The Nations

How do you view people from around the world? I’m sure you would be surprised to know many of their stories. Recently, we visited Malaysia. We were there to visit the Zomi churches and the Zomi Association of Malaysia. These are probably foreign to you just as they were to me until I was there. Zomi are a people group native to Burma, and many have left Burma because of religious persecution. The largest Zomi population outside of Burma is in Malaysia. They are there waiting, many for over 10 years, to go to a country where they will have basic rights like healthcare, education, the ability to work, etc.

The Zomi people are a Nation – a Christian Nation, and they brought the church with them when they fled. Even though Malaysia is a temporary situation, they set up solutions for success, not only for their own people but for other refugees who need help. This is what the Zomi Association of Malaysia does. They created schools for their children to learn in English so that when they get to their third country, they are ready for success. They provide healthcare, and they help with appointments with the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees). Without this, they will not be registered to move on to their third country.

Tulsa has the second-largest population of Zomi people outside of Burma, and we are blessed to have them. My husband has been in the hospital recently, and he has had nurses, nurse techs, occupational therapists, and physical therapists from Nigeria, Peru, Puerto Rico, Thailand, Pakistan, India and a few from the Hmong people. If you think people from around the world are not part of our community, I can tell you that they are.

We loved every part of the time we spent with the Zomi people. Is it because we feel called to missions? I hope it is because Mathew 28:19 tells all of us to go. The first step into someone’s life is to befriend them. They might just be your neighbor.