Testimonies of Myanmar Mission Trip
21-28 March 2015
By Elder John Leong …
Praise God for His Providence
This is the 4th mission trip to Myanmar. There is no difference in every mission trip – we need to go in faith, trusting only in the Lord. There is fear and uncertainty, from the call of labourers to serve, to the preparation, and finally to travel to serve the Lord. I thank God that He humbled me this way to keep praying and depending on Him so that I can experience His grace is always sufficient. The Lord opened the way for 5 sisters to join me for this trip. He always provides the right people for each mission trip, whether many or few.
We booked the budget airline Jetstar to fly to Yangon, Myanmar on 21 March (Sat) and bought 150kg of luggage for check-in. We trusted in God that it would be sufficient as we brought along many teaching and craft materials, T-shirts for every VBS student, clothings for the orphan centre etc. At the check-in counter, our total weight was 149.7kg. Praise the Lord. I was immediately encouraged spiritually that the Lord will take care of us and use us throughout this trip.
I thank God for a safe flight to Myanmmar. Upon arrival, we were received at the airport by Rev. Andrew Kam, preacher Thangno and his wife, and some children of New Life Orphan Centre (NLOC). Saturday was a day of rest and preparation for us. I thank God for providing a clean and safe hotel. This was our accommodation for the next 7 days. It is about 15 min drive to NLOC, which is convenient for our traveling.
On the Lord’s Day 22 March, we worshipped first at NLOC. I preached the Word of God on the “Death of Stephen” and our team presented a song item. After worship, we had lunch at NLOC and then travelled to Yangon BP Church in Yangon city to attend another worship service. Rev. Andrew Kam is the pastor of this Church. He drove us to the Church and I preached the sermon on “O ye of little faith” and our team also presented a song item. I thank God for helping us to serve in the worship services.
The 3-day VBS with the theme “The Life of Joseph” began on Monday 9am to 4pm. God was gracious to bring about 90-100 children and youth to attend the VBS. We divided into 4 classes for the teaching of God’s Word, from the youngest in the pre-primary class to the youths in the secondary class. We thank God for 4 good interpreters for each of the class. We taught 5 lessons from the Life of Joseph from Genesis 37-50 during the 3 days. Each lesson has a memory verse and by the end of the VBS, all the students would have memorized 5 verses. Memory verse bookmarks were given to them too. I taught the youth class and challenged them to memorise the verses in English. They had to do it at night after the VBS. Almost everyone of them made the effort and could memorise the 5 verses in English. I thank God indeed for their zeal and love for the Word of God.
Everyday, we had an art & craft lesson which was related to the message to reinforce what the students had learnt. On the 2nd day of the VBS (Tuesday afternoon), we brought all the students to the city for an outing. They went by 2 chartered buses which resembled our SBS buses in the early 1970s. These buses had no air-conditioning and their doors were wide open. The afternoon event was their once-a-year outing which the children enjoyed greatly. On the last day of the VBS, we had a Bible quiz. The students had no problem answering all our questions. We concluded the VBS with thanksgiving items presented by each class. The Lord blessed the VBS richly with His Word that have encouraged both the students and teachers.
On Monday evening, after Day 1 of the VBS which ended at 4pm, we travelled to a nearby island named Dalah by a big boat and then took motorbikes as pillion riders to a member’s home where about 25 Church members and their children were fully packed inside. This village is very poor and they have to carry water to their houses. I encouraged them with God’s Word in Psalm 23. The children then had a craft session to remind them to trust in the Lord, and to pray and read His Word. Rev. Andrew Kam and his wife minister to this village Church. Pray that a church building can be built in this village so that the believers can have proper place of worship.
After the 3-day VBS at NLOC, we went to a new village called Yuzana village which was our first visit there. The plan was to conduct a 1.5 day VBS on Thursday 9am to 4pm and Friday 9am to 1pm. About 35 children and youths came and they were all packed in the sitting room of a house which is used as an Orphan centre. We divided into 3 classes and taught the life of Joseph in 3 lessons. Despite a new and very different environment, I thank God that the VBS was conducted smoothly. The Lord saw us through everything even though conditions were poor and dirty. Praise God for the earnest desire of the students to learn the Word of God.
We took our flight home back to Singapore on Saturday. Praise God for a safe journey back home. We pondered and wondered how these children and youths will be after our departure. We must remember to commit them to the Lord to keep all of us in the most holy faith. I thank God for teaching me the lesson of simply trusting in Him in every mission trip.
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By sister Shermaine Tan …
A Privilege to Serve
It is always a privilege and honour to go on a mission trip, to be used by God to share His Word with children in other parts of this world. Thus, I thank God for the opportunity to serve Him once again for this year’s Myanmar mission. We held a 3-day VBS at New Life Orphan Centre (NLOC) for about 90 over children and another 2-day VBS for about 30 over children at Yuzana Village. I am thankful to God for safety, health, strength and grace as we served together as a team.
Every mission trip is a faith-growing experience for me and this trip was no exception. We taught the children about the ‘Life of Joseph’ and even during the preparation of the lessons, Joseph’s trust and obedience in the Lord stood in stark contrast against my own walk with the Lord. There were times when I faltered and doubted. Even in teaching, I was reminded to rely unto the Lord fully as He placed the words in my mouth and guided each step of the way. I learnt that the Lord will always be with me just as He was with Joseph. I thank God for His grace and even the chance to lead the children in the sinner’s prayer. Pray for the salvation of souls.
