That Time When………
So, when I was in Myanmar I was doing a lot of teaching and sharing God’s Word on the campus of a Christian Mission school. My team and I had been teaching students aging 15 and up. We were about a week a half in and we got an opportunity to go a place called “Chin State”. Chin State is a state in the mountains of Myanmar and it’s about a 30-hour drive by car from where I was staying in Yangon. One Sunday we made our way up with about 14 people in the van. We had taken the time the day before to fast and pray all day for God’s favor and blessing. Once we got there we quickly put our stuff down in our hostel to get into a school bus where we would be going to a Christian school to teach English. Since there where 8 of us one of them being a squad leader, we all got the chance to teach by ourselves. The Tacos and I (we as a team like to call our self’s “tacos” because our name is “taco bout it”) got to choose which grade we wanted to teach. I was paired up with the 4th graders and they were the cutest kids I had ever seen not to mention the brains these kids had. They could not only read English but were able to speak well.
After school, we had about two hours to do what we wanted before dinner which was at 6:30. The school day in the mountains was 9 to 3 or 3:30. So one of the days we were there my teammate’s Levi and Emily had seen an internet café on the way to school. We decided we were going to walk to it and as we were on our way, we stopped at a local snack shop. To my surprise they had Oreos! On the race, you know you can’t find them everywhere, they are far and few between. We purchased them and made our way down the block and slowly down the mountain the town is on. Soon the sign “Grace’s internet café” came into site. With no WIFI thus far in the month we wanted to update family and friends of all the amazing things that were going on in Myanmar. As Levi walks up to the door the three of us look down and we saw a whole bunch of shoes sitting right outside the door. Levi glances into the window and asked two questions. “Do you think we should knock?” “Or do you think we should we just go in?” Emily and I just looked at each other and agreed it was fine to go in, it was a business after all.
Next thing I knew we were all facing an old man with his granddaughter who were sitting in their living room watching “Nat GO wild”. They were now turned around staring back at us. Chin State is considered an unreached people group. The town was founded by a missionary and the population is 99% Christian which is completely crazy. I think when they meant unreached they meant from people other than people from Myanmar (white people). A few seconds of silent went by and then the silent broke, “uhhh do you have Wi-Fi”, Levi said as casually as possible. One look at the white Americans, and the old man ushered us in without an answer, “Come, come, sit”. We learned quickly he spoke very little English. I decided I would sit and try to entertain the 3-year old sitting on the couch by the chair I sat in. On the screen in front of us was a lion eating some other animal. We all looked at each other trying to contain the laughter. The air was thick with awkwardness as Levi asked again if the old man had WI-FI. The man said, “oh” and stood up and walked into the next room. Emily and I looked at each other and started dying laughing. I couldn’t believe this stranger just visited us in to his house to watch tv with him. Some woman who looked to be his wife walks through the door of the kitchen into the living room and starts to excitedly talk to us in Burmese. As I looked at her I lost all composure I started laughing again. I quickly turned to Emily to find some control when she sees my face she opens her mouth and with the loudest laugh I heard her, “HA”. As we waved to her she said her goodbyes and walked back into the kitchen.
The 3-year old girl got up and walked into her bedroom where she got her dad. Her dad still wrapping up his “mert” (man skirt) walked out surprised to see the three of us chilling in his living room. He spoke English as if he had lived in America. “oh, what can I do for you?”. Emily asked one last time, “so do you have internet?”. With a side smile and small laugh, he informed us that the internet café had been closed for over three years. At that point, he asked what had brought us the Chin State. We told him about the work we were doing and the school we were teaching at. The conversation came to an end and we got up and made our way to the door. Looking up I saw a Baptist church sign. Curious I asked if they have a house church on Sunday’s. He looked at the sign and again we had been fooled by another one of their signs. He explained that a member of the Baptist church lived in the house and so that’s why the sign was up. With that we waved goodbye and started our way back to the hostel to tell the others what crazy thing just happened.
On the way, back we talked a lot about the reactions they had had on their faces when we walked through their front door. I personally know if it was me and I was watching tv in my living room and someone foreign stranger walked in my first instinct would be to either tell them to get out or call 911. The look on their faces was where surprised but then welcoming. This old man was super sweet to invite us in to talk and watch the nature channel with him and his granddaughter. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I had watching something on tv that wasn’t a movie I had downloaded to my computer. Plus, it made for a great story to tell the team that night.
Overall all the time we spent in Myanmar was amazing and is by far one of my favorite countries. The people here are so welcoming even though they are war stricken and there has been a lot of loss in this country. It remains a place where I find only friendly faces, warm welcomes, and eager hellos. Our month in Myanmar God gave me the opportunity to love this new generation rising up. Not only did I teach high school English in Yangon but I taught first through eighth in Chin state. I believe this next generation will continue to lead Myanmar out of the darkness it was once in. I had to leave the lies of the enemy telling me I wasn’t qualified or able to teach. God qualifies the called and that exactly what He did. He made me find some new confidents in myself and humbled me in knowing I’ll make mistake but as long as I’m able and willing He will bless me.
I got the opportunity to speak in at a woman’s retreat that my teammate Emily organized and she did a fantastic job. I could share the power in the beauty God has given to us as women of God, as well as the proverbs 31 woman and that God calls us worth more than jewels. Public speaking is not my favorite but even that God blessed and I grew in that so much as well. I could work and live on campus with orphans that a few of my friends and I attended and preached at their bible study they had every night. It was a full month full of opportunities to not only pour out but be poured into by the heavenly Father. I loved Myanmar so much, it reminded me of the reaction of the old man in Chin state, surprised at first but then happy to see us. I didn’t think I would like this month so much but God surprised me and gave me so much joy. It was a hard country to leave but I know someday the Lord will call me back.
I’m still in need of prayer and financial support I need around 3,900 to be able to stay on the field and continue God’s work or I’ll be sent home. Please seriously, and prayerfully consider giving. God is doing amazing things around the world. Thank you for ALL the support I’ve gotten thus far. I love you all!
