From the Field
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV
“Go to the East and the Girl Will Survive”
Naw May Tha Zin is a 3½ year old little girl from the plains area to the west of Rain Tree Clinic. She came to our hospital with a large mass in her abdomen. It had grown for more than 6 months while her family traveled over 100 miles searching for help.
First, the family traveled to the children’s hospital in Yangon. A pediatric surgeon did a CT scan and needle biopsy, and the oncologist requested a second biopsy. The family stayed for 3 months in Yangon, but in the end could not afford surgery as ordinary villagers. The mass continued to grow.
Next, they returned home and took their daughter to a village elder who treats patients with traditional methods and rituals. He treated Naw May Tha Zin, but the mass did not shrink or go away. It became bigger and bigger and occupied her whole abdomen.
The elder "cut the root" of the disease, but the mass itself needed to be removed by surgery. He told the parents: "Go to the east and the girl will survive.''
They traveled to RTC, where Dr. Augustine saw Naw May Tha Zin and reviewed her documents and previous treatment. He referred her to Thailand for further investigation and definitive treatment. However, the Thai hospital did not accept her case because it was thought to be cancer and too expensive to afford.
She became frail and constantly cried in pain. The RTC surgical team discussed her case again and, with the consent of the parents, decided to operate.
Dr. Judson gave her anesthesia, and Dr. Augustine and the team opened the abdomen to look at the mass. The 11-pound mass was removed successfully and by the grace of God, the operation went well.
The postoperative period was uneventful. Naw May Tha Zin regained her appetite and strength. The biopsy has been sent for a definitive diagnosis to Thailand. She will need chemotherapy for residual disease.
We are thankful for a successful surgery. Pray for a complete cure and that the mass does not come back.
Rain Tree Clinic (RTC)
During the last week of June, students and staff on campus enjoyed evening sports fellowship in the rain. It was fun, muddy, and full of laughter and joy. These moments gave everyone a chance to unwind, connect, and relax during these long rainy days.
In June, RTC saw 378 outpatients, admitted 55 patients, performed 43 surgeries, and delivered 6 babies. Four patients were referred to Thailand for advanced care, including one for an eye injury and one for orthopedic care.
Please pray for the war to pause or stop so we can take care of our patients better, as we have moved them to temporary bamboo structures hidden beneath the jungle canopy. Jets are flying over our campus regularly. Everyone is on high alert. Pray for safety.
Mobile Karen Surgical Hospital (MKSH)
In June, our frontline team saw 107 outpatients, 18 inpatients, and 19 war-related injuries due to landmines, mortar blasts, and gunshot wounds. They performed 4 surgeries, 2 of which were below-the-knee amputations.
Starting in the middle of June, our Surgical PA students have stopped rotating to this location due to the difficulties of travel and the rainy season. Since there is not much activity in this frontline area right now, patients are being cared for by KDHW and Free Burma Rangers (FBR) medics and community health workers (CHWs), with the ability to call RTC as needed for advice. Patients that need to be seen by a PA or doctor will be referred to our staff at RTC.
Please continue to pray for the areas of fighting, that God will protect those being targeted.
Year 3 E-Tech Student Experience: Saw Poe Ya Khaing
As Year 3 E-Tech students, we are placed at Rain Tree Clinic to complete our internship hours. One of our key responsibilities is to take weekly on-call duty. We rotate this responsibility, and during our on-call week, we play an essential role in keeping the clinic’s systems running — especially the electrical systems that support medical equipment and daily operations.
Our campus mainly relies on solar energy for electricity. During the hot season, the solar power supply is usually sufficient for the entire clinic and campus. But when the rainy season comes, power generation often drops, and that’s when our on-call duty becomes more critical. We have to be ready to troubleshoot electrical issues and make sure the power supply, especially for medical machines, stays reliable.
Water supply is another vital part of our work. If there’s no running water, we have to trace the pipelines and locate any blockages or broken sections. I enjoy on-call duty because even though engineering often works quietly in the background, it is essential for the clinic, medical services, and daily life to function smoothly.
Besides on-call responsibilities, we work on many practical projects during our internship. In mechanics, we repair vehicles, maintain medical equipment, and service other machinery around the clinic. We’re also involved in construction projects—installing and maintaining electrical wiring, building structures, and performing general infrastructure maintenance.
