JAN 6 2022
Saw Wah, a new neighbor who arrived in 2020, recently celebrated his one-year anniversary of becoming a resident of Northwest Arkansas.
We had the honor of hearing about his life experience as well as his perspective and goals just one day shy of his one-year celebration. Throughout our discussion, he recalled bits and pieces of the journey that brought him to our community, mourned the loss of the people and home he once knew, and reiterated, time and time again, his thankfulness for the opportunities he has had as he worked to build a new life this past year.
“I come from Burma…”
“I come from [Burma]” Saw Wah stated proudly, yet hesitantly as he began to think about his experience. “[Those in power] are controlling the country. They are destroying the buildings, they are destroying everything. We [couldn’t] stay in the village, that’s why [I] moved to Malaysia. We ran to Thailand, I stayed there two days or three days, after that I [went] to Malaysia.”
Saw Wah’s life was marked by his family being separated. He recounted his experience and the emotion of being forced to flee to different borders for safety from persecution by those who took control of their home (the country now known as Myanmar). “My family spread and separated, [some escaped] to the Thailand border, [some to the] Indian border [and] the Chinese border.” He spoke through long pauses and through the grief of not knowing their current location or how to contact them.
“I don’t want to talk about my history from [Burma] because I’m very sad. That’s why I don’t want to remember” he said, and changed the subject.
Gratitude Through Grief
“In Malaysia, I lived [for] more than 20 years.” He was just under thirty years old when he fled to find safety there. “[When] we stayed in Malaysia, we were illegal. We didn’t have a passport, we didn’t have anything… sometimes we had work and sometimes we [didn’t] have work… we would go here, go there, go here… sometimes we would have work for two or three months and then nothing.” He and others who had fled to Malaysia were unable to find consistent work due to their legal status. He found jobs here and there, but generally struggled to make enough to live. “It was very difficult to to stay – [sometimes the] police [would] catch [us].”
“We prayed to God to take care of us and to take care of my life. [There have been] a lot of problems in my life, but God takes care of my life…. whenever I have trouble, I believe that God helps me.” He discussed how he prays for his country, how he prays for the United States, and how he is full of gratitude for those who have helped him find safety and a new life in our community.
“I want to help everybody, I want to help my country also.”
“If people don’t learn about the history, people don’t know” he said, highlighting the importance of learning about what is happening in his country and all of the things that have happened to his people. “I landed [in another] country and am trying to get to know the history [and] background [here]” he says and discussed how he hopes to continue to spread awareness about what is going on in his country. “It’s actually a very beautiful country” he says remembering his early years in Burma, and recalling again the pain of being forced to leave due to government takeover.
“I want to help everybody, I want to help my country also. [Those in power] took control, they took authority over the government so it was very difficult to stay. [You] cannot go to work, cannot go to school, cannot learn [or get an] education.” He discussed how the educational system and the economy had been destroyed, and while he was incredibly sad to have leave, he is grateful for the new beginning he has been able to build here in our community, grateful for the American people, and grateful for our amazing Canopy community.
“I am very thankful that God sent me to Malaysia, I am very thankful to the U.S. government also, [and] I am thankful for my Co-Sponsors and thankful to Canopy. I believe God sent me here, so I thank God and I thank the American government.” He smiled as he mentioned his Co-Sponsors, saying they come to visit him often. In fact, he mentioned spending this Thanksgiving with his Co-Sponsors and their family. He also spoke with enthusiasm as he noted the kindness of his Co-Sponsors to help him through an eye surgery he had to get soon after coming to the United States. “I couldn’t see” he said, and beamed as he expressed thankfulness for the doctors and his Co-Sponsors for helping him to regain his sight.
One Year into a New Life
Recently, Saw Wah made the decision to move to Berryville, Arkansas where he can be closer to others in the Burmese community and closer to achieving his goals for the future. He met a close friend, someone who also spent time in Malaysia, who shares his language and culture and offers a sense of home. As time goes on, he dreams of becoming a traveling missionary and of owning his own business to support those doing similar work. While he is unsure of what kind of business yet, he said “I believe God will prepare it for me”. At the time of his interview, he was close to getting his driver’s license which will provide him with the freedom to travel on his own which is one of his major goals. Only one year into his time in the United States, Saw Wah is already making strides towards building the life he hopes for amidst the hardships he has faced. We are grateful that our wonderful community has played a small part in his success.
Much like Saw Wah, each of our newest neighbors has experienced extreme hardship before arriving to Northwest Arkansas. As a community, we mourn the losses they have experienced alongside them and, while it is much different from the home they once knew, are deeply grateful to have the opportunity to offer hope for a new life here in our community.
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