Burma by Maung Maung

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 14, 1906

Burma.

By Maung Maung

MOULMEIN.—For some time I have been intending to give a report of my work, but have not been able, owing to heavy work in the field of Burma.

Moulmein is the second seaport in Burma. It has a population of nearly eighty thousand. It is situated on the right bank of the Salween River, and has a beautiful scenery of many hills and mountains with rippling streams and fertile valleys.

I left Rangoon in November, with my wife, for a preaching tour in and around Moulmein, among the Burmese and Karen Christians. As soon as we arrived, the news spread quickly that “the Seventh-day Adventists have landed here again.”

Next day I started out, accompanied by Brother Maung Chit Hla, to sow the seed of God’s truth, and we continued for many days. We find Christians wherever we go. We learned from our friends that the Burmese Christians had decided not to receive any of the Adventist people when they should come to preach. When we heard this, we prayed to God to open their hearts to receive us.

One Sunday in January, I went with Brother Maung Chit Hla and Sisters Mah Thai Noo and Mah May May to see one of our Burmese Christian friends. She had been present when it had been decided not to receive us, but she had protested, and now she received us with great joy, and asked us to preach in her house the entire day. But first she gave us the best refreshments she had. We stayed until evening, teaching the word, and many of her neighbors came in to listen. We have been to many other places, but found no more trouble in getting a hearing; so wonderfully has God opened the way for his truth.

It will be of special interest to the brethren and sisters elsewhere to know that one Burmese pastor of the English Church, and his niece, have joined us fully, and at a recent baptism they were among the candidates. Several of us who had in earlier days been baptized in the Baptist church, wished to be rebaptized, so we, with others,—a company of seven souls,—were recently baptized by Elder Votaw in a beautiful mountain stream. This was the first baptism of our people in Moulmein, but we expect others who are in the valley of decision to follow soon.

One of the sisters who was baptized, had before been using tobacco, but gave up the practise the day before she was baptized, and has not smoked since. She

used to smoke ten to twelve large cigars daily. When she came up out of the water, she said, “No more cigars for me,” and true to her promise, no cigar has since been found in her mouth. The Holy Ghost alone can purify the heart and life.

A Trip Into the District

On the seventh of February we left by boat to go to See-Tha-Raw village, which is about fifteen miles from Moulmein. Here was an annual meeting of the Karen Mission of the Baptists, and many Karens were gathering from all around. As the meetings for the Burmese were held in another district, we found ourselves to be the only Burmese in attendance, but we were well received. Some Karen ladies were down by the landing-place to meet the people, and they took us to their homes, which were near the landing.

In the village are ninety houses, and all the people are professed Christians. No others are wanted to live there. A large shed was erected of bamboo and straw for the general meeting. It was well seated, and eight to nine hundred were in attendance.

The news spread that the Adventists had arrived; and we were kept busy to entertain all who came, both day and night. They speak of us as the Sanay Ubox (the Saturday Sabbath). And though we worked quietly, many came to see us, often no doubt from curiosity. But as we produce the plain testimony from the Scriptures, many go away convinced that there is truth in these new doctrines, and want, as a rule, to hear more, until their foreign pastors prejudice them against the truth, and warn them against us as perverters of good customs.

The interest among both pastors and people to hear us was so great that toward the close of the meeting they expressed regrets for not having attended our studies more instead of their own meeting, and ‘wasted their time,’ as some expressed it. Many had never heard of the second advent, the new earth, New Jerusalem, etc., and many took notes freely of what we said, and where we read. We gave away about one hundred and fifty tracts in the Burmese.

We returned by cart after a three days’ stay, passing through the villages of Winkyam and Hton-Ing. We spent two days in these villages, and preached the word. We were received kindly wherever we went. May God give rich reaping from our sowing.

MAUNG MAUNG.