us. They were so excited that we came. We spent an hour playing with them, signing their hands, and taking pictures with them. Many of these children are orphans and are being taken care of by the support of the YMCA here. It was a bit overwhelming to be there, because there were so many children that wanted attention from us.

IT REALLY TOUCHED MY HEART TO SEE THE JOY IN THE LIVES OF ALL THESE KIDS. Though they have so little, they are so full of joy. Many of these kids are believers, even though most of them have been raised Buddhist. We had taken some candy out with us for the children, but there were way more children than expected. When we ran out of candy, the children were not upset, but rather thanked us that we had even brought any. I

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have never seen children act in this fashion before. In America, most kids would be mad that another kid got candy and they didn’t. These children were not upset at all, but grateful.

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The faith they have in the things of Jesus and in His promises is so great. Being with these children was such a blessing. They taught me so much.”

MY HEART WAS REALLY HEAVY WHEN WE GOT BACK TO THE HOTEL. MY HEART JUST BROKE FOR ALL THESE CHILDREN. I spent a long time just weeping and praying for these kids. God really spoke to me and reminded me that even though these children may not have earthly parents to love them, He loves them and cares for them more than anyone else could. Being with these kids reminded me of what Jesus says in Matthew 19:14 ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’ These children are so innocent and pure and they truly believe the things of Jesus.

‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’