There are many areas destroyed by flood and storms in Myanmar. We discussed with the local preacher there Redamwang Pongsar whom we support and he knew where are most needed and we accepted his suggestion and we went to two villages. They are called — — Lat and — — Su villages and they are in — —- Chaung township.
I took six people from our church and they are M. (church elder), T. (church elder), Z. ( youth leader), Z. ( worship leader), Y. (youth), and my son J. We prayed before we went and we each other said that we need to serve the victims as much as we can and we are the light of the world.
— —- Lat has 278 homes, and — —- Su has 78 homes. There are many villages which are flooded and it was like a sea for the whole territory, we could help only help two villages and we felt sad for other villages. We bought rice and cooking oil only for the victims this time because they are the most needed things for the victims. These villages have been flooded by over two months and they are no way to get there but only by motor boats. Therefore we brought our rice and cooking oil by motor boats. There are some who cannot swim in our team and it was a big risk and no life guard dress. We hired four motor boats. One boat engine was stopped on half way and the motor boat man was able to fix the engine fortunately.
They took us to the monastery of — —- Lat and we talked with village head and the monks and we told them our plan to share the rice and oils. They were already told we are coming. They are very pleased for our coming and help. Before we gave the villagers rice and cooking oil, I was able to share the gospel in the monastery inside the building. There is no way to share the gospel in the monastery building in other time, but this time we helped them rice and oils and the head monk allowed us to speak what we wanted. I was able to share the gospel more than in K**, Sagaing division, the previous trip because I got more experience than the previous trip.
After sharing the gospel and giving rice and cooking oils, there are three monks in the monastery and one of them said to me that I believe in Jesus Christ, and after the lent is over, I want to become a believer. Hallelujah. Praise the Lord. I felt that it was a very successful trip. There are already three families converted in that village and we saw them they are very strong spiritually. Some monks and rich Buddhists from Yangon came to that village and helped rice and cooking oils and other things, and the three believer families also got. And the villagers said to these three Christian families that you got help from our Buddhists and we don’t get any help from your Christina side. These three families were looked down by the villagers and they felt sad also. When these three families heard that we are coming and we will share the rice and oils to the whole villagers, they were very happy and were strengthened. The monks wanted to host us with lunch, but the three believer families wanted to host with and we ate our lunch in one of the three families. That family man told us that he was a Buddhist before and he heard the gospel and became a believer eventually. He shared one exciting story how his prayer was answered. He is a fisherman and poor and he wanted to buy a used motor cycle of one lakh kyats price ($ 100), and he prayed to God. But he was not able to buy it, and then he finally decided to invite the preachers and he used all his money in the food to feed the preachers and he made a thanksgiving to God for His provision in his family. Sooner then, God blessed him and he was able to buy a new motor cycle with five lakh kyats ($ 500). It was an amazing testimony. All members of our team were also strengthened by this testimony.
And they hosted us with dog meat as well. They said: whenever we have special guests, we try to serve the guests with dog meats and you are special guests for us and this is why we serve you with this meat. And our team was surprised. And our team was looking at me, I will eat or not like that. That is one of my favorite meats and I have no problem with it and I first ate it. Then some of our team ate, but some didn’t. That was a funny story.
Another funny story is of the toilets. All toilets are built on the water and we needed to use them. One time I used it and when I went some water splashed up and into my mouth! Even though the water was very dirty, I did not get sick!
Then we went to another village which is called — — Su. They have no monastery in that village and we gathered at village head home and we shared them rice and oils again. These villagers were so happy too. Many of the villagers are fishermen and after flooding, the river was dirty and all fish disappeared and though they fish, they don’t get fish. So, they need help for the whole flooding time.
We told them that we prayed for them that they can get other new donors. We have more NGOs in Myanmar now and they want to help, but some villages don’t know how to present their need to them. They have no contact information. But some villages have and they get more than they need. The two villages we went needed help most, and we felt God led us to the right villages. Some NGOs went and helped the victims, but they don’t travel very far and they just gave food to nearer villages. But the two villages we went are very far and we are pleased to make it happen.
The villagers told us that they want to rebuild their homes higher so that they cannot get trouble though flooding next time. It has been over two months that some villagers have not touched the ground. They use boats to go from house to house and to monastery and to school. They have only elementary school in these villages and after the kids finishing elementary school, the kids need to be far away from families to get middle and high school educations. The parents are poor and they cannot afford kids for schooling and most kids quit schooling after finishing elementary school. I felt sad for the kids.
The next day we went to Jung Byaw church and orphanage. We also shared rice and oils to Jung Byaw church members. All the church members and the orphans there are fine and in a good condition. They are also happy to get rice and oils.
We told — — Lat and — — Su villages that we will come back in summer. We have some relief funds left and I would like to use it for rebuilding some homes as much as we can and to share the gospel to these two villages.
The next day we came back to Yangon safely. We thank God for the whole trip successful and I thank for my relief team also. And we thank all of our donors wholeheartedly for their prayers and giving. Without these two things, we won’t be able to make these trips. God is so good and He sent us to the right places.
With many thank again.
In His wonderful mercy and love and provision, Judah
