This past year was a very busy, productive year for International Assistance Group. There was a big increase in the number of families willing to sponsor Karen refugee children. We ended the year with 250 sponsored children. Some of the children who were sponsored last year have lost their sponsors and we are busy trying to find replacements. Because a large number of our sponsors here in Hawaii are in the military, they are constantly being moved to different duty stations and it makes it difficult to stay in contact with all of them. I had told the Karen leaders when I started this sponsorship program, that once a child was sponsored, we would make it a top priority to see that they had no break in their sponsorship funds. There are a few children right now in between sponsors, but I am confident the Lord will bring sponsors for them.

Each week we receive at least 4-5 letters from sponsored children or their parents. Also a large number of children wanting sponsors are writing and sending their pictures. Ben and I usually end up teary-eyed by the time we finish reading the letters. The children have started writing more letters to their sponsors since I told them they could write in Karen. I have kept our translator in Seattle, Washington busy reading the letters and e-mailing the translations to me. Our translator is a wonderful Karen man who brought his family to the Untied States in the early 1970?s and is thrilled to be able to help in our work.

In 2003 we were blessed with $37,335.00 in donations and disbursed $30,717.00. We have $5,000.00 in the bank to start 2004, which will be disbursed on schedule. On the advice of the Karen leaders, the funds are disbursed quarterly instead of in a lump sum.

In my last news letter I told you about our newest project, Mu Aye Puu hospital. We had an overwhelming response to our request for funds to buy food and supplies for the hospital, staff and patients. $5,100.00 was received and to date we have bought $3,930.53 worth of blankets, nets, mats, utensils, pots and pans and warm sweaters. We will continue to meet needs as they arise. We want this to be an ongoing project.

My last trip to the refugee camps was in February 2003 and I hope to return within the next couple months as funds are received for expenses. The Lord has already answered my prayers for $3,000.00 to disburse when I do get to the camps. The situation along the border is still very unstable. During a recent ?cease fire? between the Karen and Burmese soldiers, the Burmese fired heavy artillery into several villages during a New Years gathering. I recently read a report posted by a friend of ours, Roland Watson, of Dictator Watch. He states that there are now over 2,000 new Internally Displaced Persons inside the Karen State in Burma. 1,000 are Karenni and 1,000 Karen. The Burma army is burning rice barns, chasing civilians out of their villages, and laying landmines around the abandoned villages. A 17 year old boy stepped on a landmine outside of Ka Lae Lo village and lost his leg from the knee down. A Free Burma Ranger team was nearby interviewing villagers whose rice barns had been burned. They had a Karen medic with them who applied first aid. An emergency amputation was conducted and the boy was stabilized and then carried for four days to a mobile clinic. The most pressing problem right now is that rice is running out for one group of 1,700 hiding together. Emergency medical assistance is being provided, but only about 2 weeks worth of medicine is left.

Another major problem has arisen for the refugees in the past few months. The Thai government has decided they need to re-locate Sah Lah/Mae Khon Kaw refugee camp. It is one of the larger camps with about 18,000 people living there. The area designated for the new camp is in a very remote area, very close to the Burmese troops and very hard to protect. Many of the refugees made the decision to return to Burma rather than risk the dangers facing them in the relocation. The last report I received was that over 100 families have already returned to live in the jungles of Burma, or try to make it to their home villages. The total number of people involved in this voluntary return is over 1, 700. I have been trying to find out if any of our sponsored children?s families were among those going back into Burma. I know they will desperately need our help to survive. Everyone in this camp has had a very hard year, with major flooding and diseases in the camp. I am counting on our close relationship with Karen organizations working with the Displaced Persons to keep us informed of the situation. If there is any way I can get across the border to visit some of them, I will do so and take food and medicine with me.

Ben is over in Thailand right now and will be taking food, medicine, clothing and other supplies into Burma. He will meet up with a doctor from California who is actively supporting Mu Aye Puu hospital. Several thousands of dollars worth of medicine and supplies will be taken in specifically for the hospital. Once again, I would ask for your prayers for the safety of Ben and those traveling with him.

On behalf of the thousands of Karen refugees, I?d like to thank each and every one of you for your love, prayers and financial support. There is no doubt that without your prayers, our work could not continue.

We are excited about 2004 and hope to continue making a difference?one life at a time!

In His Service,

Betty Shipley

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