Myanmar people from Chin State flee from Myanmar to Malaysia to seek better life through UNHCR refugee resettlement programs, were traveling via Thailand by car with no visa and no passport. Thai police tried to stop them at a check point. The driver refused stop the car. The Thai Police shot the back tire of the car with their guns and the tire burst, but the driver continue driving.Then the front tire burst but the driver continue to drive to escape the Police.Finally, the police shot at the driver on his chest then the car crashed and killed the passengers. This is a tragedy.
A mother and her child who were sitting beside the driver at the front seat survived that crashed and revealed the fact that police came and took the driver's dead body to an undisclosed location.
Due to frequent drug trafficking between Thai-Burmese border, Thai Police are not taking chances with people who defiance at check point. Although, this family is simply seeking for better lives in another country, their attempt to flee Myanmar ended up in tragedy.
You may not want to see the picture but please take a look at the picture below so that you may understand the life of the people in Myanmar.
photos forwarded by friends
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Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. June 08, 2010 8:00 AM. File underInternational
Ko Aung from Washington D.C is making a documentary about my life in U.S. It has been long discussion about this documentary. I was as usual scared about connection with media outside Myanmar. Though that it was Ko Aung and Ko Thet were confident that they want to do documentary about me. I was a little surprise that Ko Aung actually travel to my city to make a video. I am not a actress or a famous singer to be in this position. So I am appreciate for their invitation and I agree to make a documentary.
The first video shooting was began at our Church on Sunday morning. Ko Aung intentionally travel at the weekend to get a shoot at the Church. In Myanmar TV, there were many times the video camera man will take a video of me in the Church but never been allowed to shown in the TV but Ko Aung is a Buddhist background he kindly take of me in the Church.
The kindness of Ko Aung that he asked me a few questions about my family life relating to the work in Myanmar, and about Baby Emma, that was the time i was brush with tears. He even let me speak as much as i wish in the video.Then at the prayer room where I prayed. And then at the house, gardening, cooking, eating, etc. and at the country club plaza.
The video shooting was ended at the airport as my family left for Haiti.
My appreciation to Ko Aung and Ko Thet for their trust in me.
------------------------------
Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. June 02, 2010 9:00 PM. File underMedia
We invite to participate a global unified effort in praying for the peace of
Jerusalem. Many Christian leaders around the world have set the date to pray
for Jerusalem on 7th June 2010. Please read the following document and please
encourage your friends, your community and your Church to join this global
effort of unified prayers for Jerusalem.
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Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. June 01, 2010 7:00 AM. File underInternational
The summer season in Myanmar begin from the end of February to the end of May. Summer is usually a hot and dry season. The temperature this summer ranges from 100F (37'C) in the morning to 113F (42'C) in the afternoon.
The mountainous region in the north such as Kachin State, Chin state and Shan state experience unusually hot weather unlike previous year. The dry weather is causing some of these areas to experience water shortages especially for supply of drinking water.
The hot and dry weather is causing some well to dry up. Even some big towns are affected by water shortages during this season. Some tributaries of the Irrawaddy is drying up and some have evaporated to a pool of muddy water. In some places, people have no choice but drink from this river even though the water is brown and muddy. The local uses a salty stone to cure these dirty water. Apparently, this water is safer to drink after the local place this salty stone in the water.
Wells in the Irrawaddy region is 60 to 300 ft deep. Water pumped from these well is still muddy in some areas.
Local people used these muddy well water for bath, cooking and even drinking. While we were with them, we used the bottled water that we carried along. Local people has no choice but to used the water supply that is available to them from the river and the well.
As my son Samuel was playing with the water pump, local kids including little Buddhist monk joined him to pump the water in the village.
Through our kind friend, iBota Foundation, we donated water filters to the people of these villages in Irrawaddy.
iBota Water filter is easy to use and it can be carried everywhere. It was our joy to be able to give them these water filters so they can use cleaner water supply.
Playing football just outside the housing village is a memorable moment for kids. Their lives have been changed with the completion new housing and new school.Most towns or villages in this region are surrounded by rivers.
There are few trees in Irrawaddy region as most land has been used to cultivate rice and other crops. However, there are coconut trees. surrounding villages. After each harvest, the farms dried up, the soil cracked and there is hardly any place to find a shade except some coconut trees near river banks. In the picture below, you can see in the background completed school building, a church building and houses donated by "i Love Myanmar".
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Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. April 20, 2010 9:00 AM. File underIrrawaddy
These pictures are taken
during the project in progress. The painting will be completed in May 2010.
We wished that every
children who is admitted to this hospital feel at least some joy when they see
these kids friendly pictures.
I gave birth to my two
children in a hospital with surgery. I understand how someone feels when they
enter a hospital.
Normally, it is not
the happy people that enter the vicinity of a hospital.
.
Sickness brings much
worries and sadness to a family and the hospital bills become an added
burden.
The sick, the in-firmed and
the troubled are the ones entering hospitals.
No one ever want to be in
hospital but everyone need to have access to a hospital in time of
need.
Sometimes it feels
helpless, hopeless, discouraged, thinking about paying hospital bills.
There are time when
one can worry about finding blood donors.
There is moment where
we cannot even accept comfort from friends or family.
There is time when heaven
and earth seem upside down.
There is moment when
our mind is not clear why we even end up coming to a hospital.
There is moment when we
stand at the bedside all day.
There is moment when we felt
hard to leave our love one in a hospital bedto sleep somewhere else.
There is moment when we feel numbness in our heart.
There is moment when we fear to hear news from the doctors
that there is no more hope or cure for our sickness.
There is moment when we heard news about our love ones, we
think the doctors and the nurses are
wrong in their diagnosis.
There is moment when we are trying to
save a life
Every breath counts
In
all this moment, we wish there someone there with us to walk through our fear,
pain, sorrow and worries; to cheer us up; to give us hope. In
this moment, a little more love can change everything.
I hope to turn my grief into
joy of seeing others who come to this hospital getting hope, healing and
joy.
When you see these pictures on the wall,
may you remember that you are not alone going through this journey in
your life. There is someone who loves and cares.
Painting the walls of Yangon Children Hospital was started since early March 2010, The artists are painting pictures and cartoon every day. Below pictures are some of the cartoons in the Hospital.
The main entrance of Yangon Children hospital
Th artist copy a picture of baby Emmanuel with wings in the middle of the children holding the signboard
--------------------------- The reception
Hallway to private room
Walk way
We are requested to do this work just as we did that in ICU. We are gladly taken up this offer.
"i Love Myanmar" is the first one to decorate public hospital in Myanmar.
we are so grateful to be a part of this work
This building is the newest hospital in Myanmar and we were given this opportunity. We are grateful.
Private room one night US$20 to generate income for the Hospital. This hospital service is totally free to the public. But the patience are responsible for all the medicines.
Children Hospital Private Room for Patient
-----------------------------------
Painting above the door
May you have peace as you enter this building. May the healer Jesus comfort everyone in this building. Love never fails.
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Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. April 07, 2010 10:00 PM. File underHealthcare
There were three schools in three separate villages affected by a violent storm on 29 March 2010 in Thlan Tlang township, Chin State. The villages affected are Hmawng Tlang, Shi Ciang and Hriang Khang. Hmawng Tlang middle school has 180 students. Shi Ciang Middle school has 59 students. Hriang Khan Middle school has 114 students.
On 5th April 2010 at 9:30 am, we departed Hakha for Thlan Tlang. When I started my journey from Yangon, these 3 places were not included in the list of the places we needed to help. We bought about 10,000 zinc roof in Kalemyo and in Chin State. The shops were not used to sell such large quantities of zinc roof so the suppliers ran out of stock quickly. There were not enough supply of zinc roof to help the fire and the storm victims at the same time. Thus, we have to use the supply of zinc roof that we had secured for both the fire and the storm victims.
When I was requested by the local officials to visit these 3 places, I informed my family in Yangon. They did not agree for me to visit these places due to previous occurrence of robbery and terrorism. This area is much closer to India and there has been a lot of violent, fighting and murder etc. However, the security force from Hakha such as Captain Aung Thet Khaing and Police Captain traveled with me to provide me protection. A Hmawng Tlang native; the Pastor of UPC, Rev. Ngai Hmung came along on this trip as well.
This is my first visit to Thla Tlang. I don’t know the way to Thlan Tlang well. Pu Pa Hmung of Hakha helped me make contact with the people in Thlan Tlang. I have been wanting to see Thlan Tlang as we helped them opened up a new paved road to Thlan Tlang. I had not personally visited Thlan Tlang even though we had previous project there.
