Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Written by Elisabeth Servant

Mosquito Nets at Love and Mercy Shelter

Boys holding up their new mosquito nets
Love and Mercy Shelter now has new mosquito nets!

Love and Mercy Shelter was needing new mosquito nets to replace their old ones with big holes. They were no longer able to keep malaria-infected mosquitoes from reaching the children beneath them. In response to our recent email to Orphan’s Tear friends explaining the need, some gracious people gave to the Special Projects Fund to provide new nets for the 22 children at Love and Mercy. These new mosquito nets should last them a few years, helping them sleep peacefully knowing that they are safe!

Thank you so much!


Elisabeth Servant
Director, Orphan’s Tear division

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Filed under: Love and Mercy Shelter, Myanmar, Special Projects
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Written by Elisabeth Servant

Honor Student


Thang Hli Pai with a beaming smile.

Thang Hli Pai doesn’t remember what her parents look like. Her mother died giving birth to her. Her father died by snakebite before her first birthday. She was found by a missionary, who cradled baby Thang all the way to Bethel Orphanage in Kalaymyo.

That was 17 years ago. From a dark beginning has come a bright hope for Thang’s future. She just finished 10th grade—at the head of her class! Her hard work paid off. The bouquet of flowers she holds in the photo are part of the recognition she received for her accomplishment. Sharing in Thang’s achievement is a family from Illinois, faithful sponsors who have supported her in prayer and made her schooling possible.

I’m so thankful that the Lord keeps watch over orphans—even little babies who have no other hope but Him. Look at what the Lord has done with this girl!


Elisabeth Servant
Director, Orphan’s Tear division

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Filed under: Bethel Orphanage 1, Myanmar
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Written by Elisabeth Servant

Unfair Fishing

Boy holding fish that he caught
Obed of New Heritage Orphanage shows off his catch…and his smile!

I’ve never had much interest in fishing, but at orphanages like New Heritage in Myanmar, having a pond for raising fish is a great blessing. Adding fish to their diets improves the children’s health, and selling the rest in the market helps the orphanage become more self-sufficient.

New Heritage Orphanage dug out a pond in their backyard and stocked it with fingerlings last year. Then they fed them each day and patiently waited for the day when the fish would be big enough to catch and sell in the market…and enjoy a great fish feast for themselves.

Harvest time finally came a couple weeks ago. The boys at New Heritage wasted no time ripping off their shirts, grabbing their nets, and jumping into the pond. They formed a line with their net, and walked back and forth across the pond until every fish was caught. This type of fishing seems like cheating to me…but you can sure tell that these kids enjoy harvesting the blessing from the Lord!


Elisabeth Servant
Director, Orphan’s Tear division

Boys in muddy water holding a fish net
Mud and fish—what more could a boy ask for? These boys use a net to corral the fish toward one end, making it impossible for escape!

The children holding the fish that they caught
All the children of New Heritage Orphanage, showing off just a few of the unlucky fish

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Filed under: Myanmar, New Heritage Orphanage
Monday, April 30, 2012
Written by Philip

Standing on Their Own!

A boy standing on the remnants of his orphanage demolished by the government
This is all that was left of their home after the government ordered it to be demolished.

Over the past several years, Orphan’s Tear has helped over 30 orphanages in Burma. One of them, Christ’s Home for the Needy, we had never been allowed to visit. Located in the remote city of Hakha in Chin, a state forbidden to foreigners, we could only meet with the director when he made the difficult journey to the city of Kalaymyo, just outside the border of Chin State.

You may recall that our first involvement with this orphanage began back in 2008, when we helped them build a new home after the authorities ordered the demolition of the existing one (due, they said, to some violation of the city’s building code). Since then, our UK division of Orphan’s Tear has also helped them construct a fish farm and purchase a small truck—an uncommon, highly-valued utility vehicle in Hakha—that they often hire out to earn money that helps the orphanage become more self-sufficient.

Last month, in an unprecedented move by the government, I was granted permission to visit Hakha. I had the privilege of finally visiting Christ’s Home for the Needy! I was overwhelmed by what I saw. Not only was I thrilled to finally meet the children whom I had only known previously through photos, but I also witnessed the fruits of our labors with my own eyes!

