Seeds of hope….

I’m a 45 year old Karenni woman, and there are five people in my family. I never understood much about politics — that world was far from mine. As a woman, I spent my days cooking for my family, looking after my children, and working in the fields. That was my life. Simple, steady, and filled with love.

Then one day, everything changed.

We heard a strange sound above the village. Someone said it was a drone — a spy machine. Just thirty minutes later, the bombing began. Explosions shook the ground. People screamed. We all ran, scattered in different directions with no time to think, no time to gather anything.

I ended up in another area inside Karenni state, where we stayed for fifteen days. But we had no food left, no safety, no way to survive. So we walked to the Thai-Myanmar border, hoping to find refuge. I don’t even know how to begin again here. In my old village, I had land, tools, and a way to provide for my family. Here, I have none of that. I felt lost.

But someone came.

Thanks to the Thailand mission group, I was given a small packet of seeds and some basic supplies. It might not sound like much, but to me, it meant hope. I planted those seeds. I started a small garden. And for the first time since fleeing my village, I felt a little peace. I still don’t know what the future holds, but I’m trying — doing whatever I can to take care of my family and stand on my own feet again.

I want to say thank you. Thank you to everyone who helped. Thank you to the kind people who brought us food and the tools we need to survive. I am especially grateful to the man who came with supplies — Rocky. I felt ashamed I couldn’t offer him even a simple meal. We had so little. But please know how deeply I appreciate what was given to us.

Your kindness reached us when we had nothing. And for that, I will never forget.