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History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

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Appendix 394<br />

produc<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Shan</strong> evangelistic and teach<strong>in</strong>g materials. There is a grow<strong>in</strong>g demand, which is very<br />

encourag<strong>in</strong>g. Your broadcasts come <strong>in</strong> fairly clearly here <strong>in</strong> Maesai and I know many <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Shan</strong> here<br />

listen to your program. May God cont<strong>in</strong>ue to bless you m<strong>in</strong>istry. Press on.”<br />

Asian Report<br />

July/August <strong>2001</strong><br />

<strong>Shan</strong> Mission (<strong>Shan</strong> State)<br />

Rev. Ah Yai, one <strong>of</strong> our footsoldiers <strong>in</strong> <strong>Shan</strong> State, has been reach<strong>in</strong>g out to the 56 families <strong>in</strong><br />

WanSaw Village. Over the last couple <strong>of</strong> years he has shared the gospel and showed love to the<br />

villagers by meet<strong>in</strong>g their needs. He has been educat<strong>in</strong>g their children, pray<strong>in</strong>g for the sick and help<strong>in</strong>g<br />

with the village development. So they now have a clean water supply, hydroelectric power and orchards<br />

and gardens to provide adequate food.<br />

Through his testimony and practical demonstration <strong>of</strong> God’s love, a few have become<br />

Christians. Many more want to make that commitment but the headman <strong>of</strong> the village is opposed to this<br />

and has banned Rev. Ah Yai from enter<strong>in</strong>g the village. Please pray that God will change the headman’s<br />

heart, so that Rev. Ah Yai can cont<strong>in</strong>ue m<strong>in</strong>ister<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> this village and the Church can grow. Despite<br />

opposition <strong>in</strong> some villages, the number <strong>of</strong> believers is <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Eastern <strong>Shan</strong> State. Praise the Lord<br />

that three <strong>of</strong> our footsoldiers have planted <strong>Churches</strong> that are now large enough to support them and their<br />

families.<br />

The Best Decision Ever Made<br />

December 30, <strong>2001</strong>, marked a special day for Dr. Sai Htwe Maung as he was orda<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> Hong<br />

Kong as a m<strong>in</strong>ister <strong>of</strong> the gospel. “This is a confirmation <strong>of</strong> God’s call on my life,” says Sai Htwe<br />

Maung.<br />

His parents became the first generation <strong>Shan</strong> Christians <strong>in</strong> ShweLi valley when they were<br />

converted through the witness <strong>of</strong> an American missionary 75 years ago <strong>in</strong> <strong>Shan</strong> State, <strong>Burma</strong> (now<br />

known as Myanmar). Born on April 30, 1947, Dr. Sai grew up know<strong>in</strong>g a call to serve the Lord. After<br />

graduat<strong>in</strong>g from medical school <strong>in</strong> 1973, he started work<strong>in</strong>g as a doctor, as well as serv<strong>in</strong>g with local<br />

<strong>Churches</strong>. In 1979 he was led to move his family to Hong Kong. He obeyed but struggled with hav<strong>in</strong>g<br />

to abandon “his people” <strong>in</strong> <strong>Shan</strong> State. Everyday he prayed for an opportunity to br<strong>in</strong>g the gospel to the<br />

5 million <strong>Shan</strong> people, <strong>of</strong> whom 99.9% are Buddhists. In Hong Kong he serves <strong>in</strong> Emmanuel English<br />

Church, while work<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> different hospitals. In 1983 he jo<strong>in</strong>ed Asian Outreach as a missionary. Under<br />

the cover<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> Asian Outreach and his Church, he started serv<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>Shan</strong> people from Hong Kong.<br />

He translated and published a <strong>Shan</strong> hymnal, the New Testament and Psalms <strong>in</strong> New <strong>Shan</strong> modern<br />

writ<strong>in</strong>g. A quarterly Our Daily Bread <strong>in</strong> <strong>Shan</strong> is also be<strong>in</strong>g produced. S<strong>in</strong>ce 1989, from his homemade<br />

studio, he has also been produc<strong>in</strong>g daily gospel broadcasts <strong>in</strong> the Burmese-<strong>Shan</strong> and Ch<strong>in</strong>ese-<strong>Shan</strong><br />

languages, which are aired via Far East Broadcast<strong>in</strong>g Company facilities.<br />

By network<strong>in</strong>g with local <strong>Shan</strong> <strong>Churches</strong>, Asian Outreach is tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g leaders and Church<br />

planters through the Great Commission Institute programs. Today, over 50 <strong>Churches</strong> have been planted<br />

as a result. With his <strong>in</strong>creased workload, Dr. Sai had to make a decision. As he prayed for guidance, he<br />

also asked his wife what she thought <strong>of</strong> him quitt<strong>in</strong>g a well-paid doctor’s job for a no-pay full-time<br />

m<strong>in</strong>istry. His wife’s response was, “This is the BEST decision you have ever made <strong>in</strong> your life.” So <strong>in</strong><br />

May 2000 Dr. Sai retired from medical practice and now travels to Myanmar, Northern Thailand and<br />

Ch<strong>in</strong>a regularly to m<strong>in</strong>ister to his beloved <strong>Shan</strong> people.

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