The journey from Hakha to Thlan Tlang took only two hours. I was taken to Town mayor's office immediately upon arrival. As I anticipated, I was welcomed by most officers in Thlan Tlang including the mayor, the school principal and the teachers of the three affected schools. They make me feel secure in the town. They prepared a proper donation ceremony. I felt very honored. They even gave me lunch. We also talk about our charity efforts towards Cong Thia and Hripi on 23 Feb 2009.
Shi Ciang and Hriang Khan villages are hard to be accessed by car, and the heavy rain and storms made the road condition worst then ever. At 1 pm, we travel to Hmawng Tlang. I did not expect the town chairman U Chit Ko Ko to travel with me along with ...
Helping fire victims in Lungkhin, Hakha Chin State
Charles Mang Lian Thang
April 4, 2010
My heart was full of gratitude to God that we finished delivering all the zinc roof to the villagers who just lost all their homes in a fire tragedy that destroyed everything they had. The provision of zinc roof was just on time before these 3 days of heavy rain. I am thankful, this trip is worth it even though we have come a long way to help. It has been a long journey, a rather difficult one. It started with a flight from Yangon to Kaleymo with a transit point in Mandalay. From Kaleymo, we took a jeep to Hakha via Falam. The journey took a full day.
When we first heard of the fire tragedy in LungKhin village, we asked someone in the area to immediately provide goods for these victims but no action was taken so we decided to personally come and deliver what the victims needed e.g. food and shelters. We really appreciate the Hakha township officers who took time to welcome our team when we get there. After resting one night in Hakha, we planned to depart from Hakha to Lungkhin village around 8am. However at 6am, we were already ready for the trip. We had secured all the supply of zinc roof from the entire Hakha town with a paid deposit. To our surprise, these local merchant raised the price of the zinc roof prior to our departure as they were so sure that we had no choice but to purchase from them. We held our ground by only willing paying the agreed price. In fact, we told the merchants that we will change our mind from helping the people today if they raised the price of the zinc roof. When they realized our stand is firm, they backed down to the original price.
Since, I do not know the way to Lungkhin village, we need to depend on local drivers and rental cars to take us there. These drivers also decided to raise their price prior to our departure when they heard the local merchants raised the price of the zinc roof. I pleaded with these drivers to help us get to the village so we can help the victims at the same time, I began to look for other rental car and driver. The Chairman of the Chin state was not in Hakha, If he has been here, our journey would have been smooth and easy, now it is full of unforeseen challenges and delays. We could not leave until 1 pm because of the price of car rental. Finally, we could ...
LunKhua village was burned down by fire on 24th March 2010. There were 18 houses in the village. 11 houses were totally consumed by fire and the rest the seven houses were partially burned. However, in order to save the remaining part of the village, the villagers destroyed the seven houses to keep the fire from spreading.
Most of the village houses were built by wood and dried tree leafs. In hot and dry weather, it is easily combustible and susceptible to fire hazard. These people needs to have zinc roof for their housing material.
On 23rd March, the villagers conducted slash and burn on their rice field as part of the annual agricultural practice. This agricultural practice has been past on from generation to generation and normally did not post danger to the housing of the villagers. This fire tragedy was probably caused by residue of the fire from the slash and burn practice. The villagers were trying to stop the fire, but it spread too fast due as the fire contacted firewood stored for cooking and dried food supplies.
------------------------------------------------------ Temporary tent was erected after fire tragedy
---------------------------------------------
Now as nothing left after fire. They had not started to farm in this season. Their seeds supplies were burned up and they have nothing to plant or eat until the next farming season.
Nothing is left after the fire tragedy
-------------------------------------------
The food supplies stored for the coming year has been completely consumed with the fire
----------------------------------- A little tent for temporary living
A Temporary housing, where they start their life all over again.
------------------------------
Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. March 26, 2010 10:00 AM. File underChin State
March 11, 2010: Lungkhin, Hakha in Chin State was burned by forest fire. About 1000 people became homeless. The storage of food for next year was burned. These people have nothing left after this disaster. March is a season of hot and dry in Myanmar. I saw forest fire burning during my recent road journey to Kalemyo from Yangon and from Kalemyo to Tedim.It was scary and i could not even a take picture.
-------------------------------------
Their farm for this season has been destroyed by this fire. With no more home, storage and a damage farm, their livelihood is in serious jeopardy.
---------------------------------------------
The picture below shows their temporary
water supply bamboo pipe.
These people are faithful Christians.
Their Bibles were burned by the fire as well. There is no more Bible supply in their language even if we wish to purchase for them. I discussed with the Bible Society of
Myanmar to expedite the printing Bible for Chin people. It cost about USD 3.70 to print each bible.
A pair of praying hand after surviving the fire -------------------------------------------------------------
The Bible says, Do not worry about
tomorrow for tomorrow will worry for itself. However the people are now
worrying because even their Bibles were burned and they have no access
to God's word for their comfort and strength. Surely they worry about
their future.
Myanmar has no bank system, loan or even micro credit available to rebuild the devastated lives of the people. They stored all they have in their house.When the fire ravaged through their village, all were lost. They have to start their lives from zero again.
General Hung Ngai went to Lungkhin right after the incident, he provided 40 bags of rice to the people.
One victim family received one set of clothing, one bag of rice, one cooking pot and one blanket but the victims have no place to live yet.
The chairman of Chin state providing help
to the victims.
------------------------------------------------
This is what is left after the fire ravaging through this village. Please pray for this people and our team so that we can send speedy help to them.
------------------------------------
An elderly lady on the ground that was formerly her home.Housing is a crucial need. We need
to provide them shelter before rain and cold.I
wonder how long they can live without home and food. They need to start
their lives again, at least with a simple wooden home and farming
equipment. So we are getting them zinc roof as building materials for
their new home. The roof can provide them shelter from the sun and the
heat during the day. And to protect them from the rain that is ...
Levi, General Hung Ngai of Chin State and Colonel Soe Soe Zaw of Kalemyo Army discussed the possibility about developing Chin State at the 9 miles where the entrance of Chin State near Kalemyo. The various departments of Chin State accompanied the chairman and my family accompanied me as well.
We were talking about removing the shrubs in the secondary forest near Kalemyo and replant them with hardwood trees that has economic and ecological values.
This project was a request from the Prime Minister and the Home Affairs. I have desire to do this even before i was asked by the authority.
The book of Psalms says, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will fulfill the desire of your heart". That is my regular experience in life where the desire in heart was constantly fulfilled as if the Holy Spirit put it in my heart and then move people in power to let me do it. Often, I do not need to ask to do my desire instead I was invited and requested to carry out what was already in my heart. This is how amazing a living relationship with God is.
Picture below: Levi at 9 Mile in front of Police station. The truck overloaded at my back-dropped was going to travel on a narrow path on the Chin Hills for miles. The road I am standing on will be extended to 100 ft wide in the future.
My only friendly request to the authority was to mark the state line between Chin State and Kalemyo. There were no proper visible line between Chin State and Kalemyo.
Picture below: Looking at a map to draw a line between Chin State and Kalemyo District.
Chin College was built for Chin people in this place but soon its border was re-drawned into Kalemyo administration under Sagaing Division and it became Kalay University.
Therefore, I have energy to mark the state line between Chin State and Kalemyo. The Chairman of Chin State and Kalemyo Army officers are happy to assist me for this. I am looking forward to the day when we have a sign of "Welcome to Chin State" at this place. In fact, at every beginning point where the road to Chin state begins, I wish to erect a welcome sign.
------------------------------------- 9 miles river flowing between Chin State and Kelemyo District
------------------------------
While we were walking and talking about the Land, my son was playing near a little creek which is flowing between Chin State and Kalemyo. He was very adaptable with local kids and everyone.
He has experiences during our international trips more than anyone else in his ...
A little eye blink at the landscape from 9 miles to Tai Ngen
A bus from Chin State -Passengers are sitting on the top of the car. Seat-belt issue is not valid in Myanmar rural community. I am sure you can see it here. This road is closer to Kalemyo so it is in better condition than other parts of roads in Chin State.
Picture below: Some memorial stones at the roadside. Evidence of strong Christian communities in Chin state. Bible verses are inscribed on this memorial stone.
------------------------------------------------
Picture below: Chin people collect wood in the jungle for fire wood and cooking. They make their own vehicle with local technology to carry wood. Patrol or engine oil is not needed for this kind vehicle. It uses only friction and gravity. You rolled it down the hill and pushed it back up when you delivered the goods.
