Myanmar Images

I'm at the KBTS Computer Center which has a much faster and broader internet connection than is available the guest house.  So, I'm going to try to upload a couple of images from our travels last week.

We visited Myanmar's new capital city, Naypyitaw while visiting in Taungoo last week.  I expected to be taken to see the new parliament and government buildings.  The government moved from Rangoon to Naypyitaw (which means "royal city" in Burmese) about a decade ago.  Rather than take us to the government center, we were given a tour of the outskirts of the city on broad, twelve lane boulevards that were largely empty of traffic.  Our guides took us to a zoo and as night fell to a picturesque fountain and water park.  The photo below is of a young boy standing under an artificial waterfall preparing to dive into the water below him.

While visiting in the city of Taungoo, where there are many Karen and many Baptists, we received permission to visit Prayer Mountain in the Karen (Kayin) State. Prayer Mountain is a high mountain surrounded by many similar peaks with Buddhist pagodas at their summits.  Prayer Mountain has a large illuminated cross at its top which can be seen for miles around.  It also has several small chapels for those seeking a place for personal retreat, reflection, and renewal. It is a place that is revered as holy ground by many Karen believers.

Praying hands rock at Prayer Mountain summit.

Myanmar Musings - November 16, 2013

On the evening of Monday, November 11 I took Thai Airways' evening flight from Bangkok to Yangon, Myanmar.  The first thing I noticed was that our large Airbus jet was packed.  Not a seat was empty.  At least two commercial tour groups were on board.  I flew to Yangon from Bangkok with an American Baptist group in 2009.  At that time, the plane Thai Airways assigned to the route was not only smaller, but contained empty seats.  The large, full commercial jetliner was an indicator of some of the changes that have occurred in the former Burma in recent years.

The flight from Thailand to the former capital is barely an hour.  While in the air the sun dramatically set before us in the west.  As we approached Yangon, the relative darkness of the city was noticeable.  Bangkok, and most larger cities in the U.S. are awash in light.  Not so, Yangon.  Street lights are more limited.  There is no artificial, electric day at night here. One is aware that the sun has set and it is nighttime. 

I easily passed through the immigration line with my business visa, retrieved my luggage from the luggage carousel, and exchanged U.S. dollars for Myanmar kyats.  Awaiting me on the other side of the barrier were the Reverend Dr. Greeta Din, General Secretary of Karen Baptist Convention of Myanmar, and her husband Reverend Dr. Saw Mu Htaw, President of the Karen Baptist Theological Seminary.  After warmly welcoming me to their country they took me to my residence for the next three weeks, KBTS' guest house.  

Even though it was late in the evening, a meal of delicious Karen food had been kept warm and waiting for me at the guest house.  I also met the other western visitor staying at the guest house, Rev. Dr. Lennart Bostrom, a Swedish Baptist Old Testament professor.  Lennart's Baptist congregation in Sweden has also welcome Karen refugee's from Thailand's refugee camps. 

First thing Tuesday morning Lennart and I were picked up by a hired car for a daylong journey to the city of Taungoo, about 200 miles from Yangon.  Our guide for the next three days was a wonderful young KBC staffer: Gay Blut Paw.  Her name in Karen means "beautiful, graceful flower."  She certainly lived up to her name during the next three days.

We've had a very busy week.  We visited three Baptist Associations in the Taungoo area which are comprised of Baptist congregations from three Karen sub-groups.  We arrived at the Taungoo Bible School for its morning worship service and as we were being led to the platform learned that one of us was expected to preach and the other to lead in prayer.  I was the preacher that morning.  The following day Lennart preached at a Thursday evening mid-week service and I offered the pastoral prayer.  We also visited a site revered by many Karen - "Prayer Mountain" in the Karen State.  Set on a high mountaintop in an area where many mountains are topped by Buddhist pagodas, this beautiful site offers a place of retreat and renewal to Christians of all traditions.  Everywhere we went in and around Taungoo we experienced incredible warm welcomes and generous (even extravagant) hospitality from Karen brothers and sisters. 

