Appendixes

BIOGRAPHY

Moses Homan Bixby

Moses Homan Bixby was the first missionary to the Shan. Moses Homan Bixby was born August 20, 1827 in Warren New Hampshire. … Bixby was the seventh child in a family of thirteen; there were five daughters and eight sons. While teaching in East Hartwick, Vermont, he became acquainted with Baptist views, and finding that they accorded with his understanding of the Scriptures, he united with the Baptist Church. He then entered the Baptist Seminary at Derby, Vermont. He was the youngest theological student that had ever entered the Biblical institute, now Boston University. Mr. Bixby was ordained pastor of the Baptist Church of Williston, Vermont, in 1849, at the age of twenty-two, his salary being $150 a year, without a parsonage. He was married on November 7, 1849 to Miss. Susan Dow. After one year in Williston he was called to the pastorate of the Church in Johnson, Vermont, where the congregation soon increased to six hundred, and where many were converted.
In 1853 he was appointed by the American Baptist Missionary Union as a missionary to Burma. After a brief service of three years in Moulmain, Burma, he was compelled to return to America by the failing health of Mrs. Bixby. She did not survive long after their arrival in America.
He was again selected, on first Sunday of December 1860, and sent to Burma as missionary to the Shan. He left for Burma taking with him as his companion and helper was Miss. Laura A. Gage who had been Principal of the New Hampton Ladies’ Seminary. At the end of eight years in Toungoo, the condition of his own health compelled him to return again to U.S.A. He left Burma in May 1869.
He was awarded Doctor of Divinity in 1875 by Cent.U. Ia.
Moses Homan Bixby passed away in Providence, March 20, 1901, aged 73 years and 7 months.
Mrs. Laura A. Bixby, the wife of Bixby, passed away in Providence, March 24, 1901, only four days after the death of her husband.

Josiah Nelson Cushing

Cushing was born in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, U.S.A, May 4, 1840. He was the son of Alpheus Nelson and Charlotte E. Foster Cushing. He was prepared for college at the Pierce Academy, Middleboro, Massachusetts, and entered Brown University in the class of 1862 in the same class with Dr. Henry F. Colby of Dayton, Ohio, Rev. Addison Parker of Piqua, Ohio, and Dr. Josiah R. Goddard of Ningpo, China. After his graduation he went directly to Newton Theological Institution completing the full course. Among his classmates were Dr. Luther G. Barrett, the president of Jackson College, Jackson, Mississippi, and Dr. Alonzo Bunker who also gave his life to missionary service and was a successful missionary to the Karen at Toungoo and Loikaw, Burma, for forty years, laboring in the same country with Cushing and for the same period of time. As to many another students the obtaining of an education was, to young Cushing, a financial struggle. But he was dominated by a great purpose and no obstacle was permitted to change or hinder it. In the Theological Seminary he was remembered as a student of delightful spirit of gentlemanly deportment of far more than average intellectual ability and of complete consecration to the work to which he believed God had called him. Here was exhibited, as also in college his remarkable linguistic ability was ripened the definite purpose which rule his life to make known the glad tidings of Christ’s salvation to the heathen world. The year before he completed his college course he united by letter with the First Baptist Church in Providence. After completing his Seminary course he was ordained to the Christian ministry by the same Church in 1865, and in its fellowship he died, though for a brief period, he transferred his membership to the English speaking Church in Rangoon, of which for a time he filled the pastoral office in addition to his other duties.
In 1865 he offered himself to the American Baptist Missionary Union as a candidate for the foreign field and was presented at the annual meeting held that year in St. Louis, as a missionary under appointment in the same city. He was retained at the Seminary as instructor in the Hebrew department for one year and in 1866 and he sailed for Burma as being designated to the Shan tribes to take up a work which had been recently begun by Rev. Moses Homan Bixby but which he had been compelled to lay down by reason of failing health. These tribes were as yet little known and in large part un-reached by missionary operations. Cushing entered courageously into the difficult and dangerous task of visiting the people in their homes and carrying to them the knowledge of the Christian religion, with Toungoo as his headquarters, extending his tours farther and farther into the wild and untraversed country inhabited by these people.
Cushing studied the country and the people, their customs and mode of life as well as their language. The knowledge thus gained, geographical and racial was of great value to the English government, as it gratefully acknowledged. For ten years he continued this work of exploration and personal evangelization by frequent and extended tours from Toungoo, and then for three years he stationed himself at Bhamo, four hundred miles further into the northeastern interior, beyond the utmost reach of civilization, and in the very center of the people whom he was seeking to enlighten and elevate.
But God had a special and important work, which he was particularly fitted by natural endowment and intellectual attainments to undertake, and for which his intimate acquaintance with the people had been preparing him….He gave himself to the task of compiling a Shan dictionary, which he accomplished with immense labor. His residence was then changed to Rangoon, where he could have the needed assistance of the printing press. In 1880 he published an “Elementary Handbook of the Shan Language,” and also a “Grammatical Sketch of the Kachin Language,” an allied language. The “Elementary Handbook” went to a second edition in 1888. The completed “Shan and English Dictionary” was issued in 1881. His next great work, that had all the while been in his mind and in gradual preparation, was the translation of the sacred Scriptures into the Shan tongue. For this he was eminently qualified by his accurate knowledge of the Greek and Hebrew languages, and his linguistic genius. Upon it he spent many years of careful and conscientious study, publishing the word of God, book by book, first the New Testament and then the Old. The New Testament first appeared in 1882, and passing to a second edition in 1887, and to a third edition in 1903, at which time the whole Bible was ready to be put in the hands of the people, revised and perfected by himself. The Old Testament translation first appeared in 1891. This great achievement will stand as Cushing’s imperishable monument, and places his name side by side with the names of Carey, Judson, Brown, and other translators of the word of God. He also prepared a Shan hymnbook and began the preparation of a literature for the people.
He had reached America, in the early summer of 1905, and hastened to attend the annual meetings of the Baptist Missionary Societies, which occur in May. There having received the happy greetings of his admiring friends, and looked once more into the faces of those who were fellow-workers with him and with God in the extension of his kingdom in the world, at the close of one of the public meetings on May 17, on the floor of the Church where the meeting was held, he fell unconscious, and quickly breathed his last. In an instant of time without warning, his spirit was translated into the presence of Him whom he had served with lifelong and conspicuous devotion, and into the undimmed light of the knowledge of the glory of God, which he had labored to disseminate in the dark places of the earth.
Cushing loved jungle life. He said, “Jungle life is what I wanted: my illness, although aptly the after-effect of fever, was mainly due to being cooped up for months at indoor work.”
Cushing was good organizer. Mr. Hallett said, “I never met a more methodical man than Cushing. His arrangements were admirable. Everything was kept in its place.” Cushing’s power as an organizer became apparent. The baggage had been stacked into six loads, two smaller than the others for the elephants, which were to be ridden by us”, acclaimed by Holt S. Hallett. Mr. Hallett said, “whilst we were breakfasting Dr. M’Gilvary noticed mat small spots had broken out on Cushing’s hands. On his examining them, he said that there could be no doubt that they were smallpox. Cushing said that he had fever, coming out for two days, and he was afraid that it might be the case. On calling the Shan interpreters they at once agreed with M’Gilvary and we accordingly made arrangements as far as possible to cut off the chance of contagion from the remainder of the party. The two interpreters and Cushing’s servant, as well as the elephant-men, had suffered from the disease, we therefore put aside cutlery, crockery, cooking utensils, etc, for the invalid arranged that the interpreters and his boy should wait solely upon him, gave up the rest-house to them, had a temporary shelter made for ourselves and halted for the night instead of making an afternoon journey.” “I was glad to hear on my return to Zimme (Chiangmai) that Cushing had so far recovered as to have been able to leave for Bangkok on April 30th. The thoughtful kindness of this missionary in taking over from me the management of the commissariat and camp arrangements during our journeys together with his skill in keeping the loads of each elephant separate and having only such things unpacked as were immediately required enabled me to start by daybreak every morning (except when we were delayed by the carelessness of the elephant-drivers, who occasionally allowed their animals to stray) and I was thus able to make longer journeys and do more work than I could otherwise have done. I trust that the knowledge he was able to collect of the various dialects of the Shan language and the information he gained about the customs and habits of the Ping Shan will be a full recompense to him for the constant and enthusiastic manner in which he took up those matters. It is only by acquiring a thorough knowledge of the languages, habits, customs, and superstitions of the people that missionaries can hope to influence and convert them. The noble work that Cushing has done in translating the Bible into Shan will greatly aid his fellow-missionaries in Christianizing and civilizing not only the Shan but also the neighboring tribes who understand their language. The greatest field for missionaries in Indo-China lies, undoubtedly, among the non-Buddhist hill-tribes where so much good work has already been done by the American Baptist, the American Presbyterian and China Inland Missions.”

Inscription on Cushing Memorial
REV. JOSIAH N. CUSHING D.D.
1840-1905
Missionary to the Shans of Burma
1865-1905
Translator of the Bible into Shan.
Principal of Rangoon Baptist College.
Eminent in learning and in honors,
he loved Christ supremely,
he lived to serve mankind.
The Love of Christ constraineth me.
This memorial is a devoted
Tribute of his beloved pupils.
Josiah Nelson Cushing D.D
B: 4 May 1840
D: 17 May 1905
Oak Grove Cemetery
Plymouth
Plymouth County
Massachusetts, USA
Plot: Oak Grove, Plot 469
Memorial # 133150330

Ellen Winsor (Mrs. Cushing)

Ellen Winsor grew up in Boston and became a schoolteacher there. When she was 21, she went to Beaufort, SC, to start a school for former slaves. In addition, she started an orphanage and superintended Pope’s Plantation on St. Helena’s Island. She married one of the other volunteers, but less than two years later, the ship on which he was returning to Beaufort from New York was wrecked and he was lost.
Ellen went home to Boston and became the Director of The Home for Little Wanderers, an orphanage. At nearby Newton Theological School was Josiah Nelson Cushing, actively seeking a wife in order to qualify as a missionary to Burma under the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society. He and Ellen found each other and were married on her 26th birthday. The Cushings went to Burma as missionaries to the Shan, a displaced people. Josiah was a preacher, scholar, explorer, translator, and educator. While her husband worked in one part of the country, Ellen often worked in another. Although Josiah was recognized as the leading Shan language scholar in the world, one of the first pieces they published was a tract, which Ellen translated into the Shan language. Today, there is a Cushing Hall named for them at the headquarters of the Burma Baptist Convention in Rangoon.
When the Cushings’ son was ready to enter Penn Charter School in Philadelphia, Ellen Cushing left Burma and became a field secretary of the Women’s Baptist Foreign Mission Society of Pennsylvania. A project of the Society was to start a training school for women who felt called to enter church vocations. For seven years, she stumped the state, trying to transform the dream into reality. In the summer of 1892, she met three young women who said they wanted to attend such a school. She told them to plan on coming, for there would be a school ready for them. Then she went back to the Society and told them they would have to get a school ready, they did, and Ellen Cushing became its first preceptress.

Kham Maung

Born of U Nya Na and Nang Moung in 1881.
Moved from SeLan to NamKham when he was 12 years old and then to NongSanKone when he was 14. He attended mission school in NongSanKone. He accepted Christ and was baptised in 1896 when he was 15 years old. He was the first convert in ShweLi. He went to further his study in Bhamo in 1903. He started working as teacher at school in NamKham when he was 22 years old. He was married to Daw Gyi Khin on March 11, 1905.
Kham Maung did not have a chance of studying at Seminary. However, his Biblical knowledge, service and ministry for the Lord were amazing.
He was sent to MuSe in May 1915 as a teacher-cum-evangelist. He was ordained on May 5, 1924. He was the first ordained in ShweLi. After 7 years of hard work in teaching and preaching, he got the first believer in MuSe, Daw Yae (Ya Kham Yung), and she was baptised on February 1, 1923. Because of his tireless effort, commitment and dedication, the Christian quarter in MuSe developed and grew tremendously. Christians lived together in one place. Today there are 142 Christian families with total 1,363 people in MuSe.
The education in MuSe was started by Kham Maung in 1915. In those days, up until 1965, there were no other people in MuSe could play guitar, banjo, violin, accordion or sing western songs or western music except Christians. Now there are doctors, engineers, lawyers, nurses, musician and many educated people in MuSe.
Rev. Kham Maung and Daw Gyi Khin had five sons and four daughters. They were; Rev. Maung Htun, U San Hla, Daw Marry, U Lae Wi, Daw Nang Sa, U Maw She, U Yaw Ba, Daw Martha, Daw Rutha. Daw Gyi Khin went to be with the Lord on December 14, 1974.
Rev. Kham Maung went to be with the Lord on February 9, 1976.
His memorial monument was erected in the Church compound on February 9, 1977. Memorial service was held on second week of May each year at MuSe Church. New Church building in memory of Rev. Kham Maung was dedicated on December 24, 1993.

Ai Pan

Born in Aw Law Village, Muong Mao, in 1897. His mother was drown when he was 5 year old. He was sent to mission school in NamKham by Sayama Naw Sam Pwint in 1907. He was baptized in NamKham by Saya Tun Pyu. (The date and year of his baptism was not recorded.) He went to Bhamo in 1916 and continued his study. He went to Rangoon in 1917 and continued his study at Cushing’s school. He went to Toungoo in 1918 and continued study at mission school. He returned to NamKham in 1919 and worked as a teacher at mission school. He was sent to Rangoon in 1929 to study at Insein Seminary. After four months study he went back to NamKham and helped in building hospital. He was ordained on October 31, 1930. He was appointed pastor of NongSanKone Thatch Church in 1933. He went to live in SeFang, China, in 1936 for 8 months (the reason was unknown) and came back to NongSanKone by the request of NongSanKone Church members. He helped build airplane runway in NamKham with 250 workers in 1940 for three years. During Second World War he fled to KongPing village and stayed there until Japanese left in 1945. On December 24, 1945 ShweLi Shan Baptist Mission was formed and he was elected Chairman with monthly pay of Kyat 60. In 1962 he wrote a book called “Sermon 150” in Burmese. It was a popular preacher. He served as Chairman of ShweLi Shan Baptist Mission for 16 years, General Secretary 1 year, Treasurer 12 years, NamKham Bible School Principle 4 years, Chairman of Burma Baptist Convention 2 years, TaungGyi Bible School Principle 3 years and pastor of NongSanKone Shan Baptist Church 48 years.
His first marriage to Daw Poi had three sons: Yaw Hla, Chit Tin and Aung Htun Shwe.
His second marriage to Daw Mya Thee had two sons and two daughters: Tha Aye, Htwa Yin, Htwe Aung and Aye New.
He passed away on October 30, 1980 at the age of 83 in NamKham, Northern Shan State.

Sai Stephen

On July 12, 2000, Rev. Sai Stephen unexpectedly passed away, leaving behind his beloved wife Htwe Yu Hein and three daughters.
Sai Stephen was born in 1953 to a Christian family in the Eastern Shan State. At a young age he experienced the touch of God and knew that God wanted him to serve among the Shan people. In 1972 he went to Myanmar Institute of Theology, Insein, to receive training. After much pleading to the principal he was allowed to attend seminary, even though his English was very poor. By the end of one year he was one of the top two students at the school. After graduating from MIT with B.Th degree in 1976 he served as a pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in KengTung.
Sai Stephen attended GCI training in Thailand in 1990 for one month. At the end of the training he declared: “This GCI has been like heaven to me, and I want to take this heaven back to Myanmar.” Since that time he had been working among the Shan people, who are the largest group and least evangelized people in Myanmar. He coordinated the partnership effort in Eastern Shan State between Asian Outreach, Eastern Shan Baptist Convention and Sungai Malaysia Way-Subang Methodist Church. He began local training to prepare young evangelists to go out in to the Buddhist dominated Shan villages and evangelize. Sai Stephen and the 25 evangelists trained under him had been going from village to village preaching, resulting in five new Churches being planted each year in different villages in Eastern Shan State.
Under Sai Stephen leadership the Churches grew and mission expended. He served as Assistant Director of 21st Century Shan Mission Project from 1992 also as General Secretary of Eastern Shan State Shan Baptist Convention until he passed away. He played important role in training, evangelism, Church Planting, Church growth in Eastern Shan State, formation of Eastern Shan State Shan Baptist Convention and Eastern Shan State Baptist Mission Centenary Celebration.

Sai Htwe Maung

A native Shan born of Shan Christian parents on April 30, 1947 in MuSe, a small border town between Burma and China, Northern Shan State.
He was baptized by Rev. Kham Maung, the first convert and the first ordained minister of ShweLi Valley, on April 13, 1963 at MuSe Shan Baptist Church.
He finished Seven Standard at MuSe, Eight Standard at MayMyo Colgate Mission School, Ninth Standard at MonYwa State One High School and Matriculation at LaShio State One High School in 1965.
He studied medicine at Mandalay Medical Institute in 1966 and graduated in 1973.
He has finished his one-year internship at MayMyo Basic Military Hospital in 1974.
He has served at LaShio Civil Hospital for three years and moved to Hong Kong on April 9, 1979.
He leads Burmese Christian Fellowship in Macau as part-time volunteer evangelist from 1985 to 1990.
He has served in Haven of Hope Hospital, Hong Kong, for 4 years and in Pok Oi Hospital, Hong Kong, for 17 years and taken early retirement on April 30, 2000 and committed to full-time ministry. He is the first Shan doctor to commit to full-time Shan ministry.
He has helped forming Burmese Doctors Society in Hong Kong in 1987 and served as General Secretary for two years.
He has developed 21st Century Shan Mission Project and served as General Director from 1986 to 2001 and organized Great Commission Institute trainings for Shan Churches eight times between 1994 and 2001.
He is ordained by ministers from Baptist, Lutheran, Mennonite, Pentecostal and Assemblies of God on December 30, 2001 in Hong Kong.
He graduated from Hong Kong Lutheran Theological Seminary in Master of Arts in Theology in December 2002.
He preaches gospel in radio every day in Shan language broadcasting from Far East Broadcasting Company since 1989.
He has written and recorded the first Gospel Songs in Shan language in 1978 in Rangoon.
He has rewritten, edited and translated Shan Hymnals into the first New Shan Hymnals with musical notes in new Shan script and published in 1993.
He has rewritten and edited Shan Bible translated by Rev. Josiah Nelson Cushing into modern Shan writing. New Testament and Psalms are completed and published in 2001.
He is appointed a missionary to Asia by Asian Outreach of United States in January 1999.
He helped Burmese Christians in Hong Kong to form Hong Kong Burmese Christian Fellowship in the year 2000 and serves as Hon. Pastor 2001-2003.
He has served as Hon. Chairman of Emmanuel Medical Mission in Hong Kong from 1995 to 2003.
He has started missions among the Shan in Golden Triangle in the year 2001 and built the first Shan Church in Golden Triangle, Thoed Thai, and dedicated to the Lord on September 7, 2003.
He is married to Dr. Ah Mar and has three daughters; Cynthia Htwe, Sandra Htwe and Sylvia Htwe.

Corresponding Letters and Reports
Regarding Shan Mission Work (1978-2001)

Most of the historical records concerning Baptist Missions among the Shan come from the letters and reports written by missionaries. Without their regular, clear, detailed letters and reports we will not be able to see and learn about their works and labor, their difficulties and triumph, their struggle and victory, their loss and gain, their sorrow and joy, their failure and success in their missions among the Shan.
God has given me the opportunity of working with many leaders of the Shan Churches from all over Shan States since 1976. Without knowing that God is going to give me opportunity of writing history of Shan Churches I have not thrown away but kept all the letters, reports and correspondences with the key Shan leaders. I hope the readers will see the real situation of our Shan Churches and missions by reading our letters of correspondence and reports. All these letters are authentic letters. Most of them are translated from either Shan or Burmese.

My objective of putting these letters and reports to the readers is to allow the people to see what we have said, what we have planned, what we have done, how we have done it and what has happened in the past, now and what our future Shan Christian leaders have to do.
Honestly I have no intention of offending, hurting or discrediting any denomination, any one who I loved, respected and worked with. I just want the readers to see the truth.

(1978-1980)

Letter from Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, LaShio, to Saya Sai Nyunt Tha, NamKham. 11 June 1978

Dear Saya,
With much respect I write this letter to you. By His wonderful grace our works are successful. We have had a meeting on 6 June 1978. All agreed to send Saya Maung Su back to ShweLi. We have formed five members committee to look into this matter. As you know we have one man tried to sabotage our plan. However we are the victorious.

1. Please send me the CV of Saya Aung Htun Shwe as soon as possible.
2. Please let us know in advance for ordination of Saya Maung Su so that we can send him back to ShweLi for ordination.
   P.S. After receiving Saya Aung Htun Shwe’s CV, I’ll put the matter up to Church council. When Saya Aung Htun Shwe comes I wish you might also come so that we can continue discussing future Shan mission.
   We will try to complete our arrangement in July.
   Respectfully in His service, Dr. Sai Htwe Maung

Letter from Sai Htwe Maung, LaShio, to Sai Nyunt Tha, General Secretary, ShweLi Valley Shan Baptist Mission, NamKham. 15 June 1978

Dear Saya,
I have received your letter per kind favor of Saya Aung Htun Shwe. I feel quite sad but not discouraged. I have explained to Saya Po Maung and hope that he would understand.

1. I have sent a letter of request to you to send either Saya Aung Htun Shwe or you to come to LaShio and serve as our pastor. If you have received my letter please call a meeting, make a decision and reply to me as soon as possible.
2. Please explain thoroughly to the people at the meeting to understand our ambition.
3. Please send your CV and Saya Aung Htun Shwe’s CV to me.
4. Please arrange ordination for you and Saya Aung Htun Shwe, ordain them and send one of them to us.
5. Please also consider giving ordination to Saya Maung Su.
   Respectfully in His Service,
   Signed/ Sai Htwe Maung

Letter from Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, LaShio, to Sai Nyunt Tha, NamKham. 4 January 1979

Dear Saya Sai Nyunt Tha,
May this New Year be a blessed year to you and your family.
May I ask you to help me for one important thing. I am planning to go abroad this coming February. There will be Church council election in our First Baptist Church. Before the election, as the wishes of our Shan Christian Fellowship, I want to get all the things done before I go. The electricity will be installed to Saya Maung Su’s home this month. When you come everything will be ready.
The matters I like to discuss with you are;

1. We have decided to postpone the transfer of Saya Maung Su back to ShweLi until March because we have not got the replacement.
2. When you have the meeting on 10 February 1979, please plan to send Saya Maung Su to MuongKut instead of HaiPark.
3. Saya Aung Htun Shwe expressed to us that he is willing to come to LaShio. But there are some people who will vote for you to come. As for us it is OK either you or Saya Aung Htun Shwe comes.
4. Please send us letter as soon as possible before we select new committee. It will be difficult to put this matter to First Baptist Church if I am not in the council.
5. Please send me letter immediately after your 10th February meeting.
   With much respect, Dr. Sai Htwe Maung

Letter from Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, LaShio, to Saya Sai Nyunt Tha, NamKham. 21 January 1979

Dear Saya Sai Nyunt Tha,
I write with much respect. Thanks for your letter to U Kyaw Hla. We have to make concrete decision. If you can come to LaShio please come immediately. If you cannot come please provide us the following information.

