History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

Analysis 196
sinking almost to despair and exaltations riving almost to ecstasy.” 12 Bixby said on July 25, 1864,
“The work will go on, not without rebuffs, repulses, disappointments, losses, self-denials, heart trials, it
may be death itself; but it will go on, it will be done, it is only a question of time.” 13
We have seen incredible dedication, commitment and sacrifice made by foreign missionaries to
come to the Shan and preach gospel. They had to abandon everything from United States and come to
our land and people. They gave and served the best, they suffered the worst and some of them died
gloriously in Shanland for the sake of the gospel and the souls of our people. Bixby asked for selfdenial,
willing to sacrifice for mission. He considered his acceptance as a missionary to the Shan was a
great personal sacrifice. That is true. Of course the Shanland is not a better land than America. Leaving
a country like America and coming to the Shan is a great sacrifice, the most courageous act and
unquestionable evidence of faith. They left big houses from America and lived in old dilapidated house
in Shan village. Their sorrows were sometimes too deep to reveal. They lived and traveled in the land
infested with robbers and uncivilized people. How dangerous it was! How courageous they were! We
have to challenge our own people that if American missionaries loved us so much that they abandoned
everything and came to suffer for us, how much more we have to do for our own people. In 1910, Dr.
Harper at KengTung suffered a severe accident that threatened to deprive him of the use of his right
arm and for a time seemed to necessitate a trip to England for an operation. 14 He did not give up. He
was committed to Shan missions. He returned and served until he died. His memorial hospital was built
in NamKham in 1930. There had been an unusually high loss of missionary personnel due to ill health
and death. Despite the suffering and loss of life in mission fields, they continued to serve the Lord until
Churches were established among the Shan.
The missionaries and faithful servants who died in Shanland were;
Mr. Kelley, died on January 1, 1873 near MuongNai.
Miss. Rockwood, died in Toungoo in 1882.
Mr. W.C. Lambert, died in HsiPaw on May 23, 1895
Rev. Dr. M. B. Kirkpatrick, M. D., died in HsiPaw on February 10, 1915.
Rev. Tha Dun, died in NamKham on November 26, 1926.
Mrs. Huldah Mix, died in TaungGyi in 1933.
Dr. Ohn Shwe, died in MuongNai in 1936.
Saya Sam Pwa, died in NamKham in 1942.
Dr. L. T. Ah Pon, died during Japanese occupation.
Dr. Grace Russell Seagrave, died in NamKham on August 17, 1951.
Rev. Htun Pyu, died in NamKham on November 20, 1958.
Dr. Gordan Stifler Seagrave, died in NamKham on March 28, 1965.
Rev. Kham Maung, died in MuSe on February 9, 1976.
Dr. Ai Lun, died in LaShio on January 18, 1978.
Rev. Ai Hmoon, died in SeLan on August 30, 1980.
Rev. Ai Pan, died in NamKham on October 30, 1980.
Present
The American missionaries had made a commitment and sacrifice and come, suffered and died
in Shanland for the sake of the gospel. It is not possible to serve God if we cannot make a commitment
to follow Him and dedicate our life for His mission.
There are some Shan Christian workers who are very dedicated and working very hard in
serving among the Shan. But we have to admit that there are very few. Big number of Bible School and
Seminary graduates resigned from ministry after serving for a few months or years and left for secular
12 Letter From Bixby, May 8, 1862, Toungoo
13 Letter from Bixby, July 25, 1864, The Baptist Missionary Magazine, February 1865, p42
14 96th Annual Report, 1910, American Baptist Missionary Union