This month, as the Guardians had returned from their deployments in Sudan and the Middle East, Class 4 continued their at-home training. And now, the Guardians have deployed to Myanmar in response to the magnitude 7.7 earthquake. Keep reading to find out more!
Chazak Academy: Written by Nick E.
“Have you ever read through the Bible in a year? What if you were to do that in 6 days? The six day Bible read-through is a key part of the 1.4 Bible Survey course that occurs in April of the first year of training. For the first 6 hours of the day, Cadets seated in a circle read through the Bible out loud and then by themselves for the remainder of the day. In total, it takes roughly 60 hours to read through the Bible in this format. Cadets from previous years have walked away with a profound impression of the awesome holiness of God and our incredible need for a savior. There is a sense of relief when the page is turned from the Old to the New Testament.
The stretching of the spirit is not the only extreme during the 1.4 segment as bodily limits are tested in the stretch of time in the Colorado wilderness when Cadets refined their wilderness first responder skills. Cross-country skiing, medical scenarios, and living outside for an extended period are all key aspects of this training. As expressed by Cadets, the hardest challenge in 1.4 is not the challenge of the body or the spirit, but it is on the level of the soul, meaning the emotional and relational challenges of 1.4. Before and after the Colorado trip, Cadets spend several weeks at home wrestling with the principles of Perspectives on the World Christian movement, a course that builds an entire worldview on the great commission and our place in God’s story of receiving glory from the nations. Being apart from their teammates means that Cadets must practice a great deal of self-discipline and self-motivation. The community and camaraderie created in the first part of the year are contrasted with the individual challenge of pushing through what is thought to be the most difficult aspect of the two-year training.
As an instructor, I am happy to report that Cadets are crushing it this year. It has not been easy as one member of the team has experienced the loss of a father, meaning the whole team has hurt collectively. The environment of the wilderness provided a place for the team to process the loss, allowing the brotherhood of Chazak Cadets to come together during a formative time for all. As we look forward to the Bible read-through this year, we know that God is ready to intersect his story with ours as the narrative of scripture continues to shape our worldview in greater dimensions than before. Join us in prayer as we expect great things from God over the next few weeks in the hearts and minds of Cadets.”
Chazak Rescue:
After returning from their deployments to the Middle East and Sudan in late February, the Guardians have been recouping and preparing for their next deployments to both regions in April and May.
Meanwhile, on 28 March 2025 at 12:50:52 MMT (06:20:52 UTC), a Magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Myanmar (Burma). Buildings also collapsed in Bangkok, Thailand, hundreds of miles away from the epicenter.
Our team of Guardians has deployed to the epicenter of the earthquake, and is currently working under Mission To Myanmar, an organization that has been working in Burma for many years. Since this is an ongoing deployment, information is still forthcoming. The “Golden Rescue” period is past for those trapped in the rubble. However, body recovery, burial, medical aid for the thousands of untreated injured, and humanitarian aid are extremely urgent. Extreme heat, incoming rain, decomposing cadavers (due to lack of people to bury them) will soon compound the humanitarian disaster, with cholera outbreaks being a huge concern. Follow along on Chazak's social media (@chazakrescue) for the latest updates on the team's work there.
Please pray as the Guardians, along with their local partners at Mission To Myanmar conduct their search and recovery and humanitarian aid operations.
Chazak Endeavor:
Chazak Endeavor 2025 is just around the corner! This annual event held in Lancaster, PA continues the tradition of challenging you with a similar obstacle run offered at past events with both a timed division and an open division. The event has been expanded to include a bounce house obstacle course for kids! We want to provide an opportunity for you to help us Finish the Mission of Chazak Rescue!
We are excited to interact with you and share stories of the work being done around the world. All proceeds from the event will go towards benefiting the mission of Chazak Rescue. Sign up by clicking this link.
In Conclusion:
Stay tuned for some exciting updates as we look forward to bringing Class 5 into Chazak Academy! We recently accepted eight individuals who have been called to do whatever it takes to Finish the Mission. We also will be sending out our quarterly field report mailer in just a few days, so if you want to be on that list, sign up here: https://www.chazakrescue.org/pray
Also, in April, we will be sending a team back into Sudan to purchase medical and humanitarian aid supplies. This will allow the next deployment in May to proceed directly into a field hospital and humanitarian operations. Currently, we’re looking at approximately $15,000 worth of supplies, plus travel. If you would like to provide emergency aid for the people of Sudan, click here.