May 2011
1 post
April 2011
1 post
Workers brought into US and 'exploited' →
A US federal agency has filed lawsuits over the unequal treatment of more than 500 migrant workers from India brought into the country to work at shipyards in Mississipi and Texas, and over 200 Thai farm labourers brought in to work in Hawaii and Washington state.
The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said on Wednesday that the workers were forced to live in substandard housing and...
March 2011
3 posts
February 2011
2 posts
Suu Kyi to Meet Burmese Youths →
(via un:dbg)
January 2011
1 post
WatchNBC’s Ann Curry has conducted the first U.S. television interview with democracy advocate and Nobel Prize-winner Aung San Suu Kyi since she was released from house arrest in Myanmar in November.
November 2010
2 posts
September 2010
2 posts
March 2010
15 posts
1 tag
A really long but comprehensive article on the... →
Take It: EEEasy
The three basics “E’s” for English coaching that have been working for me are:
Evaluation: This means taking as much time necessary to evaluate your student’s skills, ability, and needs. People are complex, I have made many mistakes in prematurely ascertaining their ability level and starting down the wrong road.
Specifically rating: Reading, Writing, Comprehension,...
Prayer Focus
30 Days of Prayer for Burma
Day 6: The Hungry
Many factors are contributing to the lack of food in Burma; A large infestation of rats began the problem. In 2007 there was a mass flowering of bamboo, a phenomenon that occurs once every 50 years. 1700 acres of rice paddy and 1000 acres of millet have been destroyed. So far 54 deaths have been caused by famine-related illness, the majority...
1 tag
Journal Notes:
I am at my 5th or 6th week with my student and seeing progress. I can tell if he has studied in between lessons.
Currently these are my scores for the evaluation process for his aptitude (I have no formal training, or curriculum that I am going through, so this is my own program):
Reading: 3 Writing: 3 Speech: 3 Comprehension: 4 Desire To Learn: 9
This week I noticed that instead of trying to...
questions? →
Prayer Focus
30 Days of Prayer for Burma
Day 5: A Face Of Hope
The first election in Burma in 30 years was held in 1990. Aung San Suu Kyi won over 60% of the vote and over 80% of parliamentary seats. The ruling junta quickly overturned the results and placed her under house arrest. She has remained under house arrest for more than 18 of the past 20 years. She was to be released in May of this year, but an...
Prayer Focus
30 Days of Prayer for Burma
Day 4: The Government
Burma is governed by a brutal military junta, headed by Senior General Than Shwe, along with Prime Minister General Thein Sein. For 62 years Burma was under British control. In 1948 it became an independent republic, until democratic rule ended in 1962 with a military coup. During that time almost all aspects of society were brought under...
Prayer Focus
30 Days of Prayer for Burma
Day 3: The False Gods
1 tag
30 Day Prayer Guide →
(.PDF link towards bottom of page.)
1 tag
1 tag
The Betrayal : Nerakhoon →
(The link takes you to the Netflix listing)
This documentary like film dipicts a refugee family over a 20 year process of life change. I must watch for anyone involved in working with refugees.
I watched this film at The Flix with my daughter. I was deeply moved. I think I will make the film a Thanksgiving tradition, and would encourage you to do the same.
February 2010
3 posts
Recently
We changed from an hour long English coaching session every Sunday, to at home visits and providing support and “Life” coaching.
You can imagine that taking a group of refugees and hustling them off to apartments isn’t exactly the introduction to western living that any of us would enjoy.
The greatest need for assimilation is partnerships and community with these beautiful...
Situation In Burma
Women, Children, and the elderly continue to be hunted by the Burmese military in what has been characterized as more instensive. Here in the U.S. we cannot imagine the audacity of a government to take long term military action against it’s own unarmed people. We assume that is what the United Nations is for and that this type of atrocity ended with WW2. Frankly we are busy with our own...
January 2010
13 posts
1 tag
1 tag
“A genuine ruby wont sink and disappear in mud.”
– Burma Proverb
November 2009
1 post
1 tag
October 2009
3 posts
“To Aung San Suu Kyi (deposed and imprisoned leader of Burma) we and the people...”
– ~ Bono (via un)
1 tag
1 tag
Journal notes:
Last week I was tired and feeling poorly. Walking into church I was loathing my commitment to volunteer coaching English. So I sent up a simple prayer for “strength”.
As it turned out I had a blast. It was challenging, interesting, and fun. My two new students Bureh and Than Htway were wonderful. Bureh is young and has really good English skills. While Than Htway is older and has...
September 2009
4 posts
1 tag
Update
I attended the training session for the next round of Karenni refugees. Number 2 for me. I learned a lot more this time around.
Angie now a case worker from Compassio had some great insights. And I appreciated her energy and openness. She estimated the country is about 70% Buddhist and 30% Christian. She also pointed out that often refuges bring their ethnic tensions with them. Something I had...
1 tag
Volunteer English Coaching Classes
There is a Training/Information meeting for new and returning English coaches on Sunday, September 20th in the Karen Worship Room at Boise Vineyard Fellwoship.
Sunday, September 20th - Training
1:00 - 2:00 Angie K. gives us a review of Karen refugee history and tips on their culture including do’s and don’ts. 2:00 - 3:15 Josh C. presents refugee and refugee services presentation...