“When I came here, I couldn’t speak English… I had never slept in a real bed or in a house made from bricks.” 

Mido Mokkram from Croydon Hills Baptist Church was a Karen refugee from Myanmar (Burma) whose journey to Australia has been nothing more than life-changing. When she first came to Australia, she couldn’t speak English (she could only speak Karen and Thai) and has never slept in a real bed or in a house made of bricks.

Despite the daunting challenge of cultural differences and language barriers, however, Mido was determined to start afresh with her family who eventually settled in Maroondah. She studied English, took an aged-care course and went on to juggle work at an aged care centre and a Thai restaurant. 

As Mido and the family settled in, they also began to attend the Karen services at Croydon Hills Baptist Church every Sunday. 

Reciting Matthew 6:33 (“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.”) every Sunday with her Karen faith community, in 2018 Mido took up the call of God to serve in various ministries within the church. Mido wore many hats—church leader, Sunday School teacher, youth assistant and treasurer, to name a few. 

Her service to God translated to a deep desire to learn more about Him and soon, she began her Diploma in Theology at Whitley College. Through all this, God was putting dream in Mido’s mind of one day owning her own business and this was never far from her mind as she worked, studied and served. 

“During this time, I was asking God to bless me with my own business,” she says. “It took more than three years, but God answered my prayer and I was able to open my shop on 14 May 2021 by the grace of God.” 

Her Karen church community have not only supported her and encouraged her but are now also her customers! 

“With God nothing is impossible if we put Him first in our life,” she says. “God is faithful and His timing is always beautiful!” 

With thanks to the City of Maroondah.