The most creative people I know
Saw Eh Gay · Lead Engineering Technician · E-Tech Class of 2018
Medical equipment, reliable electricity, buildings, and complex supply logistics are all vital to making modern, high-quality healthcare possible in the jungles. The four-year Engineering Technology program develops technical professionals who can maintain and improve remote clinics alongside Earth Mission's medical graduates. Saw Eh Gay was in the first class.
Ten years ago, I didn’t know what the Engineering Technology program would look like or how much difference it would make in my community. But I chose to join the program anyway, to be taught, trained, and challenged. I believed that if we didn’t try, we would never know what was possible. And if we never dared to take the challenge, change would never come.
At the beginning, the Engineering program didn’t have enough consistent teachers or support around us, and we didn’t yet have a clear or established curriculum. But we accepted every opportunity we were given. We didn’t complain. Instead, we were grateful for every chance to learn and for every small piece of knowledge we gained. Even though what we learned seemed small at the time, when we compared ourselves to when we first arrived, we could see that we had grown. That growth was something to be grateful for.
Now, ten years later, I am grateful to see how much stronger our Engineering Program has become. We have a strong and established curriculum, a committed team, and a supportive environment where students can learn and grow. I am especially grateful for the younger generations who are now being trained as engineering technicians. Our program has come far, and I am proud to have been one of its students.
People are naturally proud of medical workers because they save lives. But I am proud of both the medical workers and the engineering technicians who faithfully stand behind them to support their work and help make life-saving care possible. Our local engineering technicians can handle many electrical, water, mechanical, and equipment problems to keep the clinic and campus functioning.
We are very grateful to Earth Mission for providing the parts, tools, and support we need to do our work. Without those resources, even when we have the knowledge to repair something, we may not have the practical ability or opportunity to do so. Of course, we cannot fix everything here in the jungle. But it has become increasingly rare for an entire system to be beyond repair.
“It has become increasingly rare for an entire system to be beyond repair. Engineering technicians working in remote Karen areas are some of the most creative people I know.”
Many people say creativity is the ability to design something new. I would say that engineering technicians working in remote Karen areas are some of the most creative people I know. We don’t always have everything we need. We don’t have a shop nearby where we can simply buy the exact part or tool required to build or repair something. So, we work with what we have. We suggest ideas to one another. We try different approaches. We adapt. And somehow, we make it work. That is part of what makes engineering here so meaningful. We may not compare with engineering teams around the world, but that is not what motivates us. We are grateful for the changes we can make every day for people in our own communities.
I am thankful to Earth Mission for establishing the Engineering Technology program and for providing trained engineering technicians who can bring practical change to our communities. Ten years ago, we started with very little. Today, we have a stronger program, a stronger team, and skills that are making a difference. I am grateful to have been part of that journey, and I am proud of what we have built together. We will continue this journey together, with understanding, cooperation, love, and compassion, doing our part and completing our mission of serving others and serving God.
Saw Eh Gay, Lead Engineering Technician, Rain Tree Clinic, E-Tech Class of 2018
How the Engineering Technology program works
Year 1: Foundations. Basic electrical systems, English, computers, math, mechanical principles, auto repair, and safety protocols (1,200+ learning hours).
Year 2: Construction & Special Projects. Construction, project management, power, and engine rebuilds (1,200+ learning hours).
Years 3–4: Clinic Rotations & Leadership. Internships at remote clinics where students maintain surgical equipment, troubleshoot power outages, repair vehicles, and lead infrastructure projects (1,400+ learning hours).
Major projects, 2025–26: Hydroelectric system, preschool building, outpatient department renovation, water tanks.