A Message from Dr. Mitch

Last week I made several posts to a chat group of people who follow or support our work in Burma. I hadn’t posted anything for 10 days, and I didn’t have any grand plan in mind when I started. Yet an interesting, if unintentional, thread emerged…

In the first post on 22 Nov, I urged people to pray for the U.S. government, as I’d received information that they were meeting the following week to discuss and form their Burma policy. That’s it — just pray.

The next several posts told an emerging story of a village nine miles from us who were bombed. There was no strategic value to the village and, as far as I know, no soldiers in the immediate vicinity. Everyone heard the jets fly over our hospital and heard the bombs explode in the distance. We then heard over the radio that casualties were headed our way.

The patients arrived after midnight: two young women, 14 and 17 years old. Thankfully, the two 350lb bombs had been blown them out of their bamboo hut because it burned down completely. Had they been knocked unconscious inside, they would have burned to death. The 17-year-old had superficial scalp wounds, but the 14-year-old was critical. The Stronghold ambulance crew gave her a unit of whole blood in the field before transferring her to us. We gave her more blood and took her to surgery. Dr. Augustine performed damage-control surgery to temporarily stabilize her extensive internal injuries. More aggressive resuscitation followed. After another operation, it now looks like she is going to make it.

As I followed this story, I found myself wondering… why post about these girls? I’m sure our surgeon appreciated the extra prayer, but we see so many patients like this — innocent people not involved in the fighting, who are injured in air or drone strikes. These were just two more in an ocean of suffering. Why would anyone care? Why post?

Next I posted a link to an insightful article in the Irrawaddy that described the truth of our situation from a political standpoint.

After that came a post based on a meditation from the Pray-As-You-Go website. Caryl and I often listen to this together to start our day. On this particular day, they focused on the widow in the Gospel of Luke who put two copper coins into the collection plate — all she had to live on. Jesus notes that she has given more than the rest.

Then today, the Department of Homeland Security issued the following statement:

“The situation in Burma has improved enough that it is safe for Burmese citizens to return home, so we are terminating the Temporary Protected Status. Burma has made notable progress in governance and stability, including the end of its state of emergency, plans for free and fair elections, successful ceasefire agreements, and improved local governance contributing to enhanced public service delivery and national reconciliation.”

I was jaw-drop stunned.

Here inside Burma, the issue isn’t U.S. immigration policy. While the loss of Temporary Protected Status has life-and-death consequences for the 4,000 people under its protection, the greater concern here is that it appears the U.S. government is siding with the dictator — someone who directs airstrikes against hospitals, schools, weddings, concerts, homes, and villages.

In fact, most people in Burma oppose the dictator. The idea that the upcoming elections will be “free and fair” has no grounding in reality. Consider that in the last election in 2020, 82% of the votes went against the military — and most of the pro-democracy parties from that election are not allowed to run in this “free and fair” one. Nobody really believes polls anymore… but here’s one anyway saying the same thing. Any basic scan of the news will tell you that violence is increasing, the economy is collapsing, public service delivery has failed, and “national reconciliation” with the military is farther away than ever.

As we approach Giving Tuesday, I have to admit — I’m a bit depressed. Giving Tuesday feels more like a giving gimmick with a jingle than a serious attempt at inspiring giving… or at least giving in the way of the widow. Here’s a thought. What if the first step toward giving from the heart is to strengthen the heart?? …Stop making it all about the money. Simone Weil, a 20th century Christian mystic once said: “Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.”

What if we made Giving Tuesday primarily about giving your attention to a worthy cause? Inspire people to care enough to do the research. Read the articles in the news. Then, having given your attention, bring that before God. Pray and consider asking Him: "What more, God? Now… what more would You have me do? I want to be part of building Your Kingdom."

Here’s a petition. Consider signing and sharing it with your friends.