1. I have received letter from ShweLi that the Church has agreed to send Saya Sai Nyunt Tha to LaShio as Assistant Pastor to LaShio First Baptist Church.
2. We also need letter of agreement from MuSe Shan Baptist Church to send you to LaShio.
3. We have to propose to LaShio First Baptist Church to accept you.
4. As you are the General Secretary of ShweLi Valley Shan Baptist Mission, I am wondering if you can come.
5. According to your letter to U Kyaw Hla, the transferal of Saya Aung Htun Shwe to LaShio is not a decision by ShweLi. We need letter of approval from ShweLi.
6. Please send us official letter of confirmation whether ShweLi agree to send you or Saya Aung Htun Shwe.
   I need to finish the task before I leave.
   With much respect in Him, Dr. Sai Htwe Maung

Letter from Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, LaShio, to Saya Sai Nyunt Tha, NamKham. 6 February 1979

Dear Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha,
With much respect I write this letter to you. I have received your letter per kind favor of Sai Henry. I want to tell you about Saya Aung Htun Shwe and Saya Maung Su. On 2 February, Saya Maung Su, Saya Aung Htun Shwe, U Kyaw Hla and I met together and discussed about transferal of Saya Maung Su. He is willing and eager to go to MuongKut. Even though they may have difficulty in housing they are willing to sacrifice. I do not think it is good to transfer Saya Maung Su to HaiPark because (1) Saya Maung Su is more interested in going to MuongKut. (2) He has experienced in working in remote area and serving in the village for a long time. (3) His children are grown up and need higher education. It is necessary for them to live in town and get education. It is good to live in MuongKut. (4) Since he is not interested in going to HaiPark I don’t think it will be fruitful if we send him to HaiPark.
That is why when you have meeting on 10 February please consider sending Saya Maung Su to MuongKut instead of HaiPark.
Saya Aung Htun Shwe expressed to us that he is willing to come to LaShio. But there are some people who will vote for you to come. As for us it is OK either you or Saya Aung Htun Shwe comes.
Please send us letter as soon as possible before we select new committee. It will be difficult to put this matter to First Baptist Church if I am not in the council.
Please send me letter immediately after your 10th February meeting.
With much respect, Dr. Sai Htwe Maung

Letter from Saya Aung Htun Shwe to Saya Nyunt Tha. 10 July 1979

Subject: Resignation from Shan Bible Centenary Committee

Dear Saya Sai Nyunt Tha,
Regarding about caption, I am very much regret to have received your letter of resignation from the position of secretary of Shan Bible Centenary Committee. I would like to encourage you to continue working harder as secretary. If you leave the committee it is not easy for us to find a replacement. It shows us that our small groups of Shan Christians need unity among us. Please withdraw your resignation and continue the work.
“Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”
In His service, Signed/ Aung Htun Shwe
Chairman, Shan Bible Centenary Committee
Note. Sai Nyunt Tha replied that he would think about it and later he withdrew his resignation.

Letter from Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha, (General Secretary, ShweLi Valley Shan Baptist Association, NamKham) to General Secretary, Lisu Baptist Convention, MuongKut. 18 July 1979

Dear Sir,
I would like to express my thanks to you for allowing us to do evangelism among the Shan people in MuongKut and MuongMyit area and also to organize and build up Shan Christians in that area.
In His Service, Signed/ Sai Nyunt Tha.
Cc to General Secretary, MBC,
Pastor, MyoMa Baptist Church, MuongKut,
Pastor, BeikNwe Baptist Church, MuongKut,
Saya Maung Su, Shan Baptist Fellowship, BeikNwe, MuongKut.
Note: According to Burma Baptist Convention regulation, no one should go into other area to do any evangelistic work, mission work or Church planting work among any people group without permission of the Baptist Convention who controls that area. MuongKut area is under Lisu Baptist Convention’s control even though MuongKut is not Lisu State. (Lisu do not have their own State) MuongKut is considered to be Shan State but in Mandalay Division.
Later Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha was reprimanded by General Secretary of Lisu Baptist Convention and Burma Baptist Convention for doing Church planting work among the Shan in MuongKut.
When Shan believers from PangLong, who are new and small, applied permission from ShweLi Valley Shan Baptist Mission to allow them to collect donation from Christians brothers and sisters from ShweLi Churches to help them build a Church building in PangLong, it was rejected by ShweLi Valley Baptist Mission. Believers from PangLong could not come and collect any offering from any Church in ShweLi without ShweLi Valley Shan Baptist Mission’s permission. This is Baptist Policy. (Recorded in SVSBC Ahmama 81/98.)

Letter from Saya Maung Su, MuongKut, to Chairman, ShweLi Valley Shan Baptist Mission, NamKham. 20 July 1979

Subject : Mission in MuongKut and MuongMyit

By His guidance my family and I arrived MuongKut from Mandalay on 1 April. In the first week of April I just have a chance of greeting to some believers and spent most of my time in attending Pastoral revival meeting. I started my ministry in May but faced with a lot of temptation in physical health, housing, and food. General Secretary of Luhu Convention said to me, “Work among your Shan people only. Do not mingle with Lahu.” It makes me downhearted. I am also accused and blamed by others. However, by your prayer and 1 Cor. 10:30 I have overcome the problems.

1. Despite the interference from Lahu group Shan believers are going to nearby Churches. I have visited them at 5 PM house-to-house each week.
2. We have gained five people.
3. We organized welcoming ceremony to five people by holding a meal cost Kyat 400.
4. I have met people who are lost from NamKham.
5. I have visited MuongMyit four times. I was invited to hold service for 10 families who have abandoned idol worship.
6. We have to raise Kyat 500 for our choir members to travel.
7. I also have opportunity of preaching gospel in MuongLone.
8. Please forgive me for writing late because I have been struggling with many temptations.
   His grace is great.
   In His service/ Saya Maung Su.

Letter from Kyaw Hla, LaShio, Northern Shan State, Burma, to Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong.
17 September 1979

Dear Brother and sister,
I am replying your letter with much remembrance. I am praying that the Lord will add a lot of blessing on you.
From 7 to 8 September, five representatives from Burma Baptist Convention and representatives from ShweLi Shan Baptist Mission met here in LaShio and discussed about formation of Shan Baptist Convention. But the permission was not given by BBC. Instead the following agreements were made.

1. Let ShweLi Shan Baptist Association remain the same.
2. Establish a new “Northern Shan State Shan Mission” and work among the Shan in the North, base in LaShio and BBC will help this mission.
3. BBC will help celebrating Shan Bible Centenary in 1985.
   Please remember to help this mission. We are planning new mission field in MuongMyit and MuongKut.
   May the Lord bless you richly, Signed/ Kyaw Hla

Letter from Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha (General Secretary of ShweLi Valley Shan Baptist Mission, NamKham, Northern Shan State, Burma) to Sai Htwe Maung. 5 October 1979

Sai Htwe,
I have received your letter and photo. I am sorry for not being able to come to say good-bye to you when you leave for Hong Kong because I was too busy at that time. We have come to first step as we wish to form Shan Convention. We have now formed “Northern Shan State Shan Mission.” From September 7 to 8 we five people from ShweLi Baptist Association meeting with five BBC representatives and discussed about this new mission. They agreed to co-operate with us and help us to organize Shan Bible Centennial Celebration in 1985.
We need to produce more leaders. We have sent 3 students to Seminary this year. We want to send two more next year. We need financial support Kyat 20,000 a year for our mission. Please help us find some sponsors. We need one camera and one cassette recorder for our mission. We can record message for F.E.B.C. (Far East Broadcasting Company) I have heard that you are going around preaching gospel. I am very glad about it. I believe that God has sent you there for our Shan mission. I trust you will help us. If possible we also want a car for our mission. Please help us find a picture of Dr. Cushing and his family and his biography.
May the Lord bless you and your family.
Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha, Shan Baptist Church, MuSe.

Letter from Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha (General Secretary of ShweLi Valley Shan Baptist Mission, NamKham, NSS, Burma) to Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 29 November 1979

Dear Sai Htwe,
I have received your first letter when I come back from BBC meeting and second letter from U Kyaw Hla on 24 November. I am so happy to learn that you love our Shan mission so much and give us many support. May the Lord add more blessing to you and your family. We had a meeting with BBC concerning our Northern Shan State Shan Mission. We had much difficulty especially from U Kham Kya. (A Shan Church leader from LaShio). However we were encouraged by Saya Victor (Karen Church leader) not to give up. We will talk about it again in March meeting. I met with General Secretary from Eastern Shan State and he understood our ambition. Thank you very much for your advice and encouragement. I have received the slide pictures you sent to us. I am also sending a letter to you to confirm that you are official representative so that you can talk to the people on our behalf. You can send camera and cassette through Zau Yaw. (Kachin pastor studying at Chung Chi College in Hong Kong). We also need generator to use in movie projector. We are determined to form Shan Convention in 1980 December. We will demolish the name “ShweLi” and form “Shan Convention.” Can you send a message to SeLan Diamond Jubilee?
In prayer, Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha

Letter from Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha (General Secretary of ShweLi Valley Shan Baptist Mission, NamKham, NSS, Burma) to Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 14 February 1980

Sai Htwe and family,
I have received your message for SeLan Jubilee and one Cassette Recorder. I have left two film rolls with Zau Yaw to send it to you. We send Yee Poi to MuongMyit to start a new Church. Some Christians moved from NamKham to MuongMyit. I am glad that you are able to share about our Shan mission to friends in Hong Kong.
Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha.

Letter from Kyaw Hla, LaShio, NSS, Burma to Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 25 February 1980

Dear brother and sister,
I am writing with much remembrance. There are some divisions among us. It is not easy to form convention. We are planning to go to Eastern Shan State to organize them to participate in our Shan Bible Centenary in 1985 and to MuongMyit and MuongKuy for fund raising for the centenary. I think we need to help the people who are poor and needy. We need to have a kind of work or investment for them to help them survive. Preaching alone is not enough. I thought of having chicken farm for poor brothers and sisters in the Churches. The cassette recorder, which you sent to us, is now in the hand of Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha.
May you have joy and good health.
Kyaw Hla

Letter from Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha (General Secretary of ShweLi Valley Shan Baptist Mission, NamKham, NSS, Burma) to Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 29 May 1980

Sai Htwe,
I went to KengTung from March 28 to May 4, by the invitation of Eastern Shan Baptist Conference. I taught the Bible, encouraged the people and talked about formation of Shan Baptist Convention. We now have understanding with KengTung Eastern Shan. They also agree with us to form Shan Baptist Convention. I have asked our leaders to listen to your message on tape. They all appreciated your help. We need financial help a lot. I am glad to hear that you are taking Biblical Study courses. Can you find sponsor for us? If you can get sponsor we would certainly have Shan Convention. If we can use about Kyat 80,000 a year our mission will very much improved. You are very important for our mission. Included is a letter certifying that you are representative of our Shan mission and you can speak to the people on our behalf. It will be very good if you can produce our New Testament in pocket size.
Please reply to me as soon as possible.
Signed/Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha

Letter from Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha (General Secretary of ShweLi Valley Shan Baptist Mission, NamKham, NSS, Burma) to Sai Htwe Maung. 8 July 1980

Sai Htwe,
I have received your letter on 7 July 1980. On 21 June 1980 the representatives from ShweLi Baptist Association and representatives from Eastern Shan State Baptist had a meeting at my home in MuSe. We have agreed to form a committee to draw draft constitution for Shan Baptist Convention. There will be an BBC Annual General Meeting in LaShio in December 1981. We will submit our request to BBC to allow us to form SBC. The North and East are now united. Our vision is now progressing. Some members of BBC are very much against us. They even ask us to leave BBC. We were so discriminated against. They even tried to stop Eastern Shan meeting Northern Shan. Financially we need about Kyat 40,000 to 50,000 a year for our mission. We need a lot of book and gospel tracts in Shan.
Please help us to fine sponsor for our Seminary students. We need Kyat 1,500 for a year for one student.
In His Service,
Signed/Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha

Letter from Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha (General Secretary of ShweLi Valley Shan Baptist Mission, NamKham, NSS, Burma) to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong, 7 September 1980

Dr. Sai Htwe,
I am always praying for you and your family so that you can serve the Lord more. I am now in Rangoon for BEC (Baptist Executive Meeting). We are now dividing three Shan conferences to form Shan Convention. 1. ShweLi 2. Northern Shan (LaShio) 3. Eastern Shan (KengTung). I have given Sai Thein Aung Kham to organize Southern Shan. We shall be meeting in Rangoon in November to draft Shan Baptist Convention Constitution. We have listened to your message in tape. Your tapes (Shan Gospel Songs) are also distributed among Shan Churches. We need a lot of leadership and support. We need your advice. I talked with Rev. Sai Aung Htun Shwe and we thought that if we could have a printing machine it will be good. It will cost about Kyat 30,000. Can you help us buy one? Can you also help us produce our Shan New Testament in pocket size? It will be good to have Psalms and Proverb included. Saya Chit Pwai has passed away on 17 August 1980. We have lost one of our Shan leaders.
May God bless your family richly.
Signed/Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha

Letter from Rev. Aung Htun Shwe, First Baptist Church, LaShio, NSS, Burma to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 28 September 1980

Dear Dr. Sai,
How are you doing? You’ll be very surprise by receiving my letter. My family and I are getting well both in home and ministry. Hope and pray for your family be getting well.
Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha told me that you have an admirable opportunity of getting aids from H.C.C for Shan Mission work e.g. Shan Christian literature. He requested me to plan and estimate some projects and programs. I calculated amount on two projects. One is printing machine and the other is boarding center to promote young leaders for mission. I promise I can run these two projects while I am taking care of small Shan Christian community.
On my own affair on translation of “Today’s Shan New Testament,” the translation has been finished and well copied on waxed paper since 4th September and ready for applying to government for printing. Paper, printing and binding in Burma is not so good. I would like to request you to help.

1. Help me making photo offset printing and binding in Hong Kong.
2. Help me find some source as a project for Shan Mission Work.
   Concerning this matter I would like to know as soon as possible.
   Thank you. Greeting to your wife and daughter.
   In His Service, Signed/ Rev. Htun Shwe,

Letter from Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha (General Secretary of ShweLi Valley Shan Baptist Mission, NamKham, NSS, Burma) to Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 18 October 1980

Sai Htwe,
I came back from Rangoon on 13 September. I received your letter on 10 September. I am very glad to hear what you are doing for us. We’ll be meeting in November and drafting constitution for Shan Convention. We will not sit back. Certainly we’ll have Shan Convention in 1981. Concerning Shan literature we have to write and have a proofreader. We need to pay him salary. In our ShweLi Pastors’ Council we have formed a literary committee to do translation and writing “ShweLi mission history.” We appointed Rev. Kham Ye to head this committee. We need to buy printing machine. We send Yee Poi to MuongMyit as missionary. KengTung Shan Churches also understand us now.
We estimate budget for literature Kyat 100,000 for project one and Kyat 30,000 for project two. If we got this budget we can have our literature project immediately.
In His Service, Signed/ Sai Nyunt Tha

Letter from Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha (General Secretary of ShweLi Valley Shan Baptist Mission, NamKham, NSS, Burma) to Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 28 November 1980

Sai Htwe,
I have learned that grandma is going to Hong Kong tomorrow so I urgently write this letter so that she can bring it to you. I am now in Rangoon because we, the leaders from Shan Churches from all Shan States, are gathering here in Rangoon to discuss about forming of Shan Convention. We are now at the stage of working together with BBC in 1881. We are now doing translation work and writing history of ShweLi Shan Baptist Mission lead by Rev. Kham Ye. We need printing press and financial help. In 1981 we may have 3 students from Eastern Shan State to Bible School. Saya Yee Poi is now leading in MuongMyit mission field.
In His Service, Signed/ Sai Nyunt Tha

(1981-1983)

Letter from Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha (General Secretary of ShweLi Valley Shan Baptist Mission, NamKham, NSS, Burma) to Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 20 July 1981

Sai Htwe,
I wish and pray that your family and grandma will be well. We are well here. I was quite down hearted because we have failed to achieve what we want to achieve in our Shan mission. I have received jacket, film slides and film roll that you have sent to me. Thank you very much. May the Lord add more blessing to you. We could not get our goal in forming Shan Convention but just to co-operate with BBC to do;

1. MuongMyit new mission field.
2. To produce more Seminary graduate.
3. To organize Shan Bible Centennial Celebration in 1985.
   We need one typewriter. Olympia Burmese typewriter will cost about Kyat 5,000. We can use this typewriter in writing Shan literature for teaching our people. Please let me know how can you help us. We now have 8 Shan students in Bible School. We also want our Shan Hymnbook to be written with staff note. Please give us advice and help. I will take picture and send it to you later.
   In His Service, Signed/ Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha

Letter from U Kyaw Hla, LaShio, NSS, Burma to Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 13 November 1981

Dear brother Htwe,
By the grace of God we all are well. I have just finished evangelism training in Rangoon with other 39 people on 30 October. It’s a long training from 10 September to 30 October. 109th BBC Annual General Meeting will be held in LaShio from 28.12.1981 to 1.1.1982. We are preparing for it. Rev. Ai Pan passed away on 30 October 1981. We lost a leader. We need good leaders. Our Churches’ leaders are not very dedicated as they should. They are not very active and not working hard. Please pray for them. Even though I cannot dedicate for full-time, I work as much as possible as lay leader.
Signed/ Kyaw Hla.

Letter from U Kyaw Hla, LaShio, NSS, Burma to Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 8 August 1982

Dear brother Htwe and family,
109th BBC’s AGM finished successfully. Starting from last year we have one student, Sai Maung Khaing, son of Kyaw Than, studying at Insein Seminary. Shan mission has supported him Kyat 1,200 per year. It is not enough. LaShio Church supported him Kyat 750 per year. This year we have two from ShweLi preparing to go to Seminary. Our new Shan Church building is completed.
Signed/ Kyaw Hla

Letter from Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha (General Secretary of ShweLi Valley Shan Baptist Mission, NamKham, NSS, Burma) to Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 22 August 1982
We are going to have BBC’s AGM and Shan Bible Centennial Celebration in NamKham in 1985. We are still trying to form Shan Convention. We have budgeted Kyat 200,000 for this event. We expect Kyat 85,000 from ShweLi, Kyat 15,000 from LaShio to Mandalay, Kyat 50,000 from other Shan friends. We have 10 students in Insein Seminary, 3 students in TaungGyi Bible School. We need to look for mission fields for them. Please find sponsors for us. We also need two Burmese typewriters. It will cost Kyat 10,000 each. Sai Stephen is going to Hong Kong for Asia Baptist Fellowship Conference from 8-14 January 1983. Please send one camera to me with Sai Stephen when he comes.

We have 2 students preparing to go to Seminary next year. Help us find support.
In His Service, Signed/ Sai Nyunt Tha

Letter from Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha (General Secretary of ShweLi Valley Shan Baptist Mission, NamKham, NSS, Burma) to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 20 January 1983

Dr. Sai Htwe,
May the Lord add more blessing to you and your family this New Year. Thank you for remembering us. After Rev. Ai Pan passed away I have to move to NamKham. I am here in NamKham almost a year now. I am extremely busy. Please remember me in your prayer. U Kyaw Hla told me that you would like to support 3 students to study in Seminary. I have one. His name is Sai Aung Than. He is going to Insein Burmese Seminary next year. It is 4 years course. Please support him Kyat 2,000 per year. I make this request to you on behalf of ShweLi Shan Baptist Mission. I believe you have met Sai Stephen. He can tell you about our Shan mission.
Signed/ Sai Nyunt Tha

Letter from Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha (General Secretary of ShweLi Valley Shan Baptist Mission, NamKham, NSS, Burma) to Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 21 March 1983

Sai Htwe,
May you be able to serve Him with great joy. I went to Daw Mya Nu’s home and tried to phone to you. But unfortunately the line was down and I could not call you. I met with Sai Stephen here in Rangoon (after he returned from Hong Kong). We agreed and would try our best to be able to form Shan Baptist Convention. I am going with Sai Stephen to KengTung as a representative of BBC. Sai Myint Lay is also with us. We have to draft constitution and present it to BBC in August. We are very much encouraged by your support. We will not give up. Sai Myint Lay came to ShweLi in February and gave us a talk on Drug Addiction and Rehabilitation. There are about 100 drug addicts in ShweLi. Drug rehabilitation program under BBC is going to stop in 1983. We don’t know what to do. If we have money about Kyat 40,000 we can buy a farm and fishpond for them to do the work for their livelihood. We need your advice. Sai Stephen and I are working very hard for Shan Baptist Convention Formation. You may see what you want to see happen very soon. Thanks for the clothes.
May your family be in good health and joy.
Signed/ Sai Nyunt Tha.

Letter from Sai Stephen, KengTung, ESS, Burma to Sai Htwe Maung. 21 March 1983.

Dear Saya Htwe,
Soon after coming back from Hong Kong I spent days and nights with Sai Nyunt Tha and talked about our Shan Mission and shared with him all what we had discussed in Hong Kong. We will try to form SBC. Thank you for all the help given to me when I was in Hong Kong. We are planning to publish Shan Hymnbook with staff note in 1985. I believe we’ll have SBC very soon.
With remembrance, Signed/ Sai Stephen

Letter from U Kyaw Hla, LaShio, NSS, Burma to Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 18 April 1983

Dear brother Htwe and family,
By the Grace of God we all are well. I hope and pray that you and your family also be well. I have received camera, clothes and grape juice for communion and your tapes (Shan gospel songs). It is very useful for our Shan Churches. We don’t have any Shan gospel song on tape at all. We listen to it almost every day. Some Church members make some duplication for their own use. BBC will help ShweLi Shan Baptist Mission Kyat 200,000 for Shan Bible Centennial Celebration in 1985. Saya Maung Su is ordained and doing evangelistic work. Rev. Saya Aung Htun Shwe is busy with Church’s work and preparation for centenary. The building of our new Shan Church building is almost completed. I am re-elected as Chairman of LaShio Shan Church again.
Signed/ Kyaw Hla

Letter from Youth Dept. to Chairman, NongSanKone Shan Baptist Church, NamKham. 22 May 1983

Subject: To buy and use Shan Kong-Mong
On behalf of Shan Christian Youth may I submit this letter.
According to the Law of Myanma Socialist Government, 21/2, all the nationality can enjoy freedom of worship according to their faith and maintain all their culture. According to our young people desire, we want to;

1. Maintain our Shan culture.
2. Unite our young people.
3. Abandon the misunderstanding of cultural, religious, political and economic conflict.
4. Maintain that culture is only related to social and all people should keep their culture.
5. According to the Law, Shan Kong-mong is a cultural thing and will not be harmful to others.
   That is why we, Youth group from the Church, will buy a set of Gong-mong and use it.
   Signed/ Sai Ba Tin,
   Youth Representative,
   Cc. Chairman, ShweLi Valley Shan Baptist Mission,
   Chairman, Village Council, NongSanKone, NamKham.

Letter from Sai Stephen, KengTung, ESS, Burma to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 27 July 1983

Dear Dr. Sai Htwe Maung,
I am writing with much remembrance. By His grace we all are well. May you also be well.
I remember you every day since I come back from Hong Kong. I am very much encouraged by your life, your dedication and your passion for mission. I am very proud of you. If God’s willing we’ll meet again. Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha came to Eastern Shan State for a month in June as a representative of BBC. We talked about Shan Mission. We all agree to form SBC. We have already formed “Formation Committee.” In the near future you will see what you are longing to see “SBC.” We will be in Rangoon in August and in Moulmain in October. I have heard good news that we will have foreign support of US$2,000 for Shan mission. Praise the Lord. Please give us advice. Some time we only want to do but we don’t know how to do. I also heard that you have asked BBC to send a missionary to Macau.
Thank you for all your help.
Signed/ Sai Stephen.