We arrived back at the KBTS guest house late yesterday afternoon. At 6:30 a.m. today we were back on the road. Rev. Dr. Ya Ha Lay Lay Lah (KBTS Professor) picked us up in his vehicle for a journey to Tabernacle's Pastor Daniel's home village which is about 15-20 miles outside of Yangon.  However, we could only go so far by car.  The final leg of our trip was in small motorized long boats down a tributary of the Irrawaddy River to the village.  We were welcomed by Pastor Daniel's 86 year old mother, several of his eight siblings (two of whom are also pastors), their spouses, children, and extended family members.  After a wonderful Karen meal featuring freshly caught fish and particularly tasty duck in chili sauce, we made our way to the village's Baptist church.  Over the last several years, Pastor Daniel and Anna have been sending money home to Myanmar to build a new church for his home village. It is the nicest Karen village church I have seen in Thailand or Myanmar! I will be returning to Utica with lots of photos for Pastor Daniel of his family, his village, and the church his sacrificial giving has built.

Tomorrow we head out bright and early (6:30 a.m.) to Dr. Ya Ha's church in a village about 50 miles outside Yangon.  The morning service will be preceded by a baptism and followed by a wedding service at which I have been asked to bring the charge to the couple.  During the service I will be the morning's preacher.

(NOTE - I have not published any photos of my Myanmar travels.  Internet access and bandwidth is very limited.  Sorry!)

Next Stop --- Yangon

Last night I flew back to Bangkok from Chiang Rai.  Before leaving northern Thailand, the Foxes, another missionary family, and I enjoyed pizza and chicken wings at a Thai pizza restaurant chain. The pizza tasted just like Pizza Hut's. It turns out that the owner of the chain is a former Pizza Hut franchisee!

Mark with Chuck Fox's coffee bush!

After expressing my appreciation to Ruth and Chuck for their generous hospitality, I boarded Thai Airways' late flight from Chiang Rai to Bangkok.  I check-in at the Bangkok Christian Guest House around 11:00 p.m., picked up the laundry (freshly washed) and luggage I left on Thursday, plugged in various electronics to recharge, and hit the sack.  

I am currently back at the airport sitting near the gate for my flight to Yangon.  There are large street demonstrations in Bangkok today.  One of them, with thousands lining the street blow whistles at ear-splitting decibels, is one street from the Christian Guest House.  Hearing that Bankok traffic was snarled near the demonstrations, I decided to leave early for the airport.

Actually, there was no problem with traffic.  My taxi driver had me to the airport in 45 minutes (1 hour at mid-day is usual).  I quickly checked in and passed through security.  My flight boards at 5:30 p.m.  I arrived at 1:30 p.m.  I've never been one to cut it close! And, as I do not know how easily I will be able to connect to the internet in Myanmar, I decided to put the time to good use and bring my blog up-to-date.

Please hold me in your prayers during the next few weeks.  I've been a frequent visitor to Thailand over the last five years.  So, coming here is returning to the familiar.  For the next three weeks I will be stepping into the unfamiliar. I will be living at the Karen Baptist Seminary's guesthouse in Yangon, participating in classes, making visits to Karen Baptist Churches, celebrating the Judson Bicentennial with the Karen Baptist Churches of Myanmar, and hopefully having an immersive (good Baptist term) experience of Baptist life in Myanmar.  (My final two weeks in Myanmar will be spent with an American Baptist group in the country for the Myanmar Baptist Convention's Judson Bicentenary celebration.)

One of the rationales for this sabbatical is to be immersed in the culture and reality of Burma, in some small way reversing the process that refugees from Burma experience as they make a new life in the United States.  Pray with me that I will be open to how God will be at work in and through me during these few weeks.

Bala Karen Baptist Church

As it was Sunday yesterday, Ruth Fox to took me to the local Baptist church --- which happens to be a Karen congregation.  I had a wonderful time worshiping with Karen brothers and sisters at the Bala Baptist Church in Chiang Rai and bringing them greetings from Tabernacle Baptist Church.

The service included a good sermon by a visiting preacher from another Karen Baptist Church which is assisted by the Bala congregation and music ministry by the church's young people.

Teen girls singing.

 After the service, the church invited all their guests to a lunch in the church's fellowship hall (the sanctuary is on the second floor and fellowship hall on the first).  As we were unexpected guests, I suspect that they may have sent out for some additional food when then learned that they had a missionary and a pastor from America visiting. The welcome was warm and the food delicious.

After the service I also met the 85 year old pastor emeritus of the congregation.