Now equipped with fish ponds, a truck, and other facilities, this orphanage is about ready to stand on its own. Using these resources it can now support itself and provide for the ongoing needs of the children through education and training. We hope that another orphanage that we support in the area will also soon benefit from the blessings God has bestowed upon this one. So look out for another positive report in the future!

On behalf of all who have benefitted from your kindness, thank you!


Philip Barker
Director, Orphan’s Tear UK division

The children and directors standing in front of their orphanage
This is the beautiful home of Christ’s Home for the Needy

The fish ponds located behind the orphanage
Now self-sustained through their fish ponds

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Filed under: Christ’s Home for the Needy, Myanmar
Friday, April 27, 2012
Written by Elisabeth Servant

Hanging by a Thread No More

Girl sewing at the orphanage
Sui Par weaving beautiful fabric to become self-supported.

Sui Par’s father died when she was a little girl. Her mother is blind, and unable to care for her daughter. Completely destitute, they had nowhere to turn except to the Handicapped Care Center in Kalaymyo, Myanmar. Although neither handicapped nor completely orphaned, the director had compassion on Sui Par and her mother, inviting them to live at his orphanage for the past several years.

Now 19 years old, Sui has finished her schooling and is now an excellent weaver. She can earn about $40 a month, enough for her to support herself and her mother! Because Sui’s mother is a widow, Heaven’s Family’s Widows Fund bought them a simple home, a loom, and enough thread for her to start her our weaving business.

Because her father died and her mother couldn’t care for her, we also had compassion on Sui, and placed her in our child sponsorship program when she came to the Handicapped Care Center. A compassionate couple, in turn, showed their love for Jesus by sponsoring Sui throughout her school years. Now an adult, she is ready to take off on her own with a foundation of God’s love, and the knowledge that she has a spiritual family who also loves her.

Thank you to all sponsors who are making a difference in the lives of children just like Sui!


Elisabeth Servant
Director, Orphan’s Tear division

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Filed under: Handicapped Care Center, Myanmar
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Written by Philip

Seeing Straight for the First Time!

Zar smiling

Thu Zar Win’s first ten years of life have been difficult. Her father died of AIDS in 2005, followed by her mother in 2006. Then she and her younger sister Cherry Win were taken to Love Children’s Home by their neighbors. To make matters worse, Win had vision problems due to a muscle defect in her left eye that caused it to turn inwards.

That was one problem, at least, that we could help do something about.

Last December, Win traveled a long way from her home to start a 21-day treatment that included surgery to restore her vision to normal. Children with this problem who live in developed countries undergo this treatment much earlier, increasing the likelihood that the correction will be successful. If not treated early, the brain has a much more difficult task adjusting to the corrective surgery.

After Win’s surgery, we held our breath as we waited to see the results of the procedure…and were thrilled to see that it worked!

Her brain is still struggling to adjust to seeing properly through eyes that are now straight, and she has to practice using her eyes together, instead of relying on her dominant eye as most of us do. Please pray that she will experience a 100% complete adjustment!

When I recently saw Win she was noticeably happier and more outgoing, so we’re excited to see the many ways that she is benefitting from the precious gift that we were able to give her—all because of the wonderful gifts of people like you.

On behalf of Win, thank you.


Philip Barker
Director, Orphan’s Tear UK division

Wing laying in bed with bandages on her eyes
Win before her surgery, and resting afterward

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Filed under: Love Children’s Home, Myanmar
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Written by Elisabeth Servant

Baby Animals!

Children with baby ducks
Zam Siam Dim, Phun Za Sang, and Van Bawi Zing with Grace Orphanage’s new baby ducks.

Most Orphan’s Tear-supported orphanages also raise animals. The sounds of quacking, oinking, and clucking are often heard among children’s laughter, but also an occasional splashing, as some orphanages even raise fish. The animals not only provide income and food for your sponsored children, but they also give the children opportunity to learn about animal care and responsibility—not to mention the fact that animals are also fun to play with!

Just last month we helped two orphanages start pig businesses. Once those pigs are full grown, they can be sold for twice their original price. And when those pigs will have piglets, profits multiply (literally!).

For the children,


Elisabeth Servant
Director, Orphan’s Tear division

Pigs drinking milk from their mom
Grace Orphanage’s business is exploding: their mama pig just had 11 piglets!

