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> 41<br />
Gaudama’s religion. But the success <strong>of</strong> these self-complacent gentlemen was such as to render them<br />
quiet after a few brief encounters.” 15<br />
No Christian teachers had ever gone through this country before. <strong>Shan</strong> people for the first time<br />
had heard <strong>of</strong> the Eternal God. Many hundreds <strong>of</strong> tracts mak<strong>in</strong>g known Christ the Savior are scattered all<br />
along and hundreds had been carried to towns and cities far away from the road they traveled. In 1868<br />
Cush<strong>in</strong>g crossed the mounta<strong>in</strong>s to MoByai and was k<strong>in</strong>dly received by SaoPha, but hav<strong>in</strong>g received<br />
partial sunstroke, he was carried back on a lifter by Padoungs, furnished by the MoByai pr<strong>in</strong>ce. In early<br />
1869, Cush<strong>in</strong>g accompanied by his wife made another trip to the <strong>Shan</strong>land. Pass<strong>in</strong>g northward <strong>in</strong>to<br />
upper <strong>Burma</strong> as far as Yemèth<strong>in</strong>, and then turn<strong>in</strong>g eastward across the mounta<strong>in</strong> ranges, they visited<br />
MuongNai, the largest <strong>Shan</strong> town west <strong>of</strong> the Salwen and the headquarters <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Burma</strong>n military<br />
occupation. As this was the first visit <strong>of</strong> a white lady to that region, native curiosity and attention were<br />
excessive. In November 1869, Mr. and Mrs. Cush<strong>in</strong>g started a five months journey from Toungoo to<br />
<strong>Shan</strong>land aga<strong>in</strong>. Revisit<strong>in</strong>g MuongNai, they went northeasterly, crossed the Salwen, and by a route<br />
hitherto untraversed by a white person, reached KengTung, which was the capital <strong>of</strong> a large<br />
pr<strong>in</strong>cipality, situated a short distance from the borders <strong>of</strong> Yunnan. At KengTung they were received<br />
with unusual cordiality by the <strong>Shan</strong> pr<strong>in</strong>ce and pr<strong>in</strong>cess, who were persons <strong>of</strong> great <strong>in</strong>telligence, and<br />
were desirous <strong>of</strong> more frequent <strong>in</strong>tercourse and trade with foreigners. Wherever they went the people<br />
gathered around them and many listened attentively to the story <strong>of</strong> the cross. Several thousand tracts<br />
were distributed and seed sown. They returned to Toungoo <strong>in</strong> April 1870 after five months <strong>of</strong> travel.<br />
<strong>Shan</strong> work cont<strong>in</strong>ued <strong>in</strong> Rangoon<br />
In March 1871, Cush<strong>in</strong>g moved to Rangoon and established the headquarters <strong>of</strong> his work till the<br />
way <strong>in</strong>to the <strong>Shan</strong> country may be opened. In the vic<strong>in</strong>ity <strong>of</strong> Rangoon, large numbers <strong>of</strong> <strong>Shan</strong> were<br />
found, their villages be<strong>in</strong>g scattered here and there around Rangoon. Many Ch<strong>in</strong>ese-<strong>Shan</strong> (Dai Nua)<br />
had settled down there. Cush<strong>in</strong>g and his native assistants had repeatedly visited the <strong>Shan</strong> villages and<br />
some <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g cases <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>quiry had occurred. Two had been baptized. (Some <strong>Shan</strong> villages still exist<br />
around Rangoon area until today.) Dur<strong>in</strong>g four months <strong>of</strong> the ra<strong>in</strong>y season a small school was taught<br />
under the care <strong>of</strong> Mrs. Cush<strong>in</strong>g. The attendance was irregular, vary<strong>in</strong>g from n<strong>in</strong>e up to twenty and<br />
more, the irregularity be<strong>in</strong>g occasioned by the opposition <strong>of</strong> <strong>Shan</strong> Buddhist priests, who <strong>in</strong>timidated the<br />
children and their parents. Two <strong>of</strong> the pupils gave evidence <strong>of</strong> hav<strong>in</strong>g become disciples <strong>of</strong> Christ.<br />
Cush<strong>in</strong>g cont<strong>in</strong>ued with unabated enthusiasm <strong>in</strong> the study <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Shan</strong> language and the preparation <strong>of</strong><br />
elementary works. Two additional <strong>Shan</strong> tracts and a spell<strong>in</strong>g book had been pr<strong>in</strong>ted dur<strong>in</strong>g the ra<strong>in</strong>s.<br />
The gospel <strong>of</strong> Matthew <strong>in</strong> <strong>Shan</strong> was pr<strong>in</strong>ted <strong>in</strong> 1872. From time to time many <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Shan</strong> villages <strong>in</strong> the<br />
vic<strong>in</strong>ity <strong>of</strong> Rangoon were visited and a few were Baptized.<br />
Rev. and Mrs. Cush<strong>in</strong>g returned to America <strong>in</strong> 1874, on account <strong>of</strong> broken health, and aga<strong>in</strong><br />
returned to <strong>Burma</strong> <strong>in</strong> October 1876. After return<strong>in</strong>g from America Cush<strong>in</strong>g visited Toungoo and<br />
Bhamo. Cush<strong>in</strong>g arrived Bhamo on December 22, 1876. In January 1880, Rev. and Mrs. Cush<strong>in</strong>g aga<strong>in</strong><br />
took up their residence at Rangoon to be near the pr<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g press, but Mrs. Cush<strong>in</strong>g’s serious ill health<br />
compelled her to return to America <strong>in</strong> July.<br />
Bhamo Mission Station<br />
Bhamo was first visited by Rev. A. Talor Rose <strong>in</strong> March 1868. Even though Cush<strong>in</strong>g jo<strong>in</strong>ed<br />
Rose on the first mission trip to the north, Cush<strong>in</strong>g could not get to Bhamo but returned to Toungoo<br />
after three months trip leav<strong>in</strong>g Rose to cont<strong>in</strong>ue to Bhamo.<br />
For the first time Cush<strong>in</strong>g arrived Bhamo on December 22, 1876 after return<strong>in</strong>g from America<br />
<strong>in</strong> October 1876. He was very <strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong> Bhamo work and proposed to rema<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> Bhamo till a new<br />
15 Letter from Mr. Rose, The Missionary Magaz<strong>in</strong>e, Vol. XLVIII, November 1868, No. XI, p27