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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Baptist mission among the <strong>Shan</strong> 35<br />
Survey <strong>of</strong> a year<br />
One year after arrival <strong>in</strong> Toungoo, Bixby reported <strong>in</strong> his letter dated May 8, 1862, “A year is a<br />
brief apace <strong>of</strong> time a hand’s breadth <strong>in</strong> the measure <strong>of</strong> a man’s life. But <strong>in</strong> the active life <strong>of</strong> a missionary<br />
it is no <strong>in</strong>considerable portion. The average life <strong>of</strong> a m<strong>in</strong>ister <strong>of</strong> the gospel at home is said to be less<br />
than twenty years. How important then is a year <strong>in</strong> the life <strong>of</strong> a missionary! And when we consider what<br />
a year may br<strong>in</strong>g forth, what evils may be averted, what hopes may be generated, what multitudes saved<br />
from unend<strong>in</strong>g woe bow vastly important the brief apace becomes! The <strong>Shan</strong> <strong>of</strong> time becomes an<br />
eternity <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>terest. The man is yet unborn who duly weighs an hour. The year has been draught with<br />
hopes and fears, joys and sorrows, conflicts and victories, deep depressions s<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g almost to despair<br />
and exaltations riv<strong>in</strong>g almost to ecstasy. It has been a year <strong>of</strong> severe and <strong>in</strong>cessant toil, unalleviated by<br />
changes <strong>of</strong> seasons, places and associations, but augmented by isolation and dull monotony. It has been<br />
a year <strong>of</strong> very great trial. The god <strong>of</strong> this world awakened from his century sleep seems conscious that<br />
new territory is <strong>in</strong>vaded that another taco is about to be taken from him by the stronger than the strong<br />
man’s arm and he has been ready to dispute every <strong>in</strong>ch <strong>of</strong> the ground. Our trials have been various and<br />
peculiar. Missionaries love to share their good th<strong>in</strong>gs with others but their sorrows are too sacred to be<br />
revealed. The people are overwhelmed with joy when they hear <strong>of</strong> a great victory but how little do they<br />
know how little can they know what heart rend<strong>in</strong>g anguish was necessary to the achievement. The<br />
sunny side <strong>of</strong> missionary life may be seen and rejoiced <strong>in</strong> at home but the shady side is too deeply<br />
shaded to be seen at so great a distance. One only can be touched with the feel<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> our <strong>in</strong>firmities but<br />
this is enough. The past year, with the <strong>Shan</strong> Mission has been dist<strong>in</strong>guished by no very great<br />
achievements. We have made only an earnest beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g. We could seem to see God’s hand lead<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
wander<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Shan</strong> to our very door and to hear his voice say<strong>in</strong>g, ‘Take these rude children and educate<br />
them for me and I will give thee thy wages.’”<br />
Bixby expressed that the first year <strong>of</strong> his mission work <strong>in</strong> Toungoo was a period <strong>of</strong> test<strong>in</strong>g and<br />
trial. Even though Bixby’s ma<strong>in</strong> target was the <strong>Shan</strong>, no <strong>Shan</strong> yet had accepted Jesus Christ <strong>in</strong> the first<br />
year. Bixby was try<strong>in</strong>g to get a chapel or zayat to have a regular meet<strong>in</strong>g. He said that his dwell<strong>in</strong>g<br />
home could not be used as a place <strong>of</strong> worship and a dwell<strong>in</strong>g home was never suited especially <strong>in</strong> this<br />
country to such a purpose. <strong>Shan</strong> did not feel holy to worship God at home s<strong>in</strong>ce they were accustomed<br />
to worship Buddha at monastery. Month after month he tried to get a zayat or a place to build one but<br />
failed.<br />
The first chapel<br />
Bixby reported <strong>in</strong> his letter dated May 8, 1862 that f<strong>in</strong>ally he succeeded <strong>in</strong> gett<strong>in</strong>g a site, an old<br />
dilapidated pagoda site, which the British Deputy Commissioner had given him. He engaged carpenters<br />
and hired men to saw the timber with the <strong>in</strong>tention <strong>of</strong> putt<strong>in</strong>g up a small chapel at a cost <strong>of</strong> four hundred<br />
rupees. But later he found out that the site was not very favorable and he had not received adequate<br />
funds. He then abandoned the plan and tried to get another favorable site. He was able to make an<br />
exchange with the Tsit-kai, the highest <strong>Burma</strong>n <strong>of</strong>ficial, by pay<strong>in</strong>g him 150 rupees, mak<strong>in</strong>g the price <strong>of</strong><br />
another land, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g some trees, total 250 rupees. The land was big enough for a mission house and a<br />
chapel. He did not hesitate to make the exchange though it took all his money. He started the work at<br />
once and trusted <strong>in</strong> Him for the means. Accord<strong>in</strong>gly Bixby borrowed money, on his own responsibility,<br />
and set carpenters to work. He then made known his wants to the brethren <strong>of</strong> Moulma<strong>in</strong>, Rangoon and<br />
Calcutta. In a few weeks the funds began to come <strong>in</strong> just <strong>in</strong> time to meet the demands. With<strong>in</strong> one<br />
month Bixby and friends were hold<strong>in</strong>g meet<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> the new chapel. The cost <strong>of</strong> the build<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g<br />
land, furniture, etc. was 2,000 rupees that were all provided, except about 300 rupees. Bixby reported <strong>in</strong><br />
his letter dated January 18, 1863 that the first <strong>Shan</strong> and Burmese Church <strong>of</strong> Toungoo was consecrated<br />
at Lau-koke-ta-ya at five o’clock on January 18, 1863. About one hundred people gathered around and<br />
Bixby preached “Jesus and the resurrection.”<br />
Bixby reported on March 25, 1863 that there were thirty members <strong>in</strong> the Church where two<br />
years ago there was not one disciple to call Jesus blessed. Bixby reported on May 8, 1863 that an