We had the pleasure of finally talking live with Lincoln (the coordinator of HMP in Myanmar) last night. What we heard was absolutely heartbreaking.Survivors in camps, mostly elderly and children, who have received no aid and have no clothing. Young girls covering themselves with pieces of plastic for modesty. Accounts of the military arriving with bags of rice, posing for photos and leaving again, taking the aid with them. Treatment of survivors by the authorities has been reportedly harsh and discriminatory. The military are offering survivors aid if they enlist in the military, and those voting ‘correctly’ in the referendum have also been promised preferential aid.Reports say that tents and tarpaulins donated by international aid organisations are being sold for profit in Rangoon. Aid flown in to airports is being hoarded in military bases and has not been distributed to those in need.Lincoln shared his plans to visit one of these camps to take clothing, dried food and water. They can travel only in groups of two to three and must have relatives in the camp to be allowed permission to visit. They plan to distribute money discretely, in envelopes to individuals to enable them to buy further aid in their local areas.This morning, we received another email from Lincoln:Leah [my wife] and I have been thinking of taking some of those orphans under our care as part of the HMP mission. Most of the survivors are little children, women and elderly people. Most young and young adult were drown while trying to save the survivors, this leave many children as helpless orphans. Seeing and hearing these stories really touched our hearts and there must be something we can do. Would it be appropriate to consider as one of the HMP mission? Monasteries, backed by the authorities and the majority, are at hand to take these helpless orphans, but once they get into their care, their spiritual future is at stake. Let us do our best together to give these little children the lives they deserve.We understand this is putting more heavy loads upon your shoulders, but let us consider this noble act as a God given mission. We know one of these days, at least one of these children will become a full time servant of the Kingdom.Thank you, for your wonderful kind consideration.Obviously taking on an orphanage will increase the ongoing financial burden of Hope Myanmar Partnership, so please consider making a commitment to support financially on a regular basis. As Lincoln points out, what price can you put on someone’s life?Ray and Alice

Given that email and phone systems are unreliable at the moment, I’ve set up a guestpage that our friends in Myanmar can visit and read. This is a great way to encourage them!Please visit the Guestbook and write your own message to our friends in Myanmar!

It’s very frustrating that we cannot provide the support we want to. I talked to our coordinator in Myanmar yesterday.“Even donations of the UN and some NGOs are not allowed by the authority. World Concern [a charity, active in Myanmar] has been trying to give drinking water, but the authorities block them. Even the fallen trees you can not claim or cut them off unless you got permission from the authorities.”As the distribution of supplies and equipment are also being limited by the authorities, the prices are soaring.“A roof nail costs 400 per piece now [~A$0.40]. Not a kilo…but a piece!!Yesterday a gallon of gasoline was 16000 [~A$4.20/litre].”Thanks for your continued support.Ray

As mentioned below, we have been collecting clothing and materials to ship over, however our friends in Yangon have requested that we hold off sending it as there are ‘complications’ at the receiving end. They also fear that they will face questioning and persecution if they are seen to be distributing aid on a large scale. (This has happened before!)The money that we are sending is however able to have a better impact, as they can use money more discreetly to help their local community. They are also able to forward the money to other areas within Myanmar where the needs are greater.Thanks again for your continuing prayers and support!Blessings,Ray