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Editor's note: Tulsa World religion writer Bill Sherman recently returned from a nine-day trip to Myanmar, where he investigated the connection between Tulsa and the Zomi people of Chin State. CHIN STATE, Myanmar - A narrow, rutted, rocky road through steep mountain canyons is all that connects northern Chin State in Myanmar to the rest of the world. From that isolated mountainous area, home of the Zomi ethnic group, have come 3,000 Tulsans. They worship in a dozen Zomi churches in Tulsa, with services in their native dialect as well as Burmese and English. They work in Tulsa businesses, and their children attend public schools. The Tulsa Zomi community is centered in the neighborhoods around Oral Roberts University. On any given day, they can be seen shopping in the Walmart at 81st Street and Lewis Avenue, or at Tulsa's two Zomi-owned stores, the OK Asian Market and Hornbill Oriental Market, both near ORU. "We feel that for ORU isathe heart of the said the Rev. Kham Khai, pastor of the Myanmar Christian Church that meets at Victory Thanks for reading. Get unlimited access $12 month. Look at city," your options.
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Christian Center.
The Zomis are one of several ethnic groups in Myanmar. The nation formerly known as Burma is situated between China and India and until two years ago was under 50 years of a military dictatorship, isolated from the rest of the world and suffering from severe economic sanctions. Newly enacted democratic reforms are rapidly and dramatically changing the country of 60 million people. About a third of the 300,000 Zomis live in nearby India, and the rest are from the northern section of Chin State in Myanmar.
Charities in Tulsa. The agency's Migration Refugee Services works with the U.S. State Department to resettle refugees, and for the last five years in Tulsa, nearly all of them have been Zomi, he said. "The Burmese people who come here are incredibly smart and hardworking and so appreciative," he said. "They're almost instantly contributing to society. It's very inspiring to see their dedication and perseverance." About three times a week, Catholic Charities picks up incoming refugees at the Tulsa airport and helps them with housing, clothing, food and jobs.
Religion a factor
Religion has been one factor drawing Zomis to Tulsa. Chin Do Kham, a native of Chin State who now lives in Tulsa, said that while most Burmese are Buddhists, the Zomis have been Christians for a century and feel comfortable in the Bible Belt. He said the Zomi people have strong family ties, so that when one family member comes to Tulsa, other relatives often follow. Amber Knecht, who supervises the refugee services at Catholic Charities, said Zomis are drawn to Tulsa because of their faith, and also by a relatively good job market and affordable living. "Chin State is predominantly Christian, and the Zomis are very in tune with their faith," she said. "The church is the center of their social life."
Language barrier
The Rev. Nang Khen Khup, pastor of the Far East Mission Church at 81st Street and Harvard Avenue, said the Burmese people are hardworking and make good employees. Most are doing well here. However, the older people are less motivated to learn English than the young people. He said about 80 percent of them do not speak English. "We survive because we help each other." More than 50 families own their own homes, he said. He said Myanmar is a fertile land, and people there can survive, but not thrive, by subsistence farming. He said foreign investors have avoided the country because it did not have the rule of law. That could change under democratization. The Rev. Kap K. Hatlang, of ZBCM of Tulsa Church in Broken Arrow, agreed that most Burmese in Tulsa are doing well, and that
those over age 30 have difficulty with English. "The American people are so good to us. We are so thankful for the American people, and the Tulsa people," he said.
Khup predicted that 80 percent of Burmese in the United States will return, but not right away. Kham said the Burmese community in Tulsa will be torn about going back because they will now have children and grandchildren in America. Myint Swe, the patron - or president - of Asian Wings Airways, in a meeting in his office in Yangon, said that under military rule over the last 50 years, many of Myanmar's brightest and most educated people left the country. "We expect many people will come back in the next two to five years," he said. "Our country is going to be a land of opportunity."
Bill Sherman 918-581-8398 bill.sherman@tulsaworld.com (mailto:bill.sherman@tulsaworld.com) Original Print Headline: From Myanmar to Tulsa
Copyright 2013 Tulsa World. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadc ast, rewritten or redistributed.
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COMMENTS
48792 posted 18 hours ago 3 Great story, with beautiful pictures Bill.
52 Total
Skeptiker posted 16 hours ago 3 Fascinating piece, Mr. Sherman. This is what America is all about. The yearning masses wanting to breathe free. Tulsa should be proud.
IMO posted 16 hours ago 4 Fascinating. The photos are terrific. I had no idea we have such a large Burmese population in Tulsa until reading this great article. I wish them success, whether they remain in Tulsa or return to Myanmar.
wilson posted 15 hours ago 1 Thanks for the positive story about immigration. I work with one of these young men. He is a very hard worker, very intelligent and pleasant to be around and has worked very hard to learn english so he can be more versatile at work and secure a better future.
