Dear Brethren,
Mission Trip Report at Yangon, Myanmar 24-31 March 2012
Thank God for the joy and privilege to serve the Lord in Myanmar. The Lord has opened the door for 4 of us to visit Myanmar for the first time and to serve Him there. We arrived safely on 24 March 2012 (Sat) at Yangon air-port. There was apprehension as our visit was just a week before the by-election in Myanmar but the Lord has prepared the way for us and it was very peaceful in Yangon throughout our one week stay. The weather was very hot and humid but the Lord is our strength to enable us to serve Him.
Preacher Thangno and his brother Rev. Andrew Kam received us at the air-port. Thank God the check-out was smooth as we brought laptop, projector, guitar, craft materials and gifts for the Vacation Bible Class (VBS) that would be conducted from Monday to Wednesday. We stayed in City Star ho-tel in Yangon city and the first day Saturday was good for us to relax and ad-just to a new surrounding and hot climate.
On Sunday 25 March 2012 morning, we went to the New Life Orphanage Centre for their worship service. There were 34 children and youths in the Centre plus a few helpers. The worship service was held at the open air shel-tered hut area. Our team presented a sing item in the worship service and I preached the message. Preacher Thangno’s aunty was the interpreter. Thank God for attentive children and youth to want to learn from God’s Word. After a quick lunch at the Centre, Rev. Andrew Kam drove us to Yangon BP Church for their worship service at 1pm. About 30 people attended the Yan-gon BP Church which was located at the city area. I preached the Word of God and Rev. Andrew interpreted for me. Thank God the people were much encouraged by the Word of God. Our Singapore team also presented a song item to them.
The VBS started on Monday to Wednesday for 3 days from 9am to 4pm. There were about 60 children and youths from age 6 to 20 who attended the VBS. Besides the children and youths in the New Life Orphanage Centre, another group of 25 children and youth from an orphanage also joined in. The Lord blessed us with 3 spiritually fruitful days and the children and youths were much revived in the Lord. Our VBS theme was “Dare to be a Daniel” and we had 4 messages learning from the Book of Daniel. We divided into 3 groups based on their age for the Bible lessons. After each message, we gave a memory verse from the Book of Daniel and it was amazing to see how the youngest to the oldest were so eager to memorise God’s Word. At the end of the VBS, they were able to memorise 4 relatively long verses from the Book of Daniel. Praise God for it and pray they will also obey the Word of God in their lives just like Daniel.
This was the first time the children and youths experienced a VBS pro-gramme and they participated joyfully throughout the 3 days. Besides the messages, we taught the children and youths Bible songs in English. Their singing was spirited and uplifting. We also had art and craft for them as ob-ject lessons to what they have learned. After each lesson, there were quizzes and worksheets / sharings in each group. We also had a game session in the VBS and it was fun time for them. On Tue afternoon, we brought everyone for an outing to the zoo. I was told that the Orphanage children and youths last outing was about 6 years ago.
On the last day Wednesday, we had a Bible quiz competition between the 3 groups and then the VBS ended with every group presenting their song item and a testimony time. Prizes were then given to the best students, best group, best song item and best in quiz. We just praise God for His help to use us in running the VBS and it was a spiritually fruitful time with all the children and youths. Of course, they were eager for us to come back again to run another VBS. God willing, we hope to have another VBS with the children and youth
Thank God that True Life BP Church had supported the 2 dormitory building of the New Life Orphanage Centre. Previously it was hut type of dormitories which must be hot and uncomfortable for the children and youths. The dor-mitories were just completed before the VBS and God’s timing was perfect. There are plans now to build a kitchen and dining cum study area beside each of the 2 dormitory. Preacher Thangno hopes to complete it before the raining season starts in July. We trust God for the provision of this additional build-ing project. The Lord is good to bless and provide for everyone in New Life Orphanage Centre. Pray for them to be strong and growing in the Lord.
Besides the 3-day VBS, we also had the opportunity to visit 2 village church-es on Monday evening and Thursday afternoon which had their Bible Study session. I preached to these 2 village churches and Rev Andrew interpreted.
