I am feeling desperate and helpless as I see the pictures and hear of the death and devastation that abound in the isolated country of Burma. I pray that God will use this disaster to open the floodgates of love and concern for this country that the world has forgotten. Just two years ago I visited some of the areas devastated by Nargis. The Christians we met tugged at our hearts because of their Joy in the face of hardship and even governmental opposition. I pray that joy continues, although I can’t imagine the heartache and despair that must be prevalent. We grew in love with the seminary students at Pathein, and now we have learned that Nargis caused the death of some, and the destruction of much of their property. The Pwo Karen have lost much in this storm. 
At the time of our trip I told my wife that very few Americans could live in Burma. We don’t know how to face hardship like the Burmese do. The joy on their faces and the love in their heart will be forever branded upon my soul. We must not abandon them. We must pray that God will change the hearts of those He has put in power. We must plead with them as in Psalm 2:
“Now therefore O Kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him”
The Friends of Burma organization is already at work funneling aid to organizations that already exist withing Burma (Myanmar). FOB has partnered with the Burmese over the past 20+ years since God impressed upon Neil and Diana Sowards to come to their aid. Neil’s mom and dad were missionaries to Burma for many years and were forced to leave the country in the early 60’s after the military took over. 100% of every dollar given to FOB goes toward humanitarian and Christian causes in Burma. All administrative work done in the United States is by volunteers.
WE NEED YOUR HELP! We are already in contact with several Christian organizations in Burma about the needs that are so overwhelming. We have already sent them emergency funds of $20,000 US as well as 200 mosquito nets. Here are some of the reports from our contacts in Burma:
- The front part of our church (the pulpit part of Pwo Karen Baptist Ch.) was totally destroyed and the five big stands were cracked. Some church members who live in our church compound are now living in Pwo Karen Theological Seminary classrooms because all their houses’ roofs and walls were lost.
- The worst thing is that the church near by our church, Sanchaung Sgaw Karen Baptist Church was totally destroyed. Now the church members are also living in their seminary classroom.
- Our working place, Myanmar Institute of Theology was also affected by cyclone. The fourth floor of our seminary was totally devastated. Our computer lab was also damaged. Some of the staff houses were also tear-down.
- My wife Tin Tin got ph. Contact with her family. Her father got accident on his nose and arm by broken glasses. He is now under-treatment. He had to take 16 stitches on his nose and 10 on his arm. He is now getting better. I still do not get ph. contact with my family. I do not know where my mother is, but I hope she will be doing fine. My former organization World Vision is serving among the victims. My friends informed me that one of my brothers’ house was collapsed.
- All goods prices are increased and people are facing difficulties with their daily food. They guess electricity will be unavailable for nearly three months. If there is no electricity, there will be shortage of water supply. There will be many consequences of this disaster: health problem, sanitation, insufficient food, etc.
“This morning, my mom got contacted with my younger sister in Burma and found out that Maung Maung Htwe got back to Yangon after being trapped in the storm in delta area. He is heading home today. I have learned some sad news from my friend from CT, that at least seven Pwo Karen Churches were being destroyed which means that seven whole villages had been wiped out by the powerful wave and wind. The Sgaw Karen Churches are three times more that Pwo Karen Churches, so you can imagine that. Saya Soe Thiha had visited those areas and reported that it had totally devastated and destroyed. There are more Buddhist villages than Christian churches, so it means there are many, many villages had been wiped out. Let’s pray that God will give some comforting arm around the survivals and his mercy and grace to them, and God loosens this hard headed military junta and let the international relief workers to go there and help these people.” (from Saya Zaw Wynn)
1) Two Pwo Kayin Seminarians were killed. 2) Most of Pwo Kayin Theological Seminary students’ parents and family members were killed. 3) 9 Pwo Karen Churches and more than 35 Pwo Kayin villages were disappeared. They guess there will be more than 3000 PK church members were killed. We, the members our Pwo Kayin Baptist Conference (PKBC) are living in delta area. In PKBC, we have 6 associations. All these
associations are in delta area and all were affected by cyclone. Dr. Soe Thiha (Andover NTS), Rev. Dr. Maung Maung Htwe (ANTS), and Ko Ko Lay (PTS) alumni are leading in relief camps. Now PKBC provide a relief camp in Pathein, the capital of Irrawaddy division. Tomorrow, my youth pastor and youth will go to Pathein for relief. Pathein is nearly 200 miles far from Yangon.
