Overcoming Obstacles

Adam
Mar 21, 2018
3 min read

We returned from Bangladesh only to prepare to leave again. Previous to Bangladesh we had planned on making a 3-week trip into our jungle training camp and medical school. Our goal was to work on a few projects intended to promote the development of our leaders, site and training.

(Aimee's brother Mike joined us for our trip!)

We hiked into camp again doing, much better than our last trip, completing the distance in 9 hours rather than 10. Eden slept about 90 percent of the trip…such is the life of a baby. If only we all had giants to ride on and feed us whenever we holler.

The purpose of this trip was to conduct follow-on training and maintenance on the water filters we installed last year, build some obstacles for our training camp, learn to read and write the Karen Language, and continue teaching the mothers and preschoolers English classes. It was a great trip in which we were able to fellowship with our co-workers living out there.

(Adam worked on an addition to a house so that we have our own space when we are working in the jungle)

(water filter maintenance)

(summer camp/ English class for the medical staff children)

Coming out of the jungle led right into our annual March “Madness” Meetings and Run 4 Relief, a 5k fund raiser designed to raise money and awareness for the situation inside Burma. Aimee has been the lead for the overall coordination of the run, while I helped out with planning and logistics for the meetings. The run was a huge success with a great turnout. I (Adam) entered into the stroller category and blew the competition out of the water. Some people just don't realize how hard it is to have a baby and then run in a 5k 4 months later…the prize went to the second, third and fourth place lady finishers, unofficially.

Stroller division at Run for Relief

(Run for Relief promotes awareness for displaced people in Burma who often are on the run from an oppressive military regime.)

The meetings as well ran smoothly and we accomplished a great deal. The overall theme revolved around 3 questions. Who do you serve? What are your duties? What do you love/want to do? We had all of our leaders both ethnic and foreign alike answer these as we talked about who we are as an organization and what God has for us in the year to come.

(Post-meetings activities including taking some staff rock-climbing for the first time)

Now the meetings are over and Aimee’s mom came into town to spend some time with Eden and us. God had other plans and a need has drawn me away to Bangladesh once again. A group called ARSA (Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army) stopped our Rohingya team as they were trying to cross the border. They are an armed Rohingya militant group attempting to protect Rohingya civilians from attacks by the Burmese Military. They wanted to meet FBR leadership so that’s one of the reasons we’re here. Another is to provide additional training for our team and do further mission prep.

Our meeting is schedule for this Friday morning so please pray for our leadership element going forward. An additional prayer is that our Rangers here grow closer to Jesus. We’re asking them to do something that’s impossible in their own strength. They need His help.

Thank you for your partnership and your prayers! Also thanks for your support (in whatever capacity) and donations! We were so blessed by the generosity of so many people who met some of our needs through the "wish lists" we created online. Aimee's mom was able to bring everything over with her to Thailand and we are so grateful.