Outpour into Myanmar

Ray and Candace Ward and their Outpour Team are some pretty ordinary people, doing some pretty incredible things. They have taken a simple desire to love like Jesus, a variety of useful skills, and a whole lot of desire, to be the “outpouring” of Jesus’ love in an intentional way to the displaced hill tribe people groups of Myanmar (formerly Burma). They do this in Mae Sot, a Thai city that borders Thailand and Myanmar. The work that brought them there was to care for children displaced through years of on-going conflict.

Local Mae Sot shopping mall

 

Local business district

Over the years, their work has become more holistic in addressing both the spiritual and physical needs of this generation. As they will tell you, one cannot easily separate the physical needs of an individual from the spiritual.  The work that has kept them there is that of helping to build life skills into these young people, such that they can one day return to their country and re-build what has been destroyed. Their vision is to build sustainable economy in a manner that is both ethical and replicable.

Their work takes several forms: supporting young Burmese pastors who are ministering to the residents of the impoverished Burmese villages that dot the border region, providing housing for young children, small business for the purpose of teaching business, providing employment and developing job skills. They are also in the process of realizing the implementation of a training center (SEEDS) to provide a venue for teaching and facilitating the development of the fine arts.

Exterior and interior of the Outpour businesses which also operate as training development centers. Definitely the industrial chic cool factor…

Wanna really good burger? Come to Famous Rays

Over the past several years, we have had a fair amount of time to spend with Ray and Candace both in the states and here in Thailand. One thing that is apparent is their commitment, their love and their dedication to the vision entrusted to them.

Yesterday we crossed the Thai border into Burma/Myanmar with Ray. We weren’t really that deep into the country so the run under sniper fire wasn’t that intense. Well, actually, there wasn’t any risk of sniper fire but it makes the story that much more interesting.

End of the sidewalk is the Thai border. Between the borders is “No man’s land”. A “No Man’s Land” resident demonstrates entrepreneurship in action.

The area is actually an extension of what they call “no man’s land”.  It’s an area that is fairly neutral in that both Burmese and Thai citizens (mostly of hill tribe ethnicity) inhabit the region.

The Moei River is generally the geographical indicator of the border but due to the frequent flooding in monsoon seasons the river changes course routinely. Areas considered Thailand can actually be west of the river one season and east of it the following year. In this circumstance we were on dry land just west of the river and literally able to stand in two countries at the same time.

Our time there was spent mostly distributing first aid supplies, snacks for the kids and offering prayers for various needs and desires of the family units. The huts in this area are raised above grade and are constructed of salvage materials found locally. Each family raises a small crop of various types of vegetables and fruits for themselves and also to sell in the local markets. The people are very gracious and most appreciative of the fact that outsiders venture into the area to serve them. Their smiles are very contagious and they are very open to share details of life amongst the varied natural landscapes. 

This woman, recently diagnosed with diabetes, is the wife of the village chief. As one Burmese pastor stated – “He drinks…a lot”

Local Burmese Army outpost, also serves as the resident of the soldier responsible for this region.

A subtle reminder that “all is not as it appears”

Broken dreams?

The trip yesterday was just a small taste of what’s happening in the overburdened border areas.

A little taste of Thai life in the Mae Sot region