Remembering Myanmar
As all of us are aware,
the devastating cyclone Nargis has lashed immense damage in Myanmar
causing death to thousands of people and destruction to countless
homes and other structures. The needed assistance is slowly getting
into Myanmar but scars such destructions leave on persons and
communities will take years to heal, which calls for the accompaniment
of all the friends and well wishers of Myanmar people for years
to come. As FTESEA community we would certainly remember our sisters
and brothers in our prayers, and extend all possible assistance
through our local churches and denominations.
Those who wish to donate
to the relief work, please send your check made payable to "One
Great Hour of Sharing", and mark on the check "Myanmar
Cyclone Relief", and send the check to the World Relief Office,
American Baptist Churches, USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA
19482-0851.
I would also like to
share with you the moving messages from by Dr. Sientje Merentek-Abram,
Executive Director of ATESEA and Dr.Anna May Say Pa from Myanmar
that provides some basic information about the nature of the tragedy
entitled "Cry Tears for Burma".
H.S. Wilson
Executive Director, FTESEA
CRY TEARS FOR BURMA
Dear Friends,
It has been three weeks
after the cyclone Nargis hit Yangoon in the night of May 2, claimed
more than 85,000 lives including pastors and churches members
and destroyed more than 39 villages. At the moment, the beautiful
Myanmar continues to be in pains and miseries.
We, the family members
of the Association for Theological Education in South EastAsia
(ATESEA) deeply shares in the pains and miseries of our sisters
and brothers in Myanmar currently bear.
Slammed by the horrible
Cyclone Nargis, Myanmar lost many beloved ones and the precious
properties. Building and houses including churches, pagodas, schools
and theological seminary buildings and people's houses were leveled
to the ground and villages were washed out. Thousands were left
homeless and people are threatened by the possible outbreak of
epidemics that mightbebrought about by lack of the clean water,
medical aid and food.
In no case then can
one turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to this unprecedented calamity
that is rocking the country which has never happened in the last
50 years of the nation's life.
In view of this, may
I request all the member schools and partners of ATESEA to continue
to include in your prayers for our sisters and brothers and the
victims of this catastrophe in Myanmar and to do all you can to
help our sisters and brothers in the affected areas in Myanmar.
Kindly read Sister Anna May Say Pa's message "Cry Tears for
Burma" after my letter below for more information about the
real disaster and how to respond to this.
May through our act
of love, those who are afflicted be comforted, those who suffer
in body and spirit be strengthened and others be continually protected
from all forms of dangers.
May God's care and
love continue to be with us all.
Sientje Merentek-Abram
Executive Director, ATESEA
Cry Tears for Burma
Once, this was Thabyekyaing village, a quiet coastal village in
Labutta township, Ayeyawaddy Division.
Once, the laughter of children filled the air as they played football
or toke-si-do in the fields and yards.
Once, men went out on fishing boats or worked in the fields. Women
planted rice, fetched water and firewood and kitchen fires burnt
brightly.
Once, on Sunday mornings, the church bell would ring and people
would gather to sing, praise and worship god and listen to the
pastor, Rev. Maung Bay's or his son, Pastor Klo Htoo's sermons.
Once, on Lenten days the monastery gong would sound and the Buddhists
would go to hear the Sayadaw's sermons while observing a fast.
Once, the village was shady with fruit trees, the gardens with
vegetables and the fields green with rice plants or yellow during
harvest time.
Now, there is an eerie silence over what once was Thabye Gyaung.
The sound of laughter, song and raucous shouting is stilled. The
trees, the fields, the houses, school, church, monastery, clinic
are no more.
Now, what remains is death and destruction, bloated bodies, shattered
lives.
On the night of May 2, the cyclone Nargis with gale force winds,
rain and sea water that rose to 17 feet and higher destroyed the
village and all the life that had made up that village.
The pastor, Thra Maung Bay, MIT (Burma Divinity School Certificate)
Class of 1969 died in that disaster. Once, in 1992 Thra Maung
Bay had faced flood waters, that time of a political nature in
what is known as Bogalay Ayay-Akin (Bogalay Affair). Pro-democracy
forces had infiltrated the delta region from across the border.
Thra Maung Bay was interrogated, tortured and sent to prison.
But once released, he went back to his village and people and
ministered to them as best he could in spite of his broken health.
