I arrived on July 20. Otis and Olen came to pick me up, and we waited for Rick Jackson, the forerunner of the medical team of 12. We picked him up at 5:00 p.m. and immediately traveled with Major Za Raw back to Kachin. Major Za Raw was very careful and on some occasions very nervous. Later we realized he does not have a passport and does not have the Myanmar recognition, since Kachin is still in war with the Myanmar army. We could see he was relieved when we crossed the border and arrived in the Kachin State. We had to travel at night to make sure we were safe. It was a long drive and we arrived at the border after midnight. When we checked into the hotel, it was already the next day, July 21. We were safely in Kachin.
We met with leaders who are in charge of ministering to 50,000 refugees; 20,000 of them are children who need to be educated. The need to provide food and education to these people is the priority now. We started working on Monday, July 23. Until then, we set up the clinic so we would be able to take care of the patients and help build a purified water system. In addition, we prepared for the team to teach the children.
Thank you for your prayers. They are greatly appreciated because the needs are huge. Please remember what Hebrews 13:3 says—“Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.”
Chinese partner (name withheld due to security issues)