------------------------------------------------
There were teenagers who were repairing road. I stood up from my seat and standing through the sunroof. I talked to them in Tedim language which is not my mother language. I can see that they were stunning by my conversation to them. There are many travelers who passed through this road, everyday but not many will take some time to speak to the workers who are at the road side. Any way, these teenagers are my family too. We came from the same land. That is the reason i came back here.
------------------------------------------------
The living in Chin State is hard but they are steadfast and do not easily give up their faith.
-------------------------------------------
What make them still so faithful to Jesus even if the whole world forget about them. Surely their God will bring help to this land and her people. I want to be apart of this process.
----------------------------------
My son took Fuji apple from the car and gave it to a little boy. My son love to wear Myanmar slipper called Sin Jee Phanat.
-----------------------------------
A little cross on the mountain, it's a miracle. No one remove this cross and this might be the only cross left.
------------------------------------------------- My brother with kids in Chin village near 9 miles
This is one of the trip that i never felt tired even for little and have much energy and happiness about the situation. My
brother and his friend drove a Pajero for 20 hours non-stop from Yangon
to Kalemyo via Mandalay get us there on time.
---------------------------- Wed, 3 March 2010 We took a new highway toward Nyi Pyi Taw. Picture: a rest area beside Nyi Pyi Taw Highway.
--------------------------------------- There are many new restaurants beside Nyi Pyi Taw highway. I was glad to see my favourite "Feel" food center there. It is clean and nice food.
----------------------------------------------
we stopped by Nyi Pyi Taw mall. I expected to see the mall empty but there were a few people in the mall. Nyi Pyi Taw became the most fastest developing city in world record book.
----------------------------------------------
However, after Nyi Pyi Taw, Highway Patrol station looks like this, the station name is "Kuwait"
-----------------------------
There was a Sugar cane fresh juice shop beside the patrol shop. The one who was selling juice was a boy, he is only 9 years old. I ordered drink just to support him. He was rolling the wheel to make juice. Heart touching sense.
------------------------------------------
My son and i slept in the car with many different postures despite the heavily bumpy car ride on the country road while my husband sat upright to the entire journey to make space for us to sleep. (picture below: my son was getting into a car)
My husband who took care of us while we slept took a toll on his body this trip. He got really car sicked which is not common for him. We were invited to stay again
at the army headquarter of Kalemyo.
--------------------------------
picture below: my son Samuel at Kalemyo Army headquarter
------------------------------
Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. March 05, 2010 9:00 AM. File underChin State
Yangon weather is hot and humid during the day, but when we traveled beyond Yangon especially during early hours in the morning, we experienced thick fog and road condition with visibility of less than ten feets. Eventually, we had to stop driving due to the thick fog and wait for more sunlight. We literally cannot see road as there are insufficient road markers, lines and light to guide our path. We decided to take a group picture during our stop; MTRV-4 crews, I Love Myanmar team and my family.
As we traveled further away from Yangon, as the sun continue to rise that is after 9 am, the weather became hot very quickly. During the hot weather, we began to appreciate the cool weather in the morning. We continued our journey through dusty, hot, humid, bumpy roads as well as dried harvested rice paddy.
In Irrawaddy delta region, there were barely any trees only few coconut trees here and there but not enough to provide an environment for cool breeze. An umbrella and a hat became very important tool to keep us from the scotching sun and heat.
We observed during this journey, roads
is being opened everywhere. As we traveled, we encountered bulldozers
opening road thus we cannot continue our journey by car and had to walk
through the portion of the road under construction while our vehicles
find another path to detour.
Most Towns in Irrawaddy are now accessible by car due to the summer season. Most mud roads are dried and even rice paddy are dried up. The places that we visited is not easily accessible by car in the past. We have traveled to these villages by boats after the Cyclone Nargis hit this area.
During the rainy season from June to September, the roads in this area are not useful. Traveling by boat is a better option. However, it is true that during the raining season between June and September, road condition is too muddy for conventional vehicle to travel on.
---------------------------
After we get into the villages, we have to take a farm truck (trologi) to take us to other villages. A farm truck can travel through rough rice paddy at a speed of 5-15 miles per hour. We rode on these farm trucks frequently during our time in the Irrawaddy delta.
This is a kind of a farm truck we take in the farm land. We donated this kind of farm truck so we have vehicle, we get to ride when we get there, otherwise, we have to walk miles and miles endless farmland which look like Safari.
--------------------------------------
We also used a toyota light truck to travel to our destination. This tough light ...
Every time we visit Nyi Pyi Taw, one of the place we frequently visit is the office of the Ministry of Home Affairs (The Ministry of Home Affairs is responsible for the internal security and stability of the country)
During this trip to Nyi Pyi Taw in February 2010, Brigadier General Phone Shwe, the deputy minister of Home Affairs, took time to meet us even though his day was occupied by the official visit of the
deputy Interior Minister of Vietnam.
During this visit to Nyi Pyi Taw, we met with officials who are concern with the condition of Chin state. The Prime Minister has visited Chin State two weeks prior to our visit to Nyi Pyi Taw and that created an impetus for many to be concerned for Chin state. The deputy minister of Home Affairs who accompanied the Prime Minister on his trip carry this concern personally as well as the concern of the Prime Minister.
He expressed his concern for the people of Chin state who are facing chronic poverty due to limited natural resources and infrastructure. i mentioned here about this
meeting because his ideas and his heart for the people of Chin state
captured our attention. Normally,
when we meet him, we usually talked about our works in Irrawaddy the
happy and the difficulties. He will find a way to solve our needs. We want to explore ways to expedite the progress of social-economic development for the people of Chin state despite facing tremendous challenges with limited natural resources and steep elevation and terrain in Chin state. It is difficult for Chin state to attract any business direct investment. The only option is to widening border trade between India and Myanmar with locally made products in order to create jobs for the people, generate capital that can be used to improve roads, utilities, education, medicare care etc. After Nyi Pyi Taw trip, we began to study ways to expedite social-economic development of Chin state through the means of expanding trades that involved local people and local products from India, and Myanmar.
Our goal is to seek means to improve the living condition of the people of Chin state. Our role is to open up more channels for trade without getting invlove with the business itself. The social responsibility to the people is our highest priority not business bottom line.
------------------------------
Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. February 25, 2010 6:06 PM. File underChin State
Feb 23, 2010: My family visited Yangon Children Hospital and presented the donation to Dr. Aung Kyi Min, the superintendent of Yangon Children Hospital. Our hearts has been touched by Yangon Children Hospital and the children who are receiving treatment in the hospital. The medical staff in that hospital is doing the level best to save lives. Many children are in very critical stage of illnesses.
4 out of 10 children cases in ICU are cases of severe Pneumonia which was the case of our baby Emmanuel. Now that they have enough equipments for those children in need. My heart is in peace. Many children have greater chances of survival.
We like to spend time with the children who are in critical condition. The doctors and officers who were taking us to see the patience have to be very patient with me because i talked to every patience and their parents.
The vice Chairman of Myanmar, General Maung Aye, and Minister of Health visited Yangon Children Hospital ICU recently. They were impressed by the decoration such as cartoons on the wall and art works for the children we created. We have been requested to do the same decoration in other wards and children hospitals in Myanmar.
I am so glad that a simple action we made a change to the thinking of the leaders of the nation and bringing the nation into different level of care.
Yangon Children Hospital older building (above) and new building (below)
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Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. February 23, 2010 8:00 PM. File underHealthcare
I was amazed and saddened by the demolished places I have seen in Haiti. Many towns and the capital city has become like a rubbish rubble. The damage has very different impact from Myanmar after the destruction of the Cyclone Nargis in 2008. The Myanmar Cyclone swept everything away including houses and buildings, therefore the rebuilding process can begin almost immediately when resources is available.
In Haiti, the cleaning and rebuilding
process will take much longer than we could imagine. Most buildings in
Haiti were built by concrete, the dust of broken the concrete are
flying like smoke over the mountains. Clearing all the rubbles will
take months or even years.
The only few thing which can make me smile in Haiti are the buses of Haiti. The buses are colorful and decorated with flowers. It is lovely.
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Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. February 01, 2010 7:19 PM. File underHaiti
Myanmar singers were invited to the Grammy Awards 2010
Grammy winner Lady GaGa
The Myanmar singers
Sung Tin Par, Kabyar Bwe Moo, Mee Mee Khae & Htoo E Lynn were invited to
attend the Grammy awards 2010 which was held on 31 January at the Staples Center
in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
These musicians have
been helping "I Love Myanmar" works in Myanmar.