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Filed under: Grace Orphanage - Kalay, Myanmar
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Written by Elisabeth Servant

Rice Dreams Come True

Girls holding new rice cooker
Love and Mercy Shelter bringing in their new electric rice cooker!

Coupons are a nice way to save money in the US, but they don’t exist in Myanmar—at least not yet. In the meantime, our orphanages have to find creative ways to save money.

Several of our orphanage directors in Myanmar wrote to me requesting electric rice cookers. Traditionally, the directors would have to buy wood or other fuel—costing about $40 per month—to build the open fires needed to cook rice, the staple of the Asian diet, to sustain their children. (Did you know that the average Burmese consumes about 500 pounds of rice each year, while the average American only consumes about 25 pounds?) An electric rice cooker costs about $180, which means that in less than 5 months it pays for itself. This was a no-brainer!

Thanks gifts to the Orphan’s Tear’s Special Gifts Fund, we’ve been able to purchase new electric rice cookers for several of our orphanages.

On behalf of the children,


Elisabeth Servant
Director, Orphan’s Tear division

All the children with their new rice cookers
New Heritage needed two electric rice cookers to feed all their children

Agape children holding their new rice cooker
Agape Orphanage is very pleased with their new electric rice cooker

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Filed under: Agape Orphanage, Love and Mercy Shelter, Myanmar, New Heritage Orphanage
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Written by Elisabeth Servant

Murky Water

The children waving and smiling in fron of their new well
“Well” done! Happy children at Life Concern Orphanage’s new well—one that will last them for a long time.

The idea of bathing in murky water makes me uncomfortable. The first thing I’d feel squeamish about is wondering what creepy things might be swimming around in there. Then I’d question whether or not showering in such water would even make me clean! Bathing in such water has been a reality at Life Concern Orphanage in Yangon, Myanmar—that is until recently. The orphanage well, their only source of water, was unprotected, allowing debris and dirt to wash in during the rainy season (see photo below). Here is what the director, Joney Van Hup, wrote to us:

This is my humble request to you that the well that we have now is very useful for washing clothes, taking bath, toilets, gardening and washing dishes. But the water is very filthy and muddy. Therefore, I want to repair and put the concrete (ring shape) inside the well in order that the water will be more clean and especially in the rainy season, the outside water will not go into the well.

It didn’t take me long to realize that this was a problem we wanted to help fix! If you have given to Orphan’s Tear’s Special Gifts Fund, you played a part in helping Life Concern Orphanage upgrade their well so that they can draw clean water.

Joney wrote:

As for me and all the kids are fine. I have sent the pictures of the new well you’ve sponsored us. Now, the water is getting better and it’s very useful for us. Thanks for your love and concerned.

The next time I take a shower I’ll be thinking about the children at Life Concern, and won’t take clean water for granted anymore!


Elisabeth Servant
Director, Orphan’s Tear division

The orphanage's old well with dirty water
The previous well’s protection did not do a very good job!

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Filed under: Life Concern Orphanage, Myanmar
Monday, April 2, 2012
Written by Elisabeth Servant

Harvest in Full Swing!

Children at the orphanage carrying in bags of rice
A great blessing: the children of Faith Orphanage bringing in newly-harvested rice from their own rice field.

In the past few years, the price of rice has skyrocketed in Myanmar. To minimize the impact, we’ve helped most of our orphanages in Myanmar purchase their own rice paddies through gifts to the Rice Fields for Orphanages Fund.

Thankful for his orphanage’s rice field, the director of Trinity Orphanage recently wrote:

Our paddy field is now ready to harvest, and we are very thankful to our God for a good crop. There is enough rice to feed us during the next 5 month. So it is a blessing to have our own rice field….

Children jumping on the bags of rice
At Faith Orphanage, bags of rice make a great playground, too!


Elisabeth Servant
Director, Orphan’s Tear division

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Filed under: Faith Orphanage, Myanmar, Trinity Orphanage
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Orphan's Tear uses none of the contributions received for fundraising or administrative purposes. 100% of everything we receive from you directly benefits orphans. General gifts to our parent ministry, Heaven's Family, provide the administrative costs of Orphan's Tear.