Written by Ken Wong (Communications Officer)
In a turbulent world, news of wars and disasters always surrounds us. In Afghanistan, Lebanon, Ukraine, and Myanmar, the war has devastated countless families, as if there is no end in sight. Although we are not directly affected in Hong Kong, we may still feel powerless and exhausted from the perspective of supporters, donors and bystanders—tiredness that comes from the depths of our hearts and is difficult to resolve.
This weariness comes not only from our inability to quickly resolve the problems of war and the problems it brings but also from ‘information fatigue’ and ‘compassion fatigue’. Every day, our screens are filled with tragic news, but there is little glimmer of hope. When messages of sadness and helplessness come one after another, our compassion gradually becomes dull and even numb.
The Poor Enduring Long-term Conflict
Many people have paid attention to the Middle East and Ukraine wars in recent years. However, there are still many easily forgotten sufferers around us who are silently suffering from the war, waiting for the dawn of hope. Myanmar, a land that has been plagued by internal conflict since its independence in 1948, has struggled with war and poverty for years. CEDAR’s work with local partners on several poverty alleviation projects has made some progress. Still, since the 2021 military coup, the situation has taken a turn for the worse, with many families once again falling into poverty.
As the war continues to devour communities, we are saddened and exhausted when we hear from our partners about the hardships that local people face day after day. Many factories and shops have closed in cities, leaving poor families without income. In remote poor villages, the situation is also very dire. The army forcibly occupied the village and even burned down the houses, forcing the villagers to flee. They had to dig holes to hide from the fighting. When they returned home, they found that their farmland had been destroyed and their livestock had been lost, making their lives even worse. What is even more distressing is that landmines surround the village, and the villagers have been living in the shadow of death for years.
What is even more painful is the pain of being separated from families without knowing they were alive or not. An elderly woman told us in the temporary camp, ‘Within two months, our family had lost all the men. The rebels have captured my son-in-law, and my son and daughter-in-law disappeared, and we can’t find them anyway.’ Grief, anger and fear are woven into the hearts of the people of Myanmar. In the face of a long period of war, the day of peace is far away, and we share the exhaustion of the people of Myanmar.
Upholding Our Faith amid Weariness
The protracted war is entangled with the deep-rooted problem of poverty, which is very complex and challenging to solve. Frontline workers and donors have repeatedly made efforts, but no visible progress has been seen. They may feel that their efforts are insignificant or even futile, and some choose to withdraw and distance themselves from the problem. However, such a choice not only makes the sufferers lonelier but also distances us from the Lord’s call.
In the face of these challenges, should we abandon long-term assistance for the vulnerable? Of course not. As Christians, we are called to follow in Christ’s footsteps and walk with those who are suffering. The Lord’s salvation is not only manifested on the cross but also in his continued presence with us and in our close relationship. No matter how broken our lives are, He never forsakes us and is always with us.
The hope of Christians lies in the eschatological salvation as well as the constant presence of the Lord. It reminds us that the expression of love is not only about a desire to end war and poverty once and for all, but also a continuous walk with those who suffer with the love of Christ. This gives us a new look at exhaustion – we feel tired because we associate our feelings with the tired lives of those who suffer, just as the Lord binds with us. It also reflects the Bible’s teaching that we should weep with those who weep and that we feel helpless with those who are suffering, which is a beautiful display of Christianity.
Walking with the People of Myanmar
On the path to enduring exhaustion with the people of Myanmar, we are experiencing the beauty of walking together and feeling the power of life intertwined. In April 2024, as the conflict in Myanmar intensified, many people poured into churches seeking refuge because they believed that the Christian church could bring them hope. However, as local churches lacked resources to meet people’s basic needs, we worked with partners to provide emergency food, medicine, and other necessities. A pastor who has worked with us for many years said, ‘Thank you for your unwavering support and concern. In these difficult times, you bring us food and hope to live. Each meal not only fills our stomachs but also supports our souls, reminding us that we are not alone so that we can continue to meet the challenges of each day with hope and faith.’ These words touch us deeply and inspire us. It turns out that simple material assistance brings material help and transmits the power of faith.
Walking with the People of Myanmar
On the path to enduring exhaustion with the people of Myanmar, we are experiencing the beauty of walking together and feeling the power of life intertwined. In April 2024, as the conflict in Myanmar intensified, many people poured into churches seeking refuge because they believed that the Christian church could bring them hope. However, as local churches lacked resources to meet people’s basic needs, we worked with partners to provide emergency food, medicine, and other necessities. A pastor who has worked with us for many years said,
Thank you for your unwavering support and concern. In these difficult times, you bring us food and hope to live. Each meal not only fills our stomachs but also supports our souls, reminding us that we are not alone so that we can continue to meet the challenges of each day with hope and faith.
These words touch us deeply and inspire us. It turns out that simple material assistance brings material help and transmits the power of faith.
Walking with the people of Myanmar is not a given but a grace of God. Due to political factors, it is difficult for Western funds to enter the local area, but the Lord has not forgotten the sufferers. The local authorities see CEDAR’s funding as a non-Western source, and we can continue to work with our local partners to grasp the path opened by God and walk alongside the people of Myanmar.
In addition to material assistance, we also take care of mental needs. Like many of the beneficiaries, the leaders of local partners have experienced the pain of death threats and family separation, so we offered counselling workshops to help them vent their emotions and learn to support each other. Besides, we carry out various community development projects for long-term development, providing vocational training such as agricultural training and women’s sewing and handicraft skills to help enhance the villagers’ income. We also established children’s learning spaces to offer educational opportunities for children and orphans in slums, filling gaps in Myanmar’s education system and empowering communities to build their futures.
Although we cannot immediately eliminate the world’s suffering, by the grace of the Lord, we can walk with those who suffer so that they will no longer be alone and find the strength to move forward. In addition to walking with the people of Myanmar, we also walk with refugees and people living in poverty affected by the protracted wars in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Ukraine and other places, and we witness the grace of the Lord to see lives touched by love and transformed by hope.
May we not be deterred by weariness but strengthened by faith, remembering that our strength comes from the presence of the Lord, continuing to accompany those who are suffering and providing long-term assistance to the conflict-stricken poor so that more people can experience the love and hope of the Lord because of our actions.
