Micro-enterprise
Myanmar: Well Done, Good and Faithful Servants
CBN.com – MYANMAR – Two mothers, two very different lives, with one thing in common: they had to become income producers for their families.
Sabe’s Story
Sabe was happily married, raising her daughter and taking care of their home and meals. Her husband supported them well with a steady income he made as a driver. In February, 2009, her husband died suddenly from a stroke. Sabe and her 9-year-old daughter were left to fend for themselves.
“I went to work in a factory after he died. I worked long, hard hours drying prawns and fish,” Sabe said. “I worked such long days that my daughter had to go to school on her own; and I wasn’t there for her went she came back. I always worried about her.”
Although she worked very hard, Sabe made just enough to keep herself and her daughter fed.
“If one of us got sick, that is when the debt started to pile up,” she said.
When a local ministry learned of her dire need of assistance, they partnered with CBN’s Operation Blessing to determine how she could be helped. First, they asked her what skills she had.
“I don’t really have any skills, but I know how to sell things on the street,” Sabe said.
So the decision was made to give Sabe the necessary funds to build a small store along the roadside. She was able to stock it with charcoal, rice, dried chilies and other basic necessities. Today she makes enough profit to live comfortably.
“This whole thing has blessed our lives. Not only do we have more money to buy what we need to, but I am able to spend more time with my little daughter,” Sabe said. “I can always be home when my daughter comes back from school. I don’t have to worry about her any more. I am so happy!”
Zaza’s Story
Zaza married young and became a mother at age 16. By age 22, she and her husband were raising two children. He worked hard labor and she managed her own fruit shop. Unfortunately, a chronic stomach illness frequently kept him at home and in pain, not able to work. They managed their meager finances well, but were not able to set aside any savings.
In May, 2008, cyclone Nargis wrought destruction to Myanmar as the deadliest natural disaster to the area in recorded history. Zaza’s family was spared, but their fruit inventory and fruit stand were destroyed. They had no resources to rebuild the stand, or even to buy one box of fruit to sell. Zaza’s husband was unable to find work for days at a time.
Their needs were brought to the attention of a local ministry that partnered with CBN’s Operation Blessing to give them $200 seed money to rebuild her stand and buy some fruit.
“I was praying to be able to resume my fruit stand. We had been requesting help from our pastor for some time,” Zaza said.
With the seed fund, Zaza rebuilt her stand and bought boxes of apples, oranges, guavas, and other seasonal fruits. Being quite the entrepreneur, Zaza was able to begin turning a profit quickly. She is very thankful for the help she received.
“Now I am no longer completely dependant on the unreliable income of my husband,” she said. “When he is in extreme pain, he is no longer forced to go to work. We can actually use some of his income to save for the future! And I can afford to send my two children to school and buy all of their supplies. We are so thankful for your help.”
These are lives that are changed when people partner with CBN to do the Lord’s work. All over the world, people need to know Jesus and need to see His love in action. You can be an active part of God’s mission through CBN by becoming a CBN partner.
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