garrison february 2014
TRANSCRIPT
-
8/13/2019 Garrison February 2014
1/2
The Garrisons ! Serving with the People of Myanmar (Burma)
M Y A N M A R P R O J E C T F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 4
Changemakers.
After a year of inquiry about who is doing what regarding anti-trafficking in our part of the world, we concluded that many
models of intervention lacked effectiveness. The passion and the want-to are there, but the results dont seem to be. We have found
that, in some cases, well-intentioned people have made the situation worse. Additionally, we discovered that nationals in Myanmar
had no strategic intervention themselves; it was almost exclusively outsiders who had the funding, programs and ministries. Mostoverwhelming was learning that those young women who have been sexually assaulted and then re-patriated are not welcomed back
into their communities... in fact, they are not even welcomed back into their own homes... they are bad luck. What seemed most
egregious of all, however, was the report that these traumatized young women are often spit upon by their parents, as a sign to the
community that they are not permitting the bad luck to stay.
When I heard this fact, I (Kara) went into a deep depression for several days. I could hardly function, and felt that the initial
crimes by strangers paled in comparison to the actions of victims parents. Where was the church in all of this?
In late January, seventeen women from Shan State, Myanmar (Burma) met with me and a friend to begin a training on
Spiritual Mothering, following the example of Elizabeth (Marys cousin in the Gospels). On the third day, we discussed the value ofbaby girls in their culture. The women agreed that it differed somewhat from ethnic group to ethnic group, but as a whole, baby girls
were thought to be money in the bank. I asked for clarication.
Families immediately think about the money they will be able to earn from their daughters prostitution, they explained. I
asked if this was occurring among a few or most of the ethnic groups. Most... except for the Chinese who still prefer baby boys
because of religious ceremonies that only the son can perform for the parents.
Is it happening among Christianfamilies? I asked, not really wanting to hear the answer. Less often, and primarily only in
the remote villages... but not just there. I pressed further, And is the problem growing? Yes. By this time no one was making eye
contact and the room became very somber. These are topics to be avoided. Even among Christians,is it growing? I asked. Therewas a pause after the translator nished my question. Yes, one of the women replied in English, without looking up.
(continued on back page)
Dear Friends,
-
8/13/2019 Garrison February 2014
2/2
P l e a s e p r a y f o r :
1. Please pray for this group of women studyingtogether. That they would absorb all that God wantsto say to them during this training time (3 days permonth for 3 months, plus homework in between).Givethanks that His Word does not return void.
2.Please pray that they will be able to articulatewhat they have learned, and pass their insights onto other women who are able to teach.
3.Please pray that they catch the vision of beingsafe peoplefor those who are eeing from danger,or suffering from rejection, or hurting from loss.
4.There is a young father whom we suspect has beenunjustly imprisoned. He did not receive a fair trial;of this we are certain. Please pray for this father...though we cannot not share his name.
5.Please pray that righteous men and women wouldrise up in the courts and prisons to bring aboutchange.The more we investigated the young fatherscaseand there are literally thousandsof cases likethisthe clearer it became that justice does not existin the courts, rather, bribes are required at every level.
If the entrance fee is not paid in the regional prison,you are put on a list to be sold for slave labor and youwill have no contact with your family, nor will theyknow of your whereabouts. It appears that theprisons are run at a local level and do not adhere toactual laws that exist on the books in the country. If itis discovered that a family member has tried to appealto an international intermediary or another law officialfrom another area, it will cost the life of one his ownfamily members.
All gifts toward our work with the people of Myanmar (Burma) should be sent to: CornerStone International, P.O.
Box 192, Wilmore, KY 40390. Please write Myanmar Project on the memo line. Additionally, you may make
secure donations online at http://www.cornerstoneinternational.org/staff-garrison/.
THANK YOU for your generosity towards our family and the people of Burma!
Contact us by email at:
Wearethankfulfor
eachofyou.
~TheGarrisonFamily
As a group we looked into Biblical history and discussed the power of the foreign women who intermarried with the ancient
Israelite men and turned the spiritual course of the nation not once, but at least three times in the Old Testament (post Joshuas
death; post Solomons death; during the lifetime of Nehemiah). If these womenwho were seemingly powerlesscould wield such
power... how then might the women of Myanmar, who serve the Living God, change the course of their nations history?
Myanmar
Project
M Y A N M A R P R O J E C T F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 4
mailto:[email protected]://www.cornerstoneinternational.org/staff-garrison/http://www.cornerstoneinternational.org/staff-garrison/http://www.cornerstoneinternational.org/staff-garrison/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.cornerstoneinternational.org/staff-garrison/http://www.cornerstoneinternational.org/staff-garrison/