History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

Baptist mission among the Shan 49
great anxiety on her account. In September she began to improve and for the last five months they had
been in excellent health to study language. In 1893 Dr. and Mrs. Albert Haley Henderson arrived in
MuongNai to begin their forty years of medical, evangelistic, and educational work. For a time Dr. and
Mrs. Henderson had charge of the medical work, Rev. Wilbur W. Cochrane had the Church and
evangelistic work, and Mrs. Mix taught in the school and managed the home for abandoned children
and orphans. Thra Bla Paw, a Bassein Karen, with the help of his wife Naw Bessie, became pastor of
the MuongNai Church, releasing the missionary for field work.
In 1903 Mrs. Henderson fell victim to the dreaded black-water fever and barely survived.
Doctors recommended her to return to the Unite States, but Dr. Henderson suggested removal to
TaungGyi, a more healthful location. Dr. Henderson made the hundred mile trip to MuongNai on a
bicycle, taking about two days each way. When missionary doctors were no longer available for
resident medical work in MuongNai, national doctors including Dr. Lao Htin, Dr. Ah Pon and Dr. Ohn
Shwe took charge. In 1936, Dr. Ohn Shwe was killed by a drunken man while he was trying to protect
him from further assault to his own wife. When the murderer was condemned, Daw Kyi Pyu, Dr. Ohn
Shwe’s wife, pled for murderer’s life, as she was sure Dr. Ohn Shwe would have done the same, and
the death sentence was commuted. Daw Kyi Pyu stayed on in MuongNai until her children's health
made it necessary to return to Lower Burma.
Mrs. Alexander worked in the MuongNai school for eight years (1917-1925). When the mission
finances were so depleted by the great depression in 1929, both the school and the medical work were
turned over to the local government. World War II brought destruction to the buildings in MuongNai,
but the Church had been rebuilt and the congregation continued as part of the Southern Shan State
Baptist Association.
MuongNai Church
The first convert in MuongNai
mission field, according to oral tradition,
was Moe San @ Hta. It was reported in
1892 that there were 33 members and a
bamboo chapel was built. It’s a surprise to
see such big group of members in the
Church within the first year. Thra Bla Paw, a
Karen from Bassein, with the help of his
wife Naw Bessie, became the first pastor of
the MuongNai Church.
Rev. Young reported in 1892, “We
have regular Sunday service all the year,
New MuongNai Church building as seen in Year 2000 though the attendance has been light. The
native Christians meet every evening for prayer and often from five to twenty outsiders meet with us
and thus we have a chance for preaching. We have no organized Sunday school but Mrs. Mix has
taught the school children nearly every Sunday and often quite a number of others have been into the
meetings. On August 13, we organized a Church of ten members, all native helpers. The Church
contribution up to December 31 is rupees 107.93. I have done very little jungle work as I have had
neither the time nor men qualified for this service.” 33
Dr. Henderson and Mrs. Mix reported in 1892, “The Church during the year has voted to choose
and support its own pastor to meet the expense of which each member has cheerfully promised onetenth
of their income. This with the contributions of the missionaries a little more than covers the
33 Report from Rev. W.M. Young and wife, A.H. Henderson, M.D., and wife, Mrs. H.W. Mix, 80th Annual Report, 1894,
American Baptist Missionary Union, p271