You can check out Friends of Burma updated news here at http://friendsofburma.blogspot.com.
March 2009 Archives
Seminary Building Program
After thirty years of it being extremely difficult to build classrooms, dorms, chapels, etc, it is now possible, and Friends of Burma is helping Myanmar Institute of Theology (MIT), the highest Christian school in Burma, to build much needed buildings. MIT has 467 students and could take many more if it had the buildings. Some help is also given smaller schools. Ask for details.
Training Christian Workers
It costs $200 for a Christian to attend Bible school which includes tuition, room and messing (board), books, a change of clothes, Bible, hymnal and sixty three cents spending money. In a country where most make $200, many would like training for full time Christian service but can not afford it, and so need American sponsors. Ask for details.
Orphanages
It costs $180 to clothe, school, and provide a home and care for an orphan or abandoned or mistreated child. All the money goes to help the child; none is used for translated letters, administration, etc. Ask for details.
Community Library
Burma rarely has public or school libraries. We are helping a pilot library at Insein, a suburb of Rangoon. Good books on a wide variety of subjects are needed. Also wholesome videos, CD rams, English learning tapes, etc. Details upon request.
By Neil Sowards, D. D.
Myanmar Institute of Theology has started a Christian liberal arts educational program called BARS (Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies).It graduated its second four year class in March 2005. It has four majors--English, Computer, Business and General Studies (Liberal Arts). It accepts 150 students each year.
The school likes to have foreign teachers for English, Computers, and Business because they bring critical thinking methodology. The students have completed ten years of Burmese (Myanmar) education which is mostly rote memorization.
Therefore Dr. Anna May Say Pa, president, asked me to teach business. I recently retired from business after 31 years. I now have taught three times. Once for a month, once for four months and once for three and a half weeks. The last two times I stayed in an apartment on the fourth floor of the Jubilee Classroom Building. It is a nice apartment with air conditioning when there is electricity.
Most of the students are very eager to learn and appreciate hearing a native English teacher and being taught by a person who actually was in business.
In theory the classes in BARS are taught in English but in practice they are explained in Burmese so I had to have a translator in all my classes. I thought I had thirty nine hours to lecture but translation reduced the time to about twenty actual hours.
I've taught Introduction to Business, Small Business Administration, and Entrepreneurship. I found the Burmese students to be quite different from American students. Their ability to speak English is not so good, so they are reluctant to speak in English. However they can write English much better, and so, do papers and write on the white board.
If I asked an open ended question, no one would answer. But if I divided them into groups of four or five, they would come up with answers within their group and then share in the larger group. It seemed that no one wanted to stand out alone but also each wanted their group to look good.
The first time I taught them they had never done role playing but when I had them do it, they really liked it.
Cheating is rampant in Burmese schools, so it came as a shock when I spread them out and did not permit talking during the exam or having notes. I told them if they even looked at their neighbor's paper I would tear up their exam which I never had to do.
It is Burmese custom to give their teachers gifts at the end of the semester which they can ill afford. I managed to convince them to give me a notebook with each student writing a note of appreciation or what they had learned. I treasure those books from various classes.
The total cost for four weeks was $1107 airfare from Indiana. Food, cooking service, cleaning and laundry was $90. Visa and visa service $144. Total costs $1341. But the experience of teaching and getting to know Burmese Christians was priceless.
Myanmar Institute of Theology has started a Christian liberal arts educational program called BARS (Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies).It graduated its second four year class in March 2005. It has four majors--English, Computer, Business and General Studies (Liberal Arts). It accepts 150 students each year.
The school likes to have foreign teachers for English, Computers, and Business because they bring critical thinking methodology. The students have completed ten years of Burmese (Myanmar) education which is mostly rote memorization.
Therefore Dr. Anna May Say Pa, president, asked me to teach business. I recently retired from business after 31 years. I now have taught three times. Once for a month, once for four months and once for three and a half weeks. The last two times I stayed in an apartment on the fourth floor of the Jubilee Classroom Building. It is a nice apartment with air conditioning when there is electricity.
Most of the students are very eager to learn and appreciate hearing a native English teacher and being taught by a person who actually was in business.
In theory the classes in BARS are taught in English but in practice they are explained in Burmese so I had to have a translator in all my classes. I thought I had thirty nine hours to lecture but translation reduced the time to about twenty actual hours.
I've taught Introduction to Business, Small Business Administration, and Entrepreneurship. I found the Burmese students to be quite different from American students. Their ability to speak English is not so good, so they are reluctant to speak in English. However they can write English much better, and so, do papers and write on the white board.
