Several distinct strands of the Burma Christian community have come to the US to escape the violent military junta destroying Burma. It is often dangerous to escape, and those escape traumas have been pressed down for many refugees below though accumulated layers of travel, arrival, acculturation transitions, and the simple shock of this new social reality for fragmented families and isolated individuals. Many refugee parents report feelings of stress with their children (born in the US and/or those who came as young children), and a nearly immediate disconnection from those who never experienced the rupture of their journey. By Interviews, surveys, and group work, this project will provide opportunities for generations to reflect and craft language to describe their individual struggles and collective challenges.
This project is critical because the disconnect voiced by one generation is mirrored in the other, with both frustrated in faith journey, community life, and personal spirituality. While other immigrant Christian communities have faced similar intergenerational challenges, the specifics of Burma Christian refugee experiences and their unique cultural repertoire need care and attention. By collecting and analyzing data, learning from academic resources and personal stories within and beyond families, I hope to document the disconnects and to multiply models of mending. This project will produce a helpful resource for ministers, lay leaders, and interested individuals in and beyond this target community to the broader church in the US and beyond.