When I was thinking what will be
the most rewarding to Myanmar singers, I decided to
bring these musicians to Hong Kong and
that became the most memorable in
their life.
When my husband and I attended
the Grammy awards 2009, I realized that there were not even one Myanmar
singers that had attended the Grammy awards
in the past. Therefore in November
2009, I began to organized the necessary
paper work and for any related tickets. As the news spread across Myanmar, the
Guitar Organization in Myanmar rejoiced and
the Myanmar people are grateful for this initiative.
Mee Mee Khae, Kabyar Bwe Moo, Sung Tin Par at Staples center during Grammy Awards
I could not make it
personally to the Grammy Awards with these singers due to my travel to
Haiti. I have chosen to go to Haiti instead of the
Grammy and I have no regret over my visit to Haiti. I am grateful for friends in L.A for taking care of them in L.A. I appreciate them very much.
Sung Tin Par has been
in U.S for the past three month and having
singing every weekend across United State to
fund raise for charitable cause towards
Chin State. She will leave U.S the next day
for Japan after the Grammy awards.
Kabyar Bwe Moo, Mee
Mee Khae & Htoo E Lynn have been invited by various friends, and
organizations in U.S to do some charity fund-raising. They are schedule to travel across U.S for the next two months.
Their main reason coming to U.S was to visit me, attend the Onething Conference, visit L.A., Hollywood (Grammy Awards).
Myanmar people were delighted to have these singers in U.S.A thus invited them
to participate in charity concert. Although I was the
main person who invited the singers except Sung Tin
Par to U.S.A, I am not involved in
any of the fund raising concert for "Myanmar
or Haiti" in the United State and I am not responsible for the fund disbursement. But I appreciate your love
and support for these singers.
------------------------------
Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. February 01, 2010 11:19 AM. File underMusic
Quisqueya Christian School has been turned into a relief center for Medical teams for Haiti since earthquake hit Haiti in January 2010. The relief center is leading by Ted and his son Theo.
Medical doctors sleep in this kind of tent, there are over 200 medical doctors in the school campus. 5 Acres are for the relief team and the rest of 5 acres are for the U.S army command center.
U.S army camp in the school campus
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Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. February 01, 2010 9:00 AM. File underHaiti
Kabyar, Mee Khae, Htoo E Lyn stayed one night with me in Miami Lakes. They drove two hours to get to the Hotel. I appreciate their love for me and friendship. Its been over one months they are in U.S., i think that they are missing home and getting tired traveling within U.S
We arrived Haiti at noon. Haiti is just 2 hours away from Florida. Levi,
Randy & Kirk represent our Church leadership on this trip. Levi donated
funds from Emmanuel Foundation to various Haiti relief works. The Plane behind us is our charter flight to Haiti.
My friend, Theo at the Haiti airport. He was in Haiti since day 3 of earthquake, he needs some rest with his family in Florida. His kindness of visiting my family during our relief work in Myanmar touched my heart.He is one of the reason I could get to Haiti. Without him I may not be able to visit Haiti.
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Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. January 28, 2010 9:00 PM. File underHaiti
If you have visited
my website last year, you would have notice some pages I posted last year have been
temporary disabled from the website. I am hoping to republish some of this pages soon. Please check this site
again later.
Thank you for your love to me and my
nation.
Levi
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Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. January 15, 2010 8:00 AM. File underGeneral
On 28 December 2009, Zin Ko (Age 4), from the Thee Chaung village of Bogale Township undergone a cleft lip surgery. The surgery took about 1 hour and 45 minutes. He had a serious cleft palate condition but the surgery was very successful.
He was a victim of Cyclone Nargis in 2008. He has seven other siblings. He is 6th in the family. His father has been jobless but they were one of the recipients of the new hardwood houses that we built. He is also attending the new school building that was reconstructed by i Love Myanmar.
After the surgery before he was fully awake, he seem to be struggling and crying for at least half and hour but when he finally woke up, he was calm and fine. The first thing he said after woke up from surgery was "my lip is fine now".
Zin Ko before surgery
Zin Ko after Surgery
He was discharged from Hospital on 4th January 2010. "He still having swell on his lips
but he will be normal after sometime" said his doctor Dr. Hla Myo
Naing from Yangon West General Hospital. Zin Ko receive surgery from a surgeon who specialized in cleft lips and cleft palate surgical procedures and the surgeon did a very good job with Zin Ko.
Although Zin Ko still has swell on his lips, i think he looks like a handsome boy now. He looked smiling and happy. He is totally a different person after surgery. He seem more confident in himself and feel good about himself. You can see how different he looks now.
When he grow up, if he ever ask me why i help him when he was young, I will have a very simple reason to tell. I am looking for that day to come. It is very worth to invest in a child like him.
The doctor suggested that cleft lip kids should have surgery before they turn 8 years old. I am glad we can help this special child by the name of Zin Ko.
Zin Ko and his mother Daw Than Than Nu
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Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. January 04, 2010 9:00 PM. File underHealthcare
We are currently involved in
the publication and printing of selected Christian books. We are giving away
those books for free. Now we have book written by Mike Steven. We printed 5000 copies of Mike Steven in January 2009. We are planning to print another 5000 copies in
2010.
Tom Hess’ two books about Jerusalem and the Watchmen will
be available soon in Burmese.
Anyone who are interested to
get free copy, please call our office at 01-511-887 or come to our office in Yangon to obtain
as many copies as you need.
This is our contribution to Christian Churches in Myanmar.
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Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. December 12, 2009 11:00 AM. File underLiterature
We purchased additional medical equipments from MEK (Medical Equipment of Korea) medical company in Korea. It was shipped in mid-October was released on 26 November 2009, on Thanksgiving Day in U.S.A. It tookover one months to get through the process.
This shipment was supposed to be donated during my visit in October but the equipments were not released as promised while i was there in Yangon. When i was there in Yangon, it seems like we will get it out in a few days. I was at peace as The Minister of Health helped me cleared the custom for Children ICU equipments in September in only three working days. So I thought this second round will take the same length time. However, the person in charge of the release of the equipment could not make it as he promised.
In this last one month, we encountered delay again and again from the custom. Finally after one month of waiting, the equipments were released and we are storing the equipments in the store room of the Yangon Children Hospital in Myanmar.
Medical Equipments from Korea that just cleared custom
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Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. November 26, 2009 10:00 PM. File underHealthcare
Surgery for Cleft Lip boy, Kaung Thet Aung, who was the victim of Cyclone Nargis
Kaung Thet Aung, a 7 years old boy, (cleft palate and lip since birth) from Tee Chaung village, Bogale Township, Irrawaddy Division, where Cyclone devastated the livelihood of his parents and his 6 other siblings. They did not have food for 13 days until "i Love Myanmar" team found them. Right from that moment, this family received the support from "i Love Myanmar" and within two months in July 2008, they moved into a hardwood house which was built by "i Love Myanmar."
In Tee Chaung, Bogale Township, we have been constructing new school building and all villagers who survived the Cyclone Nargis received new hardwood houses beside many relief supplies, boats, fishing and farming equipment.
I wanted to help this boy with his medical and surgical situation during that time in 2008 but we had to focus on the immediate needs of many Cyclone victims. It has been over one year since I last met this family but I have not forgotten them.
However, a friend of mine, Richard T was swift to remind me about the surgical needs of this kid. I really appreciate him for bringing the needs of Kaung Thet Aung again. Thus, i Love Myanmar enable him to undergo cleft lip and palate surgery at the Yangon Children Hospital.
This family was very sad that their youngest child has cleft lip and palate since birth There was no way the family can afford to get surgery in Yangon Children Hospital.
The child himself felt ashamed because other children teased him. Consequently, he does not want to go to school although he can eat and talk well. If this boy does not have surgery to fix his cleft lip and palate, he will be mostly home bound due to shame. He will not have courage to attend school due to low self-image.
Kaung Thet Aung
He will have a dim future and will be depressed most of his life and consequently not reach his full potential in his life.
On 12 November 2009, Kaung Htet Aung undergone a successful operation. He went into the operation theatre at 10:30 a.m and came out at 12 noon. When he woke up from his sleep, he asked for water but when he was told that he was not allow to drink any water yet, he agreed to it. He did not cry nor did he grumble like other kids. He knows that he will be going to school after his surgical wound is healed. He knows he now has opportunity to taste and experienced what he had lost.
On 13th November, he could drink Ovaltine (a cocoa based drink) which gave him some strength. ...
