A Daughter’s Fear and Faith

Naw Htoo Baw, 49, is an English teacher who chose to remain single and devote her life to caring for her parents. When a 7.7 earthquake—followed closely by a 6.4 magnitude tremor—struck Myanmar on March 28, her first thought was not of herself, but of them.

“I was in school when the earthquake struck,” Naw recalls. “I hurriedly ran to our house thinking of my 85-year-old paralyzed father and my 75-year-old mother. From a distance, I saw our two-storey house reduced to a one-storey house. I was frantically shouting, calling my parents’ names, but I could not hear any response, and I could not find them.”

Her story reflects the experience of many across Myanmar. In the days following the earthquakes, people risked their lives searching through unstable rubble for missing loved ones. Some searches ended in heartbreak; others continue, sustained only by hope.

Searching, Surviving, and Beginning Again

While some families still search for the missing, others are already facing the daunting reality of rebuilding. Ongoing civil unrest has limited the arrival of large-scale international disaster response teams. Without heavy equipment, survivors dig through debris using whatever tools they can find—often their bare hands.

Reconstruction will be long and difficult. In the meantime, many families live in makeshift shelters, exposed to harsh weather conditions, or sleep in the streets with little protection.

For Naw, there was a moment of relief amid the chaos. “As I kept on shouting, crying and looking for them, our neighbours came and told me that they carried my father and assisted my mother to a safe place,” she says, tears of gratitude in her eyes. “With much anticipation, I ran to our neighbour’s house and saw my parents shaking and crying. We embraced and started to thank God for saving their fragile lives.”

Living with Loss and Uncertainty

Today, Naw and her parents live in a temporary shelter. For her father—recovering from a stroke and reliant on a wheelchair—these conditions are especially challenging. As the sole breadwinner, Naw carries the weight of ensuring her family’s survival, worrying about food, hygiene supplies, medicine, and the long road to rebuilding their home.

Amid these struggles, support from World Renew’s local church partner has brought some relief. Despite the risks posed by ongoing conflict, the partner has been able to serve communities in need, including Naw’s. Her family is among 200 households that received food packs, hygiene kits, and water filters.

Naw’s father, Albert Soe Lwin, repeats softly from his wheelchair, “Thank you, thank you, I am alive.”
Naw is also deeply grateful to the church volunteers who helped demolish their damaged home and clear the debris. Her hope now is simple but profound: to one day save enough to build a safe, stable house for her family.

Witnessing Resilience—and Ongoing Need

Two months after the earthquakes, the scale of devastation remains immense. More than 5,000 lives have been lost, with hundreds injured and thousands displaced. World Renew Asia staff on the ground have witnessed both the destruction and the deep emotional toll it has taken.

“As we roamed around Mandalay, we saw buildings that are still leaning and tilting and buildings that are still undemolished and posing major hazard,” shares Mordi*. “We visited camps—tents built on the sidewalks and near the railroads. During our visit, the temperature reached almost 40°C. People do not sit in their tents but take comfort under the trees.”

Reflecting on what he has seen, Mordi asks, “How long will these people endure these very challenging conditions? Please share your blessings. If you cannot help them financially, at least pray for them.”

Bringing Hope Where It’s Hard to Reach

At World Renew, we are familiar with how quickly global attention shifts after a disaster. Headlines fade, but the needs remain. Typically, humanitarian organizations step in for the long haul—working alongside local governments and communities to rebuild.

Myanmar presents unique challenges. Limited access has made it difficult for many organizations to respond. In this context, World Renew is especially grateful for its local church partners, who continue to serve—often at significant personal risk—delivering not only essential supplies but also hope.

Your support helps make this possible. Through food distributions, hygiene kits, clean water solutions, and ongoing care, you are helping extend Christ’s love to those who need it most—people like Naw and her family.

*Name changed to protect identity