A letter from Amy Davisson Galetzka in Thailand
June 29, 2006
Dear friends and family,
Prayers for peace and freedom for Burma are on my heart and I ask you to pray for a good and just solution to end the war in that country. I also appreciate your prayers and support for me as I continue to work for Christians Concerned for Burma and Free Burma Rangers.
One of the most recent stories we shared was that of an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) family. Nine-year-old Naw Eh Ywa Paw was shot by the dictators’ army. Her father and grandmother were killed and two of her relatives gave birth while in hiding from that attack on their village. All of this has happened since they fled from their homes in late March 2006. Their family remains in hiding and unable to return home at the writing of this newsletter.
Naw Eh Ywa Paw being treated by relief team medics, April 2006
Recent video footage shows the relief teams helping families like hers escape to refugee camps. It was difficult to watch as entire families, from newborns to grandparents, moved away from the land they know to a place that is foreign. They don’t know what awaits them or how exactly their families will survive. But they are moving because surviving in their home has become, in many cases, impossible. During recent attacks in March-June 2006, more than 20,000 people have had to flee and many remain in hiding.
I have never been attacked or forced to move and it is shocking that so many people in the world go through this — many not just one time. I pray and hope that these people — more than 1,000 recently made a two-week journey to get to a safer place — will be able to return to their homes. There are still more than one million displaced persons in eastern Burma; these 20,000 are just the most recent in the northern Karen State area.
One part of my job is to get the news out about people like Naw Eh Ywa Paw, which means “flower who loves God,” and ask for prayer and action from those people moved to do something for them. I would appreciate your prayers for her family and the more than 11,000 IDPs like them who have recently had to hide from attacks by the Burma Army. They are having a hard time staying dry because the rains have come early this year. Many have only the clothes on their backs and the few basket loads of things they could carry as they ran away. Another part of my job is to make sure the relief workers have enough supplies to continue serving the displaced communities, including medicine, Bibles, hymnals, clothing and cash to buy food, school supplies and other necessities.
I wanted to tell you about the people I have been thinking about and working for. I thank you for reading about these people, whom I really love, and for being a part of their lives by praying for them and for supporting me. I love my work, my co-workers and the many relief team workers from Burma I have the privilege to know.
I wish I could express how much I appreciate each one of you who are receiving this letter. Recently I was home for 10 days attending my grandfather’s, Larry Castle, funeral. Although it was a sad time, I am so thankful for his example of being faithful and serving God his entire life. I was blessed to be at home with grandma and my family for the memorial service and to have a week afterward to stay with them. My family is a wonderful support and I love having the opportunity of spending time with them.
Often people kindly ask how they can pray for me personally. Right now I would ask for wisdom, health and peace about upcoming travels. Please keep in touch and if you ever want to come to Thailand, I would love to see you!
With love and God bless you!
Amy
You can read more about the situation in Burma on the Web sites Pray for Burma and the reports page of Free Burma Rangers.
The 2006 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 122