This month, we are starting advanced project management classes. I’m looking forward to it. Learning how to properly plan, lead, and execute a project is a critical skill for any engineer, and it will help me handle projects with confidence in the future.
One area I still want to gain more experience in is concrete construction. So far, we’ve mainly worked with steel structures like hollow steel frames, which I’ve learned well and enjoyed. But I’m eager to get hands-on practice with concrete foundations and buildings, as it is the next level of skill in construction. I believe gaining these skills will help me serve my community better and contribute to sustainable development in the remote areas where I hope to work.
Year 1 & Year 2 Engineering Tech Training
In Mae Sariang, both Year 1 (Y1) and Year 2 (Y2) students constructed a car port for the Thai Army Force office. Y2 students took the lead and guided Y1 students throughout the project. They worked together to:
Dig and prepare the foundation
Cut and weld steel
Install columns, rafters, and purlins
Frame the car port
On the mechanical side, Y1 students also learned how to check motorcycle engines, including:
Checking fuel level, engine oil, and lights
Understanding basic daily maintenance
Practicing observation and care for vehicles
Y2 students focused on AutoCAD training. They learned:
What to consider before designing a building (like function, layout, and structure)
How to draw plan view and elevation view
How to use AutoCAD tools step-by-step
By the end of the month, they completed a 1-story building drawing in AutoCAD
Student evaluations for both Y1 and Y2 were on June 30th to assess their technical progress, practical skills, attendance, and attitude.
Physician Associate Training
Year 1: Classes continue in critical reading and thinking, basic math, practical English, anatomy and physiology, and computer skills. They practice their math and English skills with the preschoolers who live on or near RTC campus.
Year 2: Our graduate PA, Bwe Ah, is teaching the Year 2 students about chest pain and shortness of breath under Dr. Zue’s supervision. Graduate PA Paw K’Bru is teaching about headache and high blood pressure under the supervision of Dr. Judson. Other topics include using diuretics and medicine for diabetes.
Year 3: Classes include practical skills lab, advanced laboratory teaching, peripheral vascular disease, snake bite, blood grouping, and urine and stool exams.
Year 4: This class continued to learn ultrasound theory and practice using the Sonosim. This month’s Sonosim practice included OBGY sessions and surgical sessions in groups of 3 (4 groups total) from Monday to Thursday with a knowledge test each Friday.
Year 5: Included classes in public health with a group assignment and presentation. In addition, each student will be assigned a case study to present to the doctors.
During the last week of June, all students had student evaluations reviewed by doctors, nurses, PA graduates, and staff.
Postgraduate PA: Training in surgery and internal medicine continues weekly.
Travel and Planning Meetings
In June, Mitch and Caryl traveled to see many of you friends, donors, and supporters in Louisville KY, Bristol VA, and Texas including Midland, San Antonio, and Wimberley. Pray for their travels in July to Minneapolis MN, Detroit and Tawas MI, and Belfast Northern Ireland.
Earth Mission planning meetings were held on July 8-10 in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Dao and Miriam from Chiang Mai attended as well as our US-based staff and board members. We’re very thankful for the ability to meet and travel easily. Pray for God’s direction and provision for the remainder of this year, next year, and for years to come.
Naw Gay Update
Continue to pray for Naw Gay, a 26-year-old community healthcare worker (CHW) who was severely burned in the conflict zones of Myanmar in March.
She has been admitted to the top burn unit in Chiang Mai. A team of very kind and competent doctors and nurses are now working together to help carry Naw Gay’s story forward—towards life and health. One of the nurses is even Karen!
Their first priority is to strengthen her nutrition and then they will address the issues with her eyelids. We are also actively exploring options for a high-quality prosthetic arm and hand as her left arm was amputated.
On one of our last visits, Naw Gay described her new arrangements as, “Everything is beautiful.” She also asked us to pass on her gratitude to everyone who is helping her.
One of her nurses—clearly experienced in cases like this—told us she couldn’t believe how strong, helpful, and eager Naw Gay is in her recovery.
As you continue to pray for Naw Gay’s healing, also pray for those doctors and nurses working with her. We have a feeling that Naw Gay is going to be a living, loving image of Jesus to many people around her.