On Her Knees in Prayer: A Story of Hope

On her knees, side by side with her husband, a mother pleads with the Lord on behalf of her children. Sui Tin Par is no stranger to trials and tribulations, but despite all she has gone through in her life, she retains unbending hope for the future. It is this hope that has carried her through all of life’s challenges and continues to do so even now. Let us take you back to 1992 to a little village named Lung Kahin in Myanmar where this incredible story begins. 

From a young age, the Christian faith was important to Sui and her family. She grew up watching her parents attend church in her small village and Jesus was always a part of her life. This upbringing of attending church and Sunday school every week was just the beginning of what would be a lifetime of God’s faithfulness and mercy poured out onto her life. 

When Sui was eighteen, she made the brave decision to leave her home, family, and everything she knew behind to move to Malaysia alone. When recalling this decision, she says that she felt like “she didn’t have a choice.” There were so few opportunities for work or earning an income in Myanmar that Sui felt her best option was to leave for a better future. Little did she know that God was orchestrating her steps to bring her not only a loving husband, but also a family who would become her pride and joy.

Sui’s plan was to stay in Malaysia and work to provide for her family back in Myanmar, but God had a bigger plan. Shortly after arriving in Malaysia, she married her husband, San Mawng, who was already in the process of being resettled as a refugee through the United Nations. The process was long and grueling. During those years, the couple welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Van, into their family! And finally after over five years of interviews, medical screenings, and paperwork, the family was chosen to resettle in the United States. Sui says that “she never thought she would end up in the U.S.,” but she hoped and dreamed of giving her children the education and future they deserved. The Lord’s immense faithfulness was never more evident than when they got the amazing news of their resettlement. When they were resettled in Dallas in June of 2015, Van was only one year old. 

When looking back on those years, Sui remembers the hope that came with a new life in America. It was this hope and a shared faith based in the Lord’s kindness and goodness that helped Sui and San adjust to life in the U.S. She says that they leaned on one another while navigating their new reality and while learning a new language and culture. As they settled into this new life, the couple began fervently praying for the future of their family. 

Over the next several years, the couple welcomed three more beautiful children into the family, Olive, James, and Silas. They hoped and dreamed that their children would have the opportunity to a Christian education, but had no idea how that might be possible. Of course, God was already at work putting things in place to make this a reality. In 2020, the Lord used a neighbor to introduce Sui to Alysa Marx and Refugee Resources’ Reading Circle program and the rest is history. 

Van began attending Reading Circle weekly and it was clear from the beginning just how bright this young lady was. She instantly began growing in her literacy and going up in reading levels. When asked how Van has changed since being in the Reading Circle program, her mother says that she is “kinder and more obedient, she has grown in her ability to communicate, and grown so much in her reading.” Currently, Van and her sister, Olive, attend Reading Circle. Olive is a sharp and exceptionally intelligent little girl who was this semester’s most improved student, growing two grade levels in her reading since last spring! Their brother, James, attends Preschool Circle and at 3 years old has conquered his alphabet. 

Sui says that she “loves that her children are learning one-on-one with patient mentors” and “loves that they read the Bible together.” Sui wants God and the Bible to be first and foremost in her children’s lives and recalls that together with her husband, they “prayed on their knees” daily that God would continue to be faithful to their family and make a way for their children to attend a Christian school. 

Last year, God answered those prayers as their oldest, Van, was given the opportunity to attend Scofield Christian School on a full scholarship. Sui says that this was an answer to prayers in more ways than one. When growing up in Myanmar, she was never able to go to school, but longed to get an education. She remembers going to the library as a child and teaching herself how to read on a rudimentary level. She had dreams of her children getting an education in an environment that puts God first. Those dreams were fulfilled when Van got into Scofield and she hopes her other children will someday have the same opportunity.

When speaking with Sui, it is impossible not to feel hopeful. She has amazing faith that God will always make a way because He “knows what we need.” What a beautiful story of a woman whose strong faith has made such a huge impact on her family. The family is deeply involved in a local church that supports their culture and the kids love attending Sunday school where they learn about Jesus and memorize scripture! Sui is not done dreaming though, she has many hopes for her family’s future; that they would follow and love Jesus all of their lives and someday serve Him through mission work.

During this Advent season, may we follow Sui's lead and spend time in praying on behalf of those we love. Let us also spend time on our knees praying for our world, that God's "will be done, on earth, as it is in Heaven." We long for the fulfillment of hope, peace, and love in the coming of Emmanuel; we are spurred on by this sweet family, their love for Jesus, and the Lord's handiwork weaving His plan for His glory! 

Written by: Emily Thompson
Edited by: Alysa Marx