New Addition to Mercy Children’s Home

When Naing Thang traveled north, he brought back, as planned, for the Mercy Children’s Home, this young man: Nge Lin Aung. Welcome! May the Lord bless you mightily at MCH.

Moderator’s Transport North — July 2008

We’ve seen some of our brothers and sisters in northern Myanmar, but I was also curious about how the moderator travels to the difficult north. Naing Thang supplied these photos of the various trucks and buses he got rides with to visit the churches in the north. Back when we visited, the elders who came down from the north referred to their transport as “Almost Trucks.” Now that makes more sense.

Moderator’s Trip North July 2008

In July 2008, Naing Thang traveled north once again to encourage and teach four churches up there. This time he focused on expositing the Heidelberg Catechism for folks, and he says they responded with enthusiasm — “They are blessed and said we are so happy to know more great things through the Heidelberg Catechism.”

From Cornerstone Reformed Church, with Elder and Mawpi Moderator Kee Choi:

Naing Thang at Cornerstone Reformed:

Deacons prepping lunch:

Enjoying lunch:

Teaching at the Victoria Church:

Teaching at Christ Reformed Church:

Elder Kyaw Naing leads at Christ Church:

Christ Church congregation:

Resting at a farm tent nearby:

Taking the path to isolated villages:

New Beds and Desks at Mercy Children’s Home

I recently posted a list of specific needs for the Mercy Children’s Home, and your kind gifts have purchased not only food but also beds, desks, and chairs for the children in their new building. Naing Thang sends his great and sincere thanks to all those who have recently donated toward these needs. Below are photos showing the new furniture — all kidded out.

Naing Thang left on July 10 to visit several northern Myanmar churches that have requested more teaching and explanation of the Heidelberg Catechism. Please pray for a safe and fruitful trip for Naing Thang. He’ll send photos to post when he returns.

Left Side of the Room

Right Side of Room

Teaching Time

Discussion Time

Writing Time

Close-Ups of the Mercy Children

As more children have been recently added, I asked Naing Thang to provide individual photos and names so that we over here might pray for the children by name. You can click on a photo for a larger view:

Aung May Oo Binjamin
Cang Aye Ceng Tun Aung
Esther Lili Par Hama Na
Isac Jun Phoen Kam Uk Thang
Kyaw Win Lian Uk Lian Zira
Lum Kim Mosi Hung Phe Tin
Ram Kan Uk Solomon
Thang Hung Yawhan

The Mercy Children’s Home still awaits one other young boy. I’ll post his picture when it arrives.

The Mercy Children Ready for School

The Mercy Children’s Home longs for its own school some day, but for now, the children get all uniformed-up for the current school.

The Mercy Children’s Home was recently able to rent the building below which is next door to the main house. They hope to fix it up and fill it with beds and desks for the new children.

Yes, it needs a lot of work and beds. But it was quite a blessing for them to acquire.

Specific Ways to Help the Mercy Children’s Home

Regular Monthly Needs for the Orphanage:

Eight Bags of Rice — $246.00 (each bag $31)
Curry — $432.00 ($14.50 per day)
Clean Water Bottles — $72.00 ($2.5 per day)
Cooking Charcoal — $100.00 ($3.30 per day)
Tuition Fees for all 20 children — $288.00 ($14.50 per child)
New Dorm House Rent — $116.00
Regular Medicine for Children — $48.00
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Total Monthly Expenses: $1302.00 — $3000+ Received toward this! Thanks especially to Pennsylvania!

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Secondary Needs for the Orphanage:

Ten Bunk Beds – $145.00 each (total $1450.00) – DONE, THANKS
Ten Work Tables – $34.00 each (total $340.00) – DONE, THANKS
Twenty-five Plastic Chairs – $6.25 each (total $157.00) – DONE, THANKS
Twenty Bed Mosquito Nets – $4.80 each (total $97.00)
Twenty Blankets – $3.00 each (total $60.00)
Twenty Pillows – $2.40 each (total $48.00)
Twenty Boxes for Clothes – $6.25 each (total $125.00) – DONE, THANKS
One Diesel Generator – $1443.00 — – DONE, Thanks for the recent donation from Texas toward this!
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Total Secondary Expenses: $3720.00

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As you can see, even small gifts go a long way. You can donate specifically for the Mercy Children’s Home via Sabbath House link here or on the link to the right above. Please note “Mercy Children’s Home.”

Trekking to Villages in the North

In order to get to visit some isolated village-churches in the north of Myanmar, the moderator, Naing Thang and friends had to trek quite a ways.

Also while in the north, some of the pastors take a moment’s rest.

Elder Kee Choi in the sun-glasses (second of the men from the left) showed special affection to RCJR and me, when we were there. His training is in law, and he serves as moderator of the Mawpi presbytery. He said the teaching moved him and that he was frustrated he couldn’t speak to us directly. We felt the same. (Naing Thang and pastor Ningko sit to his right).

Latest Additions to the Mercy Children’s Home

Before cyclone Nargis hit, Naing Thang had already planned to add more orphans and children-in-need for their Mercy Children’s Home. Here are some of the latest photos.

Hair cuts the hard way.

Pastor Naing Thang headed north with the plan of not just preaching and encouraging but also to bring several more children-in-need to the Mercy Children’s Home in Yangon. He returned with a group of young guys, just as the notorious May cyclone Nargis hit.

The cyclone didn’t strike the northern churches, but it went right through Yangon, where Naing Thang pastors. Naing Thang reports that it was ugly, but they all survived. They struggled for some time to find adequate water and food. Prices skyrocketed.

All nineteen. One girl: Esther (back row, fourth from left). One more on the way to make twenty.

Moderator’s Trip Up North

In March-April 2008, the general council moderator, Naing Thang traveled in the northern part of the country, visiting churches, preaching, evangelizing, and distributing anti-malarial medicines.

Recent converts from evangelism.

Anti-malarial medicines for the summer season. Many thanks to the SRO student group at New St. Andrews College and other contributors.