History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

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