History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo
History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo
History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo
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Appendix 326<br />
the North, maybe <strong>in</strong> 1998. Maybe by that time a good leader will come out. Plann<strong>in</strong>g must be one year<br />
ahead. We have to ask them to make contact with the local <strong>of</strong>ficials and get the green light. An UN<br />
<strong>of</strong>ficer went to LaShio to see a hospital and cl<strong>in</strong>ic and he was followed everywhere by Intelligence.<br />
Tourists are not allowed <strong>in</strong>to NamKham, where The<strong>in</strong> Aung Kham lives. He has little confidence <strong>in</strong><br />
leadership <strong>in</strong> ShweLi. He th<strong>in</strong>ks that the leader can talk a lot but do little. He sent Kham to the<br />
S<strong>in</strong>gapore GCI and hoped he would get tra<strong>in</strong>, change and come back to work among Northern <strong>Shan</strong> but<br />
he failed. He was warned by treasurer <strong>of</strong> Myanmar Baptist Convention that a leader from ShweLi could<br />
not be trusted. He feels that the North is not ready to receive a GCI yet for the time be<strong>in</strong>g. OSH<br />
suggested that we start small <strong>in</strong> the North. If the people who have gone through the course speak<br />
favorably then it is more effective. He was th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> terms <strong>of</strong> start<strong>in</strong>g with a small group <strong>in</strong> a local<br />
Church for three days <strong>of</strong> teach<strong>in</strong>g and call it someth<strong>in</strong>g neutral, not divisive and see what we can<br />
contribute. But wait for the right time.<br />
Dr. Sai <strong>in</strong>itially asked Jean to communicate with Sai The<strong>in</strong> Aung Kham and ask questions, such<br />
as: What k<strong>in</strong>d <strong>of</strong> team do you want? Where would it be held? Make sure it is suitable and secure<br />
politically. Can you be responsible for the foreign tra<strong>in</strong>ers where they stay, where they eat? Will you<br />
accept non-Baptist tra<strong>in</strong>ers? etc.<br />
In later discussion he shared his experience <strong>in</strong> 1993 that General Secretary <strong>of</strong> ShweLi <strong>Shan</strong> Baptist<br />
Mission had promised that every th<strong>in</strong>g had been well prepared for Youngs (American missionaries) to<br />
cross the border from Yunnan, Ch<strong>in</strong>a to MuSe, <strong>Burma</strong>, to jo<strong>in</strong> them <strong>in</strong> ShweLi <strong>Shan</strong> Baptist Mission<br />
Centenary Celebration. However when Youngs arrived <strong>in</strong> RuiLi town <strong>in</strong> Yunnan, just across the border<br />
with MuSe, <strong>Burma</strong>, he refused to go <strong>in</strong>to Ch<strong>in</strong>a to br<strong>in</strong>g Youngs to MuSe. Instead he sent Rev. Sai<br />
Stephen and two ladies. Both the Youngs, Sai Stephen and two ladies got arrested <strong>in</strong>side Ch<strong>in</strong>a as a<br />
result. After this experience Dr. Sai does not have any confidence that ShweLi General Secretary would<br />
do a good job <strong>of</strong> mak<strong>in</strong>g sure everyth<strong>in</strong>g was safe. And if any <strong>of</strong> us is arrested we are f<strong>in</strong>ished as far as<br />
go<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to <strong>Burma</strong> aga<strong>in</strong>. He certa<strong>in</strong>ly doesn’t want to be arrested as he wants to work there long term!<br />
Dr. Sai doesn’t want to be blacklisted <strong>in</strong> the North because then he couldn’t be <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> the North.<br />
He doesn’t want to do it without proper preparation.<br />
It was agreed that we leave it with Dr. Sai and he may prefer to work through a local Church<br />
rather than the ShweLi <strong>Shan</strong> Baptist Mission. But he will certa<strong>in</strong>ly aim for a GCI <strong>in</strong> the North for 1998.<br />
After the GCI <strong>in</strong> the North <strong>in</strong> 1998 Dr. Sai would like to start work<strong>in</strong>g with other un-reached groups,<br />
such as the Burmese, the Mon and the Arakan. The tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g could be held <strong>in</strong> Yangon or Mandalay. He<br />
could work through the <strong>Burma</strong> Evangelical Church or the <strong>Burma</strong> Baptist Convention.<br />
<strong>Shan</strong> Budget:<br />
16 full-time evangelists support is Kyat 1,000 = US$10 each person per month.<br />
Sai Stephen is request<strong>in</strong>g that this will be <strong>in</strong>creased to Kyat 1,500, equal to US$15. But Dr. Sai is not <strong>in</strong><br />
favor <strong>of</strong> this. He wants them to be more <strong>in</strong>digenous and self-support<strong>in</strong>g. Sai Stephen’s travel expenses<br />
K 30,000. Sai Stephen is request<strong>in</strong>g Kyat 50,000 for 1997. Dr. Sai feels this is too high. He believes <strong>in</strong><br />
the pr<strong>in</strong>ciple <strong>of</strong> “Instead <strong>of</strong> feed<strong>in</strong>g them a fish a day, teach them how to catch the fish.” Dr. Sai feels<br />
that to travel by motorcycle is cheap as it consumes little petrol. He wants to make further enquiries<br />
from him as to how he is go<strong>in</strong>g to use this travel<strong>in</strong>g allowance. OSH said we could consider <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Stephen’s salary from Kyat 3,000 accord<strong>in</strong>g to local standards. He suggested not giv<strong>in</strong>g everyth<strong>in</strong>g they<br />
ask for now but adjust to their need. Of course, we want to promote more self-support, where they f<strong>in</strong>d<br />
at least half <strong>of</strong> the support.<br />
Bible translation:<br />
It has taken 10 years to translate the New Testament under sponsorship <strong>of</strong> United Bible Societies with<br />
Psalms and Proverbs. This translation is based on Good News Bible and published <strong>in</strong> 1994. There are<br />
some mistakes. Mr. Han Yaunghwe and Dr. Sai Htwe Maung are try<strong>in</strong>g to do their own translations.