June 2000

"Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit," says the Lord"
(Zechariah 4:6).

Dear Family and Friends,

I hope this letter finds each of you well and knowing that you hold a special place in my heart. I am thankful to be in Thailand, continuing in this opportunity to serve the Lord here. I thank you for your love, support, and encouragement, for e-mails and letters and calls, prayers and thoughts. I send my love to you.

The Global Day of Prayer for Burma, March 12, 2000

The war and persecution in Burma continue. Documented stories of horrors are recorded almost daily. There are also positive stories, however, of people who find hope and the strength to help others and to struggle for freedom and peace. Believing that prayer and action are vital for change in Burma, my main project here in Thailand is to send out information about Burma’s situation and to ask people to join in praying and finding ways to take action. This year, I helped create the materials for the Global Day of Prayer for Burma—a booklet with stories about Burma, a poster, a bulletin insert, and a letter. With the help of a large group of volunteers and friends, 5,000 packets were sent to over 50 countries. Friends also translated some announcements about the Day of Prayer into the Burmese and Karen languages. This work kept me in Chiang Mai from January through March 12. I spent the Day of Prayer in Chiang Mai, praying and saying a few things at a Karen church in the morning, and was also involved in two services held at the international church.

We sent out response cards with the Day of Prayer packets and received many encouraging responses, which I look forward to sharing on trips to refugee camps or with other friends from Burma. Some Karen Christians inside Burma even spent the day praying for other Christians in the world who were praying for them!

I want to share some of these with you and thank those of you who have joined in praying for Burma and being active for the people there:

• "We greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior. We received the notification from the Intercessors Network of the Day of Prayer for the 12th March. Yes, we will stand with you. My daughter is 8 and prays for the Karen people in Burma, and has been for some time. We hope that you can send us some specific prayer requests for that day. God bless you and keep you. Yours in His service, and for the Nations." –a lady from South Africa.
• "The small Burmese Christian Community will hold a prayer service on March 12 at my home." –a pastor in Germany
• "Thirty-six Bible-school students and both of us gathered and prayed together. Seven students prayed individually, then we all prayed in one accord. Thank you!" –Thai/Burma border

News from Burma

The Burmese army burned a settlement of over 4,000 IDPs (internally displaced persons) living in Karen state, Burma, on April 4. The people were forced to flee into Thailand. The camp was a settlement of those forced out of their villages in Karen state for various reasons (burned out, forced labor, extortion, murder). This burning is familiar to many. A number are now scattered in villages in Thailand. Some have risked a return to Burma and have temporarily settled in a less secure place than their previous home. And a small number have entered the refugee camps in thailand. Please keep them in your prayers.

I have stopped studying Thai with a tutor and will continue studying on my own and with friends. I just returned from a short trip to Bangkok, where I visited Klong Toey, the oldest and largest slum in Bangkok. I met a group of Pepperdine students (fun to see familiar faces!) and we walked around the area, guided by employees of the Duang Prateep Foundation. This Thai foundation is well-known for addressing and assisting in education and social problems of slum residents. The visit was a good behind-the-scenes look at Thailand—one that the majority of visitors won’t see.

Prayer requests

• Pray for the thousands upon thousands who live in the slums and for the people trying to make their lives better.
• Pray that they know the hope of Jesus that will sustain them even in the terrible physical conditions they endure right now.
• The Day of Prayer and all of the help from friends here and encouragement from those who are far away.
• For vision in the direction of my job
• For discipline in my daily work
• For future decisions, that I make wise decisions about whether or not to remain in Thailand after this two-year commitment
• For an upcoming trip to the Thailand-Burma border at the beginning of July.

Thank you and may God bless you for your friendship to me. I thank Him for everything, especially the people He has put in my life.

In Christ,

Amy Davisson

The 2000 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 158