The morning air was alive with the songs of birds, their melodies drifting through the open windows as golden sunlight spilled into the room. We moved quietly, packing our overnight bags. Today was not just another journey—it was a step into a world shaped by decades of conflict.

Standing at the edge of the Moei River, the natural divide between Thailand and Myanmar, we took a moment to go over our plans for safety, ensuring every detail was in place.

Myanmar, once known as Burma, has endured the longest-running armed conflict in modern history. What began as a fight for independence has become a brutal struggle between the military junta, ethnic armed groups, and pro-democracy resistance forces.

For decades, the Karen people and other minorities have faced relentless persecution—their villages burned and their communities forced to flee. Many cross this very river into Thailand, escaping the violence.

Amidst this darkness, a beam of light shines in the form of an Adventist school called Sunshine Orchard Learning Center. For 17 years, it has provided a home and education to children fleeing the conflict. In addition to this large boarding school, several small schools have been established across the border in Myanmar.

This is where we are headed now—to witness the work being done for these children.

A steady rush of water filled the air as we climbed into the long wooden boat tasked with taking us across the river. The contrast between the landscapes of these two countries was striking. The moment we stepped onto the shores of this beautiful land, we were surrounded by towering, mist-covered mountains draped in lush jungle.

Here, we met up with the brother of the principal of Sunshine Orchard. Hardened by a tough life, with tattoos covering his arms and face, he makes a living transporting people and supplies throughout the area in his truck.

We loaded all our gear into the back before squeezing—five of us in total—into the cab of the worn-out, beat-up truck. Riding in the truck bed was out of the question for fear of being seen by the wrong people.

For over an hour and a half, we drove deeper into the country of Myanmar. The roads were rough and coated in dust—so much dust, in fact, that it piled up nearly six inches thick, a result of the constant movement of military vehicles.

The swirling dust created an almost black-and-white scene, coating everything in its path and stripping the landscape of color.

After a long drive, we arrived at the community near the school we had come to visit. The village was small, with chickens wandering along the dirt paths and a light haze of smoke hanging in the air from cooking fires. Nearby, a small regiment of soldiers stood watch, cleaning their guns.

As we listened to the villagers' stories, we couldn't help but think about the hardships they endure. Villages like this have faced pillaging, plundering, and the slaughter of their people. With the government acquiring fighter jets from Russia, airstrikes have become another threat, adding to their suffering.

One story from this very community stood out. A couple of years ago, the newly purchased fighter jets flew low over the village, sending waves of fear through the people. Believing they were about to be bombed, the villagers fled into the jungle. One family, desperate to survive, hid their only source of food—a years supply of rice—before disappearing even deeper into the jungle.

That night, a storm rolled in, and when they returned, all of the rice had been destroyed by the rain. This was their only source of food for the year, and since they were too poor to buy more, they were forced to hunt for every meal. It was a long and difficult year, but thankfully, they managed to survive.

This is just one of many such stories—most of which have far worse endings.

After spending some time in the village, we headed down the hill to the school. The open-air structure had been built and completed only a week earlier, and the scent of freshly milled wood still lingered in the air. Inside, sixty students filled the small classroom, each grade sitting just a few feet from the next, their voices overlapping in a lively hum of chatter.

This school is a beacon of hope for Karen children who have no other options for education and are either too young or unable to cross into Thailand to attend the boarding school.

The teachers come from Thailand, but during the school year, they live at the school, dedicating themselves fully to their students. They are deeply committed individuals who genuinely want to see these children build better lives—and through education, they hopefully will.

At the time of writing this newsletter, another event has occurred that urgently needs your prayers. The earthquake on March 28th has caused widespread damage and loss of life.

Please pray for the people of Myanmar and Thailand during this difficult time, and also continue to pray for an end to the ongoing war.

We would also like to mention that bombs are currently being dropped on the sandbars just across the river from the Sunshine Orchard Learning Center. The Adams family, who runs the school, are understandably very concerned, and the entire school community needs your prayers on this matter.

You may have noticed that we previously posted a long-form video about the Sunshine Orchard School on our YouTube channel, but it has since been removed. This was done at the request of the school due to the ongoing bombings—they want to avoid drawing additional attention from the Myanmar government, fearing it could put the school at even greater risk. This situation is in urgent need of your prayers.

However, the video is still available, along with other sensitive content, in a safer and more secure location. If you are interested in receiving access to this content, click the button below to apply for access.