Pray For Myanmar 3/21/2021

Hello, I am Grace.  I am one of the English teachers at Esther Project in Myanmar. This is my second year with the Esther Project.  I enjoy teaching the students and also like the working environment here.  All the staff helps each other and work with love and understanding, with the focus always on the children.  Last year, due to Covid-19 we held classes on-line.  So, at the beginning of 2021, we were very excited to be able to go to the individual orphanages to teach.  

Unfortunately, we are having a worst problem which is the military coup in our country.   For me, initially, I couldn't think about my future any longer, I didn't know what to do, and fell into a state of despair.  However, the more I thought about the children who haven’t been able to attend school for over a year the more determined I became to focus on their education and their future.  It is interesting, how when a person takes their eyes off of themselves, they find God working through them. 

So, ignoring the upheaval in our country we started our classes as we planned and the students are learning, and having fun as they had not seen each other in a long time.  We started classes on the 1st of Marchand have noticed how attentive the children are and how excited they are to be learning again.  We have been able to teach the students as we planned however, there are some days when we are unable to reach all of the orphanages because their neighborhood is not safe to go enter due to protests and military patrols.  

Whenever we plan to go to the orphanages, we must inform the police and army, as they are present both day and night. By the grace of God, so far, we have been able to reach all of the students at least several days a week.  So far there has not been the violent protests in Hlegu as in some of the other Esther Project locations, but we know that we must be careful every day and at all times look out for the needs of the children.  

It is our hope that soon we will be able to teach and the children learn in a safe environment, by praying to God who we know is with us, even now. 

Grace (Hlegu)