Breaking News: MYANMAR

Just two weeks after leaving our Bible College in Thailand 3rd year student sister J found herself directly in the path of the deadliest natural disaster to hit Myanmar in recorded history. From satellite pictures and news reports we know that sister J’s home area lies in ruins, communication lines are destroyed, and we have no contact or specific information about her condition or the condition of the children in her orphanage.

A map of the storm’s path puts sister J right on the deadly south edge of the storm’s eye wall, which pounded Yangon for 10 hours. Nearby the city of Bogalay (population 190,000 is reported to have lost 95% of their homes. J’s brother J was fortunate to have been in Chiang Mai, Thailand at the time of the storm, but he is now searching for a way to get back to his country to find news of his family members. J has found out through friends that the church he helps to pastor has been completely destroyed.

Also unaccounted for in Myanmar is our long time friend, Pastor Ram, who has planted two churches in Myanmar and presently lives in Yangon. We have no information at this time about Pastor Ram’s condition. We are standing in faith and are asking our intercessors to agree with us in prayer for the people of Myanmar.

Our team in Thailand is ready to go into Burma pending a miracle of emergency finances and a softening of the attitude of the controlling military junta.

A monumental humanitarian effort is crucial to saving and rebuilding the lives of the million homeless. We are receiving donations on behalf of J, sister J, Pastor Ram and our ministry family in Burma and pray that we will be able to bring fast relief in the very deadly situation of so many people who are without food, water or shelter.

With visions of the tragic Asian Tsunami still fresh in our minds, our quick response to aid those victims saw many salvations and a church planted as well. We learned that in times like these people are searching for real answers. They become open to the truth when they discover that religion has failed to settle their hearts and that there can be no answers from idols. Typically it is the Christians that step forward and show God’s love in practical and genuine ways. After the tsunami numerous churches sprang up in a region that previously had none. We pray that we as Christians will rise up and once again make a mighty effort to show that Christ is personal, true, and ready to receive those that seek him.

Kim Boschmann