The special website set up to handle your donations for the relief effort in Burma is: www.myanmarburmarelief.org
You can donate online, or you can send your donation to Friends of Burma @ 548 Home Ave Ft Wayne, IN 46807. We are a 501(c) organization, so all donations are tax deductible.
If you can’t give, please pray to that God will turn the hearts of the military regime to allow humanitarian aide into the country. The world can not sit by and allow these people to keep on suffering and perishing because no one will help.
The Temple officials dare not lay hands on Jesus, not now with such a multitude, and the Roman garrison close by. They did not even reprove Him, but only asked for a sign as proof of His authority for such actions. In His reply, Jesus knew the ultimate end of this little ‘contest’ between the these self-righteous fools and His Father’s Will. For He knew that their understanding was darkened and their ears stopped up. For the truth is that every “evil and adulterous generation” seeks for a sign from God, yet never changes their ways regardless of any sign given. Even the sign that Jesus would give them would not be enough to soften their hard hearts toward God.
Forever the only sign that God gives is this: ‘Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ Jesus met their challenge with a challenge: Crucify Him, and He would rise again; let them kill Him and He would rise Victorious. Of course they misunderstood and used it against Him at His trial. But the truth remains, this one sign is all that mankind needs for Salvation:
I am discovering that people living in a rural area usually chose to do so because they are a bit independent. The older ones are especially that way. They don’t like change, they don’t really like to be told what to do. Ones who have been faithfully attending a traditional rural church are used to hearing traditional-style sermons (3 points and a teary story). They don’t mind their hearts being tugged, but they don’t like to think too hard. They prefer a simple moral life. A ‘good’ religion with a few simple rules suits them fine. They can relate to “Thou Shalt Not’s”, because they are easy to understand. Don’t lie, steal, commit adultery is easy for them to do.
I am discovering that this is not “traditional” Southern Baptist teaching. Some are enthusiastically accepting a life of Faith. Alas, some are what I believe God calls “stiff-necked”. Stephen got stoned because he called the Jews “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you! (Acts 7:51).
‘You are a stiff-necked people; if for a single moment I should go up among you, I would consume you. So now take off your ornaments, that I may know what to do with you.’ ”
And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’ ” And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you.” (Exodus 32:7-10). God wanted to kill them all, and start over. Now, due to Moses Intervention, He was allowing the people to continue toward the Promised Land, but He did not want to go with them.
Life is full of things we hate to do. But today was especially hated. My daughter reminded me that if the day ever came, I would take Cassie to the vet to be killed. I bought Cassie in 1995. We had just lost a Dachshund named Schmitzy. She had been a beloved member of our family for 11 or 12 years. She had helped raise our kids. They were heartbroken. I acted like it didn’t bother me (I’ve been accused of having no heart by several people). About two weeks later I was driving and saw a pet store and decided to drop in. I came upon the cutest little bundle of white and tan fur I had ever seen. Her eyes melted my heart, and I brought her home. She stole my kids hearts, and mine as well. She had a terrible run-in with one of my daughters dogs over a treat. She never had a chance. Hell Dog 2 tore into Cassie and literally tore her eye from the socket. We tried to save the eye, but soon it was obvious that it was dead. So the vet took the eyeball and sewed her eyelids shut. She never was the same dog after that. My heart was broken seeing her after that. Soon a young man asked for my daughter’s hand in marriage. I said yes on one condition-you must take her dogs, Cassie included.
Yesterday the call came… Cassie is not doing well.
The ride to the vet was most eerie. She always had a sad expression, but today it seemed sadder than normal. She would hardly look at me. It was as if she knew. After all, she hadn’t seen me in several months. Why would I show up all of a sudden? I dropped her by my wife, so she could say her goodbyes. She cried, as if saying good bye to a close family friend. I suppose Cassie was. She was a part of our family for 13 years.
When I told people what I had to do, they would say “That’s terrible!” “You must be heartbroken!” Several remarked how traumatic it was when they had to have a pet killed. As a preacher, I think people are sadder over the death of their pets than they are over the death of someone who dies without coming to Jesus Christ as their Savior. That person will spend the rest of eternity in torment and separation from the Holy, Righteous God who made them. To me that is the saddest thing.
Loving the Word with the MudPreacher 