Offer What We Have: The Model and Impact of FBR's Widows and Orphans Fund

Rangers with a widowed mother and her children in Karen State. 

A key tenet of the Free Burma Rangers’ mission is to encourage and uplift the oppressed. This core principle in FBR’s relief work is evident through the many missions and development projects we orchestrate to bring help, hope, and love to communities in Burma. One specific group of people FBR focuses on is the widows and orphans our teams come across in the course of their missions, thanks to a special fund supported by many generous donors. Originally, the fund was established to offer support and express gratitude to the families of fallen Rangers. Over the years, it has expanded beyond the FBR circle, out into the conflict zones where unsupported families, traumatized by the war and uprooted lives, can receive cash and supplies from Rangers whenever possible. Today, Ranger leaders manage a fund allocated to these families, providing aid to the country's most vulnerable people.

Rangers make a point to pray with the displaced families of Burma as a way to show love and encouragement across religious and cultural lines. 

This connection usually starts with meeting key leaders, who help Rangers find widows and orphans in each area of operation. Sometimes the funds are given to local leaders, who then distribute the money among their communities. These interactions typically take place during general food distributions at IDP sites and in villages, though the funds can be used anytime, anyplace, as long as the money goes to helping unsupported family members in Burma. Every gift is more than financial assistance; it is a reminder that they are seen, loved, and not forgotten, all while allowing us to stand alongside the oppressed people we serve, with the love of Jesus in both word and action. 

Rangers distributing audio Bibles and cash to a group of widows in Karen State. 

Phar Bot, a Karen Ranger who has overseen the care of many widows and orphans in Doo Tha Htoo District, shares his insight on the overwhelming need: "The widows in IDP camps are currently struggling to take care of their children without any income. They have no husbands or fathers to rely on, so it is very difficult for them to feed their families. The children are young and do not get enough food. These families of the soldiers who died on the front line need support to buy basic supplies, like baby formula. I am happy that I can temporarily help them. I am also thinking about how I can help them further." 

Here are two stories by David Eubank that highlight the purpose and practical impact of the widows and orphans fund: 

"On every mission, we try to meet each need. Most recently, it was the cause of a family plagued by tragedy, though their story is not entirely uncommon in Burma. A Karen woman, whose husband was killed by the Burma Army, died of malaria in May of this year, leaving two young daughters in shock. We met them in a village under siege by the Burma Army, and they were forced to flee.

Before they fled, we heard their story and were given the chance to pray with them. We gave them money from the widows and orphans fund, and then gave their relatives money to care for the children. To see the smiles light up the relatives' faces because they knew they now had help to provide for these two kids, and to see the kids soften and realize they were loved even by strangers, was a blessing.

Suu and Karen Eubank with the orphaned Karen girls and their relatives, before the bombing that drove them out into the jungle. 

Later on that same mission, we met a woman whose husband had just been captured by the Burma military and had been missing for one month. The day before we met this woman, a body was seen floating down the river that other villagers identified as her husband.

The news of his death was devastating to her and the group of displaced people. She was in shock and had no idea what to do next. We also helped her, utilizing the widows and orphans fund, not knowing what her future holds. She lost everything, so we offered her what we had.

These are just two stories from last month while on mission, and we thank God for people who care about widows and orphans, who enable us to help God’s children in this way. The Bible talks about how true religion encourages us to honor God and take care of the least fortunate and most needy, which means that we must always make room in our hearts and budget for the widows and orphans we meet while on mission. By giving these gifts, we share tangible love and help, and there's a spiritual transaction between God, us, and the people in need. In this way, we also become like a family. We are very grateful for those who feel moved to help the widows and orphans in Burma."

A Karen widow preparing dinner for her family at an IDP site. 

A Ranger chaplain, Caleb Masonville, offered his thoughts on the fund after seeing its implementation time and again while on mission in Burma: 

“The Widows and Orphans Fund is a beautiful opportunity to live in direct obedience to Scripture by caring for people in genuine, desperate need. At the same time, it recognizes that these communities are not simply victims; they are resilient people with incredible strength. It is inspiring to see widows providing for their communities, preparing meals for soldiers, caring for their own children and the children of others, and orphans who persevere through hardship, continuing their education, and growing in Christ. Rangers have unique access to some of the most vulnerable people in the world. This fund enables us to turn that access into tangible help when it is needed most. Without it, we could be in exactly the right place, standing beside people in desperate need, yet lack the resources to help."

A displaced Karen widow with her two-day-old baby.

Courage and perseverance are common themes among internally displaced families in Burma. These traits enable them not only to survive but also to spread hope in their communities. There is not always enough in the widows and orphans fund to provide everyone with an ideal amount of supplies and money. Sometimes it has to be stretched between an unexpected number of family members. Despite the limiting factors, the chance to empower these individuals, in any way that God lays out for us, is an honor and a privilege, and one that the Free Burma Rangers will pursue as the war continues.

"Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow." Isaiah 1:17

Thanks and God bless you, 

The Free Burma Rangers