....

This past January, Julie Warner lead a BPFNA Friendship Tour to Burma (Myanmar). I feel blessed to have been a part of this trip, along with Carol Day and Kay Cheves. I was asked by my church to give a report on this incredible experience. I have not tried to build a “scientific” report, but have rather focused on giving our congregation the strongest sense of what we have lived during these almost 3 weeks in the few minutes I had to talk. So I decided to tell three stories representing powerful, key moments that I will never forget.

..

En enero pasado, Julie Warner dirigió una gira de amistad de BPFNA a Birmania (Myanmar). Me siento bendecida por haber sido parte de este viaje, junto con Carol Day y Kay Cheves. Mi iglesia me pidió que diera un informe sobre esta increíble experiencia. No he tratado de construir un informe "científico", sino que me he centrado en dar a nuestra congregación el sentido más fuerte de lo que hemos vivido durante estas casi 3 semanas en los pocos minutos que tuve que hablar. Así que decidí contar tres historias que representan momentos clave y poderosos que nunca olvidaré.

....

....

Having flown from Yangon to Bangkok, Thailand, we took the day bus from Bangkok to Mae Sot, a 7-hour trip. There we made a short visit to the Mae Tao Clinic in Mae Sot where we had a tour with Meredith Walsh. [Meredith grew up attending BPFNA’s summer conference, Peace Camp. Her father, Tom Walsh, was a member of the first BPFNA board.]

..

Having flown from Yangon to Bangkok, Thailand, we took the day bus from Bangkok to Mae Sot, a 7-hour trip. There we made a short visit to the Mae Tao Clinic in Mae Sot where we had a tour with Meredith Walsh. [Meredith grew up attending BPFNA’s summer conference, “Peace Camp”. Her father, Tom Walsh, was a member of the first BPFNA board.]

....

....

The following is written by Julie Warner, leader of the Friendship Tour to Burma & Thailand. This is Julie's second report.

..

Lo siguiente está escrito por Julie Warner, líder del Viaje de la Amistad a Birmania y Tailandia. Este es el segundo informe de Julie.

....

....

We arrived in Yangon on Friday evening, Jan 19. On Saturday we spent the day with [Burmese exile] Ko Ko Lay and staff at Karen Theological Seminary. We were received warmly by Ko Ko Lay, staff, and students. We visited the campus, including spending some time talking to the students in their dorms. We then went to a nearby teashop where we sat and began to discuss the current political situation. This was a great experience - I was well aware that people in Myanmar (mostly the men) go to the teashops and spend time discussing current events, politics, etc. So here we were in a similar setting doing the same - however, more openly.

..

We arrived in Yangon on Friday evening, Jan 19. On Saturday we spent the day with [Burmese exhile] Ko Ko Lay and staff at Karen Theological Seminary. We were received warmly by Ko Ko Lay, staff, and students. We visited the campus, including spending some time talking to the students in their dorms.  We then went to a nearby teashop where we sat and began to discuss the current political situation. This was a great experience - I was well aware that people in Myanmar (mostly the men) go to the teashops and spend time discussing current events, politics, etc. So here we were in a similar setting doing the same - however, more openly.

....