Letter from Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong to Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha, (General Secretary, ShweLi Shan Baptist Mission, NamKham, Burma) 26 October 1983

Dear Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha and all co-workers,
Greeting in the name of Jesus Christ. I would like to discuss with you the following matters.

1. I would like to encourage you for Shan Bible Centennial Celebration. I wish we would have achieved great encouragement from this celebration. Please do not let it go without benefit. Do not let our time, money and energy wasted away. I am glad and proud of your Cassette Tape produced for Centennial Celebration. It will be better if you can record only Shan songs in this series. It is mixed up with Kachin and Burmese songs.
2. I have sent two sleeping bags to U Kyaw Hla for our evangelists to use when they go out evangelistic trip. I would like you to let U Kyaw Hla keep it so that it will not get lost.
3. I was informed that my financial support for Sai Aung Than has been sent to NamKham. Please send me acknowledgement.
4. How is our formation of Shan Baptist Convention? Will you please keep me informed of the progress so that I will know how to help? I would like to suggest to you that, this time, if BBC still refuse to give us permission to form SBC, leave BBC and form “Independent Shan Baptist Convention” and later we can join Asian Baptist Alliance and World Baptist Alliance. Do not be afraid. God will provide all our need.
5. The good news is, on 21 October, I met with Asian Outreach International and discussed with them about our Shan mission. For the first step in helping our Shan mission, Asian Outreach will help sponsor 20 Shan students to go to study at Seminary, Kyat 2,000 each year for each person. Please recruit 20 students to go to Seminary. I will take responsibility of sending Kyat 40,000 each year to the students. Please give me their application form with two photos. Please send the name of the students to me before January 1984. Please praise the Lord for this opportunity and blessing to our Shan people.
   May the Lord bless you abundantly.
   In His Service, Dr. Sai Htwe Maung
   Cc to U Kyaw Hla, Rev. Sai Stephen, Rev. Sai Aung Htun Shwe, Saya Sai Myint Lay.

Letter from Kyaw Hla, LaShio, NSS, Burma to Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 31 October 1983

Brother Htwe and family,
By the grace of God we all are well. May you also be well. I have attended training in Rangoon from 3 to 30 October. We are trying to form SBC. Only Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha is very active from ShweLi. In MuongPa there are 14 families new believers. We have very few educated ministers. Thanks for your presents. We have 5 students from ShweLi in Seminary. We have difficulty in appointing pastor to our First Baptist Church in LaShio after Rev. William Shwe Ya passed away. I have heard that BBC has chosen Saya Wavery Pan to go to Macau as a missionary to Burmese people there as you have requested. Rev. Zau Yaw was elected General Secretary of BBC this year. On 12 February 1983 we went to MuongPa and removed spirit alter for new Christian families. Altogether six families. Thanks for your gospel music you have sent to us. We use it in our evangelistic meeting. Without your songs we will not have any gospel songs in Shan at all. May the Lord bless you abundantly, Signed/ Kyaw Hla.

Letter from Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha (General Secretary of ShweLi Shan Baptist Conference, NSS, Burma) to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung. 19 December 1983

Dr. Sai Htwe Maung,
May you and your family have a joyful time at Christmas. I and my family and the Churches are well at this time. I have received your letter. I am traveling and trying a lot to organize for our 1985 Shan Bible Centenary Celebration. Sometimes I even got blamed. I bear it because of Christ. Thank you for your encouragement. We have tried many time but facing many difficulties. Since we talked about forming SBC I have been going up and down even though I did not have money. Many people understand and agree with us. We now need to form a “Shan Baptist Convention Formation Committee.” Sai Stephen, Rev. Seng Tip, Saya Sai Hsai (from Eastern Shan State), Rev. Aung Htun Shwe, U Kyaw Hla (LaShio), Rev. Shwe Htun, Sai Ba Yin, Saya Po Maung, Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha (ShweLi), Sai Ba Lwin, Rev. Kyaw Myint (TaungGyi). This committee will prepare all necessary requirements to form SBC in 1985. We have set up a budget for traveling for formation of SBC. Support for 4 persons from ShweLi Kyat 1,600, for 2 persons from LaShio Kyat 600, for 3 people from TaungGyi Kyat 900 and for miscellaneous Kyat 400. Total Kyat 3,500. If you are going to sponsor us for this meeting I will organize it immediately. In the year 1982-1983 you supported one Seminary student with Kyat 2,000 for one year. Because of inflation please increase your support to Kyat 3,000 each year for each student. We now have 15 students. Thanks for supporting Sai Aung Than. He is very dedicated man. We are planning to send three students to TaungGyi because we need short-term training.
We have also produced Shan calendar for 1984. This is the first time and a history. We will have SBC formation committee meeting in TaungGyi. We went to China and organized a Christmas celebration in 1980. 43 people baptized. MuongKut Shan church building dedication was held on 11 December 1983. About 10 families in WanDa Lean village near HsenWi baptized. We also want to buy a tractor for drug rehabilitation program near MuSe. It will cost about Kyat 30,000. We need a lot of thing to do. Please consider helping us.
May the Lord bless you and your family richly.
Signed/ Sai Nyunt Tha.
(Sai Nyunt Tha told me as I interviewed him on March 3, 2003, “When we started new Shan Church in MuongKut, Rev. Joshua, General Secretary of Lisu Baptist Convention, said to me, ‘Why do you plant new Shan Church in MuongKut? Please withdraw your Church.’ I asked, ‘Why?’ He said, ‘This is under Lisu Convention territory.’ Then I said, ‘Let me first ask the opinion of Shan believers. Let them make decision.’ When I asked Shan believers, they all said, ‘We will worship in our own Church in our language. We will no longer go to Lisu Church.’ Then we continued having our Shan Church. Later when I came to BBC head quarter, Rev. Victor San Lone, General Secretary of BBC, called me and said, ‘Saya Nyunt Tha, please come to my office. I will like to talk to you.’ When I got to his office he said, ‘Saya, it is not good to have your Shan Church in other peoples territory. Please withdraw your Shan Church from MuongKut.’ Then I said, ‘Why? If we cannot plant our own Church among our own people in other people’s territory, why are there many Kachin, Kayin, Lisu and other Churches in our Shan territory? Can you ask them to withdraw them to their own territories? If they all can go back to their own territories I will withdraw my Shan Church from MuongKut.’ Afterward, Victor San Lone could not say anything more. Our Shan Church in MuongKut survives. We sent Saya Maung Su to MuongKut but had to called him back to NamKham immediately because he use to have quarrel with his wife and beat her in front of the people all the time.”)

(1984-1986)

Letter from Dr. Sai Htwe Maung to Rev. David Wang, Asian Outreach International, Hong Kong.
13 January 1984

Dear Brother,
May God bless you and your ministry of Asian Outreach. What a wonderful New Year to the Shan people of Burma! Praise the Lord for your ministry to our people by sponsoring 20 students to study in theology school in order to prepare themselves for the ministry among the Shan. On behalf of our Shan people may I express our earnest gratitude to you for a check of US$2,400 being received on 11 January 1984. We shall always remember you in our prayer. We will keep providing you with full information about our Shan Ministry.
Please do remember our Christian leaders who will be meeting in June to prepare for the Great Mission among million of Buddhist Shan.
With Love in Jesus Christ our Lord,
Dr. HM Sai, Hong Kong.
Note (official foreign exchange rate was 1US$ = 6 Kyat)

Letter from Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong to General Secretary, Shan Baptist Convention Formation Committee, Burma. January 1984

1. I agree and support your effort in formation of “Shan Baptist Convention.” By prayer, by advice and by money I will always help you.
2. For producing future leadership of our Shan mission, I have received financial support for 20 students, for half year. The following five students will receive subsidy of Kyat 125 per month because local Churches are already supporting them. They are Nang Kya Yung, Sai Maung Khaing, Nang Kham Yung, Nang Seng Arm, Sai Aung Win. But Sai Aung Than will get Kyat 250 per month as wholly supported. Please collect money from Daw Mya Nu. The support will begin from 1984 school year. If student has finished study or failed in examination the support will stop. If Sai Maung Lay, Sai Htun Myat and Nang Hla Khin are dedicating for future Shan mission we will like to support them. For school year 1984 please find another 14 students. If we have students joining after 1985 please inform me first because we have to support one student for four years. If we have less than 20 students and if we have surplus we can use our money in our mission work. We can discuss about it later.
3. Saya Sai Myint Lay said that Rev. Sai Aung Htun Shwe’s daughter Nang Thida is still in University and preparing to continue her study at Seminary. She has financial difficulty now and she requests financial help. I cannot decide this matter. I hope Shan mission committee can make a decision for her.
4. I would like to include Sai Myint Lay in your 11 members committee because he is Shan and interested in Shan mission.
5. I have received letter from Sai Nyunt Tha saying that committee have to meet twice and the expense of the meeting will be Kyat 7,000. My family and I will sponsor this meeting and pay for the expense. Please collect Kyat 7,000 from my sister Daw Mya Nu. Please keep me informed of your meeting and decision made.
6. I am praying for your Shan Bible Centennial Celebration in December. But if you mixed up BBC’s AGM and Shan Bible Centenary, please be careful not to allow our Shan Bible Celebration overshadowed by BBC’s AGM program.
7. I am sorry for not being able to help you in your program for drug addict rehabilitation. I wish you could consider about it when SBC is formed.
8. I am planning to send our Shan leaders to get opportunity of going abroad and getting some training.
9. I would like to urge you if we you have a meeting please consider for Christ’ work and make decision for Christ’ sake. Not for men or money.
10. Attached is my suggestion on draft constitution of our Shan Baptist Convention.
    In His Service,
    Signed/ Sai Htwe Maung
    (Draft constitution for Shan Baptist Convention was given to Formation Committee)

Letter from Kyaw Hla, LaShio, NSS, Burma to Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 20 January 1984

Dear brother Htwe and family,
May the blessing of New Year be upon you all. We had organized Shan Christmas in LaShio Shan Baptist Church. It was very joyful occasion. I have received a copy of your letter to Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha. I have got one sleeping bag from Daw Mya Nu. But I have not seen the other one. I have given Sai Aung Than Kyat 2,000 for his support. Nang Thi Da still has two more years to finish her university. We have Saw Ah Po from Nam Tu also asking for financial support for his study at Seminary. We hope we can form SBC in 1985.
We tried but failed to appoint Rev. Aung Htun Shwe to become pastor of First Baptist Church.
May God bless you richly,
Signed/ Kyaw Hla

Letter from Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha (General Secretary, ShweLi Shan Baptist Conference, NamKham, NSS, Burma) to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. (translated from Burmese) 15 February 1984

Dr. Sai Htwe,
I am replying your letter. I am so happy about the good news I have heard. I will try my best according to your wish to see SBC being formed. Can you come in 1985? I’ll be traveling from March till May. We have a man named Sai Aung Than to be our missionary to Palong people. We need to send him to TaungGyi Bible School for one year. Can you sponsor him? It may cost Kyat 2,500 to 3,000 a year. This will be the first mission to Palong people.
In His Service, Signed/ Sai Nyunt Tha

Letter from Rev. David Wang, Asian Outreach International to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong.
7 June 1984

Dear Dr. Sai,
Warmest Christian greetings!
Thank you very much for your contribution of HK$1,000 towards the sponsorship of Shan evangelist students.
Enclosed please find the official receipt for this love gift.
I think it is about time that we made our second contribution towards this project and I would be most grateful if you would give me a call to see if we can work out an appointment.
Dr. Sai, I am really eager to visit your country and I hope to do it together with you. I understand that you are thinking of returning to your country sometime in November. If there is any possibility that I can travel with you back to your country for a visit please let me know so that I can work it into my schedule.
Signed/ David Wang,
Executive Vice-President, Asian Outreach International.

Report on Shan Ministry in Burma, By Dr. Sai Htwe Maung. 18 June 1984

Dear Rev. David Wang,
We are praising the Lord for the light that shines in the darkness of the hidden land of the Shan people.
The year 1984 is the most blessed year for our least evangelized people. All the trained evangelists, lay evangelists and the Church leaders from different parts of the land get together in TaungGyi (a capital city of Shan State) for the first time in 100 years to praise and pray together for the ministry among the Shan.
We praise the Lord for the Shan Holy Bible given to us in 1891. We thank God for His revelation and merciful touch to the loving heart of the Asian Outreach International who lays out his helping hand to our people by sponsoring 18 Shan students to prepare themselves in Bible school to serve among the Shan. The response to the call is marvelous. Despite poverty in economy our evangelists are rich in the spirit. At this moment about only 10 full time evangelists are working desperately among the millions of Buddhist Shan.
We have had experienced the living Christ on Easter Sunday in the village of MuongPa. Two trained and one lay evangelists were carrying their own foods and marching through the jungle towards the un-reached people. It took two hours to get through the thick forest. No transportation accessible. They found the curious villagers and they shared with them the salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Amazingly seven families accepted Jesus. They were baptized. Immediately they shifted their sacrifices from idol to Christ. The Lord’s supper was prepared and offered to then. They are now praying for a shepherd and a worshiping place in this uncivilized area.
We desperately need the workers for the harvest. Shan Christian leaders are planning to have a youth seminar in May 1985 expecting 100 youths to get together for new vision. Please remember us in your prayer for the Shan people in their needs of evangelists, pastor and chapel.
In His Service, Signed/ Dr. Sai H.M.

Letter from Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong to Saya Sai Myint Lay, Secretary, Shan Baptist Mission.
29 June 1984

Greeting in the name of our Lord Jesus. By His grace I am able to do some work for Him. I pray that you all may be able to do better by the vision that has been revealed to you.
The matters I like to discuss with you are;

1. I praise God for your meeting in TaungGyi.
2. I agree with your draft constitution.
3. I don’t see representative from KengTung. Why? Is there a disagreement between East and North?
4. I also heard that Eastern Shan would hold a Shan Bible Centenary Celebration by their own. Is it true?
5. I have received the list of 18 students who are receiving financial support.
6. I will like to remind you that the money for students’ support is only for students. We cannot use it in other work. Asian Outreach is giving us for two years only. We have to support 4 years for our students. We still need to find more money for another two years. Please do not think that we have surplus. We may be in red. I am confidence and have faith that we’ll be able to support our students for four years.
7. I have not receive financial support for Youth Conference from Asian Outreach. We have to raise our own fund.
8. I met Harn Yawnghwe in Hong Kong. He is very much interested in our Shan Mission. We have Shan Bible 500 books ready. Where should I send them to?
9. There is a report on Shan mission and Macau mission in Asian Report in May/June 1984. I am thinking of translating Biblical Comic into Shan language. I will work with Han.
10. I talked with Asian Outreach and got money to buy bicycle for our Shan evangelists. We hope we can buy 10 bicycles. All these bicycles should be the properties of Shan Mission and kept under stewardship of Shan mission.
    Signed/ Dr. Sai Htwe Maung

Letter from Sai Dou Pau, Secretary, Shan Baptist Association, LaShio, NSS, Burma to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung. 16 September 1984

Dear Dr. Sai Htwe Maung,
By the decision of Shan Baptist Association made on 8 July 1984, I am writing this letter to you asking your help. After Rev. William Shwe Ya passed away there are conflicts between Shan and Karen Christian groups in First Baptist Church. I remember you very much. Before you went to Hong Kong you were the only one standing for us. U Kyaw Hla is growing old now. We don’t have many educated people among us. If SBC is formed we will certainly be a member. We want to buy a land for our Shan Church. A land at the corner of HsenWi road is asking for Kyat 300,000. Our Shan Church only has Kyat 30,000. Please kindly help us get the money to buy this land. Find donor for us.
In His Service,
Signed/ Sai Dou Pau.
General Secretary, Shan Baptist Association, LaShio.

Letter from Han Yawnghwe to Sai Htwe Maung. 25 September 1984

Saya Sai Htwe Maung and family,
I have received your letter on 19 September. I am very glad to hear your participation in His work. The money US$1,000 I sent to you is for mission work among the Shan. You can use whatever way you think necessary for Shan mission. You know the situation best and I leave the decision to your discretion and judgment.
Supporting a pastor in MuongPa also good idea. Building a Church building in MuongPa also good. But I want them to participate. People do not appreciate what they do not work for or pay for. Supporting Saya Aung Htun Shwe also good. I also want to help Shan Bible Centenary. I will find more money in the future. Regarding comic book and tracts I will discuss with UBS. I think they will agree. You continue doing translation. If you have any more tracts to translate please let me know.
May the peace of the Lord be with you.
Signed/ Han

Letter from Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong to Rev. David Wang, Asian Outreach International.
23 January 1985

Dear Brother,
Greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. May our almighty God be with you in your ministry in Asia. We wish to express our heartfelt thanks to you again for your sponsorship to our 20 Shan students who are studying in Seminary and Bible School for two years. We do very much appreciate your help to our Shan ministry in Burma. Unfortunately two students have been dropped from the school because of their physical health problem. Nevertheless the remaining eighteen are doing well in their study. Two new students will be added to the eighteen in the coming school year to make it twenty.
Dear brother, we are quite hesitated to tell you that there is no two years bible study courses available in Rangoon. However two years B.D program for university graduate, four years B.Th program for matriculation student and four years L.Th program for high school final student (form 5). Only two of our twenty students are qualified for B.D course. The others are in B.Th and L.Th courses.
Dear brother, please remember us in your prayer. Unite with us in the Spirit so that we may find more sponsorship for our 18 students who have to go two more years in Seminary. Also pray for our future evangelists so that they can serve Him effectively in His ministry.
Dear brother, it is good news that about 100 Shan Christian Youth will get together and hold a Youth Conference for 7 days starting from 9 May 85 to 15 May 85 in TaungGyi, a capital city of Shan State. Youths will be traveling hundreds of miles to attend the conference. Five Shan pastors will lead the programs. The programs consist of Bible Study, Personal Witnessing, Good Stewardship, Youth Leadership, Today’s Christian Youth and Gospel Music. I wish that one of your ministers in Asian Outreach ministry can witness to our Youth Conference and give them a speech or lecture in the conference.
Dear brother, the plan is so great and the expense is so high for us. The approximate expense of this conference is 40,600 Kyat (US$ 3,000). We have received US$1,000 gift from a friend from United Bible Society. We shall be very grateful to you if you will kindly consider for some financial help to us. We will never forget your generous gift of US$500 to our Shan Ministry in order to buy 10 bicycles to use in evangelistic trip. Pray that our Youth Conference will be a successful one and all the young stars be the Lights of the World.
In His Name,
Signed/ Sai Htwe Maung

Letter from Sai Myint Lay to Sai Htwe Maung. (Date was not mentioned)

Saya Htwe and family,
Greeting in Christ’ name. I have received your letter for quite sometime. I was too busy to reply. Please forgive me. By reading the minutes of the meeting you will know the situation. All students received financial support except Sai Hnom and Naw Lay Lay. We arranged Mr. Julian to meet with our Shan students. We cannot buy 10 bicycles because of inflation. We will buy four and give one each to ESS, NSS, SSS and ShweLi. Thanks for David comic. It is good. If possible I want you to send all the money (designed for students support for two years) in one time to us so that we can use it in investment and make more money. It can produce more money and can be used for four years and other Shan mission work. Shan Bible Centennial Celebration which is going to be held in KengTung in April 1985 is just “pre-celebration.” Not actual one. Because it is also our Eastern Shan Baptist Conference AGM. I could not get air ticket to go to TaungGyi for SBC formation meeting.
May God bless your family.
Signed/ Sai Myint Lay

Letter from Rev. Aung Htun Shwe to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung. 2 September 1985

Dr. Sai,
Thanks for the photos you sent. We had recorded sermons for FEBC on 18th and 20th July with Sai Myint Lay and Sai Leng in Chiangmai, altogether 15 sermons and back to Rangoon on 22nd. When I visited U Kyaw Hla in LaShio I have heard about financial support to students studying in Seminary. Regarding this matter I want to discuss with you personally. If you are not going to continue supporting these students they certainly cannot continue their study. They have to go back home. That is why may I urge you to have “silver heart and golden heart” and continue supporting them. This matter may be carried through our Shan mission history. You are “vital” in this matter. Please kindly continue supporting them. I personally urge you.
May the Kingdom of God be established.
Signed/ Rev. Sai Aung Htun Shwe

Note: (Sai Htwe Maung was very disappointed when he met Sai Aung Htun Shwe and Sai Myint Lay in Thailand during Shan Bible Translation Conference in July 1985. They demanded him to give them all the money he had in his hand for Shan Seminary students support so that they could use it in doing some investments by using the money to earn more money. When Sai Htwe Maung explained to them that he did not have all the money in hand because the money was only transferred to him by Asian Outreach once in three months, not all the money for the whole four years. However they did not believe him and expressed suspicion on him. Then Sai Htwe Maung was very upset and he sent a letter to the Shan Baptist Mission telling them that he would not continue taking responsibility any more in supporting the students because of Aung Htun Shwe and Sai Myint Lay attitude and demanding all the money from him what he did not have. Later Sai Htwe Maung forgave them and continued supporting all the students until they all graduated from Bible Schools and Seminaries)

Letter from Kyaw Hla, LaShio, NSS, Burma to Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 18 January 1986

Dear Brother Htwe,
By the Grace of God we all are well. I pray that you and your family and mother also be well.
It is a miracle that we can feed 10,000 people for three day during Shan Bible Centennial Celebration. Saya Sai Myint Lay will leave BBC and go back to KengTung to work with Eastern Shan State Shan Baptist. We have 7 people dedicated for the mission. The cassette recorder you have sent to us was in the hand of Saya Sai Nyunt Tha. Saya Aung Htun Shwe is serving at Kyaukmae Church with salary of
Kyat 450 per month as he is also doing full time Bible translation work. (He was also paid by UBS). Nang Thida (Saya Aung Htun Shwe’s daughter) has graduated after your two years of your support.
Signed/ U Kyaw Hla

Letter from Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha (General Secretary, ShweLi Shan Baptist Conference, NamKham, NSS, Burma) to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 16 March 1986

Dr. Sai Htwe,
I am writing to you with much remembrance. I am praying for you that you will be fine and serving the Lord much more. I am really tired after Shan Bible Centennial Celebration. But I do have a great Spiritual strength. I feel so sorry for you could not come. If you would have come I’ll be happier and have a lot of thing to talk with you. I have received your letter. Please forgive me for my late reply. I am really expecting our new Shan graduates from Seminary. We can work more and better with them. I am glad that you will continue supporting our students in Seminary. Some of them are already graduated and serving. Saya Maung Khaing is now serving in LaShio Shan Church. Saya Sai Maung Lay will be graduating in 1986 and going to serve in AeMock village. Saya Maung Su is planning to go to see new mission work in MuongPa. MuongKong is asking for a pastor. Please think about helping Nang Shwe Aye to study at M.I.T. in coming year with Kyat 3,000 for a year. Kachin Baptist is now working with us to reach Shan people in Kachin State. We are working with BBC in new Palong mission. Saya Sai Maung Than is our missionary. We need Kyat 10,000 to buy land for Palong and Chinese to replace their work from growing opium to paddy field. We want to start it in 1987. We also need Kyat 10,000 to help MuongPa mission work to offer people there to have land for cultivation and plantation. Please help us consider about it. We are planning to have a long mission trip by bicycle from 1 April. We will start from NamKham, Northern Shan State, to Southern Shan State preaching gospel to all the villages we pass by. There will be 12 people in our team including oldest member Lu Aung. We have taken Kyat 1,750 from Daw Mya Nu. (Donated by Sai Htwe Maung). Please kindly remember for us. Please help us raise fund for our need.
In His Service, Signed/ Sai Nyunt Tha

Letter from U Kyaw Hla, LaShio, NSS, Burma to Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 16 March 1986

Dear Brother,
With lot of remembrance I am writing to you. May the Lord bless you, your family and our old mother richly. I have received your two letters on 1 February. I want to tell you the following things.
The Bible School graduates who did not serve in ministry are;

1. Saya Ai Wit, Saya Ba Pe and Saya Thein Win
2. Saya Maung Khaing started serving at LaShio Shan Baptist Church in February 1986. Sai Maung Lay serves in AeMock village, Sai Maung Than serves in Palong mission. Saya Ai Myat has not yet decided where he is going to serve. He chooses the place.
3. Nang Thida Htun Shwe has applied for BD study at Seminary. I am not sure if she is really interested in Shan mission. You can judge by yourself whether you are going to support her.
4. We are thinking of sending Rev. Khin Maung to MuongKong.
5. We can think of supporting our evangelist Kyat 250 to 300 per month.
6. It will be very long to tell you in detail about Shan Bible Centennial Celebration. I want to let you know that your gospel songs were playing all days and all night during celebration. Many people requested for the copy of your songs.
7. The celebration started by about ten thousand people wearing our Shan costume, marching from downtown of NamKham to the NongSanKone with our Shan musical Gong-Mong .
8. On 28 December there was opening ceremony of Cushing Memorial Hall in MyoMa Church.
9. There was an honoring program for 58 pastors, 103 people who have achieved higher education and 23 people who have higher position in civil service.
10. There were 273 people baptized.
11. We expected Kyat 200,000 for the expenses. God was so gracious. We even had surplus after celebration.
12. One bicycle will cost about Kyat 2,800.
    May the Lord bless you richly. Signed/ Kyaw Hla

Letter from Rev. Sai Aung Htun Shwe to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 26 March 1986

Dr. Sai Htwe Maung,
I am writing to you with much remembrance. My family and I moved to Kyaukmae on 15 March 1986.
5 days a week I do Bible translation and involve in Church work on Saturday and Sunday. Our Shan Bible Centennial Celebration has finished well. We had 10,000 rice packets for 10,000 people on 29th. 318 baptized and 1800 partake Holy Communion. I went to attend translation workshop in Rangoon. By the Holy Spirit’s inspiration I have finished Genesis chapter 23. I have sent them to Sai Leng to type it into computer. I have received your comment on Ruth. Thank you. I have also received Proverb chapter 10 from Han. My daughter Nang Thida has finished her BA degree from University. Thanks for supporting her. Please kindly consider supporting her for her study in B.I.T.
Signed/ Rev. Aung Htun Shwe.

