Helping in Myanmar/Burma

1412 JMemD speak guitar
Son Jonathan with his children Dante and Jemimah in Yangon

“My involvement in the country has been to help facilitate the care of orphans and abandoned children.”

Jonathan with orphans and needy kids
Jonathan with orphans and needy kids

“So, with others, we have built homes, installed pumps and water purifiers, paid for food, clothing, medical care and education.”

Jonathan and Jemimah & Dante with Zo Min, a teacher in Yangon
Jonathan and Jemimah & Dante with Zo Min, a teacher in Yangon

This year my 3 adult children and most of my grandchildren will have served and helped in Myanmar/Burma and 5 of them go this December. Click link for more details and email me (geoffwaugh2@gmail.com) if you’d like to help. Australian ANZ bank details: Geoffrey Waugh Mission Account, BSB 014249, Ac. 5647 11123 (Swift code: ANZBAU3M).

Orphans & needy kids' first visit to a restaurant - $2 each!
Orphans & needy kids’ first visit to a restaurant – $2 each!

Jonathan’s post

See my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/geoff.waugh1

In the 1990 sham election run by the junta, Aung San Suu Kyi won almost 80% of the seats. The election was annulled and Aung San Suu Kyi put under house arrest for 20 years. Twenty five years later, the move towards democracy has seen a new election take place this past weekend. The military gave themselves 25% of the seats, opened the rest for public vote, and created a rule that would disqualify Aung San Suu Kyi from being elected. Despite these obstacles, it looks like her party is even more popular than in 1990 and able to accept office.

I’ve been in Myanmar every Christmas for the past 7 years and seen extensive social changes over that time. Improvements in the roads, vehicles, buildings and society. SIM cards went from costing over $2000 to under $2. I remember looking at my interpreter in disbelief when told a SIM card was more than $1000. What? I was sure they got the conversion from Kyats to dollars wrong.

My involvement in the country has been to help facilitate the care of orphans and abandoned children. Children so easily become helpless victims of poverty. Simply because of where I was born, I have resources that can help. So, with others, we have built homes, installed pumps and water purifiers, paid for food, clothing, medical care and education.

As I return this year, I am looking forward to visiting the kids I know in seven different orphanages. Playing games and having a laugh while concentrating on developing their education. Not only can a well-educated person escape poverty, they can help many other people reach the same heights. So I’d love to start some schools. It’s not something I can do on my own. If you would like to help, I’d like to hear from you.

In her speech, Aung San Suu Kyi noted the often overlooked and misunderstood concept of the servant leader. So often, we want to be in charge and run things our way. I was reminded of the most amazing person in history, the servant-King. See link on my Facebook page.

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