As my trip draws to a close (I board my flight back to the United States at 6:00 a.m), I want to look back and bring you up-to-date on the one portion of our journey through Thailand and Burma I was unable to document as it was happening. That portion, of course, is the five days we spent in Burma.
We arrived in Yangon late on the evening of February 19. Our passage through immigration and customs was complete routine and uneventful. To be truthful, this was somewhat anti-climatic after the horror story we have heard from other western visitors and former citizens. Several staff members from the Myanmar Baptist Convention, the national Baptist body in Burma, were at the airport awaiting our arrival. They whisked us off to our twelve story hotel (Panda Hotel) and ordered a feast of Chinese food for us at the attached restaurant.
We arrived in Yangon late on the evening of February 19. Our passage through immigration and customs was complete routine and uneventful. To be truthful, this was somewhat anti-climatic after the horror story we have heard from other western visitors and former citizens. Several staff members from the Myanmar Baptist Convention, the national Baptist body in Burma, were at the airport awaiting our arrival. They whisked us off to our twelve story hotel (Panda Hotel) and ordered a feast of Chinese food for us at the attached restaurant.
The next morning we met with the General Secretary of MBC, the Reverend Dr. Zaw Win, and the other officers of the convention. Following another feast for lunch, we met with the dozen or so department heads of the conventions various divisions. We also toured the MBC’s substantial property.
Above are photos of their property. The modern building is awaiting a government permit for an elevator before it can be completed and occupied. However, the convention does not know when (of if) the permit will be issued. The older building is Cushman Hall which dates to the missionary era and was constructed in the early 1900's. The statue pictured is dedicated to a young missionary who gave her life in Burma. It bears the inscription from the hymn, ". . . to thy cross I cling . . ."
Throughout the day, I and others were impressed by our Burmese Baptist friend’s core commitments. They are proud of their Baptist heritage and identity. Adoniram and Ann Judson are revered by Burmese Baptists who celebrate the Judson's arrival in Burma on July 13, 1813 with Judson Sunday on the second Sunday of July each year. They are very patient and skillful at negotiating as a very small religious minority within a majority Buddhist nation. They are very creative in their ministry strategies. They have forged partnerships with the NGOs, international Baptist organizations, and even the government to address challenges as diverse as HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, community development, and Cyclone Nargis relief. They combine this commitment to the social welfare of the neighbors with an equally strong commitment to evangelism and church planting. Consequently, the various regional and ethnic conventions that comprise the Myanmar Baptist Convention are adding new churches and seeing existing churches grow.
Of course, the day ended with yet another feast! If there is one thing that unites Baptists the world over, it maybe our love of fellowship around the dinner table.
