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> 42<br />
man could be sent out to relieve him. Mrs. Cush<strong>in</strong>g then returned to Toungoo and looked after the<br />
<strong>in</strong>terests <strong>of</strong> the work. Mr. Lyon and Mr. Freiday, with their wives, left America for Bhamo mission<br />
field. The party accompanied by Cush<strong>in</strong>g traveled to Mandalay and then to Bhamo, arrived <strong>in</strong> Bhamo<br />
on February 13, 1877. Soon after arrival Cush<strong>in</strong>g and Lyon planned to visit Ka-Khyen (Kach<strong>in</strong>)<br />
Mounta<strong>in</strong>s <strong>in</strong> order that Lyon might become acqua<strong>in</strong>ted with his future field <strong>of</strong> labor among Kach<strong>in</strong>.<br />
But when the time arrived for them to go, Lyon was attacked by fever. As the fever did not seem<br />
serious it was deemed best for them to proceeded with the new Karen preachers to the mounta<strong>in</strong>s and<br />
locate a man for Lyon to follow a week later. After a week, Lyon was too ill to go to the mounta<strong>in</strong>s.<br />
Cush<strong>in</strong>g then returned to the city to see Lyon. After another week Cush<strong>in</strong>g started for the annual fair at<br />
Shwaypaugyoon about thirty miles from Bhamo. Shortly after his arrival at the fair he received a<br />
message call<strong>in</strong>g him to return to Bhamo on account <strong>of</strong> Lyon’s severe illness. Three days after his return<br />
to Bhamo, Mr. Lyon passed away quietly <strong>in</strong>to the land <strong>of</strong> rest on March 15, leav<strong>in</strong>g beh<strong>in</strong>d a perpetual<br />
benediction to those who knew him <strong>in</strong> the memory <strong>of</strong> his gentle Christian life. It was a mysterious<br />
providence that the first Kach<strong>in</strong> missionary should lay down his life <strong>in</strong> sight <strong>of</strong> the mounta<strong>in</strong>s where he<br />
longed to preach the love <strong>of</strong> Christ.<br />
After one year, Cush<strong>in</strong>g reported from Bhamo that through the k<strong>in</strong>dness <strong>of</strong> the Ch<strong>in</strong>a Inland<br />
Missionaries, a zayat on the ma<strong>in</strong> street, which had been occupied by them, was placed at his disposal.<br />
This cont<strong>in</strong>ued to be his home. The land Mr. Rose selected the previous year was the most desirable<br />
place <strong>in</strong> the city and determ<strong>in</strong>ed to obta<strong>in</strong> it for mission. Unfortunately it was under the control <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Sit-ke (<strong>Burma</strong>n <strong>of</strong>ficer), who proved to be the most persistent opponent <strong>in</strong> his attempt. Near the close <strong>of</strong><br />
the first five months the Worn (governor) who had shown a polite <strong>in</strong>difference hitherto became very<br />
friendly and through his k<strong>in</strong>dness half <strong>of</strong> the land which Cush<strong>in</strong>g desired was secured together with the<br />
bamboo house while the other was occupied by the native preachers. Dur<strong>in</strong>g the ra<strong>in</strong>y season, s<strong>in</strong>ce<br />
travel was not possible, Cush<strong>in</strong>g revised aga<strong>in</strong> the entire <strong>Shan</strong> dictionary and added a considerable<br />
number <strong>of</strong> words, pr<strong>in</strong>cipally, words peculiar to the northern <strong>Shan</strong>. He prepared also a “Handbook <strong>of</strong><br />
the <strong>Shan</strong> Language” and translated the Epistle <strong>of</strong> James. He spent several hours a day on Kach<strong>in</strong><br />
language study.<br />
Cush<strong>in</strong>g handed Bhamo mission to Rev. Freiday and returned to Toungoo <strong>in</strong> May 1877. In the<br />
year 1884, Rev. Freiday closed the work at Bhamo when Ch<strong>in</strong>ese attacked and destroyed Bhamo <strong>in</strong><br />
December 1883. Early <strong>in</strong> August 1885, Mrs. Freiday left Rangoon for America via Calcutta. Bhamo<br />
mission field was not for the <strong>Shan</strong> only but there was a department called <strong>Shan</strong> Department under<br />
Bhamo mission. Later Bhamo mission field became the first mission station to Kach<strong>in</strong> tribe. On March<br />
24, 1877, a young <strong>Shan</strong> man, Sau Lake, was baptized <strong>in</strong> Bhamo. He was the first <strong>Shan</strong> baptized <strong>in</strong><br />
Northern <strong>Shan</strong>.<br />
Pr<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Shan</strong> Bible and other Literature<br />
Rev. Cush<strong>in</strong>g’s ma<strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>istry to the <strong>Shan</strong> was translat<strong>in</strong>g the Bible to <strong>Shan</strong> language and<br />
produc<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Shan</strong> grammar and dictionary. S<strong>in</strong>ce Cush<strong>in</strong>g had moved to Rangoon and concentrated on<br />
<strong>Shan</strong> Bible translation he was able to f<strong>in</strong>ish and pr<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> the New Testament was completed <strong>in</strong><br />
November 1882. 16 Cush<strong>in</strong>g reported that he revised the Gospels, Acts and Romans but the result <strong>of</strong> the<br />
revision would not appear until there was another edition <strong>of</strong> the New Testament. In 1887, Cush<strong>in</strong>g<br />
began the revision and pr<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Shan</strong> New Testament. The revision was completed towards the<br />
close <strong>of</strong> the ra<strong>in</strong>s. Third edition <strong>of</strong> New Testament was done <strong>in</strong> 1903. Cush<strong>in</strong>g reported that he had<br />
f<strong>in</strong>ished translat<strong>in</strong>g Psalms, Proverbs, Leviticus and the first fifteen chapters <strong>of</strong> Numbers <strong>in</strong> 1882. 17<br />
16 69th Annual Report, July 1883, American Baptist Missionary Union, pp58-59<br />
17 Ibid