By Joel, near Mandalay

Our house church Christmas celebration was done very joyfully.  Many unbelievers came and listened to the Christmas message.   After Christmas, we went to the place of the Judson memorial (Judson is generally believed to be the first Protestant missionary to Burma.  For more information, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adoniram_Judson), but only a piece of rock remains.

Unexpectedly a church member died.  The church paid most of the burial expenses because of the family’s poverty.  It was the first time that the villagers saw the Christian way to conduct a burial.  They were so interested in the way we participated, especially because we sing songs as part of the service.

We are now planning our New Years Service.  The youth will lead the song service and we will have a meal.