9 October 2004

Dear Family and Friends,

My mom used to sing a song I loved, about a tree planted near a river with deep roots. The verse I read recently reminded me of her lovely voice and the reason I liked the words to that song: I want to be like that tree.

Blessed are those who trust in the Lord.... They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit.
Jeremiah 17: 7-8 (NLT)

I would love to trust enough in the Lord so that uncomfortable or difficult situations that come up aren’t distracting or confusing. I’d like to be able to just continue working hard to obey the Lord and do his work because I am rooted deeply and it is the Lord’s strength not my own that is powering my life. This is one thing I ask for prayer for.

Since my last letter, we have conducted relief missions to the Shan State, to the Karen and Karenni inside Burma, taken a trip to the United Kingdom, hosted many visitors, cared for patients, and continued to pray for the people of Burma.

Shan mission

The Shan people are the largest of the ethnic nationalities in Burma. The Burman majority peoples are the only group that outnumbers them. The Shan are called “Tai Yai,” which means, essentially, the older brother to the Thai people. So the Shan language and culture are similar to Thai language and culture, but the Shan people live in Burma. In May 2004, we went with one of our multi-ethnic relief teams to conduct a mission in southern Shan State, Burma. Some of us stayed at a Shan site for internally displaced people (IDPs), ministering to the people while our relief team went further on.

Karenni mission

In January 2004, the Burmese Army conducted an offensive in southern Karenni State and as a result 5,000 people were displaced. We went with relief teams to assist the IDPs with medical help and emergency supplies. Many people around the world helped with assistance, including rice, clothing, medicine, and cash. Thank you for your prayers and everything else you have done to stand in solidarity with these people. After some time, all of the IDPs had returned to their villages, or to spots near their home village, and tried to return to farming and normal life. There is always a threat of displacement looming, and many of those people who returned were forced to leave their homes at least once in the past months to hide in the jungle.

One team went to visit the Karenni IDPs who were never able to return home and are still in hiding spots in the jungles of northern Karenni State or southern Karenni State. The team took educational supplies, provided medical and dental treatment, conducted interviews on human rights violations, and gathered information about the situation in that area. The undergirding purpose in everything these teams do is to let the IDPs and anyone they meet know that they are not forgotten by God or the world. If we can encourage them with the hope that God and people love them, then we consider it a successful trip. The teams risk their lives to serve these people who are in the places where the team members grew up and have experienced much suffering and loss themselves. The team members are an inspiration and need much prayer to continue their service and teaching inside Burma.

Thank you so much for your prayers and support of me personally and the people inside Burma. You are amazing!

God bless you,

Amy Davisson