In recent years, Myanmar has experienced a rising number of conflicts. Amid this ongoing suffering, a powerful earthquake struck, shaking an already wounded country.
My husband and I landed in Yangon during a heatwave. The poor and restricted internet connection further isolated us from the outside world. This trip had been planned to visit our project sites and conduct mission workshops, but it quickly became a mission of compassion to those affected by the earthquake, too.
The epicentre of the 7.7-magnitude earthquake was in Sagaing State, severely affecting the Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw regions. Roads and bridges were destroyed, buildings collapsed, and countless lives were lost. Survivors faced the overwhelming grief of losing loved ones and homes. With the slow and restricted flow of information, rescue efforts were delayed. People watched critical hours slip away, feeling helpless and abandoned.
We travelled to Nay Pyi Taw, one of the hardest-hit areas. Although reports attempted to capture the scale of the disaster, it was the personal stories of survivors that truly revealed the heartache. Standing among them, listening to their pain, and weeping with them, we were deeply reminded of how vulnerable and fragile we are in the face of disaster — and how suffering makes us all equal.
Alongside our partner, Hope Baptist Church in Yangon, we connected with local pastors in the affected areas. Together, we identified victims who had the least access to relief efforts and provided them with temporary shelters and food supplies. As we reached out to these families, our partners’ care and relief efforts brought some smiles back to their faces, offering even a small measure of comfort.
This tragedy unfolded during the season of Lent, a time when we reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice. In this season of sorrow, we found ourselves embraced by the wounded hands of our Savior, comforted once again by the One through whose wounds we are healed (Isaiah 53:5).
May this wounded country find peace in our wounded Lord Jesus Christ.