If I asked an open ended question, no one would answer. But if I divided them into groups of four or five, they would come up with answers within their group and then share in the larger group. It seemed that no one wanted to stand out alone but also each wanted their group to look good.
The first time I taught them they had never done role playing but when I had them do it, they really liked it.
Cheating is rampant in Burmese schools, so it came as a shock when I spread them out and did not permit talking during the exam or having notes. I told them if they even looked at their neighbor's paper I would tear up their exam which I never had to do.
It is Burmese custom to give their teachers gifts at the end of the semester which they can ill afford. I managed to convince them to give me a notebook with each student writing a note of appreciation or what they had learned. I treasure those books from various classes.
The total cost for four weeks was $1107 airfare from Indiana. Food, cooking service, cleaning and laundry was $90. Visa and visa service $144. Total costs $1341. But the experience of teaching and getting to know Burmese Christians was priceless.
The prices listed below are for purchase postpaid. The cost of postage
to return makes it impractical to rent any of them. Most are amateur
production but authentic.
- Friends of Burma 18 minute CD-Rom or Video Tape. $4
- Lian Lian: The story of a Chin Boy Growing up in Burma. 23 minutes. Video Tape $5.00
- Three Schools:
Myanmar Institute of Theology at Insein 25 minutes, Shan Bible School
at Taunggyi 10 minutes, Kawthoolei Karen Baptist Bible School, Beh Klot
14 minutes. All on one tape. $5.00
- Burmese Christian Music: Shan Bible School (Burmese), Pwo Karen Bible School (Pwo Karen), Kawthulei Karen Bible School (Sgaw Karen) and Myanmar Institute of Theology (English). Some focus problems and jumpy but sound is good. 40 minutes. Video tape $5.00
- Interview with Missionary Bill Hackett: Bill tells about his life as a missionary to Burma. About 2 hours. Video tape. $5.00
- The Church Alive in Burma 13 minutes: Video tape. Professionally produced by Baptist Films. $5.00
- We Treat, God Heals: Karen Baptist Convention Healthcare Center. Video tape. 20 minutes. $5.00
We thank
each and every one of you for your prayers and faithful support that
has enabled Friends of Burma (FOB) to respond to many needs in Burma
and among the Burmese in Fort Wayne. Opportunities for Helping our Fellow Baptists in Burma (Myanmar)
Clinic Support. Tansy Kadoe, TansyJKadoe@cox.net, David Horton and their committee have continued to raise support to support the Karen Baptist Convention Clinic and its healing work in Insein, Burma. In additional, they arranged to have five medical kits from C.U.R.E. carried from the U.S to Burma.
Orphan Report. David Horton, dehgvaz @cox.net, has continued to oversee the Orphan Support program. FOB channels support of $144 per year for over a hundred orphans at six orphanages in Burma.
Chosen Students. Lwin Moe taught two semesters this year at BARS (Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies) and is now temporarily working for an NGO in Laos. It was very disappointing when another student FOB had invested a lot of time and money in announced she would not be going back to Burma to teach as promised. Hopefully the three others in the U.S. will go back soon. Three Burmese students in Burma who were accepted by colleges here were not granted visas by the U. S. Embassy. FOB will not bring any more students here to study.
Myo Evangelistic Program. This program has been going on for over 10 years and has grown to 40 evangelists and teachers. A church in Maine now supports ten and others are supporting others. The cost is $60 per year. Evangelist Honor Nyo on the left is pictured with Myo woman.
FOMGB. Several programs initiated by Friends of Myanmar Governing Board in Burma have been continued this year and have been supported by FOB persons in the U.S. These include $50 hearing aids for hard of hearing pastors, $10 Eye Glasses for seminary students, and $10 grants to retired Christian workers.
Christian Fellowship Tour. Dr. Paul Aita, paulaita @juno.com The 2005 tour was cancelled but we have scheduled a tour for 2006. Let us know if you are interested or know anyone who might be interested in a wonderful experience of Christian Fellowship with Burmese Baptists. The cost is $1,500 for 14 days plus airfare.
Library Report. Sue Dolbow, suedolbow@earthlink.net Future plans include creating a network of existing libraries for encouragement and reporting purposes. A March trip to Burma to begin the networking project is planned.
Chit Maung Library. Ardeth Maung and her committee have been working to expand the educational program at the Dr. Chit Maung Memorial Library at Insein, Burma.
