Yangon Missions
A report by Dn Leong Kwok Whye on the Myanmar missions trip of True Life BPC,
12-15 March 2011
Providence
“Man proposes, God disposes.” The Session had planned for a trip to Yangon last year but the trip was cancelled due to the international communications clampdown before the Myanmar General Elections. Thus we submitted to God’s stopping our move. In God’s good timing, there was a Yangon airfare promotion in the early part of the year and Session gave us the blessing to proceed. Now in God’s good providence, Dr and Mrs Jeffrey Khoo, and I were able to visit at a very economical cost. Elder Tan Nee Keng of Berean BPC has a burden to start an orphanage, and joined us to learn more about this ministry. I am especially grateful to the Lord for I have also noticed that the airfare had since increased significantly with additional fuel surcharges. The Lord knows everything, and He smoothens our paths according to His good will.
Singapore’s weather at this time is about 29 to 31ºC but the weather in Yangon is about 35-36ºC, and we were mentally prepared for the heat. I thank God that He remembered us and mercifully sent the rain on Sunday afternoon so that everyone was refreshed for the service and received the Word preached that afternoon. We had a blessed time worshipping the Lord at First Bible-Presbyterian Church, Yangon. I highlight these small things to show you that the Lord truly cares for us in detail, He knows the number of hairs on our head (Matt 10:30). God is so good.
Grace
We brought many boxes of Bibles, FEBC books and Sunday school materials into Yangon and this naturally attracted the custom inspectors’ attention. When the inspector asked Dr Khoo what was inside the boxes, he replied they contained books and the custom inspector just waved us on, no further inspection needed, praise the Lord. We had about 80kg of Christian materials. Two boxes of FEBC books were given to Bethany Bible College in Yangon, a new Bible College with 25 students. This was in response to a letter by its Principal—Laok Khant Khaing—who requested for books for the College library. FEBC gets such requests for books now and then. A box of Defined King James Bible and Sunday school literature were given to First Bible-Presbyterian Church of Yangon. First Bible-Presbyterian Church is supported by Bethel Bible-Presbyterian Church, Melbourne. Rev Biak Lawm Thang is the pastor, and Preacher Lal Lian Uk is his assistant. We also gave Sunday school teaching materials to the New Life Orphanage. In addition, we also brought clothes, three used laptop computers in good working condition, and a printer for the orphanage. The New Life Orphanage has been supported by True Life since 2005. There were many happy faces. Truly, the Lord had heard our humble cries. Thank you very much for praying. May we always pray and not faint.
Works of God
Our hearts rejoiced to see the wonderful grace of God in the life of this young girl Niang Hoi Nuem. She was very weak with a heart problem last year and New Life Orphanage asked if True Life BPC can help pay for her urgent urgent medical treatment. Thank God for True Lifers who responded to this urgent call of mercy. Our hearts greatly rejoiced in the Lord when we saw the same girl now glowing with health and testifying of the wonderful grace of God in her life. She sought baptism in obedience to God’s command. After giving her salvation testimony distinctly, she also gave clear answers to Dr Khoo’s questions on her faith in Christ. She and three others (Muang Khan Suen, Huai Pi, Cing Dei Nuem) were baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost that happy morning. Each one gave a public testimony of how they were saved. Thank God for giving us this special opportunity to witness the wonderful work of God in saving sinners.
In the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20, it is commanded that God’s Word be taught in all its fullness. The children at the orphanage need a more systematic teaching of God’s Word. Rev Biak Lawm Thang and Preacher Lal Lian Uk, both FEBC graduates with Master’s degrees, will take turns to teach the orphans the fundamentals of the Christian Faith twice a week for three months during their school holidays from March to May.
At the First Bible-Presbyterian Church, Dr Jeffrey Khoo preached from Matthew 24:1-14. He reminded us that Jesus is coming back soon and how we need to be ready for His return. He urged all to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour now, and be sure of their salvation. The many earthquakes in diverse places predicted in Matthew 24:7 is one sign of His soon return and in the first 10 weeks of this year alone, there have already been 18 significant earthquakes in the world, the latest in Japan is most devastating. There were about 70 people at the Lord’s Day worship and not a few received the Word with gladness. The people also presented praise items to the Lord. It is good to worship the Lord.
First Bible-Presbyterian Church, Yangon also published the Christian Beacon in the Chin language to defend the Word against the attacks of the evil one. May the Lord use this beacon of light to lead many souls out of the darkness into the saving knowledge of the Truth of God
Truly, it is good to have fellowship with likeminded brethren as all of us were mutually encouraged in the Lord. Let us therefore press on in the Lord. The Lord is coming back soon. Amen.
