Life goes on and around our households, our communities, districts, cities, nations, and all over the world regardless of our personal daily experiences with weather, politics, health, finances, family, school, career, etc. No matter how good or bad our own situation is it has long been said that we must only look past our own front door to see someone dealing with more.
Just prior to the pandemic situation, that most all of have been effected by in one way or another, I had accepted a seemingly innocent invitation to fly to the other side of the world to visit a very small and private organization of orphanages in Myanmar,Uganda and Southeast Asia. My life has been forever changed because of that trip. This writing is not to report on that experience but what is pertinent is the fact that I met many amazing people while there, two of which go by the name of Irene and Nicolette.
Irene and Nicolette are both nurses who live and work in Australia. In addition to what good comes from their hospital efforts in Australia, these two amazing women spend a great deal of their time and resources working in some not so top conditions in the less than desirable areas of the country of Myanmar ,Uganda,Southeast Asia and Worldwide . I met them working in the orphanages there on one of their personal help trips to Asia. Their heroic efforts continue today in that same country following a devastating cyclone that misplaced about 30,000 residence living there.
These desperate families moved to an old building dump site in the township of Dagon, North of downtown Yangon, Myanmar, and Southeast Asia . This is the slums. Please keep in mind that these two nurses are not part of or supported by some large internationally sponsored, tax free, three digit (NGO), or other such beneficial organization with a heavy traffic of donations coming in. They are Christian women, with medical training, that have extremely heavy hearts tackling the impossible. The country is still in civil war and the military are Buddhist and do not want them there.
The church that Irene and Nicolette attend in Australia planted a sister church in Yangon a few years ago. There was a need for medical help right away. Eventually one doctor, three nurses, two of which were Irene and Nicolette , and two support people took on that challenge. There was immediate recognition for much needed help outside of this newly planted church.
Irene and Nicolette soon met a couple, Ben and Mwete, who were giving English lessons to the children in the slums. They also provide food and care for other children during the school term. During the holiday period the children are returned to their parents. Over time this couple was able to acquire land, build a school, and are teaching the women how to sew.
At an opportune time, Irene and Nicolette met Hupte, Mwete’s brother. Hupte was attending a Bible college and soon joined the team to help where help was most needed. This led to a new but growing gig to begin a ministry in the slum. The only funding coming to move forward with this endeavor was from a personal monthly donation from Nicolette of $400. Nicolette is a nurse, not a large NGO, just in case I lost some of you in this story.
Hupte has volunteers, family and friends who help out with this monstrous challenge and are from Chin State. During Covid they still were there giving food and help with what little they had. Irene and Nicolette are the only ones helping out with this project. Rice is the main source of nourishment for the families living in the slum.
The need for donations is constant. One hundred and ninety people attend the mission service with three consecutive services back-to-back to accommodate for such a small building.
Donations are needed to build a larger building at an estimated cost of about AU$10,000.