We’ve been in Myanmar for about 2 weeks now. We’re getting a feel for ministry and adjusting to life. Thus far, it has been my favorite country and my favorite ministry. Myanmar reminds me a lot of India. We’re staying in the city of Yangon, the largest city in the country. It’s overpopulated. Traffic is hectic. Horns are constantly honking and people walk through the middle of the road, sticking their hands out to motion the cars around them on either side. There are street shops lining the road where we are staying, but we have to stay away from them because the food would make us sick. Towering around us on every side are large apartment buildings—I’d assume built with the same mindset as Indian cities: if you can’t build out, build up. Guys wear skirts and it’s normal, which is pretty cool. There are skaters and people playing soccer under the bridge. The culture is really welcoming and joyful. Myanmar feels very familiar in the best way.
I love our ministry. This is probably the ministry that I have enjoyed most. It’s not technically illegal to be a Christian here, but it is highly discouraged both socially and by government pressure. As a result, our ministry is fairly private. We are working with an English school, passing out flyers and teaching classes. Classes during the week are paid, but there’s a free class on Sunday—worship and conversation. It’s a way of inviting people to church without inviting people to church; it’s further encouraged by being free. Our teacher builds relationships and disciples students over months and years, always open to talking about God. The class is charity to those who only wish to speak English—it gives the chance to develop skills that will advance the students careers and increase their opportunities—but for students who are searching for more, searching for meaning and life, it provides that in a socially acceptable way. Not that Christianity is about being safe or acceptable to society, in fact it’s pretty plainly the opposite, but the way to reach people who have grown up with an identity and purpose built upon a religion opposed to Christianity is through these authentic, sometimes slow moving relationships. That’s what our ministry offers and I love that. With a one month trip through Myanmar, we are only a small part in a much bigger ministry. But what we’re doing has purpose and is the best way to reach people here. One of our leaders spoke over our time in Myanmar that we’d be casting seed and letting the Lord bring growth. That’s really accurate. We’re coming through and planting seeds that may take months or years to fully cultivate. It’s hard, long work to make a serious impact here, but that’s what our host is doing, and that’s what we’ve been invited into. I feel good about this ministry. I really love this place.
