"We want to live"

On June 16th our mission team travelled from Chiang Mai to the Thai province of Phetchabun. We went there to work in a Hmong refugee camp. Thousands of Hmongs are fleeing Laos due to persecution. During the Vietnam War, Hmongs supported America's anti-communism effort. When Laos fell to communism, the new Laotion government began persecuting Hmongs. Many Hmongs were able to seek refuge in America, however, due to heightened immigration standards following 9-11, Hmongs are no longer allowed to immigrate to the US. Today, their only means of survival is trekking nearly 100 km through thick jungle terrain. It takes families 1 to 2 months to complete the journey to a Thai refugee camp. Hmongs arrive daily to camps set up across the Thai/Laos border. Thailand is struggling to handle the masses of refugees. The Thai government has given Hmongs a 2 year time limit. If another country does not take them in, they will be sent back to Laos. Recently, 150 Hmongs were sent back. Some were captured, jailed and tortured. The majority of the group has not been heard from. Many fear they were killed. I witnessed extreme poverty in Cambodia. But as we entered the camp for the first time, I was overwhelmed. I saw poverty mixed with desperation and hoplessness. The faces and eyes in the camp portrayed fear, emptiness and pain. Smiles were scarce and laughter was non-existent. Kids were very slow to warm up to. We entertained them with songs and skits. They watched very curiously as we foreigners danced undignified. Slowly, children began to laugh and take our hands. After awhile, they surrounded us. I got a glimpse of what it must have been like for Christ when He went out in public and people flocked to see Him. And how there were people who just wanted to see Him and touch His clothes.
A lady on our team spent time visiting with a few Christian Hmong ladies. She asked them what they wanted the church to know. They replied, "We want to live." Not, we need clothes, food, medicine or housing. Simply life. I began to think about that. What does it means to live? John 10:10 came to my mind, "A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of." (The Message)

Christ came for these people, just as He came for you and me. He came to give life. These refugees need Jesus! Hmongs are on a time limit. They've been given 2 years of refuge in Thailand. What lies beyond that is unknown. What they can know is that Christ is the answer to life. Religion is not allowed in Laos, the majority of Hmongs have never heard the name of Christ. They are empty, hopeless and hungry. Please pray...
> For the hearts of the refugees, that they would be softened and receptive to Gospel
> For the Christians within the camp and missionaries working in the area, that they would "shine like stars in the universe as [they] hold out the word of life" Phil 2:15b-16a