GOD’S WORD TELLS US “RELIGION

THAT GOD OUR FATHER ACCEPTS AS

PURE AND FAULTLESS IS THIS:

to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to

keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
It has been a year since Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar,
and the task we have been given, without the strength of
the Lord, would be overwhelming.

THE STORM LEFT 2-3

MILLION HOMELESS,
2 MILLION WITHOUT
FOOD, 60,000
ORPHANS AND OVER
300,000 DEAD.
It also left an opportunity for Christians
to demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ to
those in need - to be His hands and feet.
To not simply tell people Jesus loves
them, but to demonstrate His love.
It is our responsibility to help these
people, not the responsibility of the
government, United Nations, or other
agencies. It is the role of the Church.
Jesus compels us to act on behalf of the
least of these; believing what we do for
them we do for Christ. In this spirit, out of obedience to the was done as a witness to the great love and compassion of
Word of God, acting out of love and compassion for the our God.
people of Burma, we have been working to make a difference.
The cyclone also gave us the opportunity to offer a cup of
It is humbling to see how God has used us. Amidst the
cold water in the name of Jesus! After the storm an
darkness, despair and hopelessness, we see Christ’s light shine
immediate need was clean drinking water. We were able to
even brighter.
send a water purification system and water purification
As we reflect on the past year, the devastation, the rebuilding, supplies. Jesus often described himself as the Living Water. In
and the hope of Jesus Christ, His faithfulness is light of those words, what greater gift can we give than clean,
overwhelming. He has brought provision for His people, and pure, life-sustaining water? It reminds me of Jesus words in
used us as vessels to minister His love! Broken vessels that we Matthew 26:37 and 40, “Then the righteous will answer him,
are, he has chosen to use us. Teams from VBB have delivered ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty
140 duffel bags full of supplies to Myanmar. Each bag weighs and give you something to drink?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell
50 pounds or more, so that is over 7,000 pounds! A you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these
container was also sent containing 270,000 rice meals. All brothers of mine, you did for me.’”

We were able to purchase rice and feed people, but the
Burmese people’s true desire was to be self-sufficient. On the
Irrawaddy Delta many people made a living by growing rice
before the cyclone brought the seawater inland and wiped out
rice production. As part of the rebuilding effort we purchased
enough rice seedlings to replant 3,500 acres of rice. For
$90,000 the seedlings would yield enough rice to reseed the
area and feed 63,600 people. We were not only able to feed
these people, but offer them the hope of being able to support
their families and feed their children.
The people of Burma are very grateful for the help they
receive. However, they desire to support themselves. We offer
a microenterprise loan program in Myanmar to help women
start small businesses and have a 100% payback rate! We are
working to expand this program as now the needs are even
greater. We assisted in purchasing a tea farm in Northern
Burma to support pastors and employ Christians. We raised
funds for a medical clinic which offers free medical and
dental care and the facility is used to distribute food and
supplies. We are working to send a medical container to
Burma. All is done to demonstrate the love of our Savior.
WITH ALL THAT WE HAVE
SEEN, NOTHING HAS
CAPTURED OUR HEARTS LIKE
THE CHILDREN.
As teams return, the picture etched in their minds is that of the
orphans. We need to protect these precious children who are at
risk of human trafficking. Girls as young as seven years old are
at risk of being sold to work in the brothels of Thailand.
Young boys are forced to join the brutal military government
or at risk of recruitment by terrorists. Boys and girls are at risk
of being sold as slaves to perform menial labor.
In stark contrast, our goal is to place them in Christian
homes where they can experience the healing and restorative
love of Jesus Christ. Pastors and Burmese Christians have
offered to work with these children. We are supporting a
pastor who has received 28 children into his home. We have
expanded a Methodist orphanage, more than doubling their
capacity. VBB purchased a plot of land to build 4
orphanages, each housing 100 children. The first home is
nearly complete and will begin housing children in June.
Construction has begun on the next 2, and they are expected
to be completed soon after the first. In addition we are
raising funds to complete an orphanage that will house 500-
1,000 children.
Teams that spend time with the children are changed. In spite
of all these children have been through and their great loss,
they remain full of the hope of the Lord Jesus. Teams go,
intending to minister to these children, but are often taught
and ministered to in return. It reminds me of the phrase,
“And a little child shall lead them.” The following is an
excerpt from Chylo Laszloffy on a recent trip to Myanmar.
“The children gathered in the small church that is there and
sang for us. It touched my heart to hear all of the young ones
passionately singing to the Lord. After spending a couple
hours there, we went to a village where VBB has built a
medical clinic. When we pulled up there were close to 200
village kids waiting there to greet us. They were so excited
that we came. We spent an hour playing with them, signing
their hands, and taking pictures with them. Many of these
children are orphans and are being taken care of by the
support of the YMCA here. It was a bit overwhelming to be
there, because there were so many children that wanted
attention from us.
IT REALLY TOUCHED MY HEART
TO SEE THE JOY IN THE LIVES
OF ALL THESE KIDS.
Though they have so little, they are so full of joy. Many of
these kids are believers, even though most of them have been
raised Buddhist. We had taken some candy out with us for
the children, but there were way more children than
expected. When we ran out of candy, the children were not
upset, but rather thanked us that we had even brought any. I
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have never seen children act in this fashion before. In The faith they have in the things of Jesus and in His promises
America, most kids would be mad that another kid got candy is so great. Being with these children was such a blessing.
and they didn’t. These children were not upset at all, but They taught me so much.”
grateful.

MY HEART WAS REALLY

HEAVY WHEN WE GOT BACK TO
THE HOTEL. MY HEART JUST
BROKE FOR ALL THESE
CHILDREN. I spent a long time just weeping and
praying for these kids. God really spoke to me and reminded
me that even though these children may not have earthly
parents to love them, He loves them and cares for them more
than anyone else could. Being with these kids reminded me of
what Jesus says in Matthew 19:14 ‘Let the little children
come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of
heaven belongs to such as these.’ These children are so
innocent and pure and they truly believe the things of Jesus.

‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder

them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’