And Some More Colors and Shapes...

Some more pics of life in the "Lonely Planet"

A World Away

"I'm Here to Meet With You...Come And Meet with Me..I'm here to find You...Reveal yourself to me...As I wait, You make me strong...as I long, draw me to your arms...as I stand and sing your praise...you come, you come, and fill this place...Won't you come, won't you come, and fill this place!"

These are the beginning lines of one of my favorite songs...I've been singing it over and over today.






These little boys are standing politely for their photo (all children are taught to stand with their arms crossed to show respect). They are from the Naga tribe and have left their parents to be a part of a training children's home in the city. Their leaders are praying that one or more of them will go back to their tribes as worship leaders.


This is a view out my window in Yangon...we're soon leaving the rainy season, so the sunsets should start coming more regularly!
...I found out there was a coup d'etat in Bangkok hours before I was supposed to board the plane. Of course, not many people really knew about it in Myanmar -news of the outside world is hard to come by. But, things seem peaceful here right now, aside from the armed military personnel I have become familiar with in my other surroundings. So, thankfully, I have successfully renewed my visa for another period and will be returning to Burma, home early tomorrow morning. But before I go back, I want to share a few photos with you while I have quick internet connection.

The friends I requested prayer for are doing well; no one was imprisoned; they went before the authorities and actually were able to get registered so they can at least exist with permission now. But, we must still pray for their freedom to worship and prepare young people for ministry.

This green and brown building is our English school. Teens come eager to learn 3 days/week and have 2 hour lessons. Many new students are joining, and we are having to put up waiting lists.

The closeness of a ride with the town!

Each day we board buses, then hyluxes (jeeps) for the 2 hour trip to the school.

These women are sitting in between the two benches, on tiny little stools (sometimes you wonder how much of you will be floating in mid-air!). Then, do you see the men standing at the end, hanging on for dear life!

Freedom Request

Guys, urgent request that you pray for a "body" of believers I know and love here- for their freedom to worship and train. They are pursuing this issue with authorities currently.

Here's some more pics of Burma scenery...

The pagodas (almost 1,000 years old) are taken by Sarah and me in Bagan.

A street scene...

This is an older-looking Buddha image sitting in one of the ancient temples...most Buddhas are actually golden - real gold (this country is wealthy, but you wouldn't know it by looking at its people)

Country road...take me home...

Reflections from a Northward Land Trip

[This post was written August 19 and intended for mid August, but due to the internet connection and the schedule I've kept of late, it is only now appearing...thank you for your patient care and continued prayer]...

What a journey. I’m home now in Yangon and back to the “routine” of English and computer classes, if you could call it a routine. But here are some reflections on the trip north.

This area of Myanmar was very different from Yangon, actually less “accessible” is certain regards. Experiencing a different side of the country’s dynamics opened our eyes further to what’s involved in living and working here. At one point we found ourselves being followed, questioned, and then taken to the local authority’s office because we were foreigners. (Foreigners are required to “register” with the government and secure permission before going to any ‘non-tourist’ area.)

The young people we met at the training school were such fun (the school is actually classed as a music school – and the students are quite gifted musically!). These students are in a one-year Bible training program, and they live and work together as a family. Their gracious attitudes were so inviting, and they welcomed the messages we brought. They were especially eager for me to play my flute and wanted me to play non-stop because, though they had heard keyboard simulations of the flute, they had never actually seen a silver flute. I was thinking back to when I was in 6th grade and just beginning to learn the flute; I never imagined then that I would get to join other believers praising in Myanmar. When the students and church members sang and danced in worship, Heaven rang with celebration. Even the little ones younger than 7 years were up front dancing to melodies of victory!

On Saturday we helped chisel bricks to salvage what we could of the school’s decimated prayer house. The authorities have decided to expand the river running behind the school, (after a prophet of Buddha told the chief authority he needed to do this or he would soon lose his power). So, all buildings in the way have been destroyed, including sections of the church and many fruit trees that provided the students with needed nutrients. The believers testified to being discouraged, but not defeated. They are strong and filled with faith in God’s power.

I shared a story with 25 little children on Sunday morning, a story of Jesus as the Shepherd. As I shared I learned so much myself, like I was feeling the Shepherd through child’s eyes. One little boy asked that we all pray for his country, that many would come to believe in this Shepherd. One little girl asked us to pray that she get a cell phone…the reason: so she can call up this Christian man who had visited her family’s home a few years back. That afternoon we went to a youth service, and I was supposed to “preach/share”. I felt that the verses in Revelation 21 and 22 that I had been given before coming to SE Asia this year was for us to proclaim that evening. Here are a few of the verses:

Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away…then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations….They will see His face, and His name will be written on their foreheads.”

After the service, it’s like a flow of jubilation came over the group and everyone enjoyed games and dancing to music! This was totally unplanned by us, but after it was all over the pastor just couldn’t stop saying how much they had really needed this time to lay aside their troubles and to enjoy! The goodness of God was abundant.

On one of the evenings, Sarah and I were walking in the street looking for a place to have tea, and 3 novice monks approached us asking if they could practice their English. Their “teacher” at their monastery is 28 years old and speaks fluent English from his studies in Thailand. He encourages all his students to talk with foreigners whenever they can and to introduce him to any who may be interested. So the following evening the monks met us at our hotel and escorted us to their monastery, which was in short walking distance away, just through a pagoda (temple) and past a few dogs! When we arrived we were seated at a table, and immediately the teacher came. Our 3 friends and a few others were hovering around us, attentive to any need for fanning or tea refills we might have. The teacher was warm and accepting, and we soon felt welcome and free to share what was in our hearts. They listened, very attentive to our expression of a Creator who loves us. As the teacher shared his ritual and overall aim in life, my heart sank. How could the best thing be to become non-existent? How could they appreciate simplicity and kindness, the goodness of the earth, the importance of love, the cessation of selfish strivings, self-awareness and harmony, and NOT know the Creator for which they were made and in whom all these things make sense? I believe God’s Spirit is stirring hearts of such as these, bringing them increasing discontentment with the way of life that engulfs them and showing them how different is the message of Jesus; I will pray for this result. I bought a small oil painting of some nuns (female “monks”) and have put it above my bed as a prayer visual.