Three months after the devastating earthquake had hit Myanmar, which was felt from Thailand to China, millions of people in the affected areas continue to face daily challenges in their lives. Many are living in temporary shelters and are struggling to access food, healthcare, and other basic essentials.

OM MTI’s partner on the ground in Myanmar, Minh (pseudonym) and his team have been travelling around the worst-hit areas – Sagaing, Mandalay, as well as Inle Lake, to help the distressed communities in various ways.

Since the start of the disaster, they have been distributing food and necessities to hundreds of families. As the people settled into more permanent shelters, Minh’s team purchased kitchen utensils and implements for them. Clean water systems are also in the process of being installed in several hard-hit communities.

Many of the villages that Minh or members of his team have reached out to did not receive much aid, thus they were always warmly received. A villager told them, “When we are facing hard times and difficulties, you Christians take care (of us) and look after us.”

In every place that the team goes, they also remember to share the Word of God with the people.

THE ROAD AHEAD

Minh shares that even though there are many organisations trying to help, it doesn’t seem to be enough. Minh expresses his concerns for the people, “It looks like everything is normal and the people are getting along, but inside they are worried and traumatised – they don’t know how and where to start after the earthquake. It is difficult to get a job and most of the factories are rundown or still closed. The parents also worry about their children’s education.”

As the travel around the earthquake-hit areas, and back and forth from Yangon the capital, Minh and his team also encounter numerous challenges. “There are many checkpoints, there is fuel shortage, and the roads are so bad that the car could break down at any time.”

“We may not be able to do much, but we want to show them the love of God through these small acts.”

Yet they are committed to helping the affected communities. They want to keep up a steady distribution of food to 120 families as jobs are still hard to get, in addition to their current project of building small temporary houses for displaced families.

Minh and his team are determined to continue in their disaster response, even when the world seems to have forgotten the suffering masses in Myanmar. “We may not be able to do much, but we want to show them the love of God through these small acts.”

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OM MTI works through local partners on the ground, like this partner in Myanmar, providing community care and development for least reached and marginalised people groups, and building deep long-term relationships towards vibrant communities of Jesus followers.

Please pray:

• For God’s continual provision of the people’s immediate needs, and for opportunities to meet their long-term needs like stable jobs and education for the children.
• That those who are suffering mentally will be healed, and that the people’s spiritual eyes will be opened to the love of God.
• For the safety of Minh and his team as they travel long and risky distances to deliver aid to the affected communities.