I took this photo of Min* and her baby on a visit to the India-Myanmar border. I will never forget the day I met Min and a group of other courageous, inspiring, resilient people who had fled from Myanmar to Mizoram.
About 5 million people are now displaced in Myanmar and in neighbouring countries. There is an urgent need to respond to this growing humanitaran crisis. And behind the stats and big numbers of people in need are individuals – each of with their own story of pain, trauma and hurt.
Before I took this photo of Min and her beautiful little boy she told me of the senseless violence and bombings she had escaped from and the death and displacement of family members. And yet despite her pain and loss, here was Min doing all she could in a makeshift refugee camp to ensure others were supported and cared for. Min’s faith and bravery was inspiring. When I left this camp, the people I met had one common request … humbly they asked: “Please don’t forget us, please don’t forget Myanmar”.
Australian Baptists are standing together – united in loving action – making sure people like Min are not forgotten. Things have sadly got worse this year, with the devestating earthquake, the continuing violence and human rights’ abuses and the cessation of US aid funding. This week I will join Baptist leaders from across Australia and Burmese diaspora leaders in Canberra for advocacy meetings with Federal MPs and Senators.
You can join us today and be part of http://www.standwithmyanmar.com, as together we act, give and pray in solidarity with some of the most vulnerable people on the planet.
[*Name changed for privacy and security]
apilgrimpens 