Oxen were common in the countryside.
Myanmar is a fascinating country and my short visit was illuminating. There is a mix of 19th and 20th Century forces at work — oxen pulling carts, holdover totalitarian governments from the Cold War era, Buddhist pagodas everywhere, Coca-Cola signs, traditional rice farming, Colonial era architecture and at least one glow in the dark Lamborghini.
It’s a country in transition. I’m glad I visited to see it now because the change appears to be coming so fast the country will be transformed soon. Is that good or bad? Both, I’m sure, though who knows which parts are which.
Alie, Ako, and Chris at the house church.
The key part of our trip was visiting with Ako, a Burmese citizen with a decent grasp of English and a passion for his faith. Ako leads over a dozen house churches in the region of Thaton along the new highway being built from China to Myanmar (through Thailand). It’s a strategic location that is sure to see massive change in the years ahead.
Rachel and I were honored to be guests in a house church service. The people could not be friendlier, and they really opened up when Rachel was able to speak Thai with them (this more than surprised them to meet a white person who could speak something other than English — bravo Rachel!).
Some of our excited hosts who were eager to speak Thai with Rachel.
The home was a modest bamboo structure that felt creaky throughout, but the songs of worship and interest in Scripture were built upon a strong faith. Chris, our American contact who supports Ako, spoke a few words about the importance of remembering the history of our faith. His wife Alie and their friends Sadie and Cory joined us in sitting at a place of honor for the short service. It was a clear sky outside as we sampled the fruits and other sweets offered by the women.
After the meeting we toured a center Ako built for meetings and other services to the community. We enjoyed dinner with Ako and I heard his story in more detail. A man of faith and determination, he is doing something special in his home country. I love his entrepreneurial approach to problem solving.
I was struck by the fierce desire for Christ by the folks we met. This was not a group of poor villagers looking for a handout, nor a group of community activists seeking to lift their community out of poverty with a development plan. This was straightforward indigenous Gospel sharing. It felt like a throwback to the early days of rapid growth within the Christian Church.
Leaving Myanmar felt strangely odd. Rachel and I agreed we didn’t see all we wished to see, but we seemed to have done all we could in the time allotted. Is there another trip in my future? I’m doubtful, but I’ve learned to never say never.
My thoughts about Myanmar continue to evolve and I’ll be sharing more in the days ahead about visiting a slum in Bangkok, a 5-star resort in Singapore, and a resource center near Chiang Rai. Stay tuned!
Shwedagon Pagoda at the center of Yangon, Myanmar.