Nokesville-based charity takes risks

Some people find their calling and just run with it.

Take Nokesville native Austin, who established the charity Farthest Corners to help displaced and perse-cuted people on the Burma-Thailand border.

Austin, who asked to be identified by only his first name to avoid detection by Burma's military regime, said he prayed and realized, "This is where God wants me.

"It was a huge step of faith."

Austin previously taught English in a Thai Christian school where he linked up with friends concerned about the people's welfare.

"It was bad over there," he said. "Because of the dangers involved in crossing the bor-der to work, there aren't a lot of organizations that do that."

Burma has been overtaken by the Burmese army called the State Peace and Development Council, Austin said.

The SPDC has burned villages, he said, forcing minorities out of centralized cities and into mountain and border regions. The forces also aim to take over Thailand.

To overcome their enemies, Austin said, ethnic groups must come together. But because of vast distances between villages with mountains, that's difficult.

A partnership of love

In November 2008, Austin married Sinte, who is a Burma native. She helps establish relationships among Farthest Corners, Austin and villagers. With her help, villagers are learning to trust Austin and the team.

Austin and Sinte agree that, though they are Christian, they do not approach villagers with a religious agenda. Instead, they ask what the community needs and try to help.

The group recently bought 30 acres of rice fields for $1,500 and spent another $1,500 to develop the land.

They also opened "Mr. Happy's Home," an orphanage/hostel where about 50 children live. Austin described the hostel as a "safe haven" where kids can live so they can attend school locally.

Children usually can't go to school if they don't have family in the villages, he said, because there isn't anywhere to stay.

"Education is highly prized in Burma," Austin said, "but it's hard to get."

In the past, a missionary house took in students, he said, but that arrangement ended when the owner's youngest child got tuberculosis.

Field workers in Farthest Corners aim to alleviate starvation and disease. They donate medical kits for more than 1,000 people with common illnesses such as malaria, hepatitis and urinary infection. The kits also help treat landmine victims.

The group provides cooking pots, mosquito nets, blankets and Bibles. They have purchased horses and mules to transport supplies, and they developed a database designed to help reunite families separated by war.

Austin describes himself as a "Christian brother." Most people in the region are Buddhist, animist or Christian, he said.

But if villagers aren't Christian, he doesn't force anything on them.

"Religious differences don't mean they don't qualify for help," Sinte added.

"When they see love, they ask lots of questions. They ask, 'Why are you helping us?'"

She said the villagers know the Farthest Corners group will pray for them, and this makes the villagers happy even if they aren't believers.

Sometimes, prayer is all they have.

Sinte recalled a man who came down from the mountains. He asked her to take two or three of his five children.

"He could not afford to take care of them all," she said. "I couldn't do anything but pray and offer encouragement."

"We do what we can," Austin added.

Farthest Corners will host a benefit concert June 13 at 6 p.m. at Greenwich Presbyterian Church, 15305 Vint Hill Road For information, see farthestcorners.org.