Lay Nyin Thit Library, Taunggyi. Mawchi raised over $600 for its support and it has opened a branch in Loikaw under the guidance of Dawro Mu, Mawchi's mother.
Book Publishing. Funded by FOB the Karens copied and distributed 3 religious books in Burmese to twenty seminaries and 5 books in Karen Language to twelve Karen schools.
Karen Baptist Convention. FOB contributed $5,000 toward their staff building and $3,100 toward the purchase of a van.
Computer for Mon Bible School. FOB contributed a computer to this school recommended by Lwin Moe.
FOB Website. Saw Htaw Plaw Htoo has redone FOB's website which is now at friendsofburma.org. Take a look and tell others about it. Mawchi also created a 60 second Power Point Program on Friends of Burma. We can send it by e-mail if you would like to see it.
Mosquito Nets. FOB has purchased and distributed over 300 high quality mosquito nets that last 10 years and are the cheapest, best protection against malaria ($7). Word has spread and many want them. We have had to limit giving them to evangelists and pastors.
Other Projects: FOB supported a student recommended by Lwin Moe, helped purchase a Multimedia projector for Seminary Hill, aided three theological students studying outside of Burma, helped Nyaungleben Bible School, are in the process of building a building for the Kayah Pu orphanage.
Volunteers. Gail and Paul Aita taught seven weeks at Myanmar Institute of Theology. Neil Sowards will be teaching one month in January, 2005.
Ministry in U. S. Two Burmese are living with the Sowards; one who has now passed her first medical board test and the other, a Mon refugee, who is finishing high school.
MIT Annex. $23,749 has been received for the new building called the Jubilee Building Annex towards the $270,000 that is needed.
Scholarship Programs. The Sowards Scholarship program helps support over 650 students who are ministers' children or from poor families in their studies for full time Christian Service. In addition, FOB supports other students at $150 each at seven seminaries and Bible Schools.
Entrepreneur Loans. FOB has given money for entrepreneur loans to several locations in Burma and channeled money for another organization. Naw Paw Gaw has developed real expertise in organizing women and teaching them to be effective business persons.
If you want these reports by e-mail, please send us your e-mail address to Neil Sowards at neildianasowards@juno.com
- Myanmar Institute of Theology. New classroom building, $270,000. Memorial rooms are $5,000. Memorial equipping a room is $500. They also need twenty beds at $20 each, 50 chair-desks at $12.
- Karen Baptist Convention Staff Housing. The total cost is $110,000. They have raised $70,000 and need help with the balance.
- Van for Karen Baptist Convention. A reconditioned vehicle costs $6,000. $2900 is still needed for this project.
- Karen Baptist Convention Clinic. A tube well @$650, Two Nitrous Oxide cylinders at @$200 each, Eye surgery operating microscope @$9,600.
- Book: "Where There is No Doctor" for village health workers. Cost is $2 each.
- Scholarships for Life Committed Christians. $150 will give a year's education in a Bible School or Seminary. It takes 3-4 years depending upon school.
- Christian Resource Books. The Christians need religious resource books and have permission to reprint in Burma some of what they need. They need capital to underwrite the printing. The books will be sold and the money recycled to print more books.
- Entrepreneur Loans. After training and saving their match, a group of want-to-be business persons are given a loan to develop their business. Their repayment money is then loaned to others. But more seed money is needed as word spreads about the program and more want to participate. Cost is $300 per project. Usually about thirty six benefit in the first round.
- Eye Glasses. If you appreciate the clear vision your glasses give you, perhaps you would want to give that blessing to another person for only $10. Faculty members need them as well as students.
- Sponsor an Orphan. Cost is $144 per year--all this money goes to support the orphan.
- Aid a Retired Christian worker. $10 goes a long way in Burma. It is more than two months income for many desperate retirees. If your retirement is comfortable, perhaps you will like to help a retiree on the other side of the world.
- Mosquito nets for evangelists. High quality mosquito nets are the best protection from malaria. Each net is $7 and that will last ten years and 21 washings. A $7 donation may save a life for ten years.
- Hearing aids for Ministers. Some old ministers need hearing aids. The cost in Burma is $50 for a general amplifying hearing aid.
