Myanmar Earthquake Relief3/29/2025  Dear Disciples,
On March 28, 2025, a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. Just minutes later, a powerful aftershock reaching as far as Thailand, Bangladesh, and southeast China worsened the devastation, leaving thousands injured, missing, or without shelter. Communities are struggling with collapsed infrastructure, overwhelmed hospitals, and a severe lack of food, clean water, and medical supplies.  Daw Aye May is a 56-year-old widow who lives alone in the village of Sar Phyu Su, 40 miles north of Yangon, Myanmar. When she lost her husband in 2019, she thought her future was gone too. But she managed to maintain a living selling herbs in an open-air market. Then came COVID-19, and restrictions curtailed public gatherings at large markets and travel beyond township borders, disrupting an already limited economy by reducing the ability for farmers to sell products in more distant and larger markets.
Although Daw Aye May received some additional support from family, she knew she needed to find another way to earn money when selling herbs was no longer a possibility. Soon she learned that Week of Compassion partners through Church World Service were sharing chickens with families in greatest need and training them in animal care and husbandry. Keeping The Lights On In Bangladesh11/26/2019  Thanks to our partners, children in the refugee camps in Bangladesh have safe, clean water Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.
Over two years ago, the Rohingya people of Myanmar experienced one of the largest forced displacements of our time. Earlier this month, Week of Compassion Executive Director Rev. Vy Nguyen traveled to Bangladesh and Myanmar. His travels included a visit to the refugee camp in the Cox’s Bazaar district. With nearly 1 million displaced residents, it is the largest, most densely populated refugee camp in the world. From the camp, the border to Myanmar is only about 100 yards away; and yet, many who live there cannot return home. Water of Life3/26/2019  Friday, March 22, was World Water Day. Rev. Bekah Krevens shares a reflection on a recent delegation to Myanmar.
In our part of the world, the Northern Hemisphere, Lent coincides with the season when birds gather twigs and fallen leaves for new nests. Meanwhile, trees slowly uncurl fresh new leaves. The promise of new life is all around as the Church prepares for Easter. Not long ago, I found myself in another kind of preparation: I was preparing for a Week of Compassion delegation to Myanmar; our group was going to visit several sustainable development projects that are bringing new life to villages on the other side of the world. |
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