Letter from Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong to Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha, (General Secretary, ShweLi Shan Baptist Mission, NamKham, NSS, Burma) 6 May 1986

Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha,
Greeting in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I am praying that by His guidance and discipline our Shan mission will be successful. According to your letter I am very much interested in helping you. I believe that our Shan mission work is not the work of a single person. We need to work together to achieve our goal. I would like to suggest you to form a “Northern Shan State Shan Evangelistic Committee” to oversee the work. I would like to see members from LaShio, MuSe, SeLan and NamKham participate. After forming this committee I will send Kyat 15,000 as a donation for the mission. You can use it according to your committee decision. I have sent one camera to Daw Mya Nu for ShweLi Shan Baptist Association. Please pay custom duty fee and collect it.
Cc to LaShio Shan Baptist Church, MuSe Shan Baptist Church, SeLan Shan Baptist Church
NamKham Shan Baptist Church, Daw Mya Nu, Rangoon.

(1987-1989)

Letter from Sai Stephen, KengTung, ESS, Burma to Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 6 May 1987

Dear Saya Htwe,
I have received your latter on 24 March. I have just returned from mission trip from 24 March to 30 April with 14 members in my team. I got Malaria from my trip. Many of us got Malaria infection. I thought I was going to die. We need a lot of treatment after coming back. There were 8 Shan and 6 Karen in our mission team. Many of us speak Shan and Lahu. We had visited 18 villages and preached gospel to 3,687 people. We got stoned while we were preaching gospel. But we did not afraid. Sometime we had to walk for 7 miles. We had baptized 64 people. We spent Kyat 10,000 during our trip. It was supported by Calvary Church in KengTung. We cannot simply go into Buddhist village and preach gospel. We have to go in by the way of teaching literature and racial concern. Quite a number of Buddhist villages accepted us. We usually sing, present drama and preach. It will be successful if we can go every year. Next October we are going to 5 Shan villages because they have invited us again. After this mission trip 3 members of our team are going to Seminary to prepare for future ministry. My plan to go and study in Korea is not yet confirmed.
Concerning Rev. Aung Htun Shwe’s Bible Translation, sometime good but sometime bad. We really need the guidance of the Holy Spirit in this work. I try my best to check it by looking through TEV, RSV and Cushing Shan Bible. We need to pray for Rev. Aung Htun Shwe.
In Christ, / Sai Stephen

Letter from Rev. Shwe Htun, NongSanKone Shan Baptist Church, NamKham to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 3 February 1988

Dear Dr. Sai Htwe Maung,
With respect I reply to your letter. By His grace my family and I and our brothers and sisters in MuSe and NamKham are all well. I hope that you and your family are also well.
I have received your letter per kind favor of Sai Thein Aung Kham. I am very glad for your planning for 21st Century Shan Mission Project and agree in appointing Sai Thein Aung Kham and Sai Stephen as your Assistant Directors. I am very proud of your dedication, sacrifice and leadership. By your effort in formation of Shan Baptist Convention, leadership production, guidance, evangelism, investment and support are very helpful in our ministry. May the blessing and peace of the Lord be upon you and your family. Amen.
We are making utmost effort in our ShweLi Shan Mission.

1. Planning for celebration of ShweLi Shan Baptist Mission Centenary Celebration in
   1993.
2. Join mission with BBC to Palong mission for five years.
3. KoLone Chinese mission work.
4. MuongPa Shan mission work.
5. Support BD students in our leadership production.
6. Celebration of 175th Judson memorial day.
7. Support Shan State Bible School.
   Signed/ Rev. Shwe Htun

(1990-1992)

Letter from Rev. Shwe Htun, General Secretary, ShweLi Shan Baptist Mission, NamKham, N.S.S. to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong.17 October 1991.

Dr. Sai Htwe Maung,
You have been appointed as our representative to foreign country. That is why we would like you to give us all detailed report of your work and support to ShweLi Shan Baptist Mission and other Shan Christians in term of;

1. Money 2. Materials 3. Other things you have given to us so that we can present it to executive meeting on 26-27 December 1991.
   I write this letter by decision made by board meeting on 23 September 1991.
   In Service,
   Signed/ Shwe Htun.

Letter from Sai Htwe Maung to Sai Stephen, Cc to Saya Sai Thein Aung Kham, Saya Sai Shwe Htun, Saya Sai Tip, U Kyaw Hla, Daw Mya Nu. 24 December 1991

Dear Saya Sai Stephen,
I have received your letter. I am very happy to hear about your work for the Lord. I am praying for you every day. I hope you will also receive my letter. The matters I want to discuss with you are:

1. To support your three months Bible Training program I have sent money to Daw Mya Nu. Please go see Daw Mya Nu in Rangoon and get the money. As we have expected please carry on forward. Please give me detailed of the budget. Please ask the trainees to give their testimonies and send them to me. We have to trust God as we serve Him.
2. In the near future our New Shan Hymnbook with music note will be published. If you can take responsibility of distributing it I will print it in Thailand. If Sai Thein Aung Kham can take responsibility I will print it in China. Please let me know of your opinion as soon as possible. We have to sell them to pay for the expenses of printing and transportation. I have also received letter from Sai Thein Aung Kham about his work on the border. I have talked to Haggai Institute for Sai Thein Aung Kham. I don’t know whether they will accept you. We have to work hard for we are responsible for Christ.
3. I would like Sai Stephen to resign from full-time pastoral ministry from the Church and commit full-time for our 21st Century Shan Mission Project. If we don’t work that way the work will never be done. What do you think? If I support you Kyat 1,000 monthly can you work for our Shan mission project full-time? I trust you will see the face of the Lord instead of the face of the money.
   Let us say “Have Thine Own Way Lord.”
   Signed/ Sai Htwe Maung

Letter from Rev. Shwe Htun, General Secretary, ShweLi Shan Baptist Mission, NamKham, NSS, Burma to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 27 February 1992

Dr. Sai Htwe Maung,

1. According to ShweLi Shan Baptist Mission decision I am writing this letter to you to clarify misunderstanding between us regarding asking you to give us report on your work.
2. It is true that Dr. Sai Htwe Maung has gone to Hong Kong by his own plan, not sent by ShweLi Baptist Mission and not paid by ShweLi Baptist Mission. But we have nominated you as official representative with full executive power on 30 May 1980 so that you can attend Asian Christian Conference as a Shan Christian.
3. We are very much regretting to hear that Dr. Sai Htwe Maung did not remember how much and how many support you have given to us. We only know that you have supported our 19 students to study in Seminary. Other than this support we have not seen any other support. We have not received financial support from you.
4. Since we have not received anything from you, the suspicion of conflict for material and financial support among us is not true.
5. We are happy to hear that your New Shan Hymnbook is finished. We will continue spreading this news to other Churches.
6. As an AD 2000 project we have Bible training for 100 people in May 1992 in MuSe.
7. From 3 September 1992 we will have 3 months training in NamKham.
8. In December 1993 we will celebrate ShweLi Shan Baptist Mission Centennial Celebration and 115th AGM of BBC in MuSe.
   In His Service, Signed/ Rev. Shwe Htun,
   Cc Rev. Sai Stephen, Kyaw Hla.

Letter from Dr. Sai Htwe Maung to Rev. Shwe Htun, ShweLi Valley Shan Baptist Mission.
24 March 1992

Subject: The support to ShweLi Shan Baptist Mission

Dear Saya Shwe Htun,
I have received your latter dated 27 February 1992.
I am glad you said that you have authorized me to be a representative of ShweLi Shan Baptist Mission. However I have never used the name of ShweLi Baptist Mission in my effort to work for all the Shan Churches in Burma. I have never talked to people as representative of ShweLi but as a Shan Christian for all the Shan people. In fact people here don’t know ShweLi. The letter of authorizing me to speak on your behalf was also never used. It is not fair to me to have responsibility of reporting my work to ShweLi because of your authorization. I am here in Hong Kong as a medical doctor, working, earning and supporting my family and myself. I have not received either salary or support from ShweLi as your representative. I am also not sent by ShweLi to Hong Kong. I come here by my own. If you think I have responsibility of giving you report about my work because of your authorization please kindly withdraw your letter of authorization, which I have never used. Nevertheless I will try my best to help ShweLi Shan Baptist Mission. You can feel free to ask me if you want to know what I am doing but do not put it to me as my duty to report to you.
I am very much regretting to hear from you that you have not received any support from me either financially or materially. I am very surprised. Please let me tell you what I have given to ShweLi Shan Baptist Mission.

1. In 1980 I have given to Saya Sai Nyunt Tha, the general secretary of ShweLi Shan Baptist Mission, one Cassette Recorder for ShweLi Shan Baptist Mission.
2. I have supported Sai Aung Than, NamKham, financially for three years, Kyat 2,000 each year, to study at Bible School.
3. In 1982 I have sent two sleeping bags to U Kyaw Hla for ShweLi Shan Baptist Mission. I have heard that Saya Aung Htun Shwe has taken one.
4. In May 1986 I have given one Camera to Saya Sai Nyunt Tha for ShweLi Shan Baptist Mission.
5. In May 1986 I have sent money Kyat 15,000 to Sai Nyunt Tha for ShweLi Shan Baptist Mission.
6. In 1987 I have sent money Kyat 1,000 for Rev. U Moon, SeLan Church.
7. In April 1991 I have sent one Camera to Saya Yaw Shu for MuSe Shan Baptist Church.

For all Shan Churches in Burma;

1. Together with Asian Outreach I have supported 19 students at Seminaries and Bible Schools with total Kyat 128,527.
2. I have supported Shan mission meeting at TaungGyi and LaShio with Kyat 7,000.
3. I have supported Saya Htun Kaing, TaungGyi and Saya Sai Stephen, KengTung, one year with Kyat 2,400.
4. I have supported Sai Thein Aung Kham in his travel to organize Shan mission with Kyat 1,515.
5. In 1986 I have sent one slide projector to U Kyaw Hla for Shan Mission.
6. In 1990 I have given one gestetner to Sai Stephen for Shan Mission. But I have heard that they did not have money to pay for custom duty at Rangoon.
7. I gave money Kyat 70,000 for training in KengTung in February 1992.

Shan Mission works that I am doing on volunteer basis are:

1. Writing and publishing New Shan Hymnbook with music notes.
2. Writing and printing Gospel Tracts for the Shan.
3. Preaching Gospel in Radio every morning to the Shan in Burma, Thailand and China.
   I now believe that you know what I have done for ShweLi Shan Baptist Mission and all Shan Churches and the Shan people. Please do not say that I have done nothing for you and given nothing to you. Please do not have suspicion on me. God knows all things. God sees the heart. We cannot hide anything from Him. We can lie to the people but we cannot lie to God. Please try your best to serve the Lord in Shan Mission. Shan are not only in ShweLi. Shan are everywhere in Asia. Please don’t look so narrow. Look wider. Have the forgiving heart. Do not have the heart of jealousy. Do not be conformed to the world. Please know that religion or organization cannot save the soul. Salvation is from Christ only. The Church cannot convert the people but the gospel preached by the servant of God. I am praying for you all.
   Signed/ Sai Htwe Maung
   Hong Kong. 14 March 1992.
   Cc to Saya Thein Aung Kham, Saya Sai Stephen, U Kyaw Hla.

(Original letter of authorization from Secretary, ShweLi Valley Shan Baptist Mission, Date 30th May 1980)

To.
Dr. Sai Htwe Maung,
Emmanuel Medical Mission, 40 Shing Tak Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Subject: Delegate of the Shan Baptist Mission
Sir,
At the annual meeting of the Shan Baptist Mission held on 2nd January 1980 at SeLan Shan Baptist Church, it was voted that you have been nominated as official representative of the Shan Baptist Mission with the full executive powers.
In His Service,
Signed (Rev. Sai Nyunt Tha)
Secretary, Shan Baptist Mission, MUSE, N.S.S, Burma.
Copy to:

1. Sai Stephen, Secretary, Shan Baptist Association, KengTung, ESS
2. Kyaw Hla, Northern Shan State Shan Baptist Association, LaShio.

Letter from Rev. Sai Stephen to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung. 30 April 1992

Dear Dr. Sai Htwe Maung,
I have received your letter. Thank you for praying for us. Forgive me for not being able to write to you immediately because I was engaged in teaching at trainings in TaChiLeik, KengTung and KyoPyu.
Our evangelistic training finished successfully. 19 attended. We had 4 trainers.
The income and expenditure of the training;
Income

1. Dr. Sai Htwe Maung 70,000 Kyat
2. Shan believers 16,500 Kyat
3. Shan Baptist Association 10,000 Kyat
4. Trainees 1,900 Kyat
5. Offering at closing worship 2,387 Kyat
   Total 100,787 Kyat

Expense

1. Daily meal for 19 persons for 30 days 25,650 Kyat
2. Office 2,255 Kyat
3. Traveling x 19 persons 25,000 Kyat
4. Gifts 5,000 Kyat
   Total 57,905 Kyat

Surplus 42,882 Kyat

We have chosen 7 persons from our training and sent them out to evangelize non-Christian villages.

Children Hostel
Name: Shan Christian Hostel for the future leadership of Shan Mission
Duration: The first five years (1992-1997)
Location: Baptist Mission Compound, NongPha, KengTung, ESS, Myanmar.
Aim and purpose: To train and educate young persons
To nurture spiritual leadership
To nurture future country leadership
To nurture spiritual and social growth of young persons
Students: To admit 25 students annually. (20 from Shan Churches and 5 from non-Christian)
Budget: Total 370,000 Kyat in 1992-1993
302,000 Kyat in 1993-1994
302,000 Kyat in 1994-1995
302,000 Kyat in 1995-1996
302,000 Kyat in 1996-1997
I think God is using me in Shan ministry to have a great burden of my uneducated people. I confess that we, Shan Christians, are so weak and so poor. We cannot bear or take this great responsibility. But we know that our Father in heaven is so rich. Through Him we can do every thing. We know that our project is only a minor case before the Lord. We have faith in Him. Whether we get the supporting finance from others or not we will not stop our program. We will continue doing as good as we can. But we believe that God will grant us what we need.
May God bless you all.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Signed/ Rev. Sai Stephen.

Letter from Dr. Sai Htwe Maung to Sai Stephen, Cc to Sai Thein Aung Kham, Saya Shwe Htun, U Kyaw Hla, Nang Hla Kyi. 25 May 1992

Dear Saya Sai Stephen,
I have received your letter. The testimonies of the trainees are very encouraging. We are very happy. We are praying for seven evangelists who are going to evangelize seven villages. Continue doing His work of salvation. Whatever we are doing He is with us. We cannot hide from Him or lie to Him. Whatever we do one day we have to open up in front of Him. We believe God will give us crown of blessing richly.
I have told David Wang about your training. They are very happy. They will put information in Asian Report. We need picture. Please send me as soon as possible.
You can use the money left in your hand as you think appropriate. I agree. I need a man who can help me in my radio program. Is there any one interested and dedicated for this radio ministry? If there is any one interested I will call him to Hong Kong, I’ll give him a place to live, food to eat and pocket money HK$ 1,000 monthly. He or she should be Shan, know how to read and write Shan, speak Shan fluently and interested in mission and dedicated. Let him/her write her CV to me as soon as possible.
Please make announcement of this news to all our Shan Churches.
May God bless you richly.
I am praying for you.
Signed/ Sai Htwe Maung
(No one has applied. No one comes to help me in this radio program)

Letter from Dr. Sai Htwe Maung to Rev. Sai Stephen, Dr. Sai Myo Min, Sai La La, U Kyaw Hla and Nang Hla Kyi. 5 November 1992

By His wonderful grace I have been to Maesai and TaChiLeik and met with Sai Stephen and Dr. Sai Myo Min and discussed about our New Shan Hymnbook. By His grace we have overcome satanic attack.

1. New Shan Hymnbook 5,000 copies in number.
2. 2,500 for Eastern Shan and Southern Shan State.
3. 2,500 for Northern Shan State and ShweLi.
4. All Shan Churches are requested to have Thanksgiving service when using this Hymnbook for the first time.
5. As for donation please ask people to give K 250 for one Hymnbook.
6. Please ask the Church to pay for the books instead of collecting from individuals.
7. All the money received from selling the Hymnbooks must be used for 21st Century Shan Mission works. I wish Sai Stephen, Dr. Sai Myo Min and Sai La La will take care of the fund for the Eastern and Southern Shan State, U Kyaw Hla and Nang Hla Kyi will take care of the fund from ShweLi and Northern Shan State.
8. Sai Stephen will be responsible in transporting 2,500 Hymnbooks from TaChiLeik to TaungGyi and U Kyaw Hla will be responsible to transport them from TaungGyi to ShweLi.
   The expenses for transportation should be deducted from the sale.
   It is a special gifts from me to U Kyaw Hla & family 10 Hymnbooks.
   Also special gifts to my mother and Nang Hla Kyi 10 books.
   Signed/ Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong.

Letter from Rev. Sai Stephen, ESS, Burma, Associate Director, 21st Century Shan Mission Project, to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, Director, 21st Century Shan Mission Project. 30 December 1992

Dr. Sai Htwe Maung,
Greeting in the name of our Lord Jesus!

1. Concerning New Shan Hymnbook, I have not heard about it. Dr. Sai Myo Min said he had not yet received it. Our Shan Churches are expecting the arrival of New Shan Hymnbook. I also talked to Sai Thein Aung Kham about New Shan Hymnbook. He also very excited and happy to have your New Shan Hymnbooks. The Southern Shan State Shan Churches also happy and waiting for New Shan Hymnbook.
2. Concerning training program, I have already made a plan. 10 people will attend. We have one difficulty. It is “budget.” In the beginning we expected to have New Shan Hymnbook in time and we can sell them and get the money to use for our training. But since we have not gotten Hymnbook we need about Kyat 50,000 because in my hand I only have Kyat 12,000. We expect to receive from trainees Kyat 5,000. Our Shan Association has Kyat 10,000.

I expect to send 5 evangelists to five villages after training. Please pray for me much more.
May the blessing of the Lord be upon you and your family.
In Christ, Signed/ Sai Stephen

(1993-1995)

Letter from Rev. Sai Stephen, Associate Director, 21st Century Shan Mission Project, to Miss. Jean Harper, Asian Outreach International. 1 January 1993

Dear Jean,
Happy New Year. Greetings to you from KengTung, Burma. How are you Jean? As for me I am well and strong serving my Lord Jesus Christ in my area, Thank God for giving me strength and good friends such as you, Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, Brian & Ruth and the staffs of AOI who always pray for me.
As for me, by the leading of Jesus Christ, I had opened the Evangelist Training for two times. There were 33 Evangelists graduated. Most of them are serving in their Churches and their areas without payment. Among them 7 selected Evangelists are serving in our targeting areas, 5 villages. We help them with only little financial support. They totally consecrated themselves in serving the Lord. The wages of their dedication are so great. Praise the Lord that in 1992 we have planted 4 new Shan Churches and 108 believers were baptized in the name of the Lord. We hope that in 1993 we will also meet a great success among our Shan by the grace of God. Now we are gearing up for opening one month Evangelist Training on March 1st to 30th at Calvary Baptist Church. We hope that 25 young Shan will join us. After the graduation we will choose 5 Evangelists and send them to the selecting areas to plant now Churches within 3 years.
We also thank God and Dr. Sai Htwe Maung for trying very hard for us to receive the new Shan Hymnbooks in 1993. We hope that it will arrive in every hand of our Shan people in January 1993. Please always remember us in your prayer and send the news of us to your friends to pray for Shan mission.
God bless you, Jean.
In His Wonderful Service, Signed/ Sai Stephen

Letter from Rev. Sai Stephen, Associate Director, 21st Century Shan Mission Project, to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, Director, 21st Century Shan Mission Project. 26 February 1993

Dr. Sai Htwe Maung,
May the Lord bless you and your work.

1. Regarding New Shan Hymnbook, I went to TaChiLeik three times but could not get the Hymnbook because they have not sent to Maesai. I have asked Dr. Sai Myo Min to collect it on my behalf and send them to KengTung. But when I heard the books have arrived I sent a car to carry it to KengTung. I now have got total 2,280 New Shan Hymnbooks. Churches in KengTung and MuongYawng are so happy and praising God and using it now. We all like to thank God, thank you Dr. Sai Htwe Maung and those helping printing these Hymnbooks. Please express our thanks to David Wang of Asian Outreach for sponsoring this project. I will take responsibility of sending some of them to Northern and Southern Shan State.
2. Our Evangelistic training will begin on February 28 till March 28. About 15 people are coming to attend training. The trainers will be myself, Rev. Seng Tip, Saya Sai Philip and Saya Sai Hnoon.
3. On February 24th, 29 families (the whole village with about 200 people) accepted the Lord and baptized.
4. After training, 5 graduates will be sent out to 5 villages with financial support of K 800 per month. Please remember them in your prayer.
   God bless.
   In Christ, Signed/ Sai Stephen

Letter from Rev. Sai Stephen, Eastern Shan Baptist Convention, KengTung, ESS, to Rev. Sai Thein Aung Kham, ShweLi Shan Baptist Association, NamKham, NSS, on 2 March 1993.