I thank God also for the opportunity to meet familiar faces amongst the children and youths. It is encouraging to see them running the Christian race despite the difficult circumstances they face. It was a personal reminder to be more thankful and appreciative of the physical and spiritual blessings from God. The words of the hymn ring true –
“But we never can prove the delights of His love
until all on the altar we lay;
For the favour He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.”
Like the children in Myanmar, we must strive towards greater knowledge of God’s Word. Only then can we be like Joseph, trusting and obeying every step of the way, finishing the Christian race with grace!
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,
and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
(Hebrews 12:1-2)
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By sister Crayson Wong ….
Only by God’s Grace
I was preparing at a steady pace for the mission trip because I expected more time to be available during my holidays. However, due to the unexpected passing of my grandmother, preparation for the trip became very rushed. I did not imagine that I would be able to finish the bookmarks, but by God’s grace, the bookmarks were all laminated and cut out at the very last moment. I thank God also for help with regards to the craft, everything from the searching of ideas to the preparation, to the teaching of the craft. All those things that I thought would be hard to do were no obstacles in the end. Through these, God really taught me that when serving, it is never by our own strength but God-given strength. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). I thank God also because His timing is always perfect. If my grandmother had passed on during the mission trip, I could have been distracted and not able to serve properly as I would be worried about how things are being handled at home. By His mercy, I was able to settle everything, and go to serve the Lord with peace in my heart.
During the trip, one of the many things to thank God for would be the children. Their desire to learn and enthusiasm in singing the songs greatly encouraged me. They reminded me to be more studious in the Word of God. I thank God also for the fellowship with the mission team and the people there. I was touched by the warm welcome and their hospitable ways. I had joy fellowshipping with the mission team during our meals or when travelling to places. Everyone has been a blessing and an encouragement to me. I thank God also for good health and safety for everyone. Initially, I was worried that my nasal allergy would distract me from serving but I thank God that it was mostly okay. In fact, I was in a better condition than in Singapore. Truly, it is all by God’s grace and mercy that we are able to serve.
All in all, I thank God for guiding us through this mission trip. I experienced God’s hand personally. I truly thank God for this mission trip where I have learnt much and really saw God’s goodness to the mission team, and especially towards me. Do pray for the children in Myanmar that they will continue to grow in the grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
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By sister Li Mei ….
My Burden for the Fields
This was the fourth time I joined the mission team to Myanmar. I thank God that He helped me to keep this promise of going back to New Life Orphan Centre (NLOC) year after year. Someone mentioned that everyone can contribute to the mission field – you can either pray, give or go. It is a most wonderful privilege to be able to go to the mission field, but it also requires much toiling and effort.
Besides the preparation for lessons and activities, I had other commitments to fulfill before the trip. I had to read up and plan for my family trip, translate the RPG and Elder’s page for Calvary Pandan BPC, and settle a few projects at work… the stress was so tremendous that my body responded in a negative way. I thank God that He saw me through. It is always a struggle and a tiring journey as we are not going to a playground but the mission field!
After the short stint as a Sunday School teacher in Little Ark more than a decade ago in Tabernacle BPC, I am convinced that I am not the most gifted teacher. But since there is always a need in the mission fields, I am convicted to be like the prophet Isaiah – here am I, send me if it is Thy will. I am always relieved after the teaching task was over but wondered if the children had really learned. In this trip, by the help of God, I added in many more applications in the lessons. My thoughts just flowed so smoothly that I was amazed at the leading of the Holy Spirit and the working of God. The students nodded their heads – with eyes wide open! Some were obviously pondering over the lessons learn. One even openly shared that her life was transformed. I was uplifted, encouraged, and in fact, looking forward to teaching again!
Perhaps some may wonder what brings us back to the mission fields. The best is to go and experience God’s blessings for yourself. As labourers, we go not because of ulterior motives or personal agendas, but the desire to serve God with like-minded brethren, constrained by the love of Christ and His Word.
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By sister Priscilla Tan (True Life BP Church ) …
Pray for More Faithful Labourers
It is a blessing to be able to witness what God is doing in Myanmar. The trip has been enriching for all of us. I learnt a lot on this trip whether in terms of lesson preparation, connecting with the kids, or conducting activities. I look forward to future mission trips to Myanmar or anywhere God leads. It is also my prayer that God will raise up more people who are willing to go out to the harvest fields to people who need Him – people who are hungry to know the Gospel.
“Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.” (Luke 10:2)
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By sister Qiao Yan (True Life BP Church) …
The Gospel is the Best
It was a privilege to be able to serve the Lord again in this mission trip to Myanmar. This was a fruitful trip as we were able to conduct two VBS in the New Life Orphan Centre and the Yuzana village church. I was encouraged by the earnest learning attitude of the children in the Word of God. Their zeal and effort in memorizing the memory verse lesson after lesson never failed to intrigue me. This has motivated me to work even harder to learn the Word of God so that I can teach more effectively and impart a thorough knowledge of the Bible to the children. The Word of God is indeed the best gift for them.
“We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things” (2 Corinthians 6:1, 4-5, 10).
The children in Myanmar may not have the physical comfort and the materials of the world, but they have the best gift which is the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let us be reminded as the servants of the Lord, to continue to share this best gift of the Gospel to the world till the Lord Jesus comes.
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