God in the Wind

mattn109
2 days ago
4 min read

An FBR Volunteer Testimony

*Noelle, at left, and son, Hawk, with a woman at a Good Life Club in an IDP camp in Syria.*

It has been almost ten years, but I still remember my first hike into FBR training camp like it was yesterday. My husband and I had trained for months, preparing for the physical challenge of carrying our gear through the mountains so we could help the ethnic people there. When we arrived overseas to volunteer with Free Burma Rangers (FBR), we barely had time to catch our breath before being assigned to help out as instructors at their training camp.

*David Eubank, Noelle, and Sky Barkley in a CCP during the liberation of Mosul, Iraq, 2017*

That first hike was one of the hardest things I have ever done. The heat was suffocating, the terrain was grueling, and my body felt like it was about to give out. I was an emotional mess. I was angry at my husband for believing I could do this, frustrated with my body for not holding up, and bitter at the leaders who thought it was a good idea to send me in. My mind was flooded with intrusive thoughts telling me I was not strong enough and that I could not make it. But I knew those were lies, so I prayed. I asked God for something simple: a breeze to give me a break from the blazing sun.

And He sent wind. Not just a little breeze, but wind that felt like a hug straight from heaven. Each gust gave me just enough strength to keep going. I started thanking God, not only for the wind, but for a body that could be pushed beyond what I thought possible, for my husband who believed in me, and for leaders who knew I could handle more than I realized.

These two photos show different hearts with the same heartbeat. We found purpose and community by serving a cause greater than ourselves. The top photo is of American women who traveled thousands of miles to serve the displaced people of Burma. The bottom photo shows Rangers in Burma who risk their lives for others. This is what it looks like when women show up with courage and faith.

When we finally reached camp, I told myself, “Never again.” But living and training with the ethnic Rangers changed everything. I saw their courage, their resilience, and their faith in the face of constant danger. While my hardest days on the trail eventually end, their hard days rarely do. Many still hike these same mountains, not for training, but to flee from airstrikes, carry medicine to the wounded, and to protect their families.

*Noelle baptizing friends in Kurdistan.*

Every time I feel the wind now, I remember that moment and what God spoke to my heart through it. The same strength and comfort He gave me on that mountain are what I now pray for the people of Burma, that they would feel His presence in their suffering, that the winds of His Spirit would carry hope and peace across their land.

I found God in the wind, and I continue to pray that Burma does too. When God calls, He equips. It is not just words or ideas about love that change the world. It is actually living it out, even when it is uncomfortable and hard.

*Sky treating casualties from Burma Army attacks in Burma.*

My husband and I have grown into a family of four while serving with FBR. We have taken our family wherever God opens the way with intention, purpose, and presence with the Gospel and helping address the felt needs in the communities FBR serves. Sky, my husband, is a medic, trainer, the coordinator for Ukraine, and a leader within FBR. I continue to serve as the coordinator for FBR’s Middle East and Tajikistan and Afghanistan operations.

*Sky, Noelle, and Bashir in Syria during a relief mission.*

Sky first served in Burma on that first hike in, and then went to help the team in Iraq. That first year with FBR, we went from serving in the jungles of Burma to the deserts of Iraq. We had originally planned only a 4-month vision trip, to learn about FBR and feel out God's plan for us. It was in Iraq that we decided, “For such a time as this,” because the need was so great for medics and for the hope of Christ in the battles against ISIS. We moved out of our house, left our jobs and pursuits, let go of things in America, and committed to staying in Iraq until ISIS’s caliphate was defeated. Sky was in the battle of Mosul, treated hundreds of casualties, and assisted in several rescues under fire with David Eubank. It changed our lives.

By the grace and winds of God, we have served and continue to serve with FBR in Iraq, Syria, Burma, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Ukraine.

Thanks and God bless you,

Noelle Barkely with the Free Burma Rangers.