Papa

PAPA is a Karen word for father. My father is known as Pastor Simon from Maela refugee camp; Rev. Dr. Simon who worked hard to educate young refugees, and who loved his Karen people and journeyed with them in a refugee camp as displaced people. In the 25 years our family lived in Maela refugee camp, Papa equipped many young leaders who are now Karen Baptist leaders around the world. The Karen diaspora expanded globally under the UNHCR Resettlement Scheme which began in 2004 to many countries including Australia, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Finland, United Kingdom, and South Korea. Keen to maintain a global network of this diaspora, Papa was one of the founding fathers of the Global Karen Baptist Fellowship in 2007, serving in different executive positions to the time of his death. He passed away as a displaced person who carried no identity on 2 August, 2015. Though departed to his heavenly home, Papa is still very much loved and respected by people across the globe; his memory etched in the hearts of all knew him.