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<\/p>\nMyitkyina is located in the northernmost state of Myanmar with international borders connected to China and India, \u00a0People in Myitkyina are called Kachin.<\/p>\n
In January 2020, \u00a0there were 96,656 Internally Displaced people, living in 139 camps. \u00a0Myitkyina diocese has halped a lot the IDP\u2019s together with JRS. The Diocese has hosted \u00a0hosted IDP\u2019s since 2011.<\/p>\n
I arrived in Myitkyina Kachin state Myanmar\u00a0 in November\u00a0 27, 2019 to accompany Sr. Pilar Brufal, who had been working with JRS (Jesuit Refugee Service) for two years . While accompanying Sr. Pilar, JRS asked me to work at TTC or Teachers\u2019 Training center in the camp as mentor and coach to the local management staff. My experience with the young people from the different dioceses of Myanmar was very challenging. I gave them spiritual formation session once a week and taught them organic backyard gardening aside from helping and mentoring the TTC staff. I gave catechesis class also to them and help them be aware of the importance of the sacraments.<\/p>\n
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Even if my work was focused more on the psycho \u2013social accompaniment of the teacher participants at the Teachers\u2019 Training Center, in the camp, I had the chance to visit families in the different camps to share with them some techniques on organic farming since their living depends much on agriculture.<\/p>\n
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Looking back at my four months working with JRS in Myanmar, I can still remember the images of the forcibly displaced men and women who reminded me of God\u2019s\u00a0 presence. The lay staff who have worked hard for their own people, still come to my mind especially at these times of crisis in Myanmar.<\/p>\n
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Recalling my encounter with the IDP\u2019s, I found out and realized that the best thing I had done was treating them as normal people and discovered that the language of smile was what they needed at that moment. A simple gesture of smile and listening to their joyful or sorrowful stories was surprisingly more rewarding than giving out material things to them<\/u><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n I have seen a lot of worst situations of poverty and I was surprised to discover their differences of need. Every context has its own need in terms of poverty. Working with the IDP\u2019s was very challenging for me. It takes humility to be under a very organized JRS team in Myanmar. I am so humbled looking at the serious commitment of the lay people serving the IDP\u2019s. Working with different lay and church groups, and with other congregations was very challenging too especially when you have different cultures and views. I experienced no barriers even working with Budhists\u00a0 and\u00a0 Protestants.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/hijasdejesus.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/2021-01_Myanmar_6.jpg\")
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