To. Rev. Thein Aung Kham, Chairman, ShweLi Shan Baptist Association, NongSanKone, NamKham.

Dear Saya,
Greeting in Jesus’ name. By the grace of God our Shan Hymnbooks have arrived. I have sent 2,168 copies in 10 boxes to TaungGyi designated for ShweLi Shan Baptist Association. Please make contact with Saya Sai Htun Myat or Saya U Khun Aye Pe and take it to NamKham as soon as possible. The books will be in the hand of U Khin Maung Hlat who helps transport them to TaungGyi. You have to settle with U Khin Maung Hlat for transportation expenses. Transportation expenses from TaChiLeik, KengTung and TaungGyi will be Kyat 15 per book, for 2,160 books will cost Kyat 32,400.
We have many difficulties in transportation. But we will not count it at all. Please come and take them quickly.
In His Service, Signed/ Sai Stephen,
Cc Saya Sai Maung Khaing, LaShio, Saya Sai Htun Myat, TaungGyi,
U Khin Maung Hlat, TaungGyi.

Letter from Rev. Sai Thein Aung Kham, MyoMa Baptist Church, NamKham, NSS, Burma, to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 8 March 1993

Dr. Sai Htwe and family,
Greeting in the name of our precious Lord Jesus Christ!
Thank you for your New Shan Hymnbook. I have heard that it has arrived TaungGyi. May the Lord bless you more. I have heard from Sai Stephen that we can sell the book Kyat 250 each. We can deduct for our transportation expenses and the remaining balance can be used for our Shan mission. Is it true? Please kindly write official letter to us. We praise God for wisdom He has entrusted to you for our Shan Missions.
Our 3 months training has finished. 12 graduated. 2nd batch will begin on 1 June. We expect 15-20 trainees. Please pray for us. We expect later we can have a Bible School. We would like to see you come and participate our ShweLi Mission Centennial Celebration from 23-27 December 1993. Please write and share your vision to enrich our Shan ministry. We have received your New Shan Hymnbook 2,160 in number. Thank you very much. We are praying for you,
Signed/ Sai Thein Aung Kham.

17th March 1993
From; Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong to Rev. Sai Stephen, KengTung, Eastern Shan State; Rev. Sai Thein Aung Kham, NamKham, Northern Shan State; Lung Kyaw Hla, LaShio, Northern Shan State; Nang Hla Kyi, LaShio, Northern Shan State.

I have received letters from Sai Stephen and Sai Thein Aung Kham. May the Lord bless you richly.
The matters I will like to discuss with you are;

1. I am glad and praising God for our New Shan Hymnbooks have arrived Eastern Shan State, Southern Shan State and Northern Shan State. May His name be glorified by using this hymnal. I have printed 5,000 copies. I keep 20 with me and I send 4,980 to you. Please let me know how many books you have received.
2. The price of the book will be Kyat 250. Please deduct all the expense for transportation and the balance should be kept for 21st century Shan mission project only. Please do not use the money for any other things.
3. I would like Sai Stephen, Sai La La and Dr. Sai Myo Min from the Eastern Shan State to manage the books, sale and money received from Eastern Shan State.
4. For Northern Shan State and ShweLi, I would like Lung Kyaw Hla, Nang Hla Kyi and Sai Thein Aung Kham to oversee the book, sale and money received from sale.
5. When you are going to use the money please kindly get advice from me.
6. I have heard that some Shan people have believed the Lord in the Eastern Shan State. I am very glad. May the Lord add more blessing to Sai Stephen and other evangelists. I am glad that Sai Stephen has conducted training for evangelists and sent them out to villages after graduation. We need to send more evangelists out to the field. If no body was sent out after training, our training will be a waste of time, money and energy. We have to work. If we don’t work the work will never be done. We have to do as we say.
7. I am praying that I will be able to come and join you in ShweLi Shan Mission Centenary Celebration and 75th anniversary of MuSe Shan Church.
8. I met and talked with Rev. Win Tin and Prof: William Paw about our wish of forming Shan Baptist Convention. They agreed with me and asked you to write a letter to Myanmar Baptist Convention again. They said it was possible. I really want to see “Shan Baptist Convention” formed during Centenary Celebration.
9. I am planning to have “Dai Mao” (Chinese-Shan) program in Far East Broadcasting Company starting from September this year. I have written to you and asked you to help and participate in this program. However I have not received reply from you. Please let me know as soon as possible whether you will be able to help and participate in preaching Dai Mao.
   May the Lord bless you richly,
   Signed/ Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong
   Note: (ShweLi Shan Baptist Mission has not contributed any Dai Mao program till today.)

Letter from Rev. Sai Stephen, Associate Director, 21st Century Shan Mission Project, to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, Director, 21st Century Shan Mission Project. 24 March 1993

Dr. Sai Htwe Maung,
Greeting in the name of Christ.
I have received your letter and letter of invitation to attend Asian Outreach Conference in Hong Kong. Thank you for working out for me. I will try to come to attend AO conference. I am going to Rangoon to apply for passport. I hope God will arrange for me. All the New Shan Hymnbooks have arrived KengTung. All the Churches starting with dedication and using it now. I have sent some to TaungGyi for the South and North. I have heard they have all arrived.
Our training will end on March 28. We have 20 people dedicated for mission. We are very much encouraged. We will select 7 people and send them to seven villages to plant new Churches. We will support them with K 800 per month. Our mission work has started to bear fruits. On March 21, 1993, Rev. Seng Tip and I have baptized 47 new believers. They all came from spirit worship.
Please remember us in your prayer.
In Christ, Signed/ Sai Stephen

Letter from Rev. Shwe Htun, Secretary, ShweLi Valley Shan Baptist Mission, to U Kyaw Hla, LaShio. 31 March 1993.

Dear U Kyaw Hla,
Respectfully I write this letter to you. I have received your letter brought to me by Sai Ne Win. I feel very sorry for what has happened.
Actually Sai Thein Aung Kham, Sai Htun Myat and I have read a letter from Sai Stephen and we have made such arrangement (to bring the Shan Hymnbooks to ShweLi). We did not have intention of making profit on it. As mentioned by Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, the copies of Hymnbooks are not 2,500 in number. In 18 big bags, there are 120 books in one bag. There are 18 bags. All together there are 2,160 books only. For LaShio Shan Church, Sai Ne Win has taken 1,000 copies from us to LaShio. Now we have 1,160 in ShweLi. After we have sold them we will deduct our expenses on transportation and send the balance to you. But I am too busy to do it now.
In His Service, Signed/ Rev. Shwe Htun

Letter from Rev. Sai Stephen, KengTung to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 8 April 1993

Dear Dr. Sai Htwe Maung,
Greeting in Christ’s name.
I am now in Rangoon. I have applied for passport. I think I can get it in May. Please send air ticket by 10 May. Please let me know what do I need to bring to Hong Kong. I will get ready for Shan Mission report. I don’t have coat to wear. Our one-month training finished on 28 March. 20 graduated. We selected 5 and sent them out already. Our New Shan Hymnbooks have gone to all Shan Churches in Myanmar. All the Churches are using it. I would like to thank you and Asian Outreach for sponsoring this project. Most of all thank God! Please come and pick me up at Hong Kong airport. Otherwise I’ll get lost.
Yours In Christ, Signed/ Sai Stephen

Letter from Rev. Sai Stephen, Associate Director, 21st Century Shan Mission Project, to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, Director, 21st Century Shan Mission Project. 6 September 1993

Dear Dr. Sai Htwe Maung,
By the grace of God we all are well. I have received your letter. I hope you may have received my letter and budget proposal.

1. Regarding Shan radio broadcast many people are listening. Sai On, who writes you letter, listens every morning. He goes to other people’s home and helps them tune in your program. He asks many Buddhist friends to listen. I heard a Buddhist family in MuongLan listen to your program every morning. FEBC mistakenly broadcast Christmas program from August 15-21. They have to be a little more careful about it.
2. After coming back from Hong Kong I traveled to MuongYang and TaChiLeik and preached to them.
3. You can send gospel tract to Maesai address.
4. Please ask AO to send me Asian Report monthly.
5. I’ll try to go to MuSe in December Centennial Celebration.
   May God bless you.
   Signed/ Sai Stephen

Report on Income and Expenses on New Shan Hymnbooks
By Rev. Sai Stephen, ESS, Burma.
Income Expenses
Transportation to ShweLi K 30,400 Transportation to KengTung K 73,800
Shan Hymnbook sold K 175,000 Transportation to TaungGyi K 12,000
Total K 205,000 Total K 85,800
Surplus K 119,600
Report on Income and Expenses on 1993 Shan Mission Budget, (January – July)
By Rev. Sai Stephen, ESS, Burma.
Income Expenses
1992 Surplus K 5,280 Evangelistic Training K 52,859
1993 Training K 15,071 14 Evangelists K 98,000
Eastern Shan Conference K 15,000 Traveling Expenses K 10,000
Churches K 13,000 Medicines and clothes K21,000
Shan Hymnbook sold K 119,600 Church Building K 20,000
Total K 187,951 K 201,895
Deficit K 13,944.

Letter from Rev. Sai Stephen, Associate Director, 21st Century Shan Mission Project, to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, Director, 21st Century Shan Mission Project. 18 October 1993

Dr. Sai Htwe Maung,
By His Grace we are well here. I believe that by His Grace you are also well and serving Him.

1. I have sent monthly reporting form to our evangelists. By reading their reports it is very encouraging. I have not received some reports because of bad communication. (bad road)
2. After coming back from Hong Kong I traveled to MuongYang and MuongPyat and gave training to them. I also conducted training at Calvary Church and TaChiLeik Church.
3. Our one-month training program will begin in March 1994. I will send my budget request to you.
4. I am sending you the names of evangelists and the names of their villages.
5. Shan radio program is good but some time it was interfered by English language. There are many people listening. Do not be discouraged. We are praying for it.
6. I need one motorcycle. Please help me get one.
7. Thanks for magazines.
   In His Service, Sai Stephen
   Village Evangelist Number of believers
   Wan Mon Saya Sai Hsai 16 believers
   Wan SoLone Saya Sai Kong 33 believers
   Was Lone Saya Sai Aye 14 believers
   Wan Mai Saya Sai Phat 35 believers
   Wan Tsai Saya Sai Kong 47 believers
   Wan Aemok Saya Sai Noi 34 believers
   Wan SanLun Saya Sai Luka 73 believers
   Wan NarMoon Saya Yo Han 20 believers
   Wan HoNar Saya Sai Si Mon 88 believers
   Wan Sau Rev. Ai Kyit 130 believers
   Wan Pai Saya Sai Leing 90 believers
   Wan SiLar Saya Sai Luka 153 believers
   Wan Dom Saya Sai Li 52 believers
   Wan AeMarNueLa Saya Yoe Seap 41 believers

Letter from Rev. Sai Stephen, Associate Director, 21st Century Shan Mission Project, KengTung to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, Director, 21st Century Shan Mission Project, Hong Kong. 26 January 1994

Dear Dr. Sai Htwe Maung,
By the grace of God we have safely arrived back from MuSe to KengTung on 5 January 1994. We are going to have 10th anniversary thanksgiving for our Church on 6 February 1994. I went to TaChiLeik from 10-15 January and gave them encouragement. We plan to have training program from 31 October to 12 November in Maesai. We have got the room from Bible School. Trainees will stay in TaChiLeik. Foreign trainers will stay in Maesai. Every thing is being planned. I have received letter from Brian. He said that he would come to KengTung after training. I am very happy to have him. I am very much in need of motorcycle. I have already found one. It is very good for traveling. It will cost about K 200,000. I am planning to go to Rangoon in March. If possible I want to buy it by that time. I will start working full-time for 21st Century Shan Mission Project from April 1994. I have to travel a lot. Please help me.
Thank you for broadcasting my sermon in your Shan radio program on Sunday. Many people are interested in our Shan radio broadcast.
May the Lord bless you richly.
In His Service, Signed/ Sai Stephen.

Letter from Rev. Sai Stephen, ESS, Burma to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 18 April 1994 ,

Dear Dr. Sai Htwe Maung,
Greeting in the name of Christ!
I would like to inform you about coming GCI training in Maesai. We are going to have training at Maesai Baptist Church. Included are personal testimonies of trainees. Our pastors are having financial difficulty because they only have K 300 to 500 per month as salary. Please help us. Starting from April this year I have started as full-time evangelist of 21st Century Shan Mission Project. Please remember me in your prayer. I have not received any financial support from any organization yet. I am glad that there is a donor to buy me a motorcycle. I will buy it under my name but I will use it only for 21st century Shan mission. It will cost about K 225,000. I am going to Rangoon in May. Can you send money to Rangoon for a motorcycle? I met Sai Htun Myat and Sai Maung Khaing at DaLi and talked about formation of Shan Baptist Convention. I hope Sai Htun Myat will give you report of the meeting. We had a mass meeting and celebration in TaZan from 7 to 10 April. 250 people baptized.
May the Lord bless you and your family always.
In His Service, Signed/ Sai Stephen

Letter from Rev. Sai Stephen, KengTung, E.S.S. to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 5 August 1994

Dr. Sai Htwe Maung,
Greeting in Christ’ name. I have received your letter dated 23 July 1994.

1. All have been well planned for our GCI.
2. We have decided to have 100 evangelists, 100 Churches and 10,000 believers by the year 2001. (In the Eastern Shan State)
   From April 21 to May 7 we have conducted training in MuongYawng, MuongHpyat and TaChiLeik. June 25-27, I traveled to MuongPin, July 8-14 to MuongYawng and MuongKart. 52 baptized in April in MuongYawng, 20 baptized in MuongPyat, 4 baptized in MuongKart. Two new Churches in MuongThwe and MuongNoon.
3. For 1994 I have received support from Calvary Church Kyat 20,000. But from 1995 there will be no more support from Calvary Church. I also work as Director of Evangelism of Eastern Shan Baptist Conference without pay. We have to make them understand that our 21st Century Shan Mission Project is not another kind of group or denomination. We work together with local Churches. Thank you for supporting me Kyat 1,500 per month last year. I would like you to support me Kyat 3,000 per month because there is a very high inflation here. Other pastor has Kyat 2,000-5,000 per month. It costs me Kyat 4,000 per month for my daughter to study in Rangoon.
4. Since I have not yet received financial support from you for our 14 evangelists, our Conference decided to take care of 7 and 21st CSMP will take care of other 7. Please support each of them Kyat 1,000 per month. Please send money for 1994 as soon as possible.
5. 1994 budget;
   Income Expenses
   From 21st CSMP K 120,000 Sai Stephen K 18,000
   Shan believers K 25,000 Evangelists 7x1000x12 K 84,000
   Traveling Allowance K 20,000
   Church building K 20,000
   Misc. K 5,000
   Total K 145,000 K 145,000
   Requested budget for 1995 is K 265,000
6. When I go to Rangoon I will arrange money transfer from Daw Mya Nu to buy a motorcycle. I will buy it in KengTung.
7. Shan radio broadcast is very good and clear. Many people are listening every morning. Thanks for broadcasting my sermon every Sunday morning. I am trying to record more sermons about Salvation.
8. May the Lord bless you, your family and your works.
   In Service, Signed/ Sai Stephen

Letter from Rev. Shwe Htun, MuSe, to U Kyaw Hla, Cc to Sai Htwe Maung. 26 September 1994

Subject: Financial Statement on Shan Hymnbooks published by Dr. Sai Htwe Maung

1. Transportation expenses from TaChiLeik to TaungGyi Kyat 32,400
2. From U Khin Maung Lat home to bus station K 450
3. Labor charges K 260
4. TaungGyi – Mandalay bus fare K 900
5. Traveling expense K 400
6. TaungGyi guest house K 400
7. Mandalay guest house K 900
8. Mandalay expense K 400
9. Mandalay – MuSe bus fare K 2,400
10. Travel expense K 400
11. MuSe – NamKham K 200
12. TaungGyi – NamKham transportation K 44,280
13. NamKham labor charges K 400
14. MuSe transportation K 300
    Total expenses K 84,090
    Income by selling the books Kyat 77,250
    There are 851 books left in hand.

As my term of service as secretary of ShweLi will be expired end of this year, will you pay me back the negative balance of K 6,840 and take the remaining books back to LaShio?
In His Service, Signed/ Rev. Shwe Htun,
Pastor, MuSe Shan Baptist Church

Note:
(Sai Htwe Maung later paid Rev. Shwe Htun the balance of Kyat 6,840. He gave NongSanKone Shan Baptist Church, as a free gifts, the Hymnbook 851 copies as requested by Sai Htun Kyaw, pastor of Nong San Kong Shan Baptist Church. According to ShweLi Valley Shan Baptist Mission record on Ahmapa 61/98 the money from selling Hymnbook total Kyat 28,650 and the remaining Hymnbooks 542 copies were given to Rev. Sai Thein Aung Kham by Sai Htun Kyaw in 1998.)

1995 report by Rev. Sai Stephen, 21st Century Shan Christian Mission, KengTung, Eastern Shan State, Union of Myanmar.

God is working with us. Praise God for using us to serve Him among our people, Shan. In serving the Lord even we have so many weaknesses and disappointments we gained so many successes by the grace of God. Praise the Lord for the dedication of every co-workers (footsoldiers).
In the name of Jesus I submit the report of the 21st CSM work in the Eastern Shan State in I995.
Aims and purposes of the mission by the year 2001.
(1) To plant 100 new Churches.
(2) To train 100 Shan evangelists.
(3) To have 10,000 Shan believers.
(Sharing half of the target of 21st Century Shan Mission Project. Hoping that ShweLi Shan Baptist Association will share other half of the target)

Eleven Evangelists supporting by the 21st CSMP.
(1) Rev. Sai Stephen, Local Director, 21st. CSMP.
(2) Rev. Ai Kyit, Evangelist, Wan Saw village, MuongYawng
Township.
(3) Sai Simon, Evangelist, Wan Pai village, MuongYawng
(4) Sai Lar, Evangelist, Wan La village, MuongYang
(5) Sai Kong, Evangelist, Wan SiLu village, MuongYang
(6) Sai Phut, Evangelist, Wan Mai village, MuongKhut
(7) Sai Kong, Evangelist, Wan Sai village, KengTung
(8) Rev. Sai Kyio, Evangelist, CaNan village, KengTung
(9) Sai Lee, Evangelist, Wan Tom village, TaChiLeik
(10) Sai Yaw Horn, Evangelist, NarMonMai village, MuongPhat
(11) Saya Kya Moo, Evangelist, Nam Kin village, MuongYang
The trip and activities doing by the local director in 1995.
(1) In February, visitation and encouragement to the Churches of MuongYang township such as NamKin, WanLa, MuongThwe, PanSao, SiLu villages and then proceeded to WanMai village which is located in MuongKhut Township.
(2) In March, traveled to TaungGyi, met with the Shan Church leaders for the Great Commission Institute (GCI) training.
(3) In April, arrived at MuongPhat, encouraged the believers in the village of NarMonMai and SanLwin.
(4) In May, met with evangelists who are working in MuongYawng in WanSaw, WanPai, WanSiLa villages near the border of China.
(5) In June, preached at KengTung in WanSai, CaNan villages. Planning for the new mission fields. Travel to the MuongPhat. Encouraged the new 2 believers in SanLwin and Far Mon Mai villages.
(6) In July, Baptizing two new converts at MuongKhat Township in WanMai village.
(7) In August, met with the Shan Church leaders at TaungGyi for the GCI training in a second time.
(8) In September, participated in the Myanmar Baptist Convention executive committee meeting in Yangon.
(9) In October, participated in the Shan GCI training, led by the Asian Outreach International.
(10) In November, travel to MuongYang, met with the 4 evangelists. Hearing of their progressive report. Conducted short bible training for them.
(11) In December, baptizing 30 new converts at KengTung, WanSai village.
(12) Preach at the open-air crusade in KanNaLone Church, KengTung. After Christmas, traveled to MuongYawng. Visited at WanSaw, WanPai, WanSiLa and encouraged the new believers.

Great Commission Institute (TaungGyi) Training
We had held the GCI training in TaungGyi from I5-27 October at Shan Baptist Church. There were 42 participants and 7 trainers from aboard. After the training 5 evangelists totally dedicated themselves for the new Shan mission fields.

Mission successes during 1995
(A) During 1995 those who change their lives and accept Jesus Christ were as below.

1. WanSaw village, MuongYawng, 30 persons
2. WanPai village, MuongYawng, 12 Persons
3. WanHa village , Muong Yang, 3 persons
4. NamKin village, Muong Yang, 65 persons
5. WanMai village, Muong Khat, 8 persons
6. WanSai village, KengTung, 31 persons
7. CaNan village , KengTung, 12 persons
   Total 161 persons

(B) The condition of construction of the new buildings.

1. WanSaw village, MuongYawng, Finished
2. NamKin village, MuongYang, Finished
3. NarMonMai village, MuongPhat, Still under construction
4. WanMai village, MuongKhat, Still under construction
5. WanSai village, KengTung, Still under construction

The needs and weaknesses
(1) We still need more evangelists.
(2) In the new Churches we need good pastors.
(3) We need more support from the local Churches.
(4) We need some help of medicines and clothes to give to the poor.
(5) We are weak in prayer.
(6) We need more financial support from others.

The financial report of 1995
Income
(1) From 21st Century Shan Mission (AOI) 271,000 Kyat
(2) From Sai Hla Shwe and Nang Hla Htay 24,000 K
(3) From Sai Sook Kya (KanNaLone, KengTung) 3,000 K
(4) From Sai Hein Oo (KanNaLone, KengTung) 20,000 K
(5) From Rev. Sai Stephen’s family 5,000 K
(6) From Shan Churches 120,000 K
(7) Others 3,000 K
Total Income (US$ 2,900) 446,000 Kyat

Expenditure
(1) Local Director salary (3000 K x I2) 36,000 Kyat
(2) Evangelists salary (2000 K x 12 x 10 Ps) 240,000 K
(3) Evangelist training school (in June) 100,000 K
(4) Traveling 20,000 K
(5) Helping in new Church buildings 40,000 K
(6) Contingencies 10,000 K
Total Expense 446,000 Kyat
Evangelist training school (In KengTung)
We had held the evangelist training school in June in Calvary Baptist Church, KengTung. There were 26 trainees and 6 trainers from the local area.

Planning for 1996 and estimate budget
(1) Continue serving the Lord in 10 present mission fields effectively.
(2) To gain 115 new converts from the 10 present mission fields in 1996.
(3) To select and send 5 evangelists to 5 new mission fields.
(4) To gain 135 new converts from 5 new mission fields.
(5) To support 5 new Church buildings construction.
(6) To train 25 evangelists to prepare for the mission fields.