His son, Saw Klo Htoo, following the steps of his father went
to seminary, Karen Baptist Theological Seminary for his Bachelor
of Theology and after graduation became a pastor. But on that
fateful night, Pastor Saw Klo Htoo also died, never fulfilling
his dream of studying at MIT. Mrs. Maung Bay, a KBTS graduate,
survived as she was visiting relatives in Rangoon at that time.
Now, she is alone, without family, home and village.
This family's, this village's, tragedy is replicated in the areas
struck by Nargis Cyclone, Haingyi Island, Labutta, Bogalay, Daydaye,
Pyapon, Mawlamyinegyun and Rangoon and nearby towns. The latest
govt. igure of deaths (12 May '08) is 85,000 the final figure
will be higher. Relief work is going on but at a slow rate. Relief
goods are accepted but not personnel with expertise. Some camps
are experiencing medical problems. Some peop0le still in isolated
pockets are without food and water. In Bassein, there are over
2000 survivors in Ko Tha Byu Camp with more arriving every day.
In the Myanmar Baptist Convention, the hardest hits are Karen
Baptist Convention, Pwo Karen Baptist Conference, and Myanmar
Baptist Churches Union and Asho Chin Baptist Convention. KC reported
over 39 villages totally destroyed in Bassein area alone and 13
pastors dead. The Self-Supporting Kayin Baptist Churches also
report destruction of churches, seminary and houses.
MBC Headquarters suffered damages totaling about kyats 1500 lahks.
It was to host the Myanmar Council of Churches Bienniel General
Meeting May 20-24 but now had postponed to middle of June.
MCC's main meeting hall is wrecked and some glass windows were
blown off. Judson church's roof was also damaged and worship services
could not be carried out.
MIT's buildings' roofs were lifted off and the computer lab with
12 computers totally water logged. Our newly appointed chaplain,
Dr. Khin Kyu Kyu has just moved in to the Guest Apartment and
she agrees with Neil and Diana Sowards that the apartment should
be named "Falling Waters," though very different from
Frank Lloyd Wright's model house, "Falling Waters" in
America. Trees fell on Alan Po's, Ashee's and U Tha Wah's houses.
The roofs are all gone. Alan and Nyunt moved to Maharsaung Dining
Hall just in time.
The Rangoon streets are blocked with fallen trees and electric
posts. Water and electricity is a problem. BARS classes have been
suspended until further notice. Summer School closed for a few
days but have re-started. Master of Ministry classes started today
but some students from Bassein area are too busy with relief works
to attend.
MICT had pushed back
the opening date of 2008-2009 academic year to September because
of lack of electricity, water, building repairs and rising costs
of rice and other food commodities. MIT will hold a meeting on
May 14 on how best to carry on with limited resources. Dr. Simon
and Faculty are determined to begin classes as scheduled. The
main costs will be diesel oil to run the generators for light
and water and food costs. It's a challenge as we face the ATESEA
Accreditation team visit in August.
Say Pa and I had the roofing over one bedroom blown off and water
in the bedroom so our computer also is water logged. 23 fell in
our compound. Some mango and jackfruit trees planted by my mother
but still bearing fruit. Workers were very scarce at this time
for repair work and cutting trees and clearing the land. Our loss
is minuscule compared to the loss of family, homes and villages
suffered by so many people.
You will want to know how to respond to this disaster. We certainly
need your prayers. The people also need aid to recover from destruction
of this magnitude. Please send donations to MCC, MBC, KBC, PKBC
who are directly doing ground level relief work. MCC is coordinating
with various NGOs and ecumenical partners to provide immediate
relief. Send financial help only to trusted individuals. There
are many people profiting from this disaster. The merchants are
raising their prices and even some relief goods do not reach the
victims but are being sold off. So be careful in your response.
MIT needs help with buying 12 computers for BARS program, roofing
and other building materials for staff houses, Mahasaound and
Ann Judson Villa, diesel to run generators (for now only water
is available for Mahasaung where there are 2 section, for male/female
use), funds to buy food commodities for 180 hostel students.
Cry for bleeding, suffering Burma - she is so small, her people
struggling so long for survival. It seems as if not only political
forces but God herself/himself is determined to teach us some
sensible lessons. Sermons nowadays sound like platitudes. Our
land and our people are being put through the wringer, squeezed
dry till there is no more life juice left. Cry with us, cry for
us in solidarity in our despair.
Anna May Say Pa
13 May 2008
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