My name is Mrs Reng Pa. I am a mother to four children, and I belong to Myanmar Lutheran Church. I also actively participate in the women’s ministry serving as one of women leaders from the Miza district of the Paletwa township in Chin State. I and my husband are farmers. Our daily survival depends […]

My name is Mrs Reng Pa. I am a mother to four children, and I belong to Myanmar Lutheran Church. I also actively participate in the women’s ministry serving as one of women leaders from the Miza district of the Paletwa township in Chin State. I and my husband are farmers. Our daily survival depends totally on the annual cultivation of our crops. Rice is our staple food, so having enough rice for the family members is very important for all villagers.

In 2015, fighting began between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army in the regions of Paletwa. Since then, a civil war has raged between the different ethnic armed groups. This war has caused many uninvited problems into the lives of innocent civilians in the Paletwa township.

Almost every day we hear gunshots from far and near. At night the children and elderly are not able to sleep – crying out as they hear the shooting. The women who need to draw water from the Kaladan River constantly live with the risk of a rocket dropping from the sky while they take a bath or draw water from the river. When armed groups shoot our people, they throw the dead bodies into the Kaladan River, which has now become polluted. Authorities control where we can travel. They strongly prohibited us to even visit our farmland to pick some vegetables. We import rice and other food items from the Rakhine state. Since the war, the price of these food items has increased by three.

When I noticed the rice in our basket lessening, I began to worry. My heart began to be filled with many anxieties, wondering how we were going to have enough money to feed our children. My husband told me we are to pray, and that God is the one who knows our difficult life and our needs. My husband said that God will provide all we need to feed our family. After we prayed for about two weeks, our dean announced at one of our small worship gatherings (at one of our church members’ houses) that 67 families (about 354 people) would be distributed MMK 150,000 from generous LCA International Mission donors.

We have been given this gift because of God who has never failed to keep his promises. We give thanks to the Lord in prayers with unceasing tears when we saw our fervent prayers were answered by the Almighty God. Here, I would like to say my heartful thanks to LCANZ for supporting the needs of our lives. With this money, we could buy a bag of rice for MMK 125,000, medicines, and other cooking materials for my family. Your single penny contributions mean a lot to our lives. You fill our hearts with immense joy and give us a new hope for our lives.

Many of our partner churches are working in new territory for the kingdom of God; therefore, spiritual attack is their everyday reality. As a member of a congregation, school, or family, or a couple or individual, you are invited to commit to praying for our partners in mission. For regular prayer point updates, go to www.lca.org.au/international-mission/act-now/pray

Read more stories about our partner churches in Myanmar at https://www.lcamission.org.au/category/stories/international-partners/myanmar/