I travelled back to Myanmar for 7 days in October 2009 in order to catch up with some of paper work. This trip was unplanned. We make the decision while we were in Germany. My husband, my son and I continue to travel to Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland and France. On October 22, I departed from Lyon, France via Frankfurt to Singapore before I landed in Myanmar. I rested one night at the Singapore airport before I return to Myanmar from 23 to 29 October 2009. While I was back in Myanmar, my husband & my son continued their itinerary to Italy and U.K.
While I was on the plane travelling towards Myanmar, I prayed to God that God will decide the agenda for my trip rather than depending on my own understanding. I am glad I made this trip to Myanmar as I need to settle many things in Myanmar such as:
(1) Expediting the school construction project as a Construction company is delaying construction schedule,
(2) Expediting the clearing of the medicine which is worth about 1.6 millions USD which have been held up by Myanmar authority for the last 4 months,
(3) Requesting approval for our office telephone bills to be billed Myanmar kyats instead of USD as we are a local entity,
(4) Ensuring our office 24 hrs electricity supply which was approved begin to operates.
For the above reasons, I have been very much burdened and I came to a place where my heart is about to explode with anger. I know that my ability is very little in these problems. So I kept asking God to help me in these matters.
When I got to Yangon, an invitation from U.N that waited for me even before I arrived Myanmar for U.N Day reception at Sedona Hotel in the evening of 26 October 2009. However, I was very disappointed when I learned Chris Kaye was not in Myanmar to attend the U.N reception. I ended up spending time with the wives of foreign ambassadors in Myanmar. I was the only one at the table who was not the spouse of diplomat. But you know what? I am an ambassador of Christ. Is that neat?
Levi at U.N day reception
I had another surprise invitation came from Forestry Department of Myanmar for me to attend the opening of the first training for Teak plantation in the morning of 26 October 2009. At the opening ceremony of teak plantation training, I was invited to the photo shot with the Director General of Forestry department and with the private owner of teak plantation. I just followed the instruction because I did not know anything ...
"i Love Myanmar" staff ready to deliver iBota water filter
iBota Foundation from Netherlands has been sending us boxes
of water filters (65 filters) to Myanmar since earlier 2009. This Foundation specialized in making water filter
to provide clean water during crisis.
We were very relieved that we could take out the
water filters from iBota via the post office. Clearing such product from the
post office is very difficult in Myanmar. You would understand this situation if
you have gone through this kind of work in Myanmar before.
We received two kinds of water filters from
iBota. The smaller one is called "travel mate water filter" which is very
suitable for travel use. It can go easily in our backpack.
Levi was giving iBota Mobile water filter to Burmese
The second is "Mobile Water Filters" This type is
10 times bigger than the travel mate. It can be used for family in disaster area
or in areas where water is contaminated. We delivered these water filters to
farmers who drink water from unclean water sources. The farmers are so grateful to this donation. The interesting thing is
they have never seen water filters before. I watched them enjoying the water
filter when they were figuring out how to use the water filter. Their laughter
was a joy to my ear. The people in Myanmar felt loved.
one family testing iBota water filter, Levi is holding their son.
We appreciate iBota and their partner for donation
portable water filter to Myanmar through "i Love Myanmar".
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Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. October 26, 2009 2:38 PM. File underHealthcare
Levi was awarded "The
Person of the Year 2009" by the Chin Community of Burma, U.S.A., a non-profit organization in U.S.A.
The Chin
community in U.S.A gathered in Indianapolis on 5
& 6 September 2009. Chin Community of
U.S.A has celebrated the Chin New Year annually in September, with different city serving as host on a
rotation basis.
Chin Dance 2009
During
this
gathering, Chin people from various state would
come and gather together and dance Chin traditional dances, play game such as soccer, volleyball, choir, selecting Miss Chin Community, poem recital,
bible verses
memory and tug of war.
The award was given
as surprised gift on the day of celebration. Levi went back to Myanmar to
renovate Yangon Children Hospital and traveled to remote area in Shan State
during the time the award was given to
her thus she was unable to be
present. She has not attended
in person any award given to her thus far. Special
appreciation to Chin Community of
U.S.A.
Chin soccer team 2009
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Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. October 19, 2009 10:00 AM. File underAwards
The welcome sign of Kalemyo which situated on a little higher ground than the town
before flood
during flood
Now I am in Netherlands for six days visiting old friends at YWAM base where my husband is giving some lectures. My husband supported me a lot in Myanmar. This is a time I am with him, accompany him and supporting what he is doing.
I saw lots bicycles and cyclists everywhere in Amsterdam and that really reminded me of Kalemyo. I was in Kalemyo when I was a little girl about 10 years old. That was when I learned how to ride a bicycle. Here again in Amsterdam, I am riding a bicycle all over the city. There is a flesh back in my mind flashes about Kalemyo.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
What surprise was the fact that while I was thinking about Kalemyo, I am getting emails and photos from Myanmar about Kalemyo. Kalemyo has been flooded. That really concerned me. I wanted to be there instantly in order to help out.
However someday, I hope we can be there to respond to the need. I am hoping and know that the situation is not bad as the Irrawaddy when it was affected by Cyclone in 2008.
Kalemyo has never experience this kind of flood before. They are feeling of fear and helpless. I want them to feel that they are not forgotten. I want them to feel love and care by others in such time of need. I cannot imagine now how many poor family who are struggling for their livelihood when water wet their food in storage.
I prayed that the help will come and the people will be comforted.
Kalemyo is 3 miles away from a river called "Myittha Mit" which means "Pleasant river" The flood mainly come from the rivers and from other creek all over Kalemyo. The flood was due to heavy rain and overflowing the river. The important part of the town has been flooded.
Some said, people die due to the flood but we cannot confirm this fact. If it is true, we will not know the real number. I pray that no one dies in this recent flood.
Kalemyo people like to keep their harvest from the rice field in order to live through the next year. With this flood, the food store for next year has been wet and cannot be used again.
Kalemyo is the main supply town for Northern Chin State. This flood will not only affect the food supply of Kaleymo but also the food supply of northern Chin ...
The Prime Minister of Myanmar is coming to United States of America
The Prime Minister of Myanmar General Thein Sein left Nay Pyi Daw the capital city of Myanmar on Saturday 26 September to attend the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, U.S.A. Prime Minister General Thein Sein was accompanied by Minister of Science and Technology U Thaung, Deputy Attorney-General Dr Tun Shin and departmental heads.
Member of the Myanmar delegation Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyan Win had left for the United States of America in advance. This is truly a special moment as the last time a Myanmar official attended the UN General Assembly was the 50th anniversary Special Commemorative Session in October 1995. It has been 14 years since that took place.
The prime minister of Myanmar is well known for his compassion and care for the people. I can feel his kindness when he showed personal concern for my family. From time to time, when I met the cabinet ministers of Myanmar for different occasions, these ministers told me that the Prime Minister talked about you in favorable manner, or he talked about his feelings for my baby Emmanuel. He expressed his wish that we would have made it to the Yangon Children Hospital and perhaps save baby Emmanuel's life. My daughter passed away during our relief work and this tragedy has been a talk among the Myanmar senior officials.
Sometimes, some construction companies informed me that the Prime minister has instructed all parties to provide full cooperation and speedy service if I ever need to rebuild any houses, schools and hospitals.
While he is in charge of governing the whole country's business from day to day, he remember my family and passed me a personal message every time I went back to Myanmar. My arrival, departure and my plans in Myanmar during every trip have always been submitted to his personal assistant.
The Prime Minister speaking to Levi in Labutta, Irawaddy
He even took us with him on his helicopter tour to Irrawaddy during our relief work for Cyclone Nargis. He is kind, quiet, and gentle. He does not even look like or act like a military guy. Although Myanmar is a strong Buddhist country, he encouraged me to help Christians in Myanmar and even to bring help for Myanmar people from international Christian community. I am still learning how to communicate with churches around the world about the needs of the people of Myanmar.
I feel that he is the kind of Prime Minister we need at this hour. He told me and my husband that he is serving in this position in a temporary manner to help the people of Myanmar.
My heart is truly delighted to see this day when the world get to hear the view ...
"The works goes on..................the hope still lives,
the dream shall never die"
The day he passed was the day I left for Myanmar. I did not get news about his passing until I got back to U.S on 19 September. Since I left for Myanmar, I was in remote area in Myanmar where I could not even check my email thus I did not know about his passing until I got back to U.S on the 19th of September.
As the anniversary of my daughter's death was on 17 September, my heart is still very tender at this moment. I felt sorrow for his family and I missed my baby more when I learned that Senator Kennedy had passed away because I met him with my daughter Emmanuel.