Estimate budget for 1996
(1) Local director salary (3000 X 12) 36,000 Kyat
(2) Evangelists (150OX 15 X12) 270,000 K
(3) Evangelist training school 100,000 K
(4) Traveling expense 30,000 K
(5 Supporting (5) new Church building construction 50,000 K
(6) Contingencies 14,000 K
Total (US$ 3,300) 500,000 Kyat

Request
(1) As we will extend 5 more mission fields in 1996, we request to join hands with us in prayer to overcome all of the hindrances and temptations.
(2) We request to Asian Outreach International Kyat 500,000 (US$ 3,300) to support us.
Thanks
(1) Thanks and praise to God for His guidance and leading us.
(2) Thanks to Asian Outreach International for having great love to us and helping us in financial support.
(3) Thanks to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung for his leading of 21st Century Shan Mission.
(4) Thanks to all of the trainers of the GCI training, TaungGyi.
(5) Thanks to the families and the Churches for helping us in financial support and everything we need.
(6) Thanks to all of the evangelists for dedication of themselves to God’s service and working among the Shan people.
In His Wonderful Service, Sai Stephen
(1996-1998)

Letter from Rev. Sai Stephen, KengTung, Eastern Shan State to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong.
8 January 1996

Dr. Sai Htwe Maung,
Greeting in His name. Please forgive me for my late reply. I have received your letter and post card.
I got back from Rangoon to KengTung on 16 November 1995 and went to MuongYang and WanTai for evangelism. On 6 January all the villagers of WanTai accepted the Lord and abandoned their spirit worship. I have sent Sai Chit Aye (TaungGyi GCI graduate) to take care of this village. They will be baptized soon. On 10 December, 31 people baptized in WanSeing where Sai Kong is working. We went to MuongYawng by motorcycle on 26 December. We also take the boat along NamLwi River to other villages. We met Sai Simon (Maesai GCI graduate) at WanSao. We also dedicated a Church there. We had to go up and down the hill for two hours and got to WanHoNar where our evangelist Sai Yuet is working. There are only 6 Christian families in 100. We also had open-air crusade in KanNaLone Church from 1-2 December. We visited Palong villages. Many Palong people are sick. They believed they were bitten by evil spirits. We lay hands on them and pray for them. In 1966 we have sent 6 evangelists to 6 new villages. Please send us support as soon as possible to Maesai or Rangoon. I’ll let you know later.
In His Service, Sai Stephen

Letter from Sai Thein Aung Kham, NamKham, Northern Shan State to Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 16 February 1996.

Saya Sai Htwe and family,
May God bless you all. May this year be a blessed year. I hope you have received my letter. Our ShweLi Baptist Association decided to have Great Commission Institute Training in November. We expect 40 people to attend. Please continue give us instruction regarding this training. If possible we want to have it in ShweLi. If not we will have it in LaShio. I have visited Shan Church in MuongMyit in January. One family has accepted the Lord. We have built a center in MuongMyit for students to live in and go to school. It costs about K 200,000. We now need about K 50,000. We expect we can open it in June. Shan people from many places coming to the Lord now. But our ShweLi is still in the darkness. They do not accept the light of the Lord. We are planning to have a Church in LoiLom for Palong people. We are also going to have 40 days evangelistic training from 1 April to 13 May. Please pray for us.
Co-worker in Christ, Sai Thein Aung Kham

Letter from Rev. Sai Stephen, ESS, Burma to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung. 25th March 1996

To Dr. Sai Htwe Maung
Hong Kong
Greeting in the name of Jesus Christ. Thank you for your letters, newsletter and money.

1. Thanks for financial support in evangelism. The expense for general purpose in the year 1996 was Kyat 13,000 only. Please find Kyat 50,000 for traveling expense for us.
2. We are planning to have one month training for evangelists in June. Thanks for supporting this training financially. I have heard that LaShio GCI in 1996 is cancelled. I fell sorry about it. If they don’t accept this training next year I will be happy to receive it in KengTung. Foreigners can come to KengTung. Please send money through Boonyuen. We can get it from Maesai.
3. Newsletter is good. Please produce every three months. I am afraid I cannot send you photos in time.
4. There are 17 people waiting to be baptized next month in MuongYang.
5. Shan radio broadcast is also very clear. Many Shan are listening.
6. Myanmar Baptist Convention has agreed to allow us to form “Eastern Shan Baptist Convention.” We are working on this in 1997. I will talk to Daw Mya Nu and help her form Shan Church in Yangon.
7. When will you come to Myanmar? Thanks for the article about me in Asian Report.
8. Budget in 1995
   Income total 446,000 Kyat
   Expense total 441,500 Kyat
   Surplus total 4,500 Kyat

Words of thanks

1. We praise for His Grace.
2. We thank Asian Outreach International for supporting our 21st Century Shan Mission Project.
3. We thank Dr. Sai Htwe Maung for leading us in 21st Century Shan Mission
   Project.
4. We thank all the trainers who came and taught us at TaungGyi GCI.
5. We thank Saya Sai Hla Shwe and family, Saya Daw Hla Hla Htay, Sai Suk Kya,
   Sai Hein Oo Nan and Shan Churches for their generous donation.

Conclusion
We will try to dedicate for the year 1996. We invite every one to participate with prayer support.
In His Service, Signed/ Sai Stephen

Mission Report to Asian Outreach, By Dr. Sai Htwe Maung. Jan 1996 – June 1996

By the Grace of God our works among the Shan people are very encouraging. We have already trained 172 Shan Footsoldiers in Burma. Asian Outreach is now financially and spiritually supporting 16 full time Footsoldiers. They all are serving the Lord in various parts of Shan States in Burma. They are traveling and preaching the Good News and planting Churches. One month local GCI training has been held in June. Twenty-six trainees graduated.
Shan Gospel Radio Program broadcasting from Manila FEBC is very effective in reaching the people all over the country. Responses to Shan Radio Broadcast are very encouraging.

Testimonies from Footsoldier.
Rev. Sai Stephen
I have been traveling extensively since November last year. I am very busy in preaching and baptizing the new believers. These new believers are the fruit of our Footsoldiers.
Our “Eastern Shan Baptist Convention“ has been formed and approved by Myanmar Baptist Convention. We can now start to function independently and become a member of Myanmar Baptist Convention. Our city KengTung is now opened to tourist. I hope our foreign Christian friends can now visit us. Traveling cost is very high now. Can you raise more money for my traveling expenses? My wife has a car accident when she was traveling back home from a Church’s dedication service. Part of her thumb from left hand has to be cut off. She has now resigned from teaching in school. She will join me in serving the Lord full time.
Two new Churches have been planted. New believers are added to the fold. Seventeen people are awaiting Baptism.
I am very grateful to Jean Harper for supporting my daughter financially. I have received invitation to attend Asian Outreach Conference in Hong Kong. But I am sorry for I cannot come. It is not easy to get passport to leave our country.

Sai Kong
A young evangelist Sai Kong, age 22, has driven out a demon from a man in front of many onlookers. After seeing demon-possessed man falling to the ground, vomiting and convulsing they all amazed and praised the Lord. All come to believe in Jesus.

Rev. Ah Yai
An old evangelist Rev. Ah Yai, age 68, prayed for a man who has a mass in his abdomen, which grows bigger and bigger day-by-day until he cannot sit up and dress his shirt or wear his trouser. His relatives have consulted doctors but given up hope. They have bought a coffin and made all the preparation for his funeral. But when Rev. Ah Yai goes to his village, lives with him and prays for him everyday, his abdomen becomes smaller and smaller day-by-day. Finally he can wear his shirt, put on his trouser and become normal person. He is going to be baptized very soon.

Sai Phut
A young man has epistaxis (bleeding from the nose) since early morning till evening. There is no hospital, no doctor whatsoever. A man becomes pale and almost loss his consciousness. They call our evangelist Sai Phut, age 25, to help. He pray to God and takes a green leaves from nearby tree and put it into his nose and pray again. After loud Amen he pulls out the leaves from his nose. No more bleeding at all. From then on every one come to him for prayer whenever they are sick. They ask for prayer even for a minor scratch on the skin.

Nang Tin May Hla
After graduating from GCI in TaungGyi I started to focus my work on Child Evangelism. As I have already resigned from nursing in hospital I have dedicated to serve the Lord full-time.
I call non-Christian children to Sunday school every week. I now have not only children but also the parents coming along. It is a very good method of reaching both children and parents.

Sai Pao
After graduating from GCI in TaungGyi I came back home and started to travel to the villages around my town and showing them the love of Christ by our work and preaching the good news of salvation to them. Now I have many new comers in the Church. Traveling cost is very high. Can you help me in my traveling expenses?

Sai Hkun Pao
After graduating from GCI in TaungGyi, I wish that I could serve the Lord. But some leaders of my Church do not support me because I am not a Seminary graduate. It seems to me that unless I graduate from Theological Seminary I won’t be able to serve the Lord. I want to go to Seminary now. Can you sponsor me to Seminary school? (Sai Hkun Pao later went to Lisu Theological Seminary and finished his study in 1999)

Rev. Maung Su
I have retired from full-time ministry ten years ago. I thought I have served the Lord enough. But after GCI training in TaungGyi I have decided to serve the Lord until I die. I want to rededicate my life again.
(After rededication Maung Su went back to LaShio and served as full-time pastor since April 1996.)
Letters from Shan Radio Broadcast listeners

176 letters received from the listeners of Shan Gospel Radio within these first six months. It is hundred percent up from last year statistic. About 95 per cent of the letters are from non-Christians and 90 percent are from Buddhist Monks. Most of the people ask for Bible, want to know more about Jesus, want to know how to become His disciple and some express their faith in Jesus.
A Buddhist monk writes “I believe in Jesus Christ. When will you come and call us out from here? Please come as soon as possible. I and all my villagers here will follow.”
Another Buddhist monk writes “I want to be His disciple. Please tell me how can I become His disciple. Where should I go?”
A drifted young Christian writes “Thank you very much for leading me back to the Lord. I have been drifted away from the Church for many years. After listening to your message in the Radio for two years I am now a new man. I have confessed my sins to the Lord and become a living witness to the Lord.” (This man is now serving in a village as full-time pastor)

Prayer Request

• God’s guidance to know how to plan follow-up program for Radio listeners.
• Shan Bible available for those who want to read the Holy Word.
• Physical and Spiritual blessing to our Footsoldiers.

Letter from Rev. Sai Thein Aung Kham, Myo Ma Baptist Church, NamKham. Northern Shan State, Union of Myanmar to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 1996 June 17th

Dear Dr. Sai Htwe,
Greeting in the name of our precious Lord Jesus Christ.
Our 40 days Evangelistic training for 1996 had completed successfully on March 1 with 35 Participants. This year training is somewhat different from previous years by the joining of the Women, the Religious Education and Youth Departments in the training totaling a little over 100 participants. After the training, I went to Moemeik to dedicate a center for students, 11 student boarding. 22 families from DongKhei Village are ready to accept the Lord. Their monastery will become the Church. 13 Baptized, 3 attending Seminary, 2 will be going next year. Shan and Palong coming to the Lord in MoeKoke area evangelized by Rev. Aung Htun. 6 Christian families in Man Hpwe, Southern Shan State.
Signed/ Rev. Sai Thein Aung Kham

Letter from Rev. Sai Stephen, KengTung, to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 2 October 1996

Dear co-worker Dr. Sai Htwe Maung,
Greeting in the name of Christ. I have received your letter dated 25 August and 16 September but not 6 August.
I will write 21st CSMP report to you as soon as possible. Next year please increase our evangelist support to K 1,500 per month and traveling allowance to K 50,000 because I have to travel a lot. We also plan to have refresher course for our evangelists next year. The coming of Malaysia team from October 30 to November 4 is OK. I have made all the planning for them. Don’t worry. I’ll send them where they want to go, show them what they want to see. I will give them best hospitality.
May the Lord bless you and your family.
In His Service, Signed/ Sai Stephen

Letter from Rev. Sai Stephen to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung. 11 October 1996

Dear Dr. Sai Htwe Maung,
Greeting in the name of Christ. We are serving God in good health. I am very busy in working. I have just come back from the field one week ago and now have to go again to MuongYang because of the need of forming a new Church. We have more new believers.
I have not finished my 1996 report. I will finish it when I come back and send it to you. Please understand me. If possible I want to have my body divided into three or four or five. I am a bit relieved because my wife is helping me.
I want to have new mission fields in 1997. Please consider helping our new five evangelists with K 1,500 per month. Difficult to survive. We are planning to have five months evangelist training each year for two years so that our evangelists will be well equipped and become good evangelists and good pastors. I want you to help me with K 100,000 for each year in this program. Please also make traveling expenses in your budget planning. I will give you more detailed budget in my next letter.
Our work is God’s work and it progresses very well. Please remember us in your prayer.
In His Service, Signed/ Sai Stephen

1996 report by Rev. Sai Stephen,
The 21st Century Shan Christian Mission, Eastern Shan State.

Praise and thanks to God for the great service of the Lord. There are still many places to spread the gospel. We could serve the Lord with all our strengths where God has given us in the mission fields. In 1996, although we gained many successes we also faced some difficulties. Two of the evangelists resigned from the work because of their family’s affairs. But immediately we could replace the evangelists to the mission fields. So in the future we realize that we need more concentration on the evangelists families’ lives. However, we believe that all of the evangelists will totally dedicate themselves in the Shan mission. By the grace of God we can see the fruits of the mission in every year. Please continuously pray for all of us.
16 evangelists total. Eleven evangelists supporting by the 21st CSMP in 1995 and the addition of 5 new evangelists supporting by the 21st CSMP in 1996.
Five new evangelists are;
I) Sai Lu Kar, MuongHaw village, MuongYawng Township
2) Sai Chan Aye, Jordan village , MuongYang Ts.
3) Lay Par, WanLi village , MuongYang Ts.
4) Sai Lon Tip Kyaok, MuongNoon village, MuongKhut Ts.
5) Sai Kup, Miksilikhong village, KengTung Ts.

The trip and the activities of the local director in 1996

1. In January, arrived at MuongYawng Township, encouraged the new believers in the village of WanPai, WanSiLa, WanHoNar and MuongHaw. Preached at the Church’s dedication of the WanSaw village.
2. In April, preached at WanSai, CaNan Church’s dedication service. Ordained Sai Kyiok, the evangelist, working in CaNan village. Visited TaChiLeik, WanTom village. Discussed and helped them for the Church new building construction.
3. In June, leading and teaching at the evangelist training for the whole month. There were 26 participants.
4. In July, visited to MuongYang and had a short training at the villages of WanLa, SiLu, Nam Kin, Jordan, WanSao, WanLi .
5. In August, visited at MuongKut Township mission fields.
6. In September, arrived at MuongPyat mission fields.
7. In October, arrived at MuongYang mission fields again. All of the villagers of WanLi accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Encouraged them and taught them the bible stories for three days.

Shan Great Commission Institute Training (KengTung)
We had held the Shan Great Commission Institute Bible training in 1996, June 1-30 at Calvary Baptist Church, KengTung. There were 6 trainers from the local leaders. 26 participants were attended. Now all of them are helping in their Church’s activities. Some are waiting for serving the Lord in the new mission fields.

Mission successes during 1996.
(A) During 1996 those who change their lives and accept Jesus Christ were as below.
From the 10 mission fields – 75 persons
From the 5 new mission fields – 104 persons
Total 179 persons.

1. MuongHaw village, MuongYawng Ts ( Sai Lu Kar) 5 persons
2. Jordan village , MuongYang Ts (Sai Chan Aye) 78 persons
3. WanLi village , MuongYang Ts ( Lay Par) I8 persons
4. Muong Noon village, MuongKhut Ts (Sai Lon Tip) 5 persons
5. Miksilikhong village, KengTung Ts (Sai Kup) 3 persons.
   (B) The condition of construction of the new Church buildings
6. WanPai village, MuongYawng Ts (Sai Si Mon) Finished
7. WanSai village, KengTung Ts ( Sai Kong) Finished
8. CaNan village , KengTung Ts ( Rev. Sai Kyio) Finished
9. NarMonMai village, MuongPhat Ts ( Sai Yaw Han) Still under construction
10. WanMai village, MuongKhut Ts ( Sai Phut) Still construction.
    Needs and Obstacles
    (1) We still need more dedicated evangelists to serve in the new mission fields.
    (2) We need good pastors in the new Churches.
    (3) We need more supports for the local Shan Churches.
    (4) We need some medicines and clothes to help the needs.
    (5) We need much more prayer from all of you.
    (6) Facing the difficulties of less supporting of the evangelists.
    Some want to turn back because of facing man’s problems in their families.
    (7) Hardship in traveling (bad road, insecurity, many expenses and take too much time)
    (8) After becoming Christian, follow-up program are needed. To help them to be all round development, spiritual as well as physical development.
    (9) Less of the traveling expense is one of the obstacles.
    (10) In 1996, we could not support any Church new building construction.

The financial report of 1996
Income
(1) From 21st. Century Shan Mission (AOI) 280,000 Kyat
(US$ 1800)
(2) From Sai Hla Shwe and Nang Hla Hla Htay (Yangon)
24,000 K
(3) From Shan believers 15,000 K
(4) From Shan Churches 61,000 K
Total 380,000 Kyat (US$2500)
Expenditure
(I) Local director salary ( 3000 K X 12) 36000 Kyat (US$ 240)
(2) Evangelists salaries (1000 K X 12 X 15 Ps) 180,000 K
(3) Shan GCI training school 122,500 K
(4) Traveling 35,000 K
(5) Contingencies 6,500 K
Total 380,000 Kyat

Mission planning for I997 and estimate budget
(1) Continue serving the Lord in (15) present mission fields effectively.
(2) To gain 250 new converts from the 15 present mission fields in 1997.
(3) To select and send 5 evangelists to 5 new mission fields.
(4) To gain 50 new converts from 5 new mission fields.
(5) To support 5 new Church buildings construction.
(6) To have a retreat bible training for 20 evangelists who are working in the mission fields in October for two weeks. To invite some trainers from aboard.

Estimate budget for 1997
I. Local Director salary (4000 K x 12) 48,000Kyat (US$ 320)

2. Evangelists salaries (2000 K x 12 x 20 Ps.) 360,000 K
3. Retreat Bible Training for evangelists 150,000 K
4. Traveling Expenses 50,000 K
5. Helping new Church buildings 50,000 K
6. Contingencies 12,000 K
   Total 670,000 Kyat (US$ 4400)

Requests
(1) Remember us in your prayer.
(2) We request to help us K 670,000 (US$ 4,400) for the mission.
(3) To send us the trainers to teach in the retreat “bible training for evangelists.
Thanks to our God and Dr. Sai Htwe Maung for helping us financially and giving us advice and to Sayama Nang Hla Hla Htay and Hla Shwe’s family for supporting us financially.
In His Service, Signed/ Sai Stephen

Record of discussion between Dr. Sai Htwe Maung and Asian Outreach International.
12 October 1996

GCI:
Dr. Sai went to the Northern Shan State in July and made thorough enquiries about the possibility of having a GCI there. The political situation is not favorable, especially with Westerners but possible. Dr. Sai feels the organizers are not clever enough to get favor from the government. We need a local organizer who has good relationship with the local authorities. At the moment it is not favorable to hold a training there. Dr. Sai feels the North agreed to hold the training because they want training but they won’t accept it, or do it. OSH suggested bringing in Baptists who are Asians, who have experienced renewal. Work slowly with them. Maybe sending an Asian to teach a few topics first in a 3 day or 5 day seminar. Dr. Sai said training and seminars are different.
For the 1997 training in the Eastern Shan State they will select some participants from the North. If they can have two teaching rooms they could hold two levels of training. If the political situation is difficult in KengTung they will hold it in TaungGyi again. Dr. Sai said we still have to go to the North, maybe in 1998. Maybe by that time a good leader will come out. Planning must be one year ahead. We have to ask them to make contact with the local officials and get the green light. An UN officer went to LaShio to see a hospital and clinic and he was followed everywhere by Intelligence. Tourists are not allowed into NamKham, where Thein Aung Kham lives. He has little confidence in leadership in ShweLi. He thinks that the leader can talk a lot but do little. He sent Kham to the Singapore GCI and hoped he would get train, change and come back to work among Northern Shan but he failed. He was warned by treasurer of Myanmar Baptist Convention that a leader from ShweLi could not be trusted. He feels that the North is not ready to receive a GCI yet for the time being. OSH suggested that we start small in the North. If the people who have gone through the course speak favorably then it is more effective. He was thinking in terms of starting with a small group in a local Church for three days of teaching and call it something neutral, not divisive and see what we can contribute. But wait for the right time.
Dr. Sai initially asked Jean to communicate with Sai Thein Aung Kham and ask questions, such as: What kind of team do you want? Where would it be held? Make sure it is suitable and secure politically. Can you be responsible for the foreign trainers where they stay, where they eat? Will you accept non-Baptist trainers? etc.
In later discussion he shared his experience in 1993 that General Secretary of ShweLi Shan Baptist Mission had promised that every thing had been well prepared for Youngs (American missionaries) to cross the border from Yunnan, China to MuSe, Burma, to join them in ShweLi Shan Baptist Mission Centenary Celebration. However when Youngs arrived in RuiLi town in Yunnan, just across the border with MuSe, Burma, he refused to go into China to bring Youngs to MuSe. Instead he sent Rev. Sai Stephen and two ladies. Both the Youngs, Sai Stephen and two ladies got arrested inside China as a result. After this experience Dr. Sai does not have any confidence that ShweLi General Secretary would do a good job of making sure everything was safe. And if any of us is arrested we are finished as far as going into Burma again. He certainly doesn’t want to be arrested as he wants to work there long term! Dr. Sai doesn’t want to be blacklisted in the North because then he couldn’t be involved in the North. He doesn’t want to do it without proper preparation.
It was agreed that we leave it with Dr. Sai and he may prefer to work through a local Church rather than the ShweLi Shan Baptist Mission. But he will certainly aim for a GCI in the North for 1998. After the GCI in the North in 1998 Dr. Sai would like to start working with other un-reached groups, such as the Burmese, the Mon and the Arakan. The training could be held in Yangon or Mandalay. He could work through the Burma Evangelical Church or the Burma Baptist Convention.

Shan Budget:
16 full-time evangelists support is Kyat 1,000 = US$10 each person per month.
Sai Stephen is requesting that this will be increased to Kyat 1,500, equal to US$15. But Dr. Sai is not in favor of this. He wants them to be more indigenous and self-supporting. Sai Stephen’s travel expenses K 30,000. Sai Stephen is requesting Kyat 50,000 for 1997. Dr. Sai feels this is too high. He believes in the principle of “Instead of feeding them a fish a day, teach them how to catch the fish.” Dr. Sai feels that to travel by motorcycle is cheap as it consumes little petrol. He wants to make further enquiries from him as to how he is going to use this traveling allowance. OSH said we could consider increasing Stephen’s salary from Kyat 3,000 according to local standards. He suggested not giving everything they ask for now but adjust to their need. Of course, we want to promote more self-support, where they find at least half of the support.

Bible translation:
It has taken 10 years to translate the New Testament under sponsorship of United Bible Societies with Psalms and Proverbs. This translation is based on Good News Bible and published in 1994. There are some mistakes. Mr. Han Yaunghwe and Dr. Sai Htwe Maung are trying to do their own translations.

Gospel tracts:
Dr. Sai wants to send gospel tracts from Hong Kong to his radio listeners. But a lot of the letters get lost in the post. The best way is to mail them locally but he cannot bring enough in. The best way now is from Malaysia and Singapore with Christian businessmen who visit Burma. He would like the offices in Malaysia and Singapore to keep a stock.

Radio program:
It is doing so well and responses are good and encouraging. Dr. Sai asked for prayer for him for the follow-up. How can he follow-up with all those who are interested, with those who want prayer? At the moment the only way is to send a Gospel tract. He has made personal visits but there are too many people to visit. He thought of asking them to come to one place but if too many people come others will make trouble. Some Buddhist monks would be involved and people might think it is political. He is still thinking about what to do. He is praying that when GCI goes to Burma next year he will take time and announce in local Churches that he will be in the Church on such a day and invite people. He is open to any suggestions for follow up.

