History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

Analysis 251
36. Understanding
Past
Dr. Henderson expressed strongly in August 1936 against the mission board’s misunderstanding
about Shan work, “One suggestion is that perhaps they ought to abandon the whole of the Shan work.
Except for the sadness of it that does not affect us here in MuongNai for we are already abandoned and
are carrying on with what we can put in and contributions from local Christians and others who see the
need and believe in the work. Things are growing and there is a great need to encourage of which I
hope to have time to speak.” “I am going to ask you to put yourselves in their place and try to see how
you would feel. Supposing you had been continually in the same place, shut away from the world
currents, with all their suggestion of improvements and progress, for 2000 years, with no other place
for your thoughts to rest except in the past, would it be fair to blame you for being conservative? Would
it be just to expect all such influences to be changed in 40 years?” 147
They had good understanding. They shared the need of different mission fields by sharing their
resources and transferring missionaries to different places in Shan States. As we read hundreds of
letters and reports from missionaries, we have not seen a single feud or argument or misunderstanding
among missionaries recorded and reported. Was there no problem at all? Did they say, report and
record only good things and hide away all the bad things? If it was so they did not tell the truth and we
will never know the truth. The mistake or failure in the past can be our resources for the improvement
and success in the future. We should understand their situation and appreciate it. We should not be
ashamed of telling the failure and mistake in the past for the sake of the better future.
Present
We have to admit that there are many problems among our Shan leaders and Churches because
of lack of understanding, communication, forgiveness and unity. Instead of helping one another,
encouraging one another, forgiving one another, working together, serving together and solving
problems together, some are trying to find fault on one another and spreading rumors and making
unfounded accusations and damaging other’s credibility. These are the weaknesses of our Shan
leadership. When I met a leader from the North, he said to me one thing and when I met another leader,
he said to me another thing. They accused one another. A senior leader in ShweLi said, “These young
tucks don’t agree with us what we are doing now for Shan missions.” The young tucks said, “These old
guys do not agree with us what we are doing now for Shan missions.” Who is telling the truth? Some
fail to appreciate the help, generosity and sincerity of the others. When people don’t get what they want
they badmouth others. Some leaders only see money as “help” to the Church and missions. They
seldom see participation, teaching and training to Churches as “help” to the Church. They appreciate
material help much more than spiritual help.
When Asian Outreach and I started to support 18 Shan students to study at various Seminaries
and Bible Schools in Burma in 1985, two leaders from Shan Churches asked me to give them all the
money I have (all the money for 18 students for four years) in lump sum to them so that they could
make use of the money in doing some investments and earning more money. When I told them that I
did not have the money for the whole four years because I only got the money from Asian Outreach
every three-month for the students, they did not believe. They thought that I was keeping all the money.
They insisted to give them all. It’s a serious misunderstanding and insulting to one’s generosity and
integrity.
John 13:7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand .”
147 Letter From Dr. A. H. Henderson, MuongNai, August 13, 1936