By David Horton
Many Baptists know the thrilling story of Ann and Adoniram Judson and their amazing story that dates back to 1812. I found that visiting the country and seeing the church today after nearly 200 years to be very gratifying. I first went to Burma in 1999 where I visited churches, seminaries, Bible schools, the clinic and many historic sites. We worshipped in the churches and visited in the homes of second and third generation Christians. Seeing their devotion and dedication to the Lord under difficult political and economic conditions was a great blessing to me. Our committed and dedicated guide took us to special places and we stayed in clean, comfortable small inns. We felt safe and secure at all times. I wish I had gone to Burma early in my ministry so that my insights and understanding of missions would have impacted more of my life. Even so, my trip to Burma dramatically changed my life. I am going back to Burma in January 2007 to visit some of the orphanages where we and many other persons are supporting orphans. I want to spend some time with the staff of the KBC health care clinic on seminary hill in Insein. If you are interested in going along, contact me now as we are limiting the group to 6 persons.
Many Baptists know the thrilling story of Ann and Adoniram Judson and their amazing story that dates back to 1812. I found that visiting the country and seeing the church today after nearly 200 years to be very gratifying. I first went to Burma in 1999 where I visited churches, seminaries, Bible schools, the clinic and many historic sites. We worshipped in the churches and visited in the homes of second and third generation Christians. Seeing their devotion and dedication to the Lord under difficult political and economic conditions was a great blessing to me. Our committed and dedicated guide took us to special places and we stayed in clean, comfortable small inns. We felt safe and secure at all times. I wish I had gone to Burma early in my ministry so that my insights and understanding of missions would have impacted more of my life. Even so, my trip to Burma dramatically changed my life. I am going back to Burma in January 2007 to visit some of the orphanages where we and many other persons are supporting orphans. I want to spend some time with the staff of the KBC health care clinic on seminary hill in Insein. If you are interested in going along, contact me now as we are limiting the group to 6 persons.
By Ruth Peterson
The Friends of Burma Tour that I was privileged to be a part of carries memories of smiling faces meeting us outside the airport with warm welcomes. The beauty of the country includes good farmland, rivers winding through the delta, cool hill areas, desert and many unique cultures and tribal groups not too many miles away. Though the political climate does not allow travel in all areas, we were able to marvel at the arts and crafts of Mandalay, tour the delta by riverboat, experience the Shan hills and Inle Lake with its water dwellers, see some of the sites where Adoniram Judson served and developed ministries, as well as go through the busy streets and hidden "villages" within the capital city of Yangon.
Sights I will not forget soon include seeing pagodas and temples on every "high place", hearing the loud speakers call the faithful to bring donations to the temples, fellowshipping at a dawn prayer meeting with some faithful saints on a Sunday morning, seeing a group of Bible School students greet us with welcome arms as we came to visit not knowing that school was out and they all came back just to see us! Oh yes, and who could forget the visit to an orphanage where children traumatized by losing father or mother or both had found great happiness under the care of committed, hard-working and loving Christians. Their singing was always with great gusto and seeing them rejoice over the coveted gift of a pencil made me think again about thankfulness.
Churches, humble and large, gave us warm welcomes. We visited the downtown Yangon Immanuel Baptist Church with its many different language services and cosmopolitan worshipers. We shared worship with the chickens that wandered in and out in a village where our meal following was served outside but with linen napkins and the presentation of a fine restaurant just across the road from the oxen and other livestock.
We also visited a village getting ready for a meeting of a Baptist association of churches. They had to build shelters for the three thousand that were expected and make arrangement for their eating and sleeping areas. The village had less than 60 houses! Seeing their preparations, which included drilling a well "by hand", was well worth the trip in itself.
Myanmar has wondrous beauty and God is at work there! You should really go to see for yourself sometime.
The Friends of Burma Tour that I was privileged to be a part of carries memories of smiling faces meeting us outside the airport with warm welcomes. The beauty of the country includes good farmland, rivers winding through the delta, cool hill areas, desert and many unique cultures and tribal groups not too many miles away. Though the political climate does not allow travel in all areas, we were able to marvel at the arts and crafts of Mandalay, tour the delta by riverboat, experience the Shan hills and Inle Lake with its water dwellers, see some of the sites where Adoniram Judson served and developed ministries, as well as go through the busy streets and hidden "villages" within the capital city of Yangon.
Sights I will not forget soon include seeing pagodas and temples on every "high place", hearing the loud speakers call the faithful to bring donations to the temples, fellowshipping at a dawn prayer meeting with some faithful saints on a Sunday morning, seeing a group of Bible School students greet us with welcome arms as we came to visit not knowing that school was out and they all came back just to see us! Oh yes, and who could forget the visit to an orphanage where children traumatized by losing father or mother or both had found great happiness under the care of committed, hard-working and loving Christians. Their singing was always with great gusto and seeing them rejoice over the coveted gift of a pencil made me think again about thankfulness.
