For a lot of us there are only a few moments in our lives that really shake us to our core and stick with us long after we’ve experienced them. Have you ever experienced something that you just couldn’t forget because it impacted you so much? This was my experience in January 2024, on an IDES trip to Thailand for a leadership seminar. While there, IDES staff also had the opportunity to visit the town of Mae Sot, which is close to the border of Myanmar (Burma).
I’ve been working at IDES since 2018, so I’ve heard a lot about Mae Sot, specifically the dump village where many Burmese refugees live. As you’d suspect by the name, the village is right next to a trash dump and the living conditions are harsh. Exiting the van and walking around the village was one of the most humbling experiences of my life. We were greeted by the refugees and as we walked we saw so many people in need. Some were smiling and some had looks of despair.
As an IDES media person who frequently takes pictures at disaster sites, I often struggle with the dilemma of deciding when to take pictures and when not to, out of respect for those who are in moments of vulnerability. One such moment that I decided to put the camera down was when I saw an older woman sitting in a chair; she had one of the most sorrowful looks I’ve ever seen. I often wonder what she was thinking at that moment and what she must have experienced fleeing from Myanmar to Thailand.
We also saw barely-clothed babies walking around the dirt paths, covered in filth, being washed in dirty water by their mothers. IDES has done a lot of work with these refugees over the years and the nearby Kids Club has been a tremendous help to the children to ensure a good education for them.
Some may wonder why on Earth they would choose to live in such conditions. Their response is that the conditions they left in their war-torn country of Myanmar are much worse than those they experience at the dump village.
The amount of poverty was staggering and it made me realize the need to be grateful and to know that no matter how much difficulty I may face in life, there are brothers and sisters in Christ who are facing much bigger challenges. Yes, it’s easy to feel bogged down by inflation, rising interest rates, unaffordable housing, and other issues facing our nation. But we need to remember that God has been so good to us and we should never take for granted the small things we often overlook, like clean, running water or secure shelter.
Today, let’s thank God for the small things that we normally don’t thank Him for and pray for continual humility. Let’s pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ from both Myanmar and Thailand. Pray that God would restore order not just in the country of Myanmar but also in the lives of the refugees. Pray for the leadership seminars to impact the people groups and that the Word of God would be spread throughout both countries.