Brad posted 15 hours ago 2 Excellent story. If course I had been reading the news stories nationally about Myanmar, but had no idea about the Tulsa connection. More detailed individual life stories, if possible, would make for great follow-up stories. -Brad
Brad posted 15 hours ago 4 Excellent photos as well. Along with their captions, they tell part of the story. These are the kind of stories you can't usually find in national publications, so I'm really glad the Tulsa World picked this one up. -Brad
75866 posted 15 hours ago It is a great story, but are they here legally?
IMO posted 12 hours ago from the article - [They were refugees in Malaysia for two years before getting permission to enter the United States.] So it sounds as though most, if not all are here legally.
News Addict posted 11 hours ago 3 I don't think Catholic Charities would be involved in illegal immigration.
HRR posted 14 hours ago 3 Nice story, BUT...something here DOES need to be clarified: (this) is more about a relationship between VictoryChristian, Jenks & Burma. I'll explain: This is an extension of Victory's plan..about 4 years ago..to bring Christian Burma Refugees to Tulsa (and for good reason..they were being slaughtered!) After arriving & settling-in , Victory Christian School decided (they) didn't want to deal with the huge task of Remedial Language problems that were immediately noticeable -a modicum English Level necessary to matriculate through a PublicSchoolProgram, etc. What did they do? Since (the children) qualified for Jenks Public schools Zoning...let Jenks figure-it-out. The families, themselves, could not be better, but it would be mighty Christian of Victory to at least, this time ..to chip-in some Education!
Loophole posted 13 hours ago 3 As long as they are here legally, are productive people and contribute rather than just take benefits, they are welcome with open arms.
Winter Storm - No To Gun Registration/Confiscation posted 13 hours ago 1 So, how did they get to fly in, when Mexicans have to swim across the river? Who pays their bills? How is this immigrant population different than the Mexican immigrant population, and will amnesty affect them the same way?
IMO posted 12 hours ago 1 I think that Catholic Charities handled most of the transportation and related expenses of relocating these people. They helped many Vietnamese refugees years ago too. For the most part, I don't think they fall into the same category as people who illegally cross the border to come here.
Mar posted 9 hours ago IMO, you are correct. Comparing people that come into the U.S. legally and the Mexican invaders that sneak illegally over our borders is like comparing apples and oranges.
Winter Storm - No To Gun Registration/Confiscation posted 13 hours ago What was the President doing in Myanmar; and how much foreign aid is the US giving to Myanmar?
It's nice to see a positive story and all the positive comments on how Tulsa is helping others. It's not always about 'us'.
Dr. Strangelove posted 12 hours ago 1 Great story- very impressive reporting. What's interesting to me is that these folks are technically refugees, yet it sounds like the younger ones that we are educating are going to eventually go back home.
Proud Muslim posted 12 hours ago 1 Amazing photos and great story. Unfortunately, both Christian and Muslim minorities have been oppressed in Myanmar for years now. Hopefully, that will soon change.
249923 posted 12 hours ago 1 Why does Tulsa have to be the destination for refugees and illegal immigrants. Tulsa is already overpopulated by many Hispanics who are here illegally. We can't even take care of our own citizens. High crime, unemployment, homelessness, poverty everywhere. And Tulsa welcomes foreigners like they are a gift from heaven. Most can't even speak English. I say let the churches take care of them for it's the churches that seem to bring them here. Catholic Charities can teach them to speak English and Victory Christian Center can house and feed them. In reality our tax dollars will be supporting them. Check out the TPD daily blotter. Its always choc full of ICE holds on the illegals. Part of the reason the jail is over crowded.
Proud Muslim posted 11 hours ago 9 You put the panic in Hispanic. Seriously though, you're right. Don't you just hate it when people come from across the ocean, speaking a different language, living off your resources, eventually make you a minority and push you into Oklahoma? Well, the good news is there's a solution to your xenophobia. You can always move to Antarctica. No immigrants there (except you), and I hear crime is at an all-time low.
Q61 posted 11 hours ago 2 You put the panic in Hispanic! Love it. Can I use that?
johnswof posted 8 hours ago 3 PM, Such a great response to a complaining bigot. I applaud it!
Dr. Strangelove posted 6 hours ago 1 "Tulsa is already overpopulated by many Hispanics who are here illegally" Relatively speaking, do we really know that, or is it just bigoted rhetoric? My only beef is if you legally come here to take advantage of our public education system, I think you should probably be required to stay awhile.
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