FAMILY LINK MYANMAR
ANNUAL GENERAL MEEETING 2021
December 3[rd] . 4.30pm GRANGE HOUSE, ELMSWELL.
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
Due to the extraordinary circumstances of covid restrictions in the UK, this AGM has been delayed from April till this evening in December, and hence this report covers the charity's activity from March 2020 to the end of February 2021.We trust that the normal AGM will resume in April.
In early March 2020 we made the third of the large payments for the house building. Virtually all construction work ceased at this time in Yangon and indeed throughout the country due to Covid. Our Buddhist builder however kept going as he had an amazing dream telling him to carry on and finish because Jesus said He was already living there.
Despite the construction work being ongoing, the concrete floors and no windows, 8 of the oldest children moved in to relieve the overwhelming crowding in the flats at Yuzana. We had dug a well there much earlier so there was clean water. Panic buying was endemic but Suan had good stores of food.
In April we heard that the builder had gifted solid teak flooring for the main downstairs room. In faith we decided to match it throughout the house. With funds close to zero we gave the go-ahead and within days we had a donation of £3000 from a Trust. The builder then gifted a new A/C unit.
In June the authorities granted unofficial permission for the 8 children to be in the house as Myanmar law states that no-one may move into an unfinished property.
On the 25th of June 2020 we had the great joy of making the final payment on the house. The legal two inspections were made in July and August and passed by the building regulators.
On the 15th August the children moved en masse into their beautiful new home and the evening was a celebration party that went on late into the night. The keys belong to them and with great joy we gifted them the house that was built by faith from the first stone. They could not believe the space they now had. The older boys sleep on the ground floor, the older girls on the top floor, and Suan, Anna and all the small children sleep on the first floor.
That very week the authorities announced that because of Covid there must be a limit on occupancy of flats. The government that same week also announced a new law that children's homes had to be registered and homes in rented properties or in flats would be immediately closed. We had made it with only days to spare. If the builder had not carried on with the house, we would probably have lost our children to state orphanages.
The following week the construction of the largest shopping mall in Yangon was begun, not far from our new house. Real estate prices soared. The builder asked how we had known all these things!
We decided to build bunk beds for all the children but sadly the purchase of the wood and the construction was halted due to Covid.
In October the food situation was becoming difficult, but Suan received many months supply of high-protein dried soup from FedAid, a contact we had made at our hotel a year or so ago. We also bought blankets, pillows and a towel for each person at the house. Wonderful photos showed their excitement.
In December Mark Coole updated the website re Trustees and an update. Suan commented how much healthier the children are now. Previously if one had a fever it would go through them all but now there is space to isolate. The children are growing and so much happier, able to play outdoors all the time which was not possible before. Suan continues to distribute rice to the remote villages.
February 1st turned everything on its head. The military staged a coup and imprisoned the legitimate government who had been legally elected the previous November. Initially the peaceful protests were only observed by the troops but after a couple of weeks they retaliated with live ammunition. House raids at night were terrifying and even health workers tending the injured were shot or imprisoned.
Our year began with much joy and excitement. Our faith was stretched as each bill for the house became due and now it was completed to a very high standard and every penny paid. God was faithful and we were so excited. The wonderful news is that they have a beautiful spacious home, clean water, enough food and to share, new bedding, pillows and towels, a small patch for growing vegetables and good health. They are still a beacon of light in a very dark place.
We have provided 13 wells to date and have been gifted money for another. But as all work in Myanmar has stopped, the next wells are on hold indefinitely.
Sadly the year ended in heartbreak and terror for the Burmese people, and great sadness for us as we had to cancel plans for our usual March visit. We are in almost daily contact with Suan and get up-to-the-minute news from the ground.
At date of writing (November 2021) the situation has escalated and deteriorated right across the country. No visits have taken place and none can be planned.
Family Link Myanmar
Finance position from 1st March 2020 to 28th February 2021
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Opening balance | 1952.85 |
| Income | 21761.61 |
| Expenditure | 16217.87 |
| Closing Balance | 7496.59 |