Mizo Gospel Concert in Malaysia

I was just wondering to see a lady photo at the front page of Mizo Christian Fellowship News (MCF-Palai). Why lady's photo? But later I learned that she is a gospel singer coming to Malaysia.

Mizo Christian Fellowship is looking forward to conduct Mizo Gospel Concert in the coming March 11-13, 2008. Mizoram, India best Gospel singers are invited for this concert but some of them could not make their time. Vanlalsailova, Rebecca Saimawii accompanied by her husband, Mami Varte accompanied by her mother and Margret Malsawmzuali and one representative from Lelte News and the team will be led by Mr. C. Dina. MCF is praying that the church will experience the touch of God and be filled by the Holy Spirit but not by wine.

But I will not be able to attend the concert since I have special classes conducted by Dr Peter O’Brien on "Justification in Paul's Epistle". Dr. Lim Kar Yong my Supervisor says, "This course will explore the development and presentation of the theme of justification in the letters written by the Apostle Paul. In view of recent scholastic studies that offer a “fresh interpretation” of the doctrine of justification, this course will be a timely reminder of the biblical view of how God justifies us while we were still enemies with him".

I hope and pray that I will learn alot and make use of this opportunity to catch from this scholar even as I will have to sacrifice Mizo Gospel Concert.

Talks with Taxi Drivers

My wife and I went to Kuala Lumpur to see our friends and attend Chin church. As we went, we hired a Taxi which driver was a Chinese old man. He loves talking. As we talked about how Christians behave outside world. He mentioned that some Christian’s girls/ boys are dancing and enjoying in the night clubs. They wore very sexy clothing. Even they don’t mind having sex outside marriage/ before marriage. But on Sunday morning they go to church, change their clothes and ask forgiveness from God. “Lord, I have wronged, I have sinned against you, please! please! forgive me”, but they repeat the same kind of sin.
As we came back to STM where we are studying we hired a taxi which driver now is an Indian old man. He is asking me what I am doing. I said I am studying in theological college, studying about God. And he said you must know the Bible quite well. I answered not that much. Then he said there is a god, right? I said, yes, there is God. Then he asked why there are problems, hatred, and chaos, in the world? I said it is because of human sin. But you know he quotes the last temptation of Jesus and 1John 5:19 and said that the world belongs to Satan. The world is under the control of Satan. That is why there are problems, hatred, and chaos, in the world. Jesus commands us to love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves. But can we love our neighbors that much? Why can’t we love our neighbor?
We have a nice talk… but we reached STM….he defeated me….. Taxi drivers are smart too in Bible knowledge as well.

Myanmar Trip Reflection 1

As far as my observation is concerned Yangon city is getting older. The country is getting worse becoming poorer. Buildings, roads and things are old. It seems they never paint for a long period of time. Even the grasses are dry. The present Government does not care Yangon instead they want to build Naypyidaw. The people are getting poorer things are very expensive compared to their income. For example a pastor salary is about Ks. 30000 (RM 100). One bag of rice is about Ks. 25000 nothing is left. If they buy char coal and oil for a month their salary is gone. They have to depend on God. Some how they survive. I don’t know how? They don’t even know how? Public transport fees are getting high. Eg. Before I came to Malaysia it was Ks. 20 - 100 but now Ks. 100- 1000. I asked some changes for Bus fare from my wife. She laughed at me. Private transports are servicing and they charged Ks. 1000. The normal worker can earn only about Ks. 30000 in a month. How can they pay Ks. 1000 for bus fare every day? They have to get public transport. Some of them have to travel more than one hour without seat. The buses are always overloaded. If the bus conductor and driver has seat in the bus they are proud to call passengers saying (thain si luh yah re) “you can sit and travel”. I saw some people bringing their clothes, bicycle, things to the pawn shop and then went to the market to buy 1- 2 Kg of rice and some Vegetable.
Although the church members are also suffering the same difficulties their hearts burning for the lost souls. One of my coworkers Mr. Khuma came back from Philippine and now leading the outreach ministry. They call him as “Mr. Mission” (Pu Mission). He always talks about mission, showing photos and video clips. Whenever he has opportunity he shares the gospel. The students are sent to various places. They give free tuition and teach some Bible stories and songs and also the gospel. Some of them accepted the Lord and came to the church. On our arrival day they had seminar and more than one hundred children and more than 50 adults came. I am excited to see that the Burmese are convinced and are coming to the church. I always have a heart to reach Burmese but could not. I led students and went house to house. But now they could really reach them. Thank God. It could also be the seed that we planted two years ago. If God is willing, I am looking forward to joining them in the middle of 2009. They are praying to reach more and disciple them in the knowledge of God. I just encouraged them to bring them into mature Christians. They are praying that they might able to get some bicycles for this outreach ministry. They are also praying for land/ house for permanent mission based. Some students don’t have hat or umbrella. The sun is hot, and sometimes raining. The church is paying them for their necessaries such as soft pen, pencil, white board etc. Bible College and Minglardon local church are working together in this mission. (This may be worth considering working in partnership with Myanmar church).

Myanmar Trip Reflection

By the help of Hope EFC church members my wife and I were able to go back to Myanmar. We faced a kind of problem in our trip. We did not know that we need Thailand visa for transit. In all other Airlines they don’t require except in Air Asia. Since we didn’t aware of that we could not go on 14th December and lost our Air Tickets. We called the church (Hope EFC) member to pick us at the airport and went back to KL. Thank God the church bought new tickets for us and applied Thailand visa and went back on 20th December 2007. We felt a shame but the church members are so kind and they took care of us very well. They invited us for dinner and comforted us. We came to know deeper how much they love us and care for us. Praise God for such a caring church that stands behind us in our difficulties. We learned God’s care and love through the church members.
Family members and church members are fine there. On our arrival day and the following Sunday many church members and friends came to our place (house church) for worship and to see us. Most of us shed tears because some our loved ones are missing as we gather. They went to be with the Lord. First of all I shared comforting words for family who lost their loved ones, and then proceeded to how much Hope EFC is praying for Myanmar and Minglardon EFC especially who lost their loved ones. I said that there are some love gifts for fulltime workers from Hope EFC they are filled with joy and thankfulness. They thank to me for so many times, I said it is not that I am giving them but Hope EFC. They still thank me. I praise God that Hope EFC is sharing to Yangon EFC fulltime workers.