85 yr. old Emeritus Pastor with Mark. Both are white haired!

He has been ill recently, but his health has improved and allowed to join in worship after a significant absence.

After the service, Wichai Songsaeng, Principal of the Sahasartsuksa School (see previous post) showed me the Sunshine Home.  A youth hostel for teen girls from outlying villages attending the school as boarders.

A few years ago, Wichai and his wife were able to purchase the house across the lane from their home.  Rather than use it as a rental property producing income, they had a different vision.  They believe God provided the property to be used for ministry.  They named it Sunshine Home --- a play on their name in Thai --- and to honor his late father's commitment to Christ and ministry.  This Home is a truly a ray of sunshine in Chaing Rai providing a caring Christian environment for young Karen women from poor families in the hills to be able to receive a high school education at the Sahasartsuksa School.

Mark with Wichai, his wife and 5 of the Sunshine Home students.

Wichai and his wife's commitment to Christ, to the Church, and serving his people is truly inspirational!

Akha Rice Harvest Festival

Today I accompanied Chuck and Ruth Fox and a large contingent of folks from the Chiang Rai International Christian School to an Akha church's annual Rice Harvest Festival.  In some ways it is the Akha equivalent of American Thanksgiving.  When the harvest is gathered the Akha Christians gather in the church to give thanks for God's many blessings.

Akha young women in traditional dress outside the church.

I felt very comfortable in the service. It felt like home. It reminded me of the Karen worship services I've attended in the U.S. --- with multiple choirs, good preaching, and congregational singing.  The service even concluded with same sung threefold amen (after the benediction) that has been the final act of worship at almost every Karen service I've ever attended!

Rev. Chuck Fox brings one of the morning's messages.

After the service (which lasted almost 3 hours), there was an auction of rice, chickens, and produce that was brought to the church.

The auctioneer holds up rice and a mountain cucumber.

The day concluded with a delicious meal that included several wonderful pork dishes.  Early in the morning a pig was slaughtered and slow cooked for the community feast in the early afternoon.  The Akha brothers and sisters extended very generous and welcoming hospitality to us.

Elephants and Buddhas

Yesterday, Chuck Fox showed me some local Chaing Rai sites including an elephant sanctuary outside the city.  Here are a couple images of our visit.

We also made a stop at a local Buddhist shrine that features several Buddhas placed in caves and niches in the hillside.

Visiting with missionaries Chuck and Ruth Fox in Chiang Rai

Yesterday (November 7), I boarded an 8:00 a.m. Thai Airways jet at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport and landed an hour later in Thailand's far north at the city of Chiang Rai.  This city of one hundred thousand is the home base of American Baptist International Ministries missionaries Chuck and Ruth Fox.  Chuck and Ruth are old friend my seminary days at the former Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary (now known as Eastern University's Palmer Seminary).

Chuck & Ruth Fox, a volunteer from Ohio, me in front of the school.

Ruth's primary ministry is working with and teaching at the Chiang Rai International Christian School.  Yesterday I received a tour of this relatively new, Thai and internationally accredited Christian School.

Chuck works with the Akha Baptist churches in northern Thailand.  The Akha are one several hill tribes that make their home in and around Chiang Rai.  We enjoyed a delicious lunch of barbecue chicken, sticky rice, green papaya salad, and fresh bananas at an Akha village not far from the city. One of our lunch companions was Peter, an Akha evangelist and leader.  As we ate we had a lengthy theological discussion --- which fed our souls as we filled our stomachs!

Chuck Fox and Peter after a nourishing lunch.

Today, Chuck and I visited Sahasartsuksa School, located directly across the street from the Fox's home.  The principal of this elementary and secondary school recounted the history of the institution.  It was begun by American Baptist missionaries and a Karen Baptist Church a generation ago.  Originally, the school was a single teacher and handful of students meeting in a small bamboo and thatch roofed building --- the Thai version of a one roomed school house.  Today, the school has 2500 students drawn from all the northern Thai hilltribes, a modern campus, and receives government funds to provide education to students who otherwise would not have educational access.  I was reminded in hearing this story of how often an apparently insignificant beginning in God's time grows into a fruitful and significant ministry.

Student body demographics by ethnic group.

On Fridays students wear their traditional tribal dress.