Bethany Bennett
I often lay claim to being the resident world traveler, I just can’t seem to stay in one place for too long; I’ve been to fourteen countries and lived in three. I grew up in Virginia Beach but moved to Northern Thailand for three years with my missionary parents who started a branch of the humanitarian organization Operation Blessing. When I left Thailand, I knew I could never forget the people and places I’d encountered. I’m currently finishing up my B.A. in Global Affairs at George Mason University, and am ecstatic to be putting my education into extreme action. I’ve always been a free spirit and love living the nomadic lifestyle. My father is a British art school/film student and my Mom loves history thanks to her Southern roots. Through them I’ve been able to learn and appreciate both unique culture and remarkable art. Being a part of the Eleho movement to raise awareness for a desperate people is such a spectacular opportunity and I hope my creativity and knowledge of Thailand will be expanded and challenged. When it comes down to it, I’m an ex-ballerina and music fiend, everyday is a better day once I’ve had craft-time, I love dark chocolate, and get a serious migraine if I don’t have my morning cup o’ coffee. Yea, that’s pretty crucial!
Love without courage and wisdom is sentimentality, as with the ordinary church member. Courage without love and wisdom is foolhardiness, as with the ordinary soldier. Wisdom without love and courage is cowardice, as with the ordinary intellectual. But the one who has love, courage and wisdom moves the world.
-Ammon Hennacy, Catholic Activist 1893-1970
It is my hope that this summer the foundations of the brutal situation in Burma will begin to crack as our team from Eleho enters the scene humbly providing love, courage and wisdom to those distressed and frustrated after decades of stagnancy.
As many of you know, I have always felt that God was asking me to pack up the American dream and trade it in for a kingdom role in His global story. However, it hasn’t been until recently that I have realized how He would use all of my passions and experiences to His fullest glory. I have had the great privilege of getting to know some incredible people from San Diego who have initiated a movement to embrace and empower the masses, specifically the Karen people of Burma, through awareness, immediate assistance on the ground, and political advocacy.
I first learned about the Karen people while living in Chiang Mai, Thailand during Middle School. My parents had been sent overseas to start a CBN International office as well as an office for Operation Blessing, a humanitarian aid agency. I vividly remember one specific day in the eighth grade when my teacher Mr. Holt told us about Aung San Suu Kyi, who had won the Nobel Peace Prize for her advocacy of democracy. She had been held under house arrest since the elections of 1990 just across the border, and might I add that she is still under house arrest today. I couldn’t believe that someone of such integrity and support of the nation would be denied to serve her people.
Since being away from Thailand I have never quite felt at home and I know that I won’t until I return. This time to not only aid those in need, but to also learn even more about myself and gain a more complete understanding of the beautiful people that the Lord is calling me to invest my time in.
Before we, as Eleho, can truly set up our non-profit organization and develop goals, we believe that it is important to travel to those we hope to support and learn from them. This summer we will be taking a trip to the Thai-Burma border to research the situation on the ground, develop relationships with existing organizations, and find out how we can best add our voice to the 60-year long dialogue. However, in order for us to make this happen we need all the support we can get. We desperately need prayer support that the Lord will develop relationships with organizations already on the ground and that He will guide us and show us where He wants to take Eleho and how He desires to use us.
Personally, I will need to raise about $2,500 in order to be able to travel with the team this summer.
Here are the specifics:
$1,200-$1,500 will be spent on airfare
$500 for room and board for one month
$500 for sandals, rice, medicine for children and refugees.
Any extra raised will go towards the kids.
I know that money is tight for everyone these days, but you have no idea how much I would appreciate any support you can give me. This trip will truly be the beginning to a path that I hope will aid in changing the entire climate of Burma. Additionally, I need your prayer support. You can specifically pray that the Lord will speak through me because I will have no words, and that He will be prevalent in my actions because I will fail.
Thank you so much for your support! Be on the lookout for an update after I get back from Thailand in August.
DONATE to Bethany now!
Trip Dates: June 23-July 30
Eleho, Inc. is a registered non-profit corporation (Tax ID: 26-1202319).
Our application for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status has been filed and is pending approval.