Future Vision:
OSH said he would like to see a national office in Myanmar, with the whole point of multiplying the program. See them send out a worker to work among the Burmese in other parts of Asia. This should be a long-term goal. The key is to emphasize un-reached people. He emphasized that Sai Stephen must find his Joshua and Caleb and let others grow in the work. Dr. Sai is praying for someone who can carry on his radio work. OSH suggested he explore the possibility of doing it inside the country and bring someone out to Hong Kong for training.

Dr. Sai’s vision for literature is:

1. Good Shan Bible translated into new Shan writing
2. Shan Topical Bible
3. Shan Bible Commentary

Thoughts on GCI:
One of the disappointments of the TaungGyi GCI was the man who was supposed to teach on Youth Ministry. We suggested looking for someone involved in youth work from, say, FGA who could give valuable input and then send them out for practice. For the next G.C.I, Dr. Sai would like to teach fewer topics to enable the students to go out in the afternoons to practice what they have been taught in the mornings. He asked that the teachers be sensitive to the local situation and to understand that it is illegal to condemn other religions. He said trainer needs to be correct when declaring the power of the Holy Spirit over the darkness of local religion. This is an offence in Burma. We need to be careful in making slogans. It is better to claim the Shan for Jesus than to declare the power of the Holy Spirit over the darkness of local religion. He said we have to try our best to identify with the local people the way they eat, the way they live so they feel comfortable and more friendly towards us.
Over lunch, Yeow Mooi suggested to Dr. Sai that instead of waiting for the whole Old Testament to be translated into the new Shan writing, that he print first the Gospel of John and distribute this to his radio listeners. He thought this was a good idea.

Copy of letter from Mr. Cheong Seng Gee, SSMC, Malaysia to Rev. Sai Stephen, ESS, Burma on 28 January 1997

Rev Sai Stephen and the leadership of Eastern Shan Baptist Convention.
c/o Calvary Baptist Church Baptist Mission Compound Nong Pha, KengTung Union of Myanmar.
Dear Sai Stephen,
Thank you for your letter of 6 January which was received on 14 January 1997. It is indeed encouraging to hear that you and the leadership met regarding our next Myanmar mission trips for 1997. Please send our well wishes to each of them. We are praying for the Baptist work in Eastern Shan. The SSMC (Sungaiway Subang Methodist Church) leadership have finalized the following in terms of co-operative work with the leadership of Eastern Sham Baptist Convention and these are:

1. Youth Mission Trip (21 April to 25 April, 1997).
   Currently we have between 5 to 7 persons from SS Methodist who would like to focus on youth work training. They will be led by Mr. Leong Pook Seong and or Mr. Tang Tin Seng, both of whom have been to KengTung. Please let us have details as to the age group, background and areas of training that is needed so that the training can be targeted. Can you please provide us with a program so that we can plan effectively the soonest? We also need to know the latest frights between Yangon and KengTung in terms of dates and times.
2. May Celebration of Missions (20 May to 27 May 1997)
   Please note that the above dates are still tentative but can be used for planning purposes. We will confirm at a later time. SS Methodist Church will be celebrating the annual celebration of missions where we invite missionaries and evangelists from the different countries to share about the work and what God is doing and how future work can be taken to the next stages in terms of meaningful relationships. We would like to invite you and your wife to Malaysia to represent the leadership of the Eastern Shan Baptist Convention and the people of Shan. Please take the necessary steps to apply for visa, etc. and how to make payment. Alternatively our April mission team can bring the funds. Please note that it is not efficient to send by telegraphic transfer as we lose 10% in taxes, which is imposed on foreign funds. Do keep us informed of progress.
3. Financial Support for Village Evangelists 1997
   I praise God that the SS Methodist Church leadership has seen it in their hearts to support the above work as part of our partnership with the Shan Church and AOI. We are agreeable to finance our portion of US$3,600 for 1997 only. The money can be send at agreed stages instead of a lump sum. Please advise us on the method of funding with all the necessary practical details. We also would need your co-operation on sending us regular reports on the work that is progressing there so that I can brief our Church leadership and members.
   Well, we continue to pray that your work will be blessed by our good Lord mid may He encourage us to work in unison for the furtherance of His Kingdom.
   In His Service,
   CHEONG SENG GEE , Pastoral Team Member SS Methodist Church
   (Note: Such arrangement has been made without knowledge of neither Sai Htwe Maung nor Asian Outreach.)

Letter from Rev. Sai Stephen, ESS, Burma to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, 28th February 1997

Dr. Sai Htwe Maung,
Greeting in the name of our Lord. I have written to you in November, December and January. But I have not received your reply. I wonder my letter might have got lost in the post. We have 15 old mission fields and 20 new mission fields this year. 20 evangelists are working very hard. By the year 2001 I wish we may have 100 Churches. We are planning to have 3 months evangelist training in August.
I am working with SSMC so that we may have their support Kyat 1,500 each month for our evangelists so that each of our evangelists may have Kyat 3,000 each month. I have sent 1997 budget to AOI together with my mission report. Please continue supporting us this year.
I am very busy but I enjoy in my work. I will try to get to the goal. Please pray for us all.
Signed/ Sai Stephen

The Report of the Shan Mission Working in the Eastern Shan State for the period of January to April I997, By Rev. Sai Stephen

Praise God for using us in His ministry. Thank God for the strength that God gives to all of the evangelists. All of us will faithfully dedicate ourselves in His ministry. The report of the Shan Mission for the period of January to April are as follow;

List of 20 evangelists who are working in 20 villages, KengTung Township

1. Rev. Sai Kyiok CaNan Village 30 houses
2. Sai Kong WanSai Village 15 houses
3. Sai Kup Miksilikon Village 15 houses
4. Sai Phut WanMai Village 16 houses
5. Rev. Mar Ku PanWai Village 20 houses
6. Sai Lon Tip Kyiok MuongNoon Village 62 houses
7. Sai Saw Lu PanPhay Village 34 houses
8. Sai Ai Muong Kan Kaw Village 45 houses
9. Sai Chan Aye Jordan Village 30 houses
10. Lay Pa WanLi Village 18 houses
11. Sai Lar WanLa Village 13 houses
12. Sai Khong WanSilu Village 45 houses
13. Saya Kya Moo NamKin Village 58 houses
14. Sai Yaw Han MonKinNoi Village 45 houses
15. Rev. Ai Kyit WanSaw Village 56 houses
16. Sai Simon WanPai Village 60 houses
17. Sai Lukar MuongHaw Village 12 houses
18. Sai Lee WanTom Village 18 houses
19. Sai Yaw Han NarMoonMai Village 24 houses
20. Sai Ya Kuk SanLwin Village 26 houses

The responsibilities of the evangelists

1. Totally dedicate themselves to the Lord and live in the village.
2. Preach the good news of the lord Jesus Christ.
3. Tell and teach the Bible stories to the children.
4. Teach them songs to praise God.
5. Teach the children to read, write and sing in daytime.
6. Teach the adults to read and write in evening time.
7. Live good life with them and help them in the daily work.
8. Pray for them and help them when they are getting sick.
9. Give them medicine and clothes.

The responsibilities of the mission teams of convention

1. To make mission trips to the villages at least once a year. (In Convention we have 3 mission teams to make trip every year to cover all of the villages.)
2. Have a short Bible Training for the villagers.
3. Baptize those who accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
4. Preach and discuss the good news of Jesus Christ with the villagers.
5. Have a concert and preaching for them.
6. Help them some medicines and old clothes.

Notes: Up to April, we had already made 2 separate mission trips to tree villages of MuongYang and MuongYawng townships.
List of the new believers those who accept Jesus Christ to April, KengTung Township.
I. CaNan village 8 persons baptized in February

2. Misilikon village 5 persons baptized in March’ MuongKhut
3. WanMai village 2 persons baptized in April
4. Pan Wai village 10 persons baptisms in February
5. Pan Phay village 6 persons baptized in February
6. Kan Kaw village 24 person baptized in February, MuongYang
7. WanLi village 6 persons baptized in April
8. Nam Yin village 21 person baptized in April, MuongYawng
9. WanSaw village 29 persons baptized in March
10. WanPai village 25 persons baptized in March
11. MuongHaw village 2 persons baptized
12. NarMoonMai village 4 persons baptized in April
13. SanLwin village 2 person baptized in April

We plan to have a retreat Bible training for all of the evangelists who are working in the frontier area. It will be in November last week in KengTung. We are still hoping the teachers from AOI will come and participate with us.
Thank God for the Youth Leadership Training was successfully finished. The report for the training, are as below;
Theme “The future leader” (1 Tim 4:12)
Place KanNarLone Shan Baptist Church, KengTung
Date 21 – 24 April 1997
Trainers 7 members of SS Methodist Youth Leader, Malaysia
Trainees 59 Youth (According to the registration)

Benefit – At The Last Night
13 youth confess their sins and accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
10 youth totally committed themselves to be ministers.
25 youth dedicate themselves to serve part time in the service of the Lord.

The Training For The Women
Partnership with the mission team of SSMC, Malaysia, we are planning to have training for the women from 20-23 October 1997 in KengTung expected 50 women to attend. Budget for this training is 160,000 Kyat (US$1000). We requested SSMC to share half of the cost.

The Receipts and Payments up to April Receipts
Receipts
From SSMC, Malaysia 340,000 Kyat (US$ 2,000)
From Shan Churches 100,000 Kyat
From Shan believers 65,200 Kyat
Total 505,200 Kyat
Payment
For Evangelists 340,000 Kyat
For traveling 50,000 Kyat
Buy medicines and others 12,000 Kyat
Office expense 2,500 Kyat
Total 304,500 Kyat
Closing, Balance 200,700 Kyat (US$1180.8)
Signed/ Saw Moody Rev. Sai Stephen Sai Lar
Auditor E/M Director Treasurer

We do not hear any news from AOI whether they will help us or not. We hope them to join hands and help us.
Conclusion

• Thank God for helping us what we needs for His mission.
• Thank AOI for helping us for many years in financial support and GCI training. We hope to continue helping us in the future. We do need a training of GCI for equipping the evangelists to serve the Lord in the mission fields.
• Thank SS Methodist Church, Malaysia for helping us in financial support for 1997 and especially help us in the training for youth Leaders. We hope to come and help us in the women’s training, which will be held in October also.
• Thank the Shan Churches and Shan believers who encourage us and help us in
  good advices and financial support. They have great concern of the Shan mission as their responsibilities.
• We do not be afraid and discouraged (Joshua 1:9) to serve the Lord. We all will totally dedicate ourselves to serve the Lord with the strength that given to us.
• We need your help to pray for us .
  In His Wonderful Service, Signed/ Rev. Sai Stephen Hsam

Revised Financial Support to 21st Century Shan Mission Project, Eastern Shan State, for 1997 proposed by Dr. Sai Htwe Maung

1. Rev. Sai Stephen’s salary
   Rev. Sai Stephen is now receiving monthly salary Kyat 3,500 from Eastern Shan Baptist Convention as he is working as a full-time secretary of ESBC. Before he becomes full time secretary of ESBC he was a full-time Assistant Director of 21st CSMP and was given monthly salary of Kyat 3,000. Even though we have decided to increase his salary to Kyat 4,000 per month from 21st CSMP, it is not good for him to receive two salaries from two organizations that will amount to Kyat 7,500 per month. No one in Burma has such big salary, even the minister of the country. I believe it is not good for any one. That is why 21st CSMP should not give him a full salary of Kyat 4,000 per month on top of his salary from ESBC but we should give him a gift of Kyat 1,000 per month as an honorarium to his service to our 21st CSMP as he is receiving salary from ESBC.
2. Footsoldiers Support.
   We have supported footsoldiers financially Kyat 1,000 per month in the past years. We have decided to increase our support to Kyat 1,500 per month. It will cost Kyat 300,000 for the whole year. Since SS Methodist Church has already given them Kyat 340,000 on top of our support they have got enough and we should stop financial support to all footsoldiers for the year 1997. Since one of our core values is to be more and more indigenous we would like to encourage local Churches to take part in this ministry. More money does not necessarily mean more blessing to our footsoldiers.
3. Training Allowance.
   We have in the beginning set aside Kyat 100,000 for local GCI training in the year 1997. SS Methodist Church has conducted Youth Training in April and will be having Women Training in October. National GCI is planning to hold another training in November. I personally think they have too many training sessions this year. I propose to cancel local GCI training program this year and save the money for the next year local GCI.
4. Budget Surplus.
   According to Rev. Sai Stephen’s report they have a budget surplus of Kyat 200,700 at the end of June 1997.
5. Final 1997 Budget Revision.
   Rev. Sai Stephen support Kyat 12,000
   Footsoldiers support Kyat 100,000
   Local GCI Training Kyat 100,000
   Church Building Fund Kyat 50,000
   (Still available on request to build 5 new Churches)
   Traveling Expenses & Operation Support Kyat 10,000

Letter from AOI to SSMC, Malaysia. 28 April 1997

Mr. Cheong Seng Gee
Sungaiway Subang Methodist Church

Dear Selig Gee,
Thank you for your fax of 20 March 1997. I am sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I have been away from Hong Kong for three weeks at the end of March, attending the Pan Borneo Conference held in East Malaysia. It was a glorious time. Over 1,000 indigenous Christian workers gathered from all over Borneo including Brunei and Kalimantan for four days of fasting on God’s word. Then I even tried to conquer Mt. Kinabalu. Thong and another pastor friend from Australia made it to the summit. But I only managed to reach the base camp. Well! I will have to go back another time!
With regard to the Shan ministry, first of all I would like to assure you we don’t think of it as AO’s only. This is God’s ministry. However, there is certain philosophy in AO that helps us to be able to coordinate the ministry effectively and be accountable to each other. When SS Methodist first approached us about your visit to Burma, we had explained our philosophy to you right from the beginning. Sai Stephen is essentially an AO co-worker and his ministry is supported by AO. His budget was 100% supported by AO. And we have specially requested that all future contacts and support be made through AO. When you accepted our coordination and went there as contacts of AO, we thought it was with that understanding. In some sense, by supporting Sai Stephen’s ministry through AO International, you are not going through an intermediary organization. Sai Stephen and his ministries are under AO.
Dr. Sai Htwe Maung is the one who initiated this ministry with Sai Stephen. In fact, Sai Stephen has always worked with Dr. Sai as his leader. We have always worked through Dr. Sai in this relationship because we try to work with a national as far as possible. We did not require them to register as Asian Outreach due to the political situation there. We have been working with each other base on mutual trust and mutual accountability. You see, for years we have been covering for Sai Stephen’s entire budget whether there is enough or not. AOI was responsible to raise the budget he needs. Of course, the locals raise some of their own budget because we are encouraging self support. But when there is not enough, AOI is committed to them.
Having said all this, we are open to changes if it will benefit the Kingdom. As we see it, Seng Gee, there are two options.

1. SSMC adopts Sai Stephen and his ministry totally (if you would like to deal directly with Sai Stephen). We will be willing to release Sai Stephen and his ministry under your care. But this will require a long-term commitment from SSMC to Sai Stephen. At the moment your commitment to him is for a year. But we are concern about what will happen after a year. AOI will not be able to accept a half-in and half-out situation with Sai Stephen because this would create a very difficult environment for accountability. There is also danger of a ministry receiving too much giving if different organizations were to go in, see them and start sending funds directly to the ministry. That has been one of the most serious downfalls of ministers. If SSMC is willing to take up that responsibility, then AO will be happy to pioneer in other new areas.
2. Sai Stephen and his ministry remain under the ministry of AO and leadership of Dr. Sai Htwe Maung. In that case, AOI will be the coordinating center with outside Churches and organizations and all support will be channeled through AOI. It would be like in the past. Maybe you would like to talk this through with the Pastoral Team. Again, I want to assure you that AO is happy whichever way it is. Like you, we value the partnership with SSMC. We want to facilitate as much as we can so that Sai Stephen and his team can fulfill the calling in their lives and see the Kingdom of God established.
   Looking forward to hearing from you.
   The Lord blesses you.
   Yours in Chris ,
   Ong Siew Huat, Director of Operations, Asian Outreach International.

From; Cheong Seng Gee, Pastor Team Member, SSMC, Malaysia.
To Mr. Ong Siew Huat, Director of Operations, AOI. 19 May 1997

Sorry for the silence at our end as we have been busy preparing for our annual May celebrations of missions. By God’s grace we hope to raise MR 500,000 the Anniversary Gift Day for missions. We have also heard encouraging reports from Ai Swee on the Vietnam trip and we pray for your physical recovery and spiritual well being.
It is good that we are able to clarify on the issue of the Shan Project and I would like to reiterate that we i.e. SSMC, AOI and the Eastern Shan Baptist Convention are care builders for His Kingdom. There is no intention for territorial exclusivity and we regret to hear of hurt feelings from Myanmar to Hong Kong. We would like to offer our apologies to you and Dr Sai Htwe Maung for the dilemma caused despite good intentions on our heart to help Sai Stephen and the convention. Let us see how we can move forward together. We see no problem with Option 2 i.e. the Shan Project being under AOI’s ministry. However, we would request for the owing considerations for a more practical outworking.

1. Current Commitments
   We have committed to Sai Stephen the following amounts for 1997, US$ 1,000 for the Youth Training in KengTung in April. This was to fund the youth leaders from the surrounding tows such as Tachileik and MuongYawng. There was a unity among the various Baptist Associations for the first time and SSMC was grateful for the partnership in training them. US$ 3,600 for the footsoldiers ministry out of which US$ 2,000 was given to Sai Stephen through the April mission team. This was done before your last letter of 28 April. Another sum for the November Women’s Training which is yet to be determined. We are planning a mission trip then. We are open as to how the remaining funds be channeled i.e. either to Sai Stephen direct or through AOI. However these funds are already designated and must be sent with timeliness. Please advise us. As to the future such as next year onwards, we are open to suggestions. It would be good if both Sai Stephen and Dr. Sai (Sai Htwe Maung) work out a budget for SSMC to consider what portion it can help out. As is our practice, we are accountable to our members as to how the funds are used and we request AOI to give us a detailed report in such an event.
2. The Way Forward
   As for 1998 and beyond, we would be happy to have a joint consultation with AOI and Dr Sai Htwe Maung as to how we can be in partnership on the Shan Project. Our stand is that we are willing to work through AOI and we request that AOI offers us a degree of flexibility as we plan to make more mission trips in the future. I believe communication will help therefore a modified option 2 should be given a chance until it serves its usefulness. We are confident that our partnership will bear great fruits and look forward to better understanding in our work together. Looking forward to your reply. God bless.
   In His Name, /Cheong Seng Gee,
   cc. SS Pastoral Team

Letter from Rev. Sai Stephen, ESS, Burma to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, 3 June 1997

Dear Dr. Sai Htwe Maung,
Greeting in the name of Jesus. 1st Annual General Meeting of Eastern Shan Baptist Convention was held in MuongYang. 2,378 people attended. I am elected as General Secretary of Eastern Shan Baptist Convention for 3 years term. Also elected as Director of Evangelism of ESBC. I am also working as director of our 21st CSMP at the same time. (Note: ESBC has created their own 21st CSMP which is not related to original 21st CSMP established by Dr. Sai Htwe Maung and Sai Stephen was appointed as its director)
This year we have 20 full time evangelists. I will like to thank you for giving birth to this mission and giving advice. I also want to thank AOI. In the history of Shan mission, you are already recorded. I will like to urge you to continue supporting us, leading us and giving us advice. Please do not abandon us. The people from SSMC are good people. From April 21-24 in KengTung they have lead us in Youth training. 57 youths attended. I want to have GCI training in 1998 between February and April. We are now supporting Kyat 3,000 each month for each evangelist. Please forgive me for not writing you because I was too busy traveling and preparing for convention.
Please write to me.
In His Service, Signed/ Sai Stephen

Letter from Rev. Sai Stephen, 21st Century Shan Christian Mission, Baptist Mission Compound,
Nong Pha Eastern Shan State, Union of Myanmar to AOI. 18th June 1997

Warmest greetings from KengTung, Union of Myanmar.
Thank you for your letter dated on 22nd May. Thank you for the invitation letter also. I am so sorry that since now I receive no letter from Dr. Sai. May be it is late. I am eager to participate in the Key Co-workers conference in October. I will pray and try my best to be present there. But for me to apply the passport the invitation you have sent to me is not completed yet. In the invitation letter we need the endorsement of Myanmar Ambassador from the Embassy of Myanmar in Hong Kong. We still have time until July for applying the passport. Please send me a new invitation with the endorsement of Myanmar Ambassador in Hong Kong as soon as you can. I do have some issues to make discussion to be clear with the AOI for partnership in the gospel among my people, Shan in the future. I hope you will now receive my report of mission (January to April) which I have sent you on 5th June 1997.

Thank you for having concern and helping us. I look forward to seeing all of you in October.
The Lord bless you and His Mission.
In His Service, Signed/ Sai Stephen , Mission Director

Letter from Rev. Sai Stephen, KengTung, to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong. 18 June 1997

Dr. Sai Htwe Maung,
Greeting in Christ’ name. I am now working as General Secretary of Eastern Shan State Shan Baptist Convention and also as full-time associate director of 21st CSMP. I have received Kyat 4,500 per month from ESSSBC. I have received letter of invitation to attend Asian Outreach Conference but the letter doesn’t have Myanmar Consular signature. Without his signature I cannot apply for passport. If you think I need to come to Hong Kong for this conference please kindly go to the Myanmar Consulate and ask for Consular endorsement signature and send it to me. I think I can apply in time. Please pray for us to have good pastors and genuine Churches. Remembering you in prayer.
In His Service, Signed/ Sai Stephen.

From; Asian Outreach International Ltd
To Rev. Sai Stephen, Baptist Mission Compound Nong Pha, KengTung Eastern Shan State, Union of Myanmar. 9th July 1997

Warmest greetings from Hong Kong SAR!
It was good to receive your report and your recent letter and to know you are trying to come for the Key Co-workers Conference in Hong Kong in October. We have already arranged for the endorsement from the Myanmar Consulate here. It will take about a week and we hope the endorsed invitation letter will reach you on time to obtain your passport to come.
I am sorry for some of the misunderstandings and miscommunications that have taken place between the various parties involved in the Shan Ministry. Traditionally in the past, we have always worked through your leader Dr Sai Htwe Maung in Hong Kong because we believe he understands the Shan situation better than we do. As AOI always want to involve more Churches in missions, therefore we have opened the door for SSMC to visit and assist in the Shan Ministry. SSMC is also my home/supporting Churches in Malaysia. Ideally, when there is any change of working relationship or change of perspectives and understandings we should inform all the parties. I know Dr. Sai has been working through AO’s core values of indigenous support and we were quite surprised when we were not informed of the new arrangement you’ve made with SSMC. I have spent sometime explaining to the leadership of SSMC some of the issues and my prayer is that we can all come together and try to understand each other’s perspectives, which may be different.
It is “difficult” to explain all the issues on paper so I am looking forward to your coming, then we can freely talk face-to-face without the restriction of writing. Meanwhile, I want to assure you that AOI will continue to support the Shan Ministry under your leadership. We will still be working through Dr. Sai and we should all have a common understanding before making any changes. The usual working process is that once the Annual Budget is agreed based on your ministry plan, AOI will send you the finance as agreed. Of course, each ministry is encouraged to raise funds for the approved budget. If there is any direct support to the ministry covering the areas of budget we will reduce accordingly and will still fund what we agreed. Therefore the training in November 1997 by the GCI will continue to receive the appropriate funding. Please work with Jean Harper regarding this.
I would like to hear from you from your perspectives. I pray that we all can be open to each other for the Kingdom’s sake and not to allow the evil one to divide, cause confusion and distrust among us.

