Make Them Good Buddhists
Our trip to Myanmar was a cultural education in how different a people can be just a few hundred miles from where we live. Both Thailand and Myanmar are predominantly Buddhist in culture but the Burmese seem more deeply steeped and bound in it than the Thai people. One of the Burmese believers that we visited (formerly a Buddhist monk) who is reaching out to Buddhists startled us by stating "To reach the Buddhist for Christ, you first need to make him a good Buddhist!" The reason: most Burmese are nominal Buddhists and not easily influenced by Christianity. The reason; they don't follow Buddhism ardently. Once Buddhists understand the full set of beliefs they are meant to following they are more open to Christianity and a God of grace and truth.
We noticed many people with a light brown cream, called thanaka, in interesting designs spread on their faces. This decorative cream is made from the bark of certain trees and its usage as a custom dates back 1000 yrs. In addition to the creative designs, the cream has medicinal benefits, a pleasant scent and provides a cool feeling on the skin.
Prayer Requests:
1. Pray for the right Christian workers to respond to the call to Myanmar. This field has significant physical, emotional and spiritual challenges to overcome - not the least of which requires foreign workers to leave the country every 70 days to renew their visas (that is 5 times a year they must travel outside Burma).
2. We will be traveling to Nepal to attend an annual retreat of Christian workers there. Pray for us as we prepare for sharing messages and spending individual time with the workers.
3. Pray for wisdom for us as we continue to set up our travel schedule for our furlough time in the US. If you would like us to visit / share in your church/group, be sure to email us so we can work in a visit to your area.
Culture Corner: Thanaka
We noticed many people with a light brown cream, called thanaka, in interesting designs spread on their faces. This decorative cream is made from the bark of certain trees and its usage as a custom dates back 1000 yrs. In addition to the creative designs, the cream has medicinal benefits, a pleasant scent and provides a cool feeling on the skin.
Prayer Requests:
1. Pray for the right Christian workers to respond to the call to Myanmar. This field has significant physical, emotional and spiritual challenges to overcome - not the least of which requires foreign workers to leave the country every 70 days to renew their visas (that is 5 times a year they must travel outside Burma).
2. We will be traveling to Nepal to attend an annual retreat of Christian workers there. Pray for us as we prepare for sharing messages and spending individual time with the workers.
3. Pray for wisdom for us as we continue to set up our travel schedule for our furlough time in the US. If you would like us to visit / share in your church/group, be sure to email us so we can work in a visit to your area.
Serving Christ With You,
Steve and Alberta
Steve and Alberta
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