Helping fire victims in Lungkhin, Hakha Chin State
Levi Sap Nei Thang
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
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. <?xml:namespace prefix = o />
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 only take 1200 pieces out of 2800 pieces as we intended, the second vehicle carried another 400 pieces behind our convoy. We had to reduce the amount zinc roof we acquired due to sudden hike of high price and car rental.
The 65 miles road journey took 8 hours, we finally arrived at Aika village in Matupi township. The vehicle cannot access beyond Aika village. The rest of journey had to be by foot. The Lungkhin village is situated in the Hakha township but the road access takes through Matupi township to Aika village as our last stop. 10 villagers from Lungkhin village would arrived in Aika village to help us carry the zinc roof back to their village. At 4 am more 135 villagers from Lungkhun arrived to carry zinc roof. At 6am, the Lungkhin villagers were ready to depart from Aika with the zinc roof back to Lungkhin.
They advised me not to go with them as the remaining 4 miles hike would be too difficult for me. The mountain will be too steep and the terrain too challenging. However, I insisted that I must come with them for this remaining 4 miles. I have come all the way until the last 4 miles, I must go all the way. I wish to show them care, comfort and love and learn about their true living condition.
When I looked at these villagers carrying zinc roof on their head, I remembered a middle school story regarding "ants that carried food on their head".
As I reflect on the life of these villagers, I have deep sentiment about them. I don't know how to describe it but it is a real feeling to me.
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The journey from Aika started with a decent from Aika village into the Buiana River
We had to cross the river and then began to ascend upward. My two friends were almost out of breath climbing those steep mountains. They had to return to Aika half way through journey. I carried on their journey with the villagers towards Lungkhin.
The slope was more than 75 degrees. I could not see the trail ahead except the backside of the person right front of me. Therefore I called these mountains, "Taw Hmu Tlang" which means "see Backside Mountain".
The villagers kept asking me, "are you tired" and I replied, " I am not tired". In actuality, they are the ones who are carrying the zinc roof while hiking these steep slopes. I am walking without carrying any heavy load except for my digital camera. I was rather shy to even tell them my tiredness as they are carrying 8 pieces of zinc roof. Some of them 10 and some men even carried 20 pieces of Zinc roof.
As hiked up to higher elevation, I looked downward, it seem too high to me. I stopped for a moment while we passed through a big mountain.
When it is time to restart our journey, I could no longer lift up my feet. I left my shoes were too heavy so I took it off. A kind boy carried my shoes out of gratitude. I felt lighter without my shoes. My clothing was all drench with sweat. Apparently, the villagers were also very tired so we took some rest.
After we passed through three large mountains, the road was not as high or steep. My feet were hurting to badly but I know I must reach the destination. I pushed myself with all my strength to walk all the way to Lungkhin villages. There was no water to drink along the way; any small stream or river along our path.
We finally arrived at Lungkhin village at 8am. The village was beautiful. The view from Lungkhin is very scenic. I can see the main road of Matupi and Hakha from here. The air in this place is so fresh and refreshing; it almost cured my tiredness. I dried my t-shirt under the sun. The weather is cool so I really enjoyed it. The villagers offered me locally made coffee and I drank 3 cups of coffee.
I was hoping we would celebrate Easter service together as a village but I found out there villagers attend three different churches. These churches were conducted separate services on Sunday. My desire did not come true. I made a quick survey around the Lungkhin village. Many houses were destroyed especially those which were constructed with dried leaves. The houses with zinc roof were unburned. The Roman Catholic Church was also not burned by the fire while the surrounding houses were destroyed.
The villagers called me, "I love you Myanmar". I believe they were attempting to address our organization "I Love Myanmar' but they mistakenly called us with a new name, "I Love you Myanmar". I kind of like that.
At 9am, the villagers gathered together and I shared with my difficulty of getting to village to help them. At that point, I remembered my sister and her daughter and how they journeyed a long way to help the victims of Cyclone Nargis. I told them the story of my sister and baby Emmanuel. Tears began to drop on my face. They villagers cried with me. The story touches them deeply.
Love does not come cheap. It takes sacrifice, perseverance, patient, kindness and grace to show love. (above photos: a temporary home of fire victims)
The villagers are speechless when they received the gift of zinc roof. They cannot imagine someone would love and care for them so much.
At 11am, I am getting ready to depart from Lungkhin to Aika. I was rather unwilling to go as I wish to spend more time with the villagers and I was too tired for another mountainous journey. These villagers are so simple, grateful and lovely. I really love to spend more time with them. Furthermore, I could not imagine myself going through the same journey that I came from. It was at that moment, I heard the sound of a motorcycle in the village, I found the rider and I requested the rider to take me to Aika. I did not realize that motorcycle could access this village.
However, as I journey to Aika with the motorcycle, I realized it was taking a different route. The road was too winding. It turned every moment. We can see Buaina River below as we journey along the motorcycle path. We nearly fell down on steep slope once but instead we maneuvered the cycle to fall on a wall. My leg were twisted unexpectedly. It was so painful that I was rolling on the ground and screaming on the top of my voice. I thought I had a broken leg. I thank God that my leg did not break. The journey took only 35 minutes instead of nearly 4 hours by foot.
When I arrived at Aika village, my two friends were waiting for me. They welcomed me. They also told me that villagers from Aika appreciate our help and they sent us a "pork head" as a gift. They slaughtered a pig in thanksgiving on the day I arrived and gave us the best part. The villagers told my friend that they knew if they gave me that pork at the village, I would not received it so they sent it to Aika. I was very touched with their generosity. I thought about giving the village a "pig" for Easter celebration. They are the ones in need at this moment but instead they gave what they had left to show love and appreciation. Sacrificing a pig for someone is very special in our culture.
As I reflect again, I realized that we had gone on time to help them. They received the zinc roof right before heavy rain. Now they have shelters. The bible says, "Those who trust in the Lord shall not be put to shame". Indeed, God is never late. He is always on time. We can trust in God.
-------------------------------------- rice bags, zinc roofs and some cooking pots
Myanmar
