Prayers for Burma

Hello Friends,
The coup in Burma last week was shocking and yet it was not surprising to those who have experienced the violence of the Burmese Army over the course of many years. All of our friends in the Karen/Chin/Burmese Community are here in the US because they were forced out of their homes in Burma by the Burmese government.   For them, this past week has been traumatizing and grief filled. A member of our Karen Community in Vermont shared the attached letter which was written in the last week by a 21 year old woman. (Her photo is above.)  The letter shares what life has been like in Burma.  It contains disturbing images.

The Burmese people have begun protesting the Military occupation, demanding that their democratically elected officials be released from arrest and that their government be returned to power.  At first the military was relatively restrained in its response, most likely because the eyes of the world are upon them.  Yesterday live bullets were used against the peaceful protesters.  We must keep attention on what is happening there.

As a church community, let us commit to holding Burma in our prayers and let us reach out to our elected officials asking them to continue their call for the restoration of the democratically elected government.

May God protect all those in danger.