20th
What in the world am I doing up the ‘mountain’?
For those of you who are confused as to what I am actually doing in “no man’s land” (I’ve adopted this from my friend Erin, who’s adventures you can read about here), I guess I should take a moment to explain.
You may know that the team I work with in San Diego has been working with several NGO’s that do awesome work. We’re constantly re-evaluating how we can help bring stories out of places like Burma, and make them accessible to people like YOU.
There is one ethnic group in Burma who we’ve felt especially drawn to—-and we’ve seen nearly nothing about them in the media. If you have read my previous posts, you know I’ve already talked about the fierce commitment these people have to their freedom. Their situation is very complex, and communicating their life and their struggles is a bit complicated because of the extreme security concerns.
You may have heard that medical care in Burma leaves much to be desired, and this particular state is no exception. In many areas, especially the more rural areas, there is no medical help available. If you are hurt or become seriously ill, there is no where to go.
Because of the belief systems in this area, sick people are often told that their symptoms must be because they have angered a spirit. The traditional ‘medicine’ that is sometimes used to combat illnesses sometimes sounds downright silly to me. But it’s not really silly at all. It’s actually kind of scary sometimes (I won’t go into details here, because this post is already getting a little wordy).
There is a Community Health Worker training currently happening for the ethnic people living in this state. It is a chance for students (ages 15-35) to gain valuable skills that will make a difference in their communities.
I’ve been working with some friends who are directing this training to teach English to the students. You may wonder why on earth English would be important to a bunch of people living in rural Burma. Well, mostly it has to do with being able to read and understand medical terminology (this includes reading medications, charting for patients, documenting illnesses, etc).
If you know me well, you are probably laughing about me teaching English. It may even seem like it’s coming out of left field. And you know what, it kind of is.
BUT, this is an opportunity to get to know these people. It’s a chance to live life with them, to learn from them. And as we seek out ways to share their stories of struggle and hope, we’re honored that we serve them by offering something that they’ve asked for—-which in this case, is English.
I’ve told my students that I am happy to be able to share my language with them (but the deal is that when we’re not in English class, they have to teach me THEIR language, too!). I’ve also told them that I’m REALLY there because I want to know them, and understand more about their situation, and how we (those of us who care about Burma) can stand with them for their freedom.
I’m just happy to be a part of something like the CHW program. It literally can help to save lives in areas where there are no doctors, nurses, or clinics.
So, forgive me for posting so many words, and so few photos of the journey. The safety of my friends has to come first, which unfortunately means I have to be pretty cautious of what I share, even on the ole’ blog.
