Liesl Eck expanding borders and spreading cheer to Asian orphans
Pop quiz; point to Myanmar on a map. You can’t Google it first and truthfully I couldn’t find it either, but Liesl Eck, a 2011 graduate of Jasper High School, knows exactly where the small Asian country is and she can tell you all about it.
On December 27, Liesl and her cousins, Erin Kieffner and Renae Burns, left for Yangon, Myanmar on a two week mission trip with Bethel Temple Ministries. Erin has been going for several years and the stories she told inspired Liesl’s interest in mission work.
Their primary destination was an orphanage called Love Children’s Home, but they visited other orphanages in the area. Interestingly, although it is an orphanage, the children living here are not necessarily orphans.
“In Myanmar, most orphans still have living parents. Their families will put them in orphanages because they are too poor to take care of them,” said Liesl. “The heartbreaking thing is they do not get adopted.”
Liesl shared that it is very rare an orphan in Myanmar will ever get adopted, so these children are stuck there. “When we visit, it’s like having a family for them again.” She explained. “They cling to you and don’t ever let go. Leaving them was awful. If I could’ve stayed, I would have.”
While there the group taught the children English and did a study which was similar to a Vacation Bible School program. Others who went were involved with construction projects and also formed medical teams to ensure the health of the children.
Liesl helped with the English lessons and was a music teacher. She said she was so busy that she didn’t have time to miss home. “The orphans become your siblings, your friends, and even your own kids,” said Liesl. “I miss them all terribly and can’t wait to return.”
Though she didn’t miss home, she did miss fresh fruits and vegetables. She said, “The water over there is beyond polluted. Their food was delicious though, and I even got the chance to try dog meat and barbequed mouse.”
She keeps in touch with many of the Americans who went with her and also many of the older children at the orphanage. Surprisingly they have Facebook accounts.
She has always loved ancient cultures, especially their myths and superstitions. Following this love, Liesl will be attending University of Evansville this fall where she will pursue a double major in Archeology and Art History.
People don’t generally question her major in Archaeology, but they don’t understand how Art History fits in with it. Liesl explained, “The best way to get to know a culture’s psyche is to study its art. Even nowadays art is so political and so filled with meaning.”
She isn’t stopping with just a double major. She plans to attend IU for a Masters in Folklore when she leaves UE. From there she would like to study the folklore and legends of Eastern Europe in Romania and Russia through both fieldwork and research. Not too bad for a girl from the greater Portersville area.
Liesl’s proud parents are Ken & Christine Eck.
