Myanmar

My team  mate Ron and I had the feeling that something special  was going to  happen if we ever made it into Myanmar this time! We  had to fly to Bangkok  just to apply for a visa to visit the country  because the consulate here in  Chiang Mai no longer issues visas to  Americans. After last year’s problems in Yangoon and the resulting outcry from America, only a very few Americans are  able to get  tourist visas.

We actually found out later that our chances of getting visas were very slim at best. After a week of holding our passports, a  flurry of documents created and submitted, and the help  of a visa-expeditor  who knew someone on the inside, we indeed did  get our visas just hours  before our plane was to  depart.

Our team, consisting of myself, Ron  Wilson, Boi Manual from the Philippines, and General Chigone and his wife from   Thailand, went to share with church leaders and retired military men  the  vision of what praying for and serving their country’s military  and police  might look like.

Those who  attended the  meeting

Because of tight restrictions on  meeting with  foreigners, we only were able to speak briefly with the  retired military men  but were able to spend a significant amount of  time casting vision with the  church leaders. They are now very  excited about getting this ministry going  and creating a movement  that will reach across their nation. We spent several  hours helping  them with the beginnings of a strategy to accomplish this   movement.

Retired military  officer

It was  very fun to watch the lights go on in  their minds as they began to dream about  the impact this kind of  ministry might have in the long run. One of the  pastors told us that  he has already been praying for the military in his  church each  Sunday,  but he has met with some opposition because many   people feel the military is their enemy. One lady came up to him  after a  Sunday service and announced to him that she would not be  saying “amen”  after any prayers on behalf of the military. These  feelings are  understandable, but as Aung, our contact there, says  “Our enemy is not the  military but the old serpent, Satan.”   

Thai Army  Gen. Chigone sharing  his Christian testimony

One of the more  moving events  was watching the retired military men respond to Gen. Chiagone’s   testimony. As an active duty Army general in Thailand, another  Buddhist  nation, they were very moved that he had come to encourage  them in the Lord as  a Christian military man.

Aung, Rev, Ko Lay, and Michael   Nuyt

The men pictured above are some of the men who  will be key  in forming and implementing a coordinated effort to pray  for and serve the  army of Myanmar.

Please pray now for  these pastors, retired  military men, and their wives as they seek  the Lord’s direction and wisdom in  crafting a sustainable ministry  in a very difficult situation.

Aung is  still waiting for an  opportunity to share with the high ranking official that  I have  mentioned in a previous email. Some things came up that have delayed   this meeting.

Traditional  Burmese warrior. I am not wearing a  skirt... it’s called a  Lon-gee.

Also, Thank you for your  prayers for Sandra  and the kids. They  really sensed a powerful spiritual  covering  over them during the whole week--and they made it through without any crisis this time!