This was my first thought when I saw that word too. It’s okay. For the year before my race started I was a part of a Bible study that all prayed for the Rohingya people group. When I started praying for them I never would have guessed within 18 months time I would be teaching their children the difference between can and can’t in a second grade English class for a refugee school in Malaysia. I have been praying that God would provide opportunity for them to know who He is and form relationship with Him. After today I am praying so much harder.
Let me tell you a little more about who the Rohingya people are. Known as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world, they are a group of stateless Muslim people with their own language. They mostly live in Myanmar but many are doing all they can to leave because they are not recognized by the Myanmar government. This nation considers them illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, however, they are also not recognized by Bangladesh. They are an entire people group of hundreds of thousands of people that no one seems to want. They are unable to apply for citizenship, work, marry, and travel without proper documentation and have been stuck in places where living conditions are very poor. On top of this their children are not allowed to attend public school because it is only intended for citizens.
What are these kids to do then? Well for the around 40 we met today they are incredibly blessed to have someone in their area who in the past three years opened up a school for refugees. It was a very small building with makeshift classrooms anywhere they could fit them. Like I said, I volunteered in a second grade class today and I absolutely loved it! Teaching is one of the things God has gifted me with and some of my favorite days are when He puts me in situations where I get to use those gifts.
There were only 3 kids in my class at first today until one little boy showed up about 45 minutes late. Several teachers all made comments about how he is always late. As this was happening he just sat silent in the back of the class. I moved to sit next to him. By the third time one of the teachers said something about his tardiness, another little boy in the class spoke up saying something about (broken English with thick accents are hard to understand sometimes) how he is always late because his father beats him. The teacher came to the back of the class and the little boy lifted up his shirt his to reveal his back covered in scars and cuts.
I was heartbroken. I sat there and tried to think of anything I could do. After sometime I realized there was really nothing I could actually do to keep this boy from going back home to an environment that no little boy should ever have to live in. I knew that I had been praying for this boy and many others for over a year now for a reason and that is exactly what I have to keep doing. I have to continue interceding on the behalf of him and so many others.
I said going into the race that I wanted to grow in my prayer life and God has answered that every month. From giving me 5AM prayer 4 days a week the first month to this month where I have had the opportunity to pray for hours on end so many times since being here. God has been teaching me a lot about prayer in Malaysia. He’s been teaching me about how powerful and honestly absolutely amazing it is. We have a prayer wall in our apartment where we post prayers for anything and everything. I am loving deep intentional prayer and it is something I want to continue to do on my race as well as when I get home.
I’m out here to make an impact for the Kingdom of God. That is my mission no matter where I am. And I have learned that one of the best ways to do that is to pray. I can’t physically do anything to help that little boy but God can. So I will pray and intercede for him and for the rest of the Rohingya people because God is in control and powerful and moving among the nations.
Today, I want to ask you to make an impact through prayer. Pray for my friend, his family, the Rohingya people. Heck! I don’t care what you pray for, just start talking to God! Every single one of us could use a little more conversation with God in our lives. But I hope that as you start praying for yourself and the people you know that your heart is moved to start praying for those around the world that you may not know. Please, pray for the nations. We need it.
WOW! This is a remarkable story Katie! So thankful for the way you see things and how you share so intentionally! Keep up the wonderful work!
Thank you for posting….I read this to my son who is just finishing 4th grade. We talked about the little boy, who we are calling “Ben”, and how we can pray for him and all the children at the school. We all have scars hidden from different ways this world has been cruel. Only Jesus can help us heal. Thank you for spreading the Gospel of Christ and for showing His love to so many.
My dear Katie! Thanks for sharing this moving message and call to prayer! Our vision has become more focused as you share with us the world through your eyes! From the comforts of America we cant see the need of those around the world without those who step out and go forth then share with us what God has done and shown to them! Love you bunches!
Katie,
Thank you for sharing with all of us. You and the children and people you serve are in my prayers. May God bless you wonderfully in your mission service!