MYANMAR CYCLONE RELIEF PROJECT

From June 7, 2008

Jan Milton received the following correspondence from Ron White. Mr. White received this information from Dr. David Sum in Myanmar who is laboring for the harvest and for the relief of the people. It is a good report.

Thank you for the gracious help for these brothers and sisters in Christ.  Please read the following realizing that it was your funds that made this possible.


"As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country."  (Proverbs 25:25)

I believe the above verse would be very appropriate for the victims of the Mynmar Cyclone that are being supplied water from the well that was drilled for the Canon Theological College as well as the "living water" from the "wells of salvation" (Isaiah 12:3) that is being given as our staff, students, and other Christians there distribute gospel tracts along with the food and water. 

The well was drilled about one week before the cyclone. The generator provided by donors of Operation Renewed Hope made it possible to bring the fresh water to the surface, and other monies given have made it possible to buy rice and other essential food for these starving people.

Although relief was, for the most part, rejected by the government, it has been a joy to see how the Lord opened doors for us to bypass these obstacles and through our faithful Christians in the country to actually get food, water, and a gospel witness to at least some of those there in such desperate need.

Continue to pray with us that we can do even more and should the Lord impress your heart to give, please know that your gifts will go 100% to the people there.

---

UPDATE: May 20th, 2008

Thank you so much to those who have donated to the Myanmar efforts.
 
Our efforts continue to help our brethren in Myanmar.  It is very difficult to get information in and out of the country. We know that money has reached our representative, David Sum.  I received a confirmation from Dr. Sum that his people had gospel materials and were ready to minister. As more information is available we will keep you informed.

We are now attempting to get food materials delivered. Currently, those who have the food resources do not have the permission of the government to send it in and to distribute it to church sources. We have placed Dr. Sum on the list of a relief organization to receive food and supplies so that he can distribute them. This way we do not have to attempt to fly in food supplies.

If the government will allow the relief agency to fly the food in and distribute it, then our Myanmar brothers could become recipients, if there is enough food supplies. Please, pray that the government will allow the relief organization to deliver the food and supplies to our brothers in Christ for distribution to the people. There is great need.

We have spoken with Brother Neng Khan Thang. His Bible College ministry and church is in great need at this time. We are waiting to receive the list of his needs. Our hope is to get approximately $4000.00 to him for his designated use. He spoke of not having electricity for his ministry and asked if we would permit him to buy a generator. I expressed to him our complete trust in his judgment as to the use of funds. Dr. Thang was very appreciative of the offer of help.

Pastor Andy Bloom in Ocala, FL is providing another ministry in need of help. We are hoping to raise enough to send money to this ministry also.

Continue to pray about how God could use you.

Jan Milton
Operation Renewed Hope

---

Please read these messages from our brothers and sisters in Christ in Myanmar.

Currently, visas are being delayed.  This means that we must help our fellow believers from a distance.

At this time ORH is preparing to send aid through a reputable bank in Rangoon.  We will be contacting the State Department for further guidance.  Pray that the money will reach the sources as soon as possible.

Please, read the following messages coming from Myanmar by our fellow believers.  This report was supplied by Dr. Steve Reynolds. These people are not a part of ORH, but they are good brothers with strong recommendations from other good people whom we know. It will be a blessing to help them if possible.

If you know these people and the mission boards that they might represent, please contact those boards about helping them. Otherwise, you may work with us to help them.

Note:
These are raw and unedited reports from the Myanmar brothers in Christ.

---

Dear Beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord,

I first of all greet you in His name. As you all know, a very fearful  and strong cyclone which took many lives hit Myanmar on 3 of March. It was from 10:00 PM up to 11:00 AM morning called Nakis Cyclone blew.

It was really such a fearful and strong storm that I never knew in my life.It really brought me closer to the lord knowing the fact that even the stormy wind is fulfilling His word( Ps 148:7-8). Without His knowledge, nothing can happen. While the cyclone was blowing, I kept on telling my family members and our neighbors who took refuge in my house that night ," How great ,how awesome, glorious and fearful for unbelievers the coming of the lord will be". Praiser God that " Jesus , who is our life appears in glory, we will appear with Him( Col 3:4) . How glorious it will be. I want to request you to remember us in your prayer for the following:


SHANCHHAWNG BAPTIST CHURCH

By His grace my church members are safe under His care. But very unfortunately six iron sheet of our worship building were taken away by the stormy wind. In the pictures ( shown at right > ) you will see those bamboo houses. Those are the houses that many of our church members live. They have no more houses to live. Right now they live in our worship building.

The situation is really beyond man's imagination.The main problem we face is, drinking water and food to eat. Frankly speaking, since our church is very small, we can not help them satisfactorily as we ought to.

Please pray for us that the destroyed houses might be built very soon, the needed food and water might be provided as they very badly need them.


THE PLACE OF TEACHING DESTROYED

We have been having children ministry for 4 years. When I say children ministry it is like this: many parents can not afford sending their children to the government school. So, we teach them the word of God and how to read the Bible.

This summer many children came and especially since it is in slarm area, the children are very dirty and muddy. This being the reason, we feel it good to build a separate bamboo house for them. So we built a bamboo house. But we used only for three days. But now it was destroyed. We want to build very soon. Please pray with us for that.


OUR MISSIONARY

Our small local church is sending a missionary family called Winbo, for whom you have been praying. Since the house we rented for them was sold, we just borrowed US 500 and built a bamboo house for their living and worship - 23 feet long and 15 feet wide.

They just moved and stayed there just for one night. It was in the second night that very sorry to say the house newly built was destroyed. By His will we built and By His will it was destroyed. Praise God for everything. We need to rebuild very soon. Please pray with us for them.


BIBLICAL SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY

The lord provided a very beautiful building and we have occupied since two years ago. But very sorry that all the roofs of the kitchen and staff buildings were blown away. We need to repair them again. Please pray with us for those needs too.

"He makes everything beautiful in His time"

Wishing you every blessing

In Him,

Daniel Bawi Cin Thang
Yangon, Myanmar

---

UPDATE: May 12, 2008

Thank you for the current promise of funds from several of you. We are hoping to help at least three ministries rebuild.  In doing so it appears we will need about $15000.00 for the initial money. The first $4100.00 transfer will come from this $15000.00. We know of at least 3 ministries which have sustained structural damages. In past materials, we have let your read their communications about their needs. If you know of others we will help them. I wish we had enough to send food money, but at this time that will not be possible.

ORH will use a bank in Rangoon that guarantees that money will reach the intended person. They will deliver the money directly to the national missionary. At this time, we believe this to be the safest means.

We have cleared with the Treasury and State Department this morning the transmission of funds.  Myanmar is a country which has trade sanctions against it by the U.S. because of its government. You cannot generally send money into the country without permission and license.

Our first wire will be for $4100.00 transfered to David Sum. He is a reputable national pastor, and we have had dealings with him through my home church, Tri-City Baptist Church, Independence MO. He has an established Bible College and ministry in great need. We sent you his evaluation of his need in a previous communication. We can send money through him to the other ministries in need.

Currently, the US government has given us a 120 day window to send funds legally for humanitarian purposes. When this transfer goes through, we will send another sum later. Each time it will be small so as not to raise the eyes of the Myanmar government. We do not trust the government at this time with their record of taking relief for their purposes.

I hope that this answers some of your questions. Please continue to ask, and please continue to help us. I will send out a communication when we have reached the $15000.00. Hopefully, this will meet many needs.
 
God bless,
Jan Milton