The ability to communicate with the leaders in Myanmar is a little easier at the moment and we have the following brief details from them. For the sake of security, we will refer to them by their initials only.
Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Myanmar, for safety and that the Lord will meet their needs for day-to-day living, remembering that between them the four leaders care for 300 orphan or disadvantaged children. Food costs have increased substantially since the army took over the country on 1 February. Channels for sending funds have also reopened and we are in the process of sending to them.
Pastor T - Has been able to continue with services though some members have left or are in hiding. Of their church people there, 5 families have fled to India. He finally has wifi again. He and his wife's native area, which is in another state, is a battle zone. He hopes to visit there the end week of May.
Pastor D - Some of the Bible school students are staying on campus this summer break, since returning to their provinces is unsafe. His home state is under military occupation. Many are dead and thousands have fled into the hills and forests for safety but are without adequate food or shelter. Pastor D's younger brother (father of 3) was killed by the military.
Pastor J - Has been hardest to communicate with. He was able to recently come to Yangon to meet with T, K and D and pick up some financial assistance sent from the United States.
Pastor K was able to let us know that they had held their annual Salvation Camp at their church from 13 to 17 April. There were about 40 people, including children, present for that time and they enjoyed a time of blessing together.
He also sent a picture (below) of a couple of the catfish which he and his group have been raising to sell to raise funds for their ministry costs. From the picture it looks as if their raising has been highly successful!!
On 27 and 28 May they had a two-day Bible training gathering for their youth. They were pleased to have 23 trainees attend over the two days. Please thank and praise the Lord that these 23 people were prepared to spend time studying God’s Word and pray that they may have been blessed and had their faith strengthened by what they learned.
Please pray for the country and its people, and especially for the Christians - Open Doors indicate that there are about 4.3 million Christians in the country, about 8% of the population. Please pray for God’s miraculous intervention in the situation the country is in with the army in control.