By Dr. Dwain Illman

The Psalmist asks:  “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”    Myanmar is going through major changes and more  are anticipated in the near term.

Independently different church leaders of Myanmar think the future of the church in Myanmar is extremely excellent.   One Christian leader feels there will be cataclysmic changes coming;  the church has to be there to stand in the gap.  He sees Myanmar becoming a Christian nation and much of Buddhist Asia following.   Wow!   Do you see why I am so thrilled to be here and witnessing the beginning of changes that are of major historical significance.   Our team is united in work and faith as we continue our service here in the ancient land of Burma.

Two churches invited us to attend and participate.  I led one team to Tamwe Christian Center for worship and service.   Gere took the rest of the group to Insein Christian Center for similar focus.   Both teams experienced amazing music and fellowship.   We were so welcomed as we participated in this.  It was thrilling for me to listen to the music and see the joy so apparent on the countenance of the believers.  I spoke at Tamwe and Jeff was preacher at Insein.

Both churches held a church dinner and included us.  What fun.  We then did clinics at both locations.  Tamwe was almost entirely the church people;  Insein included many from the neighborhood.  Totally we had 158 patients and fitted 34 pairs of reading glasses.  Not a bad day for our Sunday off.

Jeff did the reading glasses at Insein.   He has worked on his instructions and has included a blessing as the patient leaves:  “may The Lord Jesus give you eyes to see.”

My translator was the church pastor, James Khong.   His 86 year old mother was one of my patients.   I would ask questions,  James would translate and his mom answered in another language.  He said:  “she thinks I understand the other language but not Burmese.”     It was funny at the time.

Barb was touched because the church sang  “Because He lives” and Marilyn commented this was sung at Dwain’s mother’s funeral.   I had asked Marilyn to describe the last 2 hours of my mother’s life when she was dying and kept waking up to ask: “are we there yet?’

I love divine coincidences.

We all met at the Insein Church and walked down the street to Simon’s house for dinner.   Wow!  What a spread.  They have 5 daughters who were there helping.  We ate out at a ‘Thanksgiving table’ and enjoyed a delicious meal.  It was all Burmese except Simon said we were eating MFC not KFC when the fried chicken was passed.

We are working on a Hoosier connection.  I was talking with Timothy and Maeram’s daughter about her future.  She is in her last year of high school.  She wants to go to business school in the States.  She is applying to Liberty University, Berea College and Indiana University.  Whoa!  What did you say?  That’s my home.  Angela said:  “I never knew that.”  We already have her signed up International class at Sherwood Oaks in Bloomington and a frequent guest at our homes.

Pam had another divine coincidences.  She has been interested in Child Evangelism Fellowship and wanted to see what this group was doing in Burma.  Josiah got some information and arranged for the leader to meet Pam at church today.  Would you believe,  the lady lived across the street from the church.

Let me leave you with what Dr. Gere said:  “I am amazed as how world-wide the church is.  We are not alone.”  Come to Burma and be amazed at the depth and breadth of the faith.