Chin state is known for her unique topography, flora and fauna. As a child, one of my most precious memory is to hear people talk about cherry trees blossoming in Chin state during in sweet December and Christmas. In the last several decades, cherry trees have been slowly disappearing. In our last visit, it is obvious to us there are few cherry trees left on these hills especially along the main road.

On 17 September 2009, my family and I travelled for 10 hours straight from Hakha to Kalaymo to catch a flight back to Yangon to see baby Emma who was by then confirmed with pneumonia.

When we reach Tai Ngen, at the intersection between the road to Falam and the road to Tedim, the day light is clearer and we began to see the beautiful landscape all the way down to Kalemyo. That was a life changing trip for me and my family as we keep calling the Yangon Children Hospital to get baby Emma's update. Many thoughts flood through our mind and prayers and praise came forth from our lips. This is the portion of road in Chin state that we travelled when baby Emmanuel breathe her last breath. When we reached Kalemyo, we received news that baby Emmanuel is confirmed medically dead.  

We are planting 25,000 cherry trees along a 10 miles stretch of road leading from Tai Ngen to Thei Zang. It will cover more than 550 acres of land. This land has been granted to Levi by the State governor and the state agriculture department assisted me to plant these beautiful cherry trees.

Tai Ngen is located 32 miles away from Kalemyo airport. It has an altitude of over 6,000 feet above sea level. From Kalemyo, the latitude rises gradually from 1000 ft to 3000 ft above sea level then from Theizang to Tai Ngen it is from 3,000-6000 ft above sea level. Cherry trees only flourish in sub-tropical climate above 3,000 feet above sea level. That makes the stretch of road between Theizang and Tai Ngen suitable for the planting of cherry trees. We started planting the cherry trees now and they will grow during the rainy season from May to September.

This stretch of road is also one of the main entrance and access road to Chin state. These cherry trees will beautify the entire landscape and provide a welcoming sight to those who will be visiting Chin state.

It is our hope that this beautiful sight of blossom cherries will bring hope, joy and precious memories to all who travel on this road as we had during the time we rushed to see baby Emmanuel when she breath her last breath. May these precious blossoming cherries take away sorrows from anyone who travel to Chin hills and back from Chin hills through Tai Ngen. This is our hope and our prayers.

These beautiful Cherry blossoms will remind us of a broken-hearted mother who had to leave her beloved baby girl in Yangon in order to help her own people in Chin state where the need is most acute. Due to the difficult journey to Chin state, she could not bring her baby along. This was the mother first trip to Chin state to help her people and she would not see her baby beautiful smiling face again after that trip.