Churches, humble and large, gave us warm welcomes. We visited the downtown Yangon Immanuel Baptist Church with its many different language services and cosmopolitan worshipers. We shared worship with the chickens that wandered in and out in a village where our meal following was served outside but with linen napkins and the presentation of a fine restaurant just across the road from the oxen and other livestock.
We also visited a village getting ready for a meeting of a Baptist association of churches. They had to build shelters for the three thousand that were expected and make arrangement for their eating and sleeping areas. The village had less than 60 houses! Seeing their preparations, which included drilling a well "by hand", was well worth the trip in itself.
Myanmar has wondrous beauty and God is at work there! You should really go to see for yourself sometime.
"I am from
the ethnic group called Lahu. I am the fourth daughter of six siblings.
I had made up my mind to attend Bible School in 1990 but was unable
because of financial difficulties. We were in a big hardship as my
father remarried soon after my mother was killed in air crash in 1987.
My father lost his job and couldn't find another so we all had to rely
only on my oldest brother's income. For these reasons, my dream for
becoming a theology student had never become fruitful. The majority in
our place near the Thai border are Buddhists and we hardly get a chance
to worship because churches are so few and there are no Sunday schools
for the children. Some Christian youth go astray from God's way. In
1994 God bestowed me a chance to start studying Bible at Southern Shan
Bible School. I diligently try hard and study through out my four years
and am now a final year student. If it were not for God, I believe, I
would not be here." (Edited.)
Friends of Burma grew out of a
very meaningful experience Neil and Diana Sowards had when they visited
Burma in 1985. Neil's parents had worked in Burma as missionaries for
over 30 years but he had never visited there. Friends of Burma is
dedicated to helping the Christians of Burma in whatever way they want
to be helped. About 80% of the Protestants are Baptists, so much of our
work is with the Baptists. Friends of Burma was first attached to First
Baptist Church of Fort Wayne, Indiana and then to South Wayne Baptist
Church. Christians number about 1.5 million in a country of about 50
million, most of whom are Buddhist. Evangelistic Christianity came to
Burma with Adoniram Judson in 1813. Since 1966 no foreign missionaries
have been allowed to reside in Burma, so all work is carried on by
nationals.
Burma (Myanmar) is in Southeast Asia, bounded by Thailand, Bangladesh,
India, China, and Laos. It is ruled by a military junta. The UN lists
Burma as one of the ten poorest countries in the world. The average
family earns between $150 and $250 per year.
The military junta changed the name from Burma to Myanmar in 1991 but our organization retains the old name which is more familiar to Americans.
In May, 2008 a hurricane called Cyclone Nargis swept the delta killing between 80,000 and 120,000 persons. Over 10,000 Baptists lost their lives as over 340 villages were destroyed.
Over the years Friends of Burma, Inc. has grown. It incorporated as a Non Profit Corporation with the state of Indiana in 2006. It was approved by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization in its own right November 2007. It is governed by a board called the Executive Committee of sixteen which has an Annual Meeting in the Phoenix area in February or March. In the U. S. all work is done by volunteers with one paid financial secretary overseas. There is also an administrative board to oversee the work in Burma which evaluates programs and makes recommendations.
Friends of Burma, Inc. continues to work with the Burmese in Burma, Thailand and the United States. (There are over 40,000 Burmese refugees in the U. S.)
Burma (Myanmar) is in Southeast Asia, bounded by Thailand, Bangladesh,
India, China, and Laos. It is ruled by a military junta. The UN lists
Burma as one of the ten poorest countries in the world. The average
family earns between $150 and $250 per year.The military junta changed the name from Burma to Myanmar in 1991 but our organization retains the old name which is more familiar to Americans.
In May, 2008 a hurricane called Cyclone Nargis swept the delta killing between 80,000 and 120,000 persons. Over 10,000 Baptists lost their lives as over 340 villages were destroyed.
Over the years Friends of Burma, Inc. has grown. It incorporated as a Non Profit Corporation with the state of Indiana in 2006. It was approved by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization in its own right November 2007. It is governed by a board called the Executive Committee of sixteen which has an Annual Meeting in the Phoenix area in February or March. In the U. S. all work is done by volunteers with one paid financial secretary overseas. There is also an administrative board to oversee the work in Burma which evaluates programs and makes recommendations.
Friends of Burma, Inc. continues to work with the Burmese in Burma, Thailand and the United States. (There are over 40,000 Burmese refugees in the U. S.)
Here is a slide show of FOB Ministry Overview.