I went to the special lunch with Senator Kennedy in April 2008 at a private apartment in down town Kansas City with a few other people (about ten of us). I brought my baby Emmanuel with me. She was just 5 months old at that time. I requested President Obama's team to permit me to bring my baby. The team leader graciously granted my request.
Levi, Baby Emmanuel, and Senator Kennedy in early 2008
I was the only one who brought a baby to the meeting. However, this great man love baby Emmanuel. Senator Kennedy said to her, "this is historical day for you." I am grateful that he encouraged me with such great words and that he took a little time to speak to my baby. It turn out that baby Emmanuel lives an impactful life and her legacy continues. The meeting was one week before the Cyclone hit Myanmar and four months before I lost my baby in Myanmar.
Senator Edward Kennedy was a supporter of President Obama. He spoke for President Obama. I was there to meet Senator Kennedy to show my support to President Obama as well as to chat with Senator Kennedy. I remembered I was rather quiet on that day.
On that day, Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill called him the Senator's Senator. I agreed. He has greater seniority than most senators in the United States.
I vividly remembered the cheese that was served at the lunch. It was really good. I don’t normally like cheese but it was delicious. The guests at the lunch were courteous. I had an enjoyable time.
I showed my support to President Obama in 2007 and 2008 during my pregnancy and after I delivered my baby. The reason I supported President Obama was my hope that President Obama will bring a change to United States foreign policy to other nations. His message was, "Change ...
On September 16, 2009, one day before one year anniversary of the passing of Baby Emmanuel Lim, the Yangon Children Hospital Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is officially opened with state of the art medical equipment in loving memory of baby Emmanuel Chia Ai Lim, our beloved daughter. "i Love Myanmar" team has been working tirelessly in the last one month with the Ministry of Health, the Management of Yangon Children Hospital, contractors, medical equipment supplier (MEK-Medical Equipment of Korea) to remodel and upgrade the ICU.
Present at the opening ceremony were Medical Superintendent of Yangon Children Hospital, Dr. Aung Kyi Min and his management team and our friends including Mr. Chris Kaye, director of UN World Food Program (WFP), Mr. Colin, the consular of the US Embassy in Myanmar who was present to assist us during baby Emmanuel's paper work in 2008, a number of Christian pastors and some celebrities who served with us during the Cyclone Nargis relief effort. Also present were press crew and TV station crews from MRTV, MRTV3 and MRTV4. The press and TV crews conducted interviews and press released for the next day.
This is a strategic and high impact project. The Yangon Children Hospital now has a new eight bedded facilities, with a new air-conditioning system, two infant and pediatrics ventilators, eight patient monitors, eight infusion pumps and eight syringe pumps and universal protection system (UPS) for every station, one central monitoring system. It has also a brand new look and feel that is “kids friendly”. According to the Medical superintendent of Yangon Children Hospital, the newly installed Central Monitoring System is the only one in operation throughout the entire country.
In the last few days, many medical professors, consultants, pediatricians and nurses have taken time to visit this ICU during the time of remodeling. Many medical professional walked away very touch and impressed by the significant upgrade and remodeling that has taken place at Yangon Children Hospital ICU. This is a major morale boost to the medical community in Myanmar.
The Yangon Children Hospital is the premier pediatric teaching hospital in Myanmar. More than five hundred undergraduate and post-graduate medical students undergo their training in this hospital annually. This ICU is almost the primary reference hospital for the most severe and acute medical and surgical pediatric cases in Yangon area, even nationally as this is the only 24 hours Intensive care unit in Yangon with pediatric consultant on duty. Consequently, the upgrading of this ICU have direct impact on improving medical treatment among children in Yangon and in Myanmar and the training of the future generation physicians and pediatricians.
The first patient of that ICU is an 18 months old infant girl ...
From September 10 to 14, engineers from Korea performed equipment installation, equipment test and calibration and also trained the staff of the Yangon Children Hospital ICU pertaining to the operation of the equipments e.g. Central Monitoring System, Patient Monitors, Ventilators, Syringe Pumps and Infusion Pumps. Over twenty Pediatric Consultants, Physicians, Nurse Practitioners and senior nurses attended the training sessions.
The doctors and nurses enjoyed studying the central station (above) and monitor (below)
There were two medical staff from Chin state representing the Hakha Hospital and the Tedim Hospital. After the completion of the training, we donated one set of patient monitors and pumps to hospitals in Tedim and Hakha in Chin state.
nurses from Hakha (above) and Tedim (below) receiving the monitors
Several months ago, we donated ICU equipment and ultrasound to Falam Hospital. We hope to be to provide Chin state hospital with better training and access to critical care equipment.
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Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. September 15, 2009 11:00 AM. File underHealthcare
U.N helicopter services ended in Myanmar on 15 August 2009
In not many days from now, I will be on my way back to Myanmar again. I have not been traveling since early July after an intense period of traveling in Myanmar from April to June 2009.
During these one and half months, I have been catching up on my sleep, physical rest, gaining strength in my spiritual life through prayers, catching up on my paper work and updating the website. As I update the website, many fond memories came back to me pertaining our work in Myanmar for the past one year and gratitude came into my heart for many volunteers, co-workers and friends that have labored with us together to assist the victims of Cyclone Nargis.
One group of people I must highlight in my journey in assisting the victims of Cyclone Nargis is the U.N. Humanitarian Air Services team. They have been most supportive to my work in Myanmar. I was previously notified by an U.N. leaderthat U.N. air services mandate in Myanmar would expired on August 15, 2009 and they had been applying for extension. They have sufficient funding to operate until the end of 2009. I still hope that extension would be granted to them as this humanitarian air services have been most effective to help many charitable entities like "i Love Myanmar" to assist the victims of Cyclone in the last one year.
Levi picked up by U.N helicopter in Irrawaddy
When the chief air transport officer wrote to me officially that the extension application has not been approved, I was very saddened by the news. Followed by emails from air services team members bidding "goodbye" to me. I am really sad. Words cannot describe how sad I am. We had labored together in the field through various condition e.g. landing on muddy land, going through monsoon rains and strong wind. I will miss laboring with such friends.
They have been true friends to me. I remembered vividly whenever I return to Myanmar, I would see glad faces at the airport greeting me. Their smile and joy always encourage me. I can feel that they really love me and appreciate the work that I am doing along side with their effort. They also cared much about the "i Love Myanmar" team. In several occasion they gave us priority in respond to our operational needs. At times, I felt they are like family not just friends.
Since the beginning of my effort to help victims of Cyclone, I have been very focus on the work. I did not have much time to make connection or network with other organizations. I spent a lot of time in the frontline. The U.N. humanitarian air services team is the only team I spent substantial time in Myanmar to interact and ...
Renovation of Yangon Children Hospital in loving memory of Baby Emmanuel
We were informed that ICU patients have been temporary relocated today for the purpose of renovation. The commencement of the renovation project coincided with the 11th month anniversary of baby Emmanuel's passing away. We did not pre-plan the commencement to be so, but it end up to be quite meaningful to us.
The renovation of ICU includes:
4 Central air condition systems
Replacing Ceiling
Painting rooms & Changing furniture
Wiring electrical power system
Plumbing system
New beds, mattress, bed sheets, pillows, blankets, curtain
8 sets of patient monitoring systems and a central station
8 sets of Infusion pumps
8 sets of Syringe pumps
2 Pediatric Ventilators
The Biomedical Engineers will be coming from Korea to install the equipments and to train the medical workers how to use the instrument. We considered the options of medical equipment made in Korea and in China and finally decided on equipment that is made in Korea.
Having heard of our charitable intention, the Korean medial supplier decided to give us a substantial discount on all related the medical equipments. They even offered to send two biomedical engineers at minimal cost. We are grateful f orsuch generous partners.
During the process of renovation and installation, personnel and medical officers from the Tedim Hospital and Hakha Hospital will be coming to Yangon Children Hospital to learn how to utilize these new equipments. Both hospital will be receiving similar ICU equipment after this training.
The renovation will be undertaken by Saung Hay Mann Construction Company. This company has built 4 schools building for us in Cyclone affected area.
We are privilege and delighted to be able to contribute to a cause that would will impact the lives of thousand of Myanmar children and those in the medical community.
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Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. August 17, 2009 11:00 PM. File underHealthcare
Since June 2009, H1N1 flu epidemic alert has been an issue in Myanmar. There were fear that students in Yangon were affected by H1N1. Now my family is in Shanghai visiting friends and family. I was informed by my brother that H1N1 situation has become serious in Myanmar. The students must wear Face Mask in order to go to school. There are many students who cannot afford to buy face mask. The price of the face mask has risen up from 150ks to 700ks per piece.
students are happily wearing face mask to protect themselve from H1N1
I am planning to ship face mask from Shanghai. My friend Shelley is helping me finding out the price and the shipping while "i Love Myanmar" team in Myanmar have been donating as many face mask as possible to students who need them in order to attend school.
