{"id":5816,"date":"2023-03-07T12:34:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-07T12:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/opendoorsuk.org\/?p=5816"},"modified":"2024-02-13T15:33:59","modified_gmt":"2024-02-13T15:33:59","slug":"courage-myanmar-women","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/connect.opendoorsuk.org\/ireland\/blog\/news\/latest-news\/courage-myanmar-women\/","title":{"rendered":"Courage in conflict \u2013 how a teacher and a businesswoman are making a difference in Myanmar"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n \n\n

To mark International Women\u2019s Day, we hear the stories of two women in Myanmar who are courageously expressing their God-given abilities amidst\u00a0a conflict that\u2019s wrought havoc across a nation\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
A project by Open Doors local partners inspired Thida to resume her business selling groceries<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The teacher who inspires joy and faith<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMemories of that day are still vivid,\u201d recalls Pari*. \u201cSometimes it stops me from eating and disturbs me in my sleep. I cannot help but weep silently, when I relive those moments.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That day, Pari and her family \u2013 together with other families from the village \u2013 had no option but to flee their homes in Myanmar. \u201cEvery other day there were bomb attacks or incidents of shooting,\u201d shares Pari.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After two days living in a forest, Pari and her family arrived at a displacement camp where Open Doors local partners helped them, and many others like them, with medicines, food and tin sheets so they could build shelters. \u201cAll these were so valuable to us, thank you,\u201d says Pari. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a few months, as children began going to a local school, Pari identified an opportunity to use her gifts and skills to further help these children \u2013 and tell them about Jesus.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

\r\n
\r\n
EVERY \u00a319<\/div>\r\n\r\n
could help a woman or girl receive trauma care so she can heal and realise her God-given identity and worth.\r\n<\/div>\r\n MY GIFT TODAY<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\n\n\n

\u201cI started evening tuition classes for our children,\u201d she explains. \u201cThese children have food in the morning and go to school, they return in the afternoon and rest. Evening is the best time to bring them together in a hut, where I help them learn better the things that were taught in the school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a voluntarily initiative by me, since I see so much need. However, I see the children enjoy it and they end up staying longer, playing with each other as if lives were back to normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI believe teachings from the Bible during these times is vital, therefore I conduct small devotions with them every day; I teach them Bible verses and encourage them to know God better. I also help them memorise verses from Psalms. I teach them to obey parents and how good manners are important despite all the difficulties they might have to face in life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLife continues to remain challenging and I do question God about when this war will end. However, I do not have bitterness towards Him. I believe God can make everything whole again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The businesswoman who shares with others<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Thida* is another woman from Myanmar who was forced from her village because of the country\u2019s ongoing civil war. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBack in my village the bombings are just so frequent,\u201d she says. \u201cMilitary and pro-democratic groups randomly throw bombs just anywhere. The two groups try to kill each other but the civilians are the ones that are impacted the most as we live in their warzone and each suspect us of being in the other group\u2026 Living every day in fear was unbearable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thida and her family live elsewhere now, where it\u2019s safer, but her husband and son make regular trips back to their village to check on their home and make sure it hasn\u2019t been looted. With people stripped of their livelihoods, theft has become increasingly common.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

\n

“Living every day in fear was unbearable”\r\n<\/p> THIDA<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

But as a church leader in the village, there\u2019s another reason Thida\u2019s husband makes frequent trips home. \u201cHe has to visit and encourage many of the believer families from our church who are still stuck in the village because it is too risky for everyone to leave,\u201d explains Thida. \u201cIt is important for him to go, therefore I do not stop him, but I pray for my family every day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite having to move away from home, Thida has been able to resume a business so she can provide for her family as well as help others \u2013 and the impetus for this comes from a project run by Open Doors local partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI buy and sell groceries,\u201d she says. \u201cI used to do this business many years ago, but I had stopped doing it as I had started running into losses; however then I attended this entrepreneurship training conducted by Open Doors partners. I was so encouraged after the training that I resumed my business again. During the training they also taught us how to save money and plan for the future. I could also help other families with my savings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe partners also helped me by providing me with some groceries which I was able to sell at the higher price,\u201d she continues. \u201cI utilised the profit to expand the business further. There were many challenges because of the migration and price hike but I was able to look for options and sustain my business. I earn enough to support my family while my husband concentrates on ministry work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019re helping women see change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pari\u2019s and Thida\u2019s stories offer an insight into the way your support is providing practical support to Christians affected by the conflict in Myanmar, but also how it\u2019s empowering women across the world to express their God-given gifts. This is why our See.Change. campaign is so vital, as it seeks to honour our sisters\u2019 worth in God\u2019s eyes and show them the difference they can make to their families, communities and nations. Thank you for your incredible support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*Names changed for security reasons<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":5817,"parent":8268,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[127],"class_list":["post-5816","news","type-news","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news","tag-myanmar"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCourage in conflict \u2013 how a teacher and a businesswoman are making a difference in Myanmar - Open Doors Ireland<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Courage in conflict \u2013 how a teacher and a businesswoman are making a difference in Myanmar\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" 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