Thank you very much for your partnership in the gospel. The Lord bless you.
Yours in Christ, Signed/ Ong Siew Huat, Director of Operations, AOI.
c.c. Dr. Sai Htwe Maung
Miss Jean Harper

From Dr. Sai Htwe Maung to Rev. Ong Siew Huat, Director of Operation, Asian Outreach International. July 14, 1997.

Re: Mission Work Among The Shan People Of Burma

Dear Rev. Ong,
Praise be to God our Heavenly Father who has founded Asian Outreach International to work among the un-reached people in Asia. Our Shan people in Burma are one of those groups who have received a share of blessings through Asian Outreach for many years in many ways.

Back Ground History
Shan people in Burma are very much un-reached in term of mission. Only about two percent of four million people may have the opportunity of hearing the gospel from local preachers. In fact the mission among the Shan has been started since 1861 by American Missionary Rev. Moses Bixby. According to our recent report only about ten thousand have accepted the Lord. This is within more than one hundred years of hard work. There are several factors that hinder our Church Growth. One of the several main factors is not enough preachers. I have an opportunity to work with Asian Outreach in reaching our people in Burma. I am fully given responsibility to oversee our mission work among the Shan. I praise God for this opportunity.

Our Mission Planning
We have a vision of reaching our people by ourselves with the help of our brothers and sisters from around the world. I visited Burma in December 1986 to share my vision with Shan Christian leaders. We all agree to set a goal for our work. Our project is called 21st Century Shan Mission Project. (21st CSMP)
Our goal is;

1. To Train 210 Evangelists (Footsoldiers of Jesus Christ)
2. To Plant 210 Churches and
3. To Get 21,000 Believers by the years 2001.

In order to start our mission we have appointed three key leaders.

1. I have agreed to act as General Director of our 21st CSMP.
2. Rev. Sai Thein Aung Kham from the Northern Shan State will be acting as Assistant Director fully responsible for the work in Northern Shan State.
3. Rev. Sai Stephen from Eastern Shan State will be acting as Assistant Director fully responsible for the work in Eastern Shan State.
   We all agreed that I would be responsible in making contact with foreign mission organizations, presenting our mission work and raise appropriate support from outside the country. Local Assistant Directors will make direct report to General Director and will not ask any help from any organization outside the country without the knowledge of General Director. All budget and planning must be submitted to AOI via General Director. These are some of the agreements we have among us. This is not a control but to avoid confusion, misunderstanding and abuse of others’ generosity.
   I have sent Rev. Sai Thein Aung Kham to GCI training in Singapore and Rev. Sai Stephen to GCI training in Thailand so that they will be properly equipped for the task. Rev. Sai Stephen was appointed full time worker of our 21st CSMP since 1993.
   We are very much blessed by the Lord ever since we have started our project. We have trained more than two hundred footsoldiers of Christ. We have sent out twenty full time evangelists to preach the gospel. Fourteen new Churches have been planted. 21st CSMP played an important role in the Church Growth in Eastern Shan State and formation of Eastern Shan Baptist Conference a few months ago.
   Support
   Asian Outreach International has been supporting our mission project financially, materially and spiritually since 1984. GCI also helping us training our leaders. In 1996 budget, Rev Sai Stephen was paid 3,000 Kyat each month. Our full-time Footsoldiers were paid 1,000 Kyat each for each month. 30,000 Kyat traveling allowance was given to Rev. Sai Stephen each year. AOI also bought a motorcycle for Rev. Sai Stephen for traveling. We give 100,000 Kyat for local GCI training each year and 10,000 Kyat for Church building for each new Church. In 1997 budget Rev. Sai Stephen asks for adjustment as follows.
   His salary will be increased. (Not mentioned the amount)
   His traveling expenses will be increased from 30,000 Kyat to 50,000 Kyat. (66.66% increased)
   Footsoldier monthly support will be increased from 1,000 to 3,000 Kyat (200% increased). The average financial support (Monthly Salary) to any full time Pastor (Seminary Graduate) in Burma is about 1,000 Kyat only. (In some place a full time pastor is only getting 500 Kyat ) The highest paid of a full-time Christian worker such as General Secretary of Burma Baptist Convention or Burma Council of Churches is about 4,000 Kyat. A salary for the government service such as a Medical Doctor is only about 1,000 Kyat. The Director General of the Government Ministry is only getting 4,000 Kyat a month. The average monthly income of a person is about 400 Kyat. It seems to us that Christian workers are the best paid in the country if we pay them 3,000 Kyat per month. In considering the salary adjustment to our Christian workers it should not be base on foreign standard such as Hong Kong, Malaysia or US. It should be based on local standard and situation.
   We would like to see our works become more and more indigenous and self-supporting and less and less foreign dependent. We would like to see local Churches contributing more and more in the ministry. Money can become a destroyer instead of builder of His Kingdom if we don’t use it properly especially in poor country with high corruption.
   After prayerful consideration I have agreed to increase Rev. Sai Stephen’s salary to 4,000 Kyat per month (33.33% increased), Footsoldier Salary to 1,500 Kyat per month (50% increased), Traveling allowance to 40,000 Kyat per year (33.33% increased). I think this increment is reasonable, appropriate and match with local standard. I have sent this proposal to Rev. Sai Stephen on 16 November 1996. I have not received any opinion to this.

New Development
May I give you an analogy to you since you like telling story.
“There was a certain young man from Malaysia. He expressed his interest in seeing a Shan lady in Burma. He asked a Malaysian lady in Hong Kong to find out if there’s any person who can introduce him to the Shan lady in Burma. This Malaysian young man might probably have read about Shan lady somewhere sometime. It happened that a Malaysian lady in Hong Kong knew a Shan man in Hong Kong who had good contact with the Shan in Burma. She asked a Shan man in Hong Kong if he could kindly arrange a trip for that young Malaysian man to travel to Shan State in Burma to visit the Shan lady. A Hong Kong Shan man was told that Malaysian guy was a good guy and can be trusted. Graciously enough, without knowing much about that Malaysian young man and his background, this Shan man from Hong Kong wrote a letter to the Shan lady in Shan State telling her about the visit of a young Malaysian man from Malaysia. He asked her to offer the visitor the best hospitality she could ever give. With introduction and permission from this Shan man from Hong Kong, Malaysian young man went to the Shan State and met the Shan lady in KengTung. After seeing the Shan lady he immediately fell in love with her at the first sight. Without knowing about her background and her history, he proposed for marriage. The Shan lady accepted him and secretly got marriage without telling a Shan man in Hong Kong. They made vow and got marriage at the first meeting. When the Shan man in Hong Kong heard about the news that Shan lady had secretly got marriage with a man from Malaysia he was very upset, angry and heart broken. Because that Shan lady was the wife of this Shan man in Hong Kong. They have been married for years but living apart because of their works.”
Brother Ong, this allegory tells us about the problem which has been arisen after a SSMC from Malaysia visiting our Shan Mission Work in Eastern Shan State. After a visit, according to my understanding, SSMC and Rev. Sai Stephen have made some agreements to work together in the Shan Mission without telling us. In fact they have opportunity of going to see Eastern Shan Churches through my introduction. Rev. Sai Stephen has asked for financial support and SSMC has agreed to give US$ 3,600 for 1997 and he is also responsible to give regular report directly to SS Methodist Church. He and his wife are also invited to go to Malaysia to give report on mission work among the Shan. SSMC also conducting training in Eastern Shan State. In fact Sai Stephen has been working with me as assistant director of 21st CSMP for years. We are doing all these with AOI all along. Now misunderstanding and suspicions have arisen among us. The motive of giving help and receiving support are out of our knowledge. I was not informed of their agreement up until it was accidentally revealed when the fax message from SSMC went through my niece’s machine.
Have they broken the relationship with us?
Will they be over fed with our gracious support?
Will it damage their longstanding faith in the Lord because of their riches supply?
The problem can easily be avoided if we work together with respect and trust.
We must learn the lessons from this mistake.

1. I shall be fully responsible for all the consequences because I am the one who introduce SSMC to them and they accepted them because of my introduction.
2. Rev. Sai Stephen should not ask any help from SSMC without my knowledge since we all have agreed not to ask any help from any organization without my knowledge to avoid misunderstanding and confusion. He should first ask opinion from me.
3. SSMC should not directly involve and give financial support to Shan mission work in ESS since AOI is already involved. SSMC should talk to AOI before making any decision, giving any financial help concerning Shan Mission Work. The whole Shan State, the whole Burma and the whole world know that AOI is involved in mission work among the Shan.
4. AOI, SSMC, Rev. Sai Stephen and I should have a better communication, good working relationship, understanding and cooperation in our involvement in future Shan Mission Work

Conclusion
Mistake has been made, Forgive one another, Working together, Don’t give Satan a chance.
I praise God for AOI and SSMC for sharing ministry among our Shan people. But let us work together with the same Spirit for the same Goal.
Signed/ Dr. Sai Htwe Maung.
Director, 21st Century Shan Mission Project, Burma.
Copy to: Rev. Sai Stephen, and SS Methodist Church.

Letter from Sai Stephen to AOI by fax on 25 July 1997

When the SSMC (Sungaiway Subang Methodist Church) from Malaysia visited us I explained to them all about the difficulties the evangelists are facing. We visited some evangelists who were working around KengTung area. All happening touched their hearts. After going back to Malaysia, they replied us to help the part we need. So in 1997 we will give each evangelist with three thousand Kyat per month from the following sources:

From SSMC 1,500 Kyat
From AOI 1,000 Kyat
From Shan Baptist 500 Kyat
Total 3,000 Kyat
But unfortunately we received no financial support from AOI for 1997 until today. I don’t know what is going on. We received no news from AOI also. Anyway we try our best to stand on our own feet and support fully to the evangelists. This is God’s mission and Shan mission also. We totally accepted that this is our responsibility.
In 1997, the SSMC will participate in two trainings, Youth and Women. We had already finished Youth leadership training in last March. I have in mind that we will need to plan GCI 1997. But we get no in touch with Dr. Sai Htwe Maung. At first we are disappointed for failing to do the GCI in 1997. But when I received your letter I got a new strength. We are happy and agreed to have GCI in KengTung in 1997. We expect 40 trainees and estimate cost is 400,000 Kyat.
Signed/ Sai Stephen

Letter from AOI to SSMC, Malaysia to: Mr. Cheong Seng Gee, From: Ong Siew Huat. 28 July 1997

Dear Seng Gee,
Warmest Christian Greetings from Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China. Thank you for your fax letters of May and July. I am sorry for the long silence and delay in replying. I was partly waiting for Dr. Sai’s response and he felt he should write a background “paper” so that all the parties understand the real situation and work together. I have also been communicating with Sai Stephen and he will be coming to Hong Kong for our Key Co-workers Conference where I hope we will clear up any other areas of misunderstanding.
You and Sai Stephen will be receiving a copy of the letter Dr. Sai wrote to me clearing up quite a number of issues. I hope we will all not take this too personally but as lessons learnt for His Kingdom. AOI has no problem with the active participation of SSMC. The usual process is the Nationals (Dr. Sai & Sai Stephen) present their annual budget for AOI’s consideration. On approval, the needs are made known to AO offices and others. If there are local contribution or other overseas contribution, AOI will reduce its support accordingly.
Regarding reports- AOI too depends on its ministry offices to submit regular quarterly reports of it ministries, which we then sent to supporters and support offices. I understand SSMC’s position but I am concern with the speed of decision making after one visit without consultation with the matchmaker, which is AOI. We do not seek to control but to provide accountability. By giving directly to the field and hearing from the field without the appropriate checks and references years of established relationship and system of accountability and working through of issues (e.g. our core values) can come to nothing and also inadvertently damage the long term work of establishing a strong and responsible national Church. AOI provides a lot of flexibility (If not too flexible) in working together but let’s talk.
I cannot and do not have time to put all my thoughts in writing. I hope we can sit down and talk when I return for the DUMC Family Camp at the end of August. However please feel to fax or call me if any of the points are not clear. I would like to clarify what I can through the phone.
My greetings to the pastoral team and do continue to pray for us as we consider our next “appointment.”
Looking forward to meeting with you. The Lord blesses you.
Yours in Christ, Signed/ Siew Huat
c.c. SSMC Pastoral Team

Letters from AOI to Rev. Sai Stephen. 29th July 1997

Dear Sai Stephen,
Greetings from Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China. I pray by now you should have received the proper papers for you to process your application to come to Hong Kong for our biannual Key Co-workers’ Conference. I am looking forward to having fellowship with you again. I am sorry for all the “miscommunication”, which by now I hope will be much clearer. I am enclosing the letter written by Dr. Sai to me to be cc’d to SSMC and you.
AOI policies have always been to work through National leadership (in this case through Dr. Sai and you). Each year a budget proposal is made to AOI, once it is agreed, it is made known to the National office. If there is any support from any other sources, AOI will reduce its contribution accordingly. The Budget is a planned ministry costs and is a guided plan. Additional requests can be considered. I was not aware of your change of status since January 1997 as a full-time secretary with the Eastern Shan Convention. With you as their leader I believe the VISION for the work will still be the same and I want to assure you of AOI’s support.
As far as AOI is concern, we send out the funds according to the budget on a quarterly basis and I understand that Dr. Sai transfer the funds to you every 6 months. So, as already explained in Dr. Sai’s letter to me, the revised budget for 1997 is as follows:
Rev. Sai Stephen support Kyat 12,000
Footsoldiers support Kyat 100,000
Local GCI Training Kyat 100,000
Church Building Fund Kyat 50,000 (Still available on request to build new Churches)
Traveling Expenses & Operation Support Kyat 10,000
Please feel free to write if any part is not clear or you have a different perspective. I hope we can all be open to one another and not allow the enemy to divide us. Again, I want to say to you, feel free to write to me directly. Thank you for your reports and please let me know as soon as possible when your exit visa is approved so that we can make arrangement for the air ticket. Please convey my greetings to your family and team. I hope to be able to come for the National GCI in December.
Yours in Christ, Signed/ Ong Siew Huat, Director of Operations.
c.c Accounts Department, AOI

Letter from Rev. Sai Stephen to Director of Operations Asian Outreach International Ltd, Hong Kong.
Subject : Project Proposal and Request budget for 1998. 30th September 1997

Sir,
By the leading of the Lord Jesus Christ, we will be continued to implement the project of 21st Century Shan Mission as we had set the goals.
Our goals in 1998 are;
(1) To plant 20 new Churches.
(2) To win 500 new believers.
(3) To produce 10 evangelists and pastors to send them to the
mission fields.
(4) To support building of 10 new Churches.
We are going to serve the Lord in 20 villages which are located in 6 townships. The budget for the project in 1998 is Kyat 1,300,000 (US$5,200). The Shan Baptist Conference (Eastern Shan State) will be responsible for the portion of Kyat 400,000 (US$1,600). Therefore we earnestly request from the Asian Outreach International Ltd. for the portion of Kyat 900,000. (US $ 3,600)
Thanks for helping.
In His Service, Signed/ Rev. Sai Stephen
Project Director, 21st Century Shan Mission
Baptist Mission Compound, NongPha, KengTung, Union of Myanmar
(Note: This is a new project created by Rev. Sai Stephen for ESSSBC but using the same name as 21st Century Shan Mission which was created by Sai Htwe Maung in 1986. He was appointed as Project Director. He has not resigned from Assistant Director of 21st Century Shan Mission Project. He puts forward his budget and planning to AOI and SSMC directly without going through Sai Htwe Maung any more.)

Letter from Rev. Sai Stephen to Asian Outreach International.16th October 1997

I will be very pleased if you will give me the financial support for five new Churches buildings as mentioned below.

1. WanLee Village 30 believers US$100
2. Jordan Village 80 believers US$100
3. WanMai Village 25 believers US$100
4. San Lwin Village 30 believers US$100
   In His Service,
   Signed/ Sai Stephen
   Nong Pha, KengTung.

The report of 21st Century Shan Christian Mission work in the Eastern State in 1997 (January – September) By Rev. Sai Stephen

God is working with us. Praise God for using us to serve Him among our people, Shan. Thank God for the strength that giving to all of the evangelists. All of us will be faithfully dedicate ourselves in His ministry. 21 evangelists are working in different villages. Rev. Sai Stephen is director of the works. There are total 302 new believers. One refresher course has been conducted. 20 evangelists attended. Trainers were Shan Baptist Convention’s leaders.
We had held Youth Leadership training from 21-24 April. 59 youths attended.

Financial receipts

1. SSMC, Malaysia 340,000 Kyat
2. AOI 12,000 K
3. Shan Churches 300,000 K
4. Shan believers 125,000 K
   Total 777,000 Kyat

Payment

1. Evangelists’ salary (3000x20x9) 540,000 Kyat
2. Traveling expenses 50,000 K
3. Refresher course 130,000 K
4. Youth Leadership training 160,000 K
5. Evangelist Bible School 150,000 K
6. Medicine and help the needs 12,000 K
7. Record and admin 5,000 K
   Total 1,047000 Kyat
   Deficit 270,000 Kyat

Conclusion

1. Thank God for He is so good for us all time
2. Thank AOI for helping us for many years in financial support and GCI trainings.
3. Thanks SSMC, Malaysia for helping us in financial support for 1997 and especially for the Youth Leadership training.
4. Thanks to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung who lead us in 21st Century Shan Mission.
5. Thanks to all of the Shan Churches and Shan believers who
   encourage us and help us in financial support.
6. We need your help to pray for us.
   In His Service, Signed/ Rev. Sai Stephen Hsam
   Director, 21st Century Shan Mission Project

Application for a Project Grant, By Rev. Sai Stephen

Name of Proponent: Shan Baptist Conference (Eastern Shan State)
Project name: 21st Century Shan Mission
Description of Project: The mission among the Shan people in Eastern Shan State was started by American missionary William M. Young in 1901. Shan are culturally and traditionally deep rooted in Buddhism and the progress of mission work among them was extremely slow. However the Shan Baptist Association was organized in 1968 with 18 local Churches.
Due to the commitment, dedication and hard work of the Shan Church Leaders and by the helping of Dr. Sai Htwe Maung and Asian Outreach International, there have been considerable Church growth and planting of new Churches in the past few years, which led to the forming of the Shan Baptist Conference, Eastern Shan State. Shan Baptist Convention is one of the newest racial conventions with 52 Churches and 6,820 baptized members.
The main objective of this project for the year 1998 is to concentrate the mission works in the target areas with the following goals.

1. To plant 20 new Churches.
2. To win 500 new believers.
3. To produce 10 evangelists and pastors to send them to the mission fields.
4. To support building of 10 new Churches.

Target areas

1. KengTung township 3 villages
2. MuongKhut township 5 villages
3. MuongYang township 6 villages
4. MuonYawng township 3 villages
5. TaChiLeik township 1 village
6. MuongPhat township 2 villages

Project period: 1988 January to December

Project Plan
20 evangelists are already serving in the fields.
Evangelistic Bible School will be conducted from August to October (3 months). After training they will be sent to new established Churches as pastors. There will be one-week refresher course every year. Support will be given for building Churches in every village. Evangelistic teams as well as the evangelism director will visit each village at least twice a year for preaching the gospel, encouragement and baptism of converts.
Project Budget

1. Evangelists’ salaries (3000x20x12) 720,000 Kyat
2. Evangelistic refresher course 150,000 K
3. Evangelistic training school 150,000 K
4. Traveling expenses 100,000 K
5. Supporting building Churches 100,000 K
6. Administration 10,000 K
7. Contingencies 70,000 K
   Total 1,300,000 Kyat

Project report and evaluation
This project will be implemented by Evangelism and Mission Committee of Shan Baptist Conference. The project report will be sent to AOI and supported organization quarterly in a year and there will be a yearly evaluation of the project.

Conclusion
This project was approved by the Shan Baptist Conference (ESS), Evangelism and Mission Committee. Without God we can do nothing. We trust God. God can do everything. We totally believe that God will use us and build His Church through us. We earnestly request all of you to pray for us in every time. God bless you all.
In His Service, Signed/ Sai Stephen.

5 December 1997
Memo from Low Yeow Mooi to Ong Siew Huat
RE: Shan Ministry

Dear OSH,
We are all praying that you have a safe, fruitful and not too stressful trip to Myanmar. Have a good time there.
Just a few things to follow up with Sai Stephen:

1. He is going to let you know if he will take up the responsibility of Eastern Shan ministry with AOI. We talked about not needing to go through Dr. Sai and just working directly with him in October. He is to get back to you on this.
2. Regarding SS Methodist Church, they gave him US$ 1,600 during their trip in October. That is excluding the support they gave for the two training seminars. This should cover Shan’s 4th Quarter support. That is why we did not send them the 4th quarter support. We should start sending them support again beginning January 1998 since SS Methodist will work through us regarding their support. (May said you do not want to bring it this time. We will have to make arrangements on how to transfer funds in January 1998, if we don’t go through Dr. Sai, that is if Sai Stephen were to work directly with AOI.)
3. Sai Stephen is to give you some photos on the Churches we helped build in 1997. I told him the pictures of at least two Churches if he can’t visit all five between October and now. Also he has to pass you some forms (reports) for Asian Report. Please get as many picture as possible when you are there.
   Thanks so much, OSH.
   As to the rests and the bigger picture, will let you deal with it.
   Have a good trip.
   Mooi
   (Note: Since AOI Conference in October, after meeting and discussing among Sai Htwe Maung, Sai Stephen, Ong Siew Huat and Low Yeow Mooi, all agreed that, in the future, concerning Shan mission work among the Shan in Eastern Shan State, AOI would work directly with Sai Stephen instead of going through Sai Htwe Maung. The reason was Sai Stephen was experienced enough to continue the work independently)

Letter from Dr. Sai Htwe Maung to Rev. Sai Thein Aung Kham, Rev. Sai Stephen, Daw Mya Nu, Sai Kyaw Tint.13 December 1997

To. Rev. Sai Thein Aung Kham(NamKham), Rev. Sai Stephen (KengTung)
Daw Mya Nu (Yangon), Saya Sai Kyaw Tint (Yangon)
From; Dr. Sai Htwe Maung.
Subject: Yangon Meeting.

Dear Co-workers in Christ,
I will be in Yangon on 16th January 1998.

1. I would like to meet you all and discuss about our future Shan Christian Mission work.
2. To discuss about forming a Shan Christian Mission Board
   responsible for the whole Myanmar.
3. To plan for Pastor and Evangelist Training in Yangon in April.
4. To plan for GCI Training in November in the Northern Shan State.
5. To plan for Church Planting in the Northern Shan State.
6. To plan for Church Planting in the Southern Shan State.
7. Missionary Recruitment.
8. New Opportunity for Shan Christian Mission.
   The meeting will be held on 19th, 20th and 21st at Daw Mya Nu’s resident, No. 3/C, Shan Yeik Tha, Shan Road, San Chaung, Yangon. I hope Rev. Sai Stephen will bring along with him one Church leader from the East and Lung Sam Mon from the South. I hope Rev. Sai Thein Aung Kham will bring along with him one Church leader from the North. I will pay for all your traveling expenses.
   Please come and let us be one in Christ for His Glory and Kingdom.
   In Christ, Signed/ Dr. Sai Htwe Maung.
   (Note: After the meeting they did not agree to form Shan Christian Mission Board. They wanted to work separately.)

Report from Rev. Sai Stephen to AOI, 21 January 1998

Greetings to you from Myