Lifting The Iron Curtain In Burma

Eleventh Hour Laborers
Jun 10, 2016
10 min read

Hello and warm greetings to you brothers and sisters in Christ. It is a pleasure to once again greet you by way of our blog.

There have been several weeks of silence from our blogs due to my hectic travel schedule. Things such as consistent internet service and daily cell phone usage are things that we often take for granted in the West. Once I leave the US however, I am quickly reminded that such things are luxuries. As I have to visit crammed internet kiosks and pay by the minute for very slow internet usage, and wait sometimes for 5 minutes to upload 1 picture to my blog site. My appreciation for technology is greatly increased when I return home. As the old adage says, ‘you don’t know what you have until you lose it’.

After departing from the US I had several places scheduled to visit during my missionary trip. However, I never scheduled or planned in the least to visit the country of Myanmar. Somehow, the Lord had a divine appointment for me to visit that country. I am reminded of what the bible says in the book of Proverbs 16:9 when it says that “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps”. Even though we make plans and have plans set for the advancement of the cause of God. Ultimately, God has His own schedule of events and it is always better to yield to Him.

During a recent conversation with a Pastor friend of mine in California, the topic of Evangelism came up. We were discussing about how The Lord seemed to be opening the doors to so many countries at once and how this seemed to be a direct fulfillment of Matthew 24:14. He mentioned to me about how the country of Myanmar was also once closed not only to the gospel but to the outside world. And how just a few months ago the doors of freedom began to miraculously open after more than a half of a century of closure. We began to talk about how it would be a real blessing if we could somehow be able to share the Gospel in Myanmar after being in decades of darkness.

The Country of Myanmar had been in the news for many years primarily because of the decade’s long rule of its Military Junta. This Military Junta formed a totalitarian system of Government whose only close comparison in my opinion would be that of the Republic of North Korea. This military government in Myanmar made themselves the Executive, Legislative and the Judicial body for the entire Nation. Under the Junta there were to be no dissenting voices, no voices of criticism or opposition to their government. Those who dare to oppose or resist even in the mildest forms of protest were often the victims of swift and maximum retaliation by the government. There are countless news articles online that document the deaths of thousands and thousands who paid the ultimate price for daring carry the banner of democracy. In the jungles of Myanmar today, there are still many mass graves that serve as silent witnesses to Myanmar’s dark past. I also remembered that for some years the US had imposed economic sanctions and an embargo against Myanmar. And also the government, until recently was on the US watch list as one of the state sponsors of terror.

Considering these fact I will tell you honestly that I was a bit less than enthused about a trip to Myanmar. I had never thought about or even dreamed of visiting such a country with a telling reputation. Nevertheless, I prayed about it and I felt a peace in my heart about my decision to go. What if I was arrested by the Myanmar Gov. on grounds of suspicion? What if I was jailed without cause as some foreigners had been in the past? These and a Myriad of other questions loomed in my mind as I secured my online visa for Myanmar. I prayed day and night concerning this decision and felt that it was a risk worth taking for the cause of God. The door of democracy I believe was being opened in the providence of God, and I needed to enter. I therefore booked my flight by faith and in September 2012 I arrived in Yangon city Myanmar via Bangkok Thailand. Also, somewhat providentially, the very day that I arrived in Myanmar the US Government lifted its economic sanctions and embargo against Myanmar. After many years, our Government began to re-establish formal diplomatic ties with this nation and removed them from the terrorist watch list.

Upon arriving in Myanmar I was pleasantly surprised first of all as to how modern and developed the airport was. I know that Myanmar is one of the poorest and most underdeveloped countries in the world. Generally, whenever I enter such countries I expect to find dilapidated relics of old airplanes in hangars, and I expect to descend my plane from worn and tattered air stairs, but this was not the case. It was a small but quite modern airport with beautiful architecture and all of the modern trappings that one could expect from an international airport. Instead of being greeted by military soldiers, I was warmly welcomed to the country by one of the many female customs officers dressed in white shirt and pant suits, almost reminiscent of the US navy officers. In a matter of 15 minutes I cleared the customs at the Yangon Airport. The government agent who assisted throughout my visa process online (a young girl about age 22) was also present and greeted me and warmly welcomed me to the country of Myanmar. She was quite helpful to me and even insistent upon helping me lift my 40 pound suitcase from the conveyor belt, and made sure that I was ok with finding a hotel. The overall experience in the Airport was not what I expected at all, I was honestly quite pleasantly surprised.

The roads in Yangon were quite clean and very nicely maintained. Also many large buildings and shops were to be seen as we traveled to our destination. Many modern Japanese cars darted along the two lane roads as we traveled, I counted more than 20 different types of Japanese made Toyota cars and Suvs that were operating on the roads as we drove.

The people in Myanmar were quite friendly overall. Even though there have not been many black people who have visited this once closed Nation in many decades. Still the people were quite welcoming to strangers. I did not receive any of the awkward steers, derogatory looks or constant whispering and pointing I was accustomed to receiving as I visited other Asian countries. This was a great relief and made for a much more pleasant trip.

I have read online that Burma has long been considered the golden land. People here are mainly Buddhists and so they don’t traditionally wear a lot of gold on their persons as the Hindu Indians do. But, they lavish tons and tons of gold upon their Buddhist Pagodas or temples. Even from 1 or 2 kilometers away one can easily see these massive solid gold plated conical structures imposing themselves in the distant horizons. Many thousands of pounds of gems and precious stones have been housed in these massive structures after having been donated to by devoted Buddhist worshippers. I was also able to see the world’s biggest ruby at one Pagoda that was 76 karats. I came to understand that Burma is home to many precious stones and gems of every description, from the jade stone, to onyx, rubies, sapphire, spinnels and an infinite variety of other gems. They all can be found in Myanmar and quite cheaply I might add. In some places these jewelry shops are as prevalent as food and vegetable shops, it was quite an experience for me to see these things first hand. This Nation according to research is still one of the richest in the world in terms of untapped natural resources. But, it is such a paradox that in the midst of such fabulous wealth, most of the country’s population still lives in abject poverty.

During my travels in Burma I met many interesting people. I even met a family from the Karen tribe (one of the ethnic tribes of Burma) who shared their experiences with me about living in Myanmar during the time when their tribe was at war with the Government. A man told me about how he, his wife, 6 biological, and 8 adopted children all lived in the jungle for several years during this time of war. He shared many graphic and explicit stories with me of their experiences. He shared with me about how he and his family would hear the howitzer guns barking in the middle of the night as the enemy soldiers drew nearer and nearer. He shared how in minutes they had to leave their makeshift bamboo houses with their few scanty belongings on their heads. He had to flee into the dark jungles in the middle of the night with a wife and 14 children in the midst of the Eastern monsoon rains. He even told me about the many miracles that God did for them while they lived in the malaria infested jungles of Burma. He told about how bombs from the Government armies would be falling around them day and night and how government soldiers were mercilessly shelling their villages. He shared how in the midst of this he and his many children at times would sing the songs of praises to God and would even stop to pray. Bullets would be raining down and grenades were exploding all around, but in 10 years he never lost any of his children in the war and none of them got shot. I heard stories of how difficult it would be to get food in the jungle to feed a family of 16, but how God would provide every day for them miraculously, and kept them from starving during these terrible crises. The family told me several stories of near death experiences from diseases as they had no medication or doctors in the jungle. But, time after time God healed them and their children from all of their maladies and diseases without medication or a doctor.

One of the lessons that I took with me from Burma was the indomitable nature of the human spirit. I met people who had passed through a ‘time of trouble’. People who had all earthly support cut off, people who were daily seeing and feeling the horrors of war. Yet, who had discovered, that when the storms of life come, it is not a vain thing to serve the Lord. They learned from experience what the Psalmist meant when he says in Psalm 46:1-3, 7. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psa 46:2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Psa 46:3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Psalm 46:7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Amen. Burma is predominantly a Buddhist nation. There are almost 1 million Buddhist monks in this nation and they were present just about everywhere I visited. They are quite visible in their burgundy wraps as they went from place to place seeking alms from their followers.

In spite of Burma being a Buddhist nation there is nevertheless some Christian presence. There are a few of the minority tribes of Burma that are strong Christians and have been so for many generations. One of the most interesting missionary biographies that I have read is that of Adoniram Judson, a young American who went to Burma as its 1st Christian missionary. History has preserved the record of this mighty man of God. A man of ardent faith and prayer, a man with zeal and a passion for the up building of the Kingdom of Christ. Young Adoniram Judson arrived in Burma in 1812, unexpected and un-announced. He arrived as a young man with his new bride, both of them seeking to honor the summons of Great Commission. Though Adoniram lost several children and even his dear wife to disease in Burma, though he was imprisoned for 2 years during the Anglo-Burmese war, he nevertheless persevered. He learned the Burmese language, spoke fluent and scholarly Burmese and even translated the Bible into the Burmese language. He labored for 6 disappointing years to get his first convert, but by the time he died in 1850 his converts numbered more than 200,000. At the time of his death almost 1 in every 60 Burmese was a Christian. The Baptist Church from where Judson came is still the strongest protestant denomination in Burma until this day. Burma has weathered many social, economic, and political storms since the days of Judson. Governments have arisen with a fixed determination to exterminate the name of Christ and Christians on a whole from Burma. Since my visit there I can report to you personally, that after more than 150 since the death of this American Missionary, there are a some tribes who are still Christians until this day in great part because of the efforts and labors of Adoniram Judson. I was reminded that the words of our Lord are true in Matthew 16:18 when he says that upon the rock of Himself he would build His church and the very gates of hell would not prevail against it.

Even though Burma is on the new path to democracy, still in matters of religion it is not free. The Government has authorized only 1 Adventist Church to serve for all the Adventists in Burma, even though our people in that country come from more than 20 different language and ethnic groups throughout the nation. This situation imposed by the Burmese Government has given birth to an underground Church movement. This underground Church movement is quite similar to that which exists in the neighboring country of China. I was able to visit and preach in some of our underground home churches. It was such a beautiful experience to see so many people, some who had travelled great distances coming to church. Even though it was against the law, people need the Lord. Many sacrifice family ties and strong ties with their clans to become Christians. As I saw their sacrifice I thought to myself about how little I had sacrificed for the name of Christ. I pray that when my time comes and I am faced with the decision as to whether I should obey God or man, I will have a similar fortitude.

My Pastor friend from California and myself are planning by God’s help 5 simultaneous crusades for the country of Burma in 2013. Since the door is now opening we want to strike while the iron is hot. We are planning to enlist the help of some Pastors and Medical Missionary personnel to have one of the biggest crusades ever for the Adventists in Burma. This is a massive project that will require, much funding, coordination and careful systematic planning. Please pray that God will bless us and grant us the wisdom and the resources necessary to move forward with such a bold and daring undertaking. If you are impressed to support our work please feel free to make a tax deductible donation at https://dev-3-going-forward.pantheonsite.io/ just click the donate tab. Or you can mail us a gift to P.O. Box 324 Burtonsville Md.20866. Thank you so very much for your prayers and support of the 3 Going Forward Ministry, may God richly bless you and your family as we prepare for His coming. Maranatha.

Inside the Golden Pagoda

A statue of Buddha made from solid jade, at the top is a crown made from rubies