Our 5th country, 5th month, we were in Myanmar. We arrived by bus into the capital of Myanmar, Yangon, by bus from Thailand. Being in Yangon reminded me so much of Côte d’Ivoire and fed a bit of my longing to be back in Africa. The next day, my team and I took a 22 hour bus ride to the north border, bordering India, hours into the mountains!
The town we stayed in is quite different than the rest of Myanmar! almost as if we crossed into another country. It is built on a mountain slope and the only flat surface you’ll run into there is the road and the floors of your home. Everything else is a downslope.
When we arrived and got settled in, I went for a walk through the town and I couldn’t contain my excitement! All my teammates wanted to nap but I just wanted to go see everything! It’s so beautiful there! To begin with, we were deep in the mountains! I know! It’s awesome!! Anywhere you looked, you saw mountains as far as the eye could see. Sunsets were breathtaking! I found a small coffee shop that was about the only “Western” place there and definitely brought some comfort. We made friends with the owner and staff quickly and they even allowed us access to their balcony where we got to see some stunning views! In this town, almost every house was painted in multiple vibrant colors! Which fed my artistic eyes! Doorways and porches would be lined with potted flowers or clothes hanging on the line to dry. Colors everywhere! The Main Street is lined with 2-3 level buildings that turn into 3-4 level buildings on the downward slope with the 1st level being small storefront shops. The buildings are maybe 3 or so feet apart – just enough space for stairs that slope down to the lower/basement levels of the buildings.
The people are just beautiful! Big genuine smiles as they stop and shake your hand and welcome you with an occasional older lady gifting you with a small snack. I definitely take snacks, thank you!
The country of Myanmar is closed to Christianity and we were told to be careful as we share about Jesus. Although, the town we were in, there is a big Christian population! I noticed how I saw crosses everywhere and it spiked my curiosity being it’s a closed country. I found out that many many years ago a missionary couple from Europe came in and God worked through them and changed the town! They were the first that brought in the Good News. They moved into the area, discipled and led more to Christ. I thought to myself, how incredible and humbling… that this town stands so strongly for Christ in the midst of a closed country because of a couple that were bold and courageous by following Gods lead.
Even though they’re in a closed country, they do not hide their Christianity and they don’t back down! Turns out that about a couple years ago, the government came into their town and began tearing down crosses throughout the town with an agenda against the church. Some Christians even lost their lives in the midst! This didn’t stop the Christians in the town… in this town, there’s a mountain top that they refer to as “Prayer Mountain”. At the top is a HUGE white cross and small concrete prayer rooms at the base of the cross. People come there and spend time in prayer in the rooms. After the government went through the town tearing down crosses and taking lives, they wanted to take down the cross on Prayer Mountain but! the Christians in the town wouldn’t have it. They came together and the government, with no explanation, left the area!!
As I sat in church one Sunday, I noticed a bible verse on one of their walls – Matthew 5:14 “you are light for the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.”
I thought, “wow, these people really are this verse!” Through what they’ve been through, you will still see a church, tall and bright, jetting out of the mountain side, with a cross on top of the building.
I was encouraged by this town and their bold and fearless faith! Them knowing that the government very well could come through like they did before, they don’t turn off their light and shine from on top of a hill for all to see.
^ Sunset view from the patio of the coffee shop
Below; tombstones of the first missionaries, etc
^ The red building center and slightly off to the right; the Church I referred to in above blog
Below; Prayer Mountain and the prayer rooms