However, during the time of my search for face mask among the manufacturer in China, the Myanmar Ministry of Education department has closed schools due to fear of the virus infecting students and causing an epidemic that cannot be contained thus I no longer need to purchase face mask from China anymore.
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Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. July 09, 2009 11:00 AM. File underHealthcare
25,000 Cherry trees planted along the road from the entrance to Chin State
Chin state is known for her unique topography, flora and fauna. As a child, one of my most precious memories 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 breathes her last breath. When we reached Kalemyo, we received news that baby Emmanuel is confirmed medically dead.
Cheery nursery for plantaion
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 her 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.
The workers are ready to plant cheery in Tedim Township Chin State
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.
We traveled to the new capital city of Myanmar, Nyi Pyi Daw, to meet the Minister of Health of Myanmar. The agenda was about “i Love Myanmar” involvement in the health care in Myanmar.
The Minister of Health, the deputy Minister, Director General and several other senior officials of Health Dept. were present to receive us at the Ministry of Health Conference Hall. My husband, Daniel, our friends Bob, Zach and Allan were present with me.
The Minister of Health was very kind in his reception towards us and he offered us the use of the name “Emmanuel” in our various health care initiatives in Myanmar. We discussed the several possibilities of ICU projects, health care for children and women, possible future medical symposium and rural medical projects in partnership with Myanmar Ministry of Health.
We also discussed “tax-exempt” arrangement for importation of medical equipments and pharmaceutical products for humanitarian reasons. I am so grateful for the kind cooperation and hospitality we received from the Minister of Health and his team.
Our visit received full national press coverage on television and state-run press.
It is our prayers that we can be involved in providing health care to children and the poor in throughout Myanmar in the coming days.
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Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. May 31, 2009 1:00 PM. File underHealthcare
The surgeon that was attended to Lian Bawi Peng is Dr. Khin
Maung Lwin, a heart specialist. The
operation took 7 hours from 8 am to 4 pm. The father was so worry that his son may die
while surgery. But the doctor came out from the room with a smile and said to him, "your son cannot die
young"
Since Lian Bawi Peng
was born, he has difficult breathing. This really
affected the sleep of his parents as they are on constant alert for his
health. They could not get to a
clinic easily due to the remote
distance of their home from the nearest
clinic. Even if they can get to a
clinic, they have no money to pay for the
medicine. With the advice from one
Doctor in Hakha, they went to Kalemyo to get an
X-ray for Lian Bawi
Peng.
His father, Rev. Cung Hu Mang, is the
pastor of the church and his mother is farming in Chin Hills. Lian has two more siblings. They barely have enough food to eat at
home. When they obtain a result from the Kalemyo doctor, they found out that Lian Bawi Peng has a
heart problem since he was
born.
They went back home
as they know that they cannot afford to send
their son to a Hospital. People from the same village that has a same socio-economic condition with them. No one has money to help them financial
except comforting them by word. Even if they have money, they don’t know how to
get to Yangon. So they prayed for their son every day until he turn 6 years old.
He cannot even
walk for a short distance. He gets easily
tired. He also cannot play with other kids. The boy just have to watch other kids play. When he turn 6 years old, his breathing became more difficult than ever. His mother has sorrow with tears every single day. They are
watching their son dying without the ability
do anything except prayer.
One day, while they
were praying, one of their relative from Yangon visiting their village. She took
them to Yangon to find the donor for this child medical expenses. The doctor
admitted the child at Yangon General Hospital while the father and the aunt
search for a donor.
After days of
searching for a donor, they heard about "I
Love Myanmar" and visited ...
Since May 2008, we began to assist victims of Cyclone Nargis, we have been very focus on the frontline work of relief, rebuilding and development. Initially, the National TV and some national newspaper reported about us on only a few key occasion.
Its always warm my heart to see the villages, my tiredness disapear when I see them
Recently, we have been featured on national television, newspaper and national weekly journals frequently. We have been featured frequently due to the significant impact "i Love Myanmar" made on the rebuilding effort in the delta region. One year after the Cyclone Nargis disaster, it is apparent to the authorities and journalists how "i Love Myanmar" has made significant contribution to the victims in the most needed areas.
Therefore during my recent return to Myanmar, I found myself surrounded by various journalists and media personnel who desired to interview me pertaining to our work in Myanmar.
MRTV3 & Levi in Irrawaddy
Beginning from May 9, Myanmar National Television MRTV and MRTV3 had assign a camera crew and journalist team to travel with me and our team to document our work in the delta region and in other places. The Myanmar National Television felt the importance of putting our work into a Cable TV quality documentary.
MRTV & Levi in Irrawaddy
MRTV3 is in English medium and MRTV is in Burmese, our national language. MRTV3 will be made available to a world-wide audience through cable television services. The “i Love Myanmar” documentary will be broadcasted in both the English and Burmese channels. I am so delighted that our testimony can go forth to encourage many people
I have so much fun traveling with the MRTV crews to the Delta region and to Chin State. They are sweet and easy to work with. I have also visited TV station twice during this period. I have keen respect and love all the MRTV staff; from Director General to an announcer. I have deep gratitude towards MRTV for giving me this opportunity be featured with them. I enjoy working with each of the crew members.
Levi speaking to a little girl, one of cyclone victim
The Myanmar National Newspaper also has assign U Thar Ngian to write regular report about "i Love Myanmar". He gladly traveled with us along with the TV crews.
After two and half month of consistent traveling within Myanmar, I feel so connected with the MRTV crews and the journalists.
MRTV & MRTV3 interview Levi infront of a new school building in Irrawaddy (below)
There was a fire accident in Hakha on 26 March 2009, from 9 pm to 12 mid night in the capital town of Chin State. There were 10 houses that were affected by this fire.There were children about 3 to 5 years old play with candle in the night caused the fire. We were informed by the chairman of Chin State, General Hung Ngai about this mishap. He really care for the people in Chin State.
We managed to help them rebuilt these
houses by sending them zinc roof and the local community came up with
the wood products. Below are photos of some houses we helped them built
in Hakha Chin State.
As no bank system or loan available in Myanmar, the victims have lost everything they have in life including the food they stored for next year. They have to start their life from zero.
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Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. March 28, 2009 9:00 AM. File underChin State
In February 2009, Levi was awarded an Honorary Doctorate degree in Humane Letter in honor of her relief and rebuilding works in Myanmar and also in honor of her vision, her sacrifices, and her love for her nation.
This award was conferred by the Union Biblical Seminary in conjunction with the Asbury Theological Seminary. The convocation ceremony was held in Myanmar on February 28, 2009 at International Business Center (IBC).
Reverend Richard Stevenson, an alumni of Asbury Theological Seminary, also a dear friend of ours received this award on our behalf. Reverend Richard Stevenson was also the keynote speaker for the convocation ceremony. We appreciate the Board of Trustees of Union Biblical Seminary for conferring this award to Levi.
Levi did not expect to receive any award from the work she has done. She did it as an expression that flows out from her heart which is rooted in the love of God.
Levi in her Doctorate gown
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Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. March 02, 2009 10:00 AM. File underAwards
We have printed ten thousand copies of "i Love Myanmar" Calendar for the year 2009.
We gave away these Calendars for free for the people who are not able to purchase new Calendar for 2009 such as low wage workers, and those who have no income. The people were blessed by free Calendar. They are delighted by the charitable deeds in the photos. We sent out these Calendars to many other locations.
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Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. January 01, 2009 10:00 AM. File underMedia
Playground decorated in Nutritional Dept of Yangon Children Hospital
Between the Christmas and the New Year of 2008, we decorated the playground at Nutritional department of Yangon Children Hospital. The mothers and children rejoices with the new therapeutic toys available for the children.
There are now toys for every kids that is visiting the nutritional ward. We appreciate Dr. Nu Nu Yin for allowing us to participate in such a meaningful gift to the children.
We wish to be able to provide an upgrade and equip every department in
Yangon Children Hospital in order for the physicians to have the
necessary equipment to save many more children lives.
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Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. December 31, 2008 12:00 AM. File underHealthcare
The ICU in Children Hospital was the place where Baby Emmanuel Lim breathed her last breath. We visited this hospital on 18 December 2008 for the first time since baby Emmanuel left us.