Though they were very poor churches yet they were keen to learn the Word of God. May the Lord strengthen every ministry in Myanmar and His people be faithful to Him and His Word.
We departed from Myanmar on 31 March (Sat) and our hearts were filled with joy to praise God for this mission trip and using us for His glory. We live in a prosperous country Singapore and it is easy to forget what Jesus said in Matthew 9:37 that ‘’the harvest truly is plenteous but the labourers are few.” May our hearts be always ready to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ both near and far.
Elder John Leong
Vacation Bible School 26 May 2012 (Sat)
Dear brethren,
You have received a VBS invitation handbill together with the weekly last Lord’s day. What was your initial reaction? Perhaps you instinctively felt that you do not know of any child to pass the handbill to. Pause to consider, dear-ly beloved. Some of us have grandnephews and grandnieces who have never heard of Jesus. What about our nephews and nieces, our cousins’ children, colleagues and friends’ children? Do they know that God loves them? The Gospel debt is owed not only to the adults, but also to the children. They need to hear of this wonderful Saviour, too. They are also heading towards eternal damnation if they do not believe in the Lord Jesus as their personal Saviour.
For the youth, you can give the handbill to your classmates who have siblings who are still in primary school. For the children, give it to your best friend in school. You share many things with your best friend; you must share the love of God with him or her. If no one in your circle of relatives and friends has a young child, please give a thought to the children in your neighbourhood. Is there a little boy or girl who is sufficiently acquainted with you to greet you ‘uncle’, ‘aunty’, ‘gor gor’ or ‘ze ze’? Then give the handbill to him/her. Let us do our part to invite some children and pray that the Lord will move the hearts of their parents to sign up for the VBS.
In May, you will read in the weekly how God used a VBS handbill to bring a family of three to first attend the VBS and later to come to the saving knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The Lord can also mightily use the handbill in your hand.
“…How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10:15b
Sister Dorcas Ang
Here is a story to encourage you to do something for the Lord especially for this 1 May Gospel Meeting
Aren’t we always in a hurry? In our busyness, do we sometimes brush aside little opportunities to be a vessel of kindness, of love to someone who may be in need?
Here’s a sweet story which I hope brings home the point that we never know who or how we’re affecting those who cross our paths. Everyone has a story, someone may be coming from a point of hurt or you may be the last vestige of love they will encounter.
Don’t let that opportunity pass you by! Now for the lovely story…
I arrived at the address where someone had requested a taxi. I honked but no one came out. I honked again, nothing. So I walked to the door and knocked. ‘Just a minute’, answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90’s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie.
By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware. ‘Would you carry my bag out to the car?’ she said.
I took the suitcase to the cab, and then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness. ‘It’s nothing’, I told her. ‘I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated.’
‘Oh, you’re such a good boy’, she said.
When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, and then asked, ‘Could you drive through downtown?’ ‘It’s not the shortest way,’ I answered quickly.
‘Oh, I don’t mind,’ she said. ‘I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to a hospice.’
I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. ‘I don’t have any family left,’ she continued. ‘The doctor says I don’t have very long.’
I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. ‘What route would you like me to take?’ I asked. For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.
We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture ware-house that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
Sometimes she’d ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing. As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, ‘I’m tired. Let’s go now’
We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solici-tous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.
I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair. ‘How much do I owe you?’ she asked, reach-ing into her purse.
‘Nothing,’ I said.
‘You have to make a living,’ she answered.
‘There are other passengers,’ I responded.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. ‘You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,’ she said. ‘Thank you.’
I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life. I didn’t pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away? On a quick review, I don’t think that I have done anything more important in my life.
We’re conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware—beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.
PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT WE DID, OR WHAT WE SAID, BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW WE MADE THEM FEEL. ALSO PEOPLE DO NOT CARE WHAT WE KNOW TILL THEY KNOW THAT WE CARE!
Matthew 25:34-40, ‘Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Na-ked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall an-swer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.’