On the Ground in Myanmar and Nepal: Hope, Resilience, and Opportunity
By Michelle Atwell, CEO, SEND International US
Over the past few weeks, I had the privilege of joining several SEND leaders on a deeply moving survey trip through Myanmar and Nepal. This journey wasn’t just about exploring ministry opportunities—it was about listening, learning, and witnessing firsthand how God is at work in some of the most complex and challenging corners of our world.
A Glimpse of Grace in Myanmar
Tucked away in a rural community in northwest Myanmar is an international school that stands as a beacon of hope to over 1,000 students and their families—many of whom have been displaced after their villages were destroyed in the ongoing conflict.
What moved me most wasn’t the size of the school, but the heart behind it. Tuition is waived for refugee children, which costs about the same as a night at the movies for a family of four in the U.S., and many graduates return to teach the next generation. A small coffee shop on campus helps students develop practical business skills. Monthly evangelistic services and mission initiatives show that this is far more than just a school. It is a movement—a place where hope is taking root and growing.
The founder’s life verse, Proverbs 22:6, echoes throughout the campus: “Train up a child in the way he should go…” In a country where each day is uncertain, this is what it means to redeem the time.
Navigating Complexity with Faith
Myanmar is a land of paradox: rich in cultural diversity (home to more than 135 ethnic groups) and spiritual hunger, yet burdened by a crushing military regime. We heard story after story—of families cut off from the internet, pastors under surveillance, and children attending school in active conflict zones.
And yet, the gospel is being lived out with boldness. Christian leaders are using every available platform—schools, publishing houses, training centers—to sow seeds of the Kingdom. One partner quietly told us, “We don’t know if the doors will stay open. But while they are, we will keep teaching, preaching, and sending.”
SEND has a unique role here—not only as a mobilizer of missionaries but as a partner in resilience. We see an opportunity to stand with local leaders, strengthen existing networks, and help equip the next generation being raised up in these very schools and churches.
SEND has a unique role here—not only as a mobilizer of missionaries but as a partner in resilience. We see an opportunity to stand with local leaders, strengthen existing networks, and help equip the next generation being raised up in these very schools and churches.
The Road Ahead in Nepal
Our time in Nepal offered a vivid reminder of the deep spiritual need that still defines much of the Hindu world. One morning, we found ourselves at the edge of Pashupatinath — one of the country’s largest and holiest Hindu temples. Thousands had gathered along the banks of the Bagmati River, offering prayers, burning incense, cremating the deceased, and seeking blessings. The smoke was thick in the air, rising with chants and cries for healing, prosperity, and peace.
And yet, what we felt most deeply in that moment was not reverence — but longing. The faces in the crowd carried the weight of searching without finding, of hoping without clarity. This is what spiritual darkness can look like: devotion without truth, sacrifice without assurance.
Nepal is a land of stunning beauty and resilient people, but also of profound spiritual lostness. Fewer than 2% of the population profess faith in Christ, and attempting to convert others is against the law. And yet—even here—we saw God at work. Small house churches are forming in mountain villages. Pastors are being trained. Young leaders are hungry for the Word.
Why This Matters for SEND
SEND exists to mobilize God’s people and engage the unreached in order to establish reproducing churches. What we saw in Myanmar and Nepal are seeds already planted — ministries quietly multiplying, sometimes without visibility or outside support. Our role is not to reinvent the work, but to come alongside and catalyze it. We can help train, support, and send missionaries from these very contexts — yes, even in the hardest places.
We’re asking the tough but necessary questions: What must SEND learn to prepare for the next chapter? Which relationships has God brought into our path for such a time as this? This trip was a significant step in that discernment journey.
And so, I invite you to pray with us—for wisdom, for clarity, and for courage. May we, like our brothers and sisters in Myanmar and Nepal, be found faithful as we seek to redeem the time.
And so, I invite you to pray with us—for wisdom, for clarity, and for courage. May we, like our brothers and sisters in Myanmar and Nepal, be found faithful as we seek to redeem the time.
Additional Posts
Choosing a Missions Organization: Why SEND International Stands Out “Why should I be a missionary through SEND International?” Jenna, a new missionary in Eastern Europe, shared with us what she appreciates about working with SEND. The highlights for her are: - Devotion to prayer - Diligence in communication - Commitment to development - Intentionality in accountability Prayer “Back in September of 2022, the Lord reconnected me with SEND after I had met them a year prior at the Moody Bible Institute. However, before he would sign me up for anything, my Missions Coach encouraged me to pray. He said something to the effect of, "I know that you've been praying on your own for a long time. But as the Church, we are not called to walk alone. So, you and I won't talk for about a month unless you have questions. I want you to go pray with 5 or 6 others from your church about where God is calling you." That October, more than 10 friends prayed with me and we saw God answer as He directed me to Romania. From February 2024 to November 2025, I had the pleasure of being a part of team meetings in Romania with my SEND colleagues. Our meetings were four hours long, two for prayer and two for business. This has been the minimum for our team. There are also prayer meetings with the local churches we partner with, among smaller groups within our team, of course prayer with many of you across the pond, including those at our US office. The organization was built, has been sustained, and continues to run on prayer. This is my favorite thing about SEND. Communication As I mentioned above, we have a two hour block for business / ministry details in each of our meetings. This provides consistency across our team which works alongside three different churches and in a variety of ministries. It also helps us to communicate about the need for change or growth, alongside what is working well. In addition, my team director also meets with each of us, allowing us to communicate needs, considerations, and prayer requests. I've also enjoyed getting to work with SEND workers outside of my immediate region . We receive emails with the minutes from the Europe leadership team, Friday communications from our international director, and information regarding projects that affect our work among the unreached. In December of 2024, our international director at the time wrote a note to my parents for the first Christmas that I was gone. If nothing else had convinced my mom yet, this did. He took the time to care for me, but also to care well for the parents that were sending me (What it meant to my dad and mom for him to do this well has been one of the greatest ways I've been supported.). I also have some pretty wonderful regional directors. These people have prayed alongside us (while also serving in their own countries of service), they have taken time to come visit and encourage our team, and they have also taken the time to encourage the people in our churches. Development SEND has provided much in the area of development and care (spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally). At our regional conference (every three years), there have been medical check ups available, counseling options, and time for connecting with others on the field with similar experience. At our conference last October, I connected with a missionary who served overseas for many years, and is now serving on the administrative side of SEND. She has met with me since then for mentorship and has also invested much of her time recently in preparing a retreat for the singles across Europe. Accountability Over the years I have read and heard amazing stories of how God has worked through missionaries. God has done great things and great things He is still doing! However, people who have committed their lives to the Lord in this way are not “super Christians”. We are still humans with the same struggle against flesh that others have . A major challenge is in being isolated -- living in areas with little to no presence of other believers to sharpen them can cause many difficulties. SEND has been a great resource in this area too. Through my team, I have an accountability partner that I meet with monthly. When my regional director came to visit, he and his wife spent a day with me and asked intentional questions about how I lead, handle conflict, and how I am growing in general as a Christian. In addition, my teammates share their wisdom with me on a regular basis. These things and more have assured me that SEND International is a highly valuable organization and I'm excited to partner with them in service to, for, and with our great God! Interested in being sent by SEND?
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