And we found out that there is no toy at all in the
hospital even though there is a sizable room set aside for it. We felt
the need to fully decorate the playground for the children who come to
this hospital. The Nutritional specialists and doctors also requested
us to do so.
We are also looking into some other medical equipments
for this hospital. We are looking for ways to set a oxygen plant for
this Children hospital, MRI, CAT scan and to import fully equipped
ambulances for these Children hospital.
The Yangon Children Hospital have qualified
pediatricians but do not have the necessary medical equipment to
provide the best treatment possible.
Dr. Ni Ni, Dr. U Aung Kyi Myint, Levi & Daniel at Yangon Chldren Hospital
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Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. December 20, 2008 11:00 AM. File underHealthcare
Levi was awarded "The
Outstanding Award 2008" by Chin Community of Burma U.S.A on 30 & 31 August
2008 in Battle Creek, Michigan, U.S.A. The award was given in recognition of her
outstanding achievement in various national and international level
contribution.
During that time,
Levi was in
Myanmar traveling in Irrawaddy Delta region where Cyclone hit hard taking more
than
100,000 lives. Then she went to Chin
State to
assist the poor. It was during that time her daughter was called
home to be with the Lord. She was not able to receive this award in persondue to those
circumstances and only could respond several months later. The
award was sent to her home.
Chin costume 2008
Chin Soccer team 2008
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Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. December 01, 2008 11:00 AM. File underAwards
"i Love Myanmar" and John, Daniel (John's son) Stacy and Dr. Duffy from Godaids team up to help the victims of Cyclone Nargis in Irrawaddy.
John was giving away Vitamins to the victims. I was impressed by his humility.
Dr. Duffy was treating the injury of the victims and Levi interpret for him. Dr. Duffy exhibits great kindness and have keen understanding of post-disaster trauma in various countries.
Stacy was praying for people or playing and swimming with the people in the river which was contaminated. There were soccer game in the rice field in the evening. "i Love Myanmar" team and the villagers.
I am amazed by the cross-cultural understanding even in the most poorest area. I was a little problem eating food in Bogale due to cleanness and other issue, but for Godaids team they can adapt with every local situation they are facing.
Dr. Duffy and Levi in Irrawaddy (above)
Stacy playing football with the villagers in the rice field (below)
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Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. June 30, 2008 11:00 AM. File underHealthcare
My brother Charles Mangte &
I met with Minister Maung Maung Swe and the deputy minister Kyaw Myint of Relief
& resettlement for Cyclone victims on 25 June 2008.
We discuss the possibility of
rebuilding houses & schools for the cyclone victims. The ministers accepted
our kind gesture to assist the victims of Cyclone Nargis and offered discounted
building materials and equipment from the ministry of Forestry.
We deeply appreciate the support
and collaboration extended from the Minister's office. We hope this partnership
will benefit many helpless victims of Cyclone Nargis.
My Brother, Deputy Minister, Minister & Me
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Little Samuel & Deputy Minister Kyaw Myint
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Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. June 25, 2008 11:00 PM. File underDisaster Relief
Our teams who had visited the disaster
victims have developed skin disease. We also observed that victims in
that area were also infected by similar skin diseases.
The disease is
spreading quickly and it is in becoming increasingly dangerous for us
to keep serving among these victims without knowing what treatment is
available for this kind diseases.
Even though it is now more than 40 days
since the disaster. Human corpses and animal carcasses are still
floating in the river and abandoned at the roadside or in the field.
"i Love Myanmar" team member
Baby in Cyclone affected area getting skin desease
Our team witnessed human corpses
decaying to the point of revealing bones and some bloated up like big
balloon in the water. We have been passing these corpses regularly. We
could bury the ones on the roadside but could not do anything with
corpses in the water. We observed the water around decaying human
corpses turning into white color.
We could only provide them daily relief
food supply. Vast numbers of victims of cyclone Nargis are still
waiting for help to come to them.
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Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. June 10, 2008 9:00 PM. File underHealthcare
This life account is dedicated to thousands of survivors of Cyclone Nargis that hit Myanmar on May 2-3, 2008 who being alive still faces the grief from their loss. We met a man who has boat on the day we intended to travel from Bokale to Daunt Gyi. He was willing to take us on his boat while we had been unsuccessful to find anyone to take us across the river to Daunt Gyi. Prior to the Cyclone, about 100-150 boats travel this route daily. At this time, no one was willing to travel on that path on the Arrawaddy. There seem to be a silent fear in the air for people to use the river. Besides, there were rumors that another Cyclone is coming.
We finally found a man with a boat that was willing to take us to Daunt Gyi village. When we met him, he asked us to pay him diesel fee and we gladly obliged. There seem to be fear on the face of our guide from the village. As most of our team members had grew up in the city, none of us understood why there was such a fear about going on a boat in a river.
Facing fear on the river of Death
About 20 minutes into our boat journey from the river bank at Bokale, it started to rain heavily. Strong wind and waves came at our boat. Our boat started to swing left and right strongly. The boatman focused attentively to navigate our boat then I started starring at certain direction as if he spotted something. I got up from my seat and looked towards the direction where he looked. I saw corpses floating everywhere on the river. My hair stood up. Now I taste what everyone is fearful about.
My friends saw me taking out my camera as if I have spotted something important. When they saw what I saw, they started screaming hysterically. Our boat was still beaten by strong wind, rain and waves while we navigate through the zone of floating corpses. The screaming among was still going on. I don’t know what exactly I was feeling anymore, it is like fear, worry and anxiety all mixed up into one reality. I can feel my body heating up. Then we began to pray to the Lord like never before for at least 20 minutes.
After a while, the rain stop and the river calmed down. I began to talk to the boatman about his experience. He has a stoic look. He only gave me brief answer to my question. He never ...
Highest winds: 165 km/h (105 mph) (3-minute sustained) 215 km/h (135 mph) (1-minute sustained)
Lowest pressure ≤ 962 hPa (mbar)
Fatalities: 77,738- 124,000
Damage: Unknown
Areas affected: Myanmar
Part of the 2008 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
Cyclone Nargis (also known as Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Nargis) was a strong tropical cyclone that caused the deadliest natural disaster in the recorded history of Myanmar (also known as Burma). The cyclone made landfall in the country on May 2, 2008, causing catastrophic destruction and at least 78,000 fatalities with a further 56,000 people still missing. However, Labutta Township alone was reported to have 80,000 dead and some have estimated the death toll may be well over 100,000.
Nargis is the deadliest named cyclone in the North Indian Ocean Basin, as well as the second deadliest named cyclone of all time, behind Typhoon Nina. Including unnamed storms, Nargis is the 8th deadliest cyclone of all time. Nargis was the first tropical cyclone to strike the country since Cyclone Mala made landfall in 2006.
The cyclone name "Nargis" is an Urdu word meaning daffodil. The first named storm of the 2008 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, Nargis developed on April 27 in the central area of Bay of Bengal. Initially it tracked slowly northwestward and, encountering favorable conditions, it quickly strengthened. Dry air weakened the cyclone on April 29, though after beginning a steady eastward motion Nargis rapidly intensified to attain peak winds of at least 165 km/h (105 mph) on May 2; the Joint Typhoon Warning Center assessed peak winds of 215 km/h (135 mph). The cyclone moved ashore in the Ayeyarwady Division of Myanmar near peak intensity and, after passing near the major city of Yangon (Rangoon), the storm gradually weakened until dissipating near the border of Myanmar and Thailand.
Storm history
In the last week of April 2008, an area of deep convection and concern persisted near a low-level circulation in the Bay of Bengal about 1150 km (715 mi) east-southeast of Chennai, India. With good outflow and low wind shear, the system slowly organized as its circulation consolidated.
At 0300 UTC on April 27, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) classified the system as a depression, and nine hours later the system intensified into a deep depression. At the same time, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center classified it as Tropical Cyclone. With a ridge to its north, the system tracked slowly north-northwestward as ...
Levi was awarded "The
person of the Year 2007" by the Falam Association of Myanmar in Yangon in
October 2007 during the celebration of Chin New Year festival.
She could not attend
this ceremony due to her presence in U.S.A at that time. The award was presented due to her invaluable
contribution to the Myanmar bible project and many other breakthrough
initiatives she pioneered.
U
Khuang Lian Thang, the father of Levi, received the award on behalf of
Levi in
Yangon, Myanmar.
We
are grateful and appreciate the Falam Association of Myanmar for the recognition
shown to Levi.
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Posted by Levi Sap Nei Thang. November 01, 2006 9:00 AM. File underAwards
