From the Field
Health Updates
“You are my hope, O Lord God.”
PSALM 71:5 NIV
We are Thankful
2025 was a year of HOPE for all that God has put in front of us, despite the war and hardship all around.
Case Report: Saw Pah Day
By Dr. Hsa, Medical Director
Saw Pah Day, a 21-year-old soldier, was injured in a mortar explosion and sustained serious injuries to his abdomen and left chest. The medical team at MKSH performed an emergency chest tube insertion to treat internal bleeding and carried out urgent surgery to repair his abdominal injuries, including removing and reconnecting a damaged part of his intestine. He was transferred back to RTC three days after surgery for continued recovery and care.
This was one of two surgeries performed on 19 December between 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. During this time, enemy aircraft were flying overhead and dropping bombs nearby. Jet fighters also carried out two attacks using heavy 500-pound bombs.
Dr. Mitch was with the team outside the operating tent, caring for the first patient after surgery. Some fragments and shrapnel landed near our OR tents, causing damage and cutting one of the water pipes near our buildings. We believe that God protected all of us, as the bombs landed very close but caused no harm to our team.
Rain Tree Clinic (RTC) Hospital & Campus
In December, RTC Hospital saw:
386 outpatients and 121 inpatients admitted
122 children under 5 years old, with 20 having lower respiratory infections
49 surgeries performed
9 babies delivered
Holiday Break
December is the holiday break for our Year 1 PA students. Some of them were able to visit their homes during the semester break. Others could not return home because of travel security concerns, so they traveled instead with friends who were able to go home. For Year 2 to Year 5 PA students, who are already in clinical rotation practice, holidays are arranged in different groups and at different times, depending on their clinic duties.
The Engineering Technician (E-tech) students also had holidays in December, and most of them visited their families and loved ones during this time. A few students were unable to return home for various reasons, so they stayed on campus during the holidays. While staying here, they helped with relocating to a safer place and assisted in building temporary shelters for the campus. They also worked on small projects, such as collecting stones and gravel in preparation for construction.
The engineering crew is also waiting for supplies to be transported to the campus so that they can begin the main projects for the E-tech students, as this time after the holidays is the "project season".
We are grateful that the students who traveled home for the holidays have now returned to our campus safely.
A Day in the Life
Mobile Karen Surgical Hospital (MKSH)
In December, the frontline team saw:
79 outpatients
13 inpatients
9 surgeries performed
55 war-related injuries — due to landmine and mortar blasts — treated
49 of the war-related injuries were due to the battle on December 18 and 19. Seven surgeries were performed; our anesthesiologist even oversaw general anesthesia remotely, working with our surgical PA.
Case Report: Naw Mint
By Eh Blut Htoo - Surgical PA
Naw Mint is a 14-year-old girl. On December 17, 2025, at around 9 p.m., she was sleeping at home with her family. Their house is located far from the Burma Army (BA) camps. Around that time, BA fired a mortar, which exploded near her house. As a result, she sustained penetrating injuries to her left buttock and left lower abdomen, with a gut injury. Other family members were unharmed.
Her family covered the wounds with clothes and brought her to our frontline clinic, which was about a 15-minute journey away. At the clinic, our frontline medics assessed her condition, gave antibiotics and painkillers, placed a nasogastric (NG) tube, stabilized her vital signs, corrected ongoing blood loss, and referred her to our main campus Rain Tree Clinic (RTC) for further management.
At RTC, she received intensive care for about 20 days. Surgical management included repair of the upper rectum, a T-loop colostomy, and wound vacuum therapy for the iliac bone fracture. Over time, she gradually recovered well and is now ready to return home. She will come back to our clinic for the colostomy reversal in March.
Please pray for the young girl as she returns home and continues to heal.
There are many stories like hers. Through our MKSH and RTC, we are able to provide love and medical care to those injured both near and far. Thank you all for your continued support of our mission.
December Updates
We are deeply grateful that, this year, our RTC staff and students were able to celebrate Christmas and the New Year. They had originally planned to celebrate Christmas and the New Year on December 19, but on that day, the fighting nearby was at its strongest. For everyone’s safety, the leadership team decided to cancel the celebration until further notice.
By the grace of God, on December 31 — just before the year 2025 ended — they were given the opportunity to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and welcome the year 2026 at the same time.
Likewise, on December 11, our Chiang Mai office was able to celebrate Christmas with local people in our community.
These moments of celebration remind us that life itself is a gift and a victory.
We are deeply thankful for the lives God has given us and for the
opportunity to serve Him by serving others. Above all,
we are most grateful for the privilege of living out Matthew 25:40;
serving the least of these, including patients, those injured,
and the people all across remote Karen areas.
Get Involved
As you consider your end-of-year giving, we have many ways you can help make a lasting impact on the Karen people!
Become a monthly donor
Give by personal check
Start a fundraiser
Ask your employer to match your donation
Legacy & planned-giving
Donor advised funds
Qualified Charitable Distributions
Stock & mutual fund donations
Mail a check to our address below, give online, or contact Jill Carver, Associate Executive Director, at jill@earth-mission.org to explore your giving ideas.