History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

Baptist mission among the Shan 52
were going to leave the place. Two of the idols also feel it so keenly that they are said to be sweating
from the same cause. Of course they are horribly superstitious. Everything they cannot understand is
ascribed to Phe. They are a lovable people, good-natured and often gentle, refined and grateful. In
talking to the SaoPha or some others in the city one forgets for a while that this is a heathen for he has
an innate delicacy, which commands respect. It will need some courage for the first one to come out for
Christ.” 42
Dr. Henderson reported in 1896, “The general outlook of the field is very encouraging. Our
bazaar congregations are only about one-fourth or one-fifth as large as at first but this is not surprising.
It is due to two causes; first the novelty has worn off and their curiosity is largely satisfied; second our
services are entirely carried on in broken Shan a fact that we realize more and more as we learn enough
of the language to know the mistakes. Indeed it begins to be a marvel to me that any noticeable progress
has been made with teachers so imperfectly equipped. That progress has been made is a most
encouraging sign and we praise God for owning our feeble efforts. At present five or six give very
hopeful evidences of conversion.” 43
Dr. Henderson reported in 1912 that at the Christmas entertainment, which the Christians of
MuongNai themselves managed with such skill, the rulers of the town the prince and his wives all
attended. During the celebrations in honor of the coronation of the prince Christians were the only
people invited into the prince’s palace where they were entertained with refreshments. 44 Dr. Henderson
said, “What are the results of our ten years’ work? Perhaps the best of all is that God has given us the
hearts of the people. Both prince and pauper have many times asked us never to leave them. We have
also about thirty baptized converts some of whom have become helpful evangelists. Besides these many
who never were baptized have died professing faith in Christ.” 45
In 1914 Dr. H. C. Gibbens wrote that regular preaching services were maintained at MuongNai
and LoiLem. At MuongNai he had five regular proper meetings every week. A special feature of his
work had been the preaching in the public bazaar. In referring to his baptism he called attention to a
most impressive fact in missionary experience. Nearly all who were baptized came from those who
lived near and this seems to be the rule each year. First despise then pity and then embrace was quite
true of the converts won from heathenism. Those who were reached as a general rule seem to be the
people who first became acquainted with the missionary by daily intimate contact and then attend the
services after which they generally became Christians. 46
Conversation between missionary (M) and Buddhist monk (BM) 47
M: “We are here with the purpose of helping in whatever way we can. We do the best that we know in
the light of Western medical knowledge”
BM: “Your religious teachings are also different from ours and also puzzling from all that I have heard
of them. It is said that you worship a god strange to us. Is this so?”
M: There is but one God, the God who loves the Shan as He does the Christians, the God of the
universe, who is the Father of us all. It is He whom we worship.”
BM: “I have also heard that there is a man named Jesus whom you worship, and that you believe that
we are idols worshipers because we do homage before statutes which are representations of the Buddha.
Is it true, and do you not then believe in the truths left to the world by Gautama, the Buddha?”
M: “We have respect for the great rules of kindness, brotherly love, and purity, left behind by the
Buddha. You, learned monk, will know that my knowledge of your language is still far from adequate
42 81st Annual Report, 1895, American Baptist Missionary Union, pp44-45
43 82nd Annual Report, 1896, American Baptist Missionary Union, p50
44 98th Annual Report, 1912, American Baptist Missionary Union, p63
45 The Baptist Missionary Magazine March 1905, p96
46 100th Annual Report, 1914, American Baptist Missionary Union, pp339-340
47 Bamboo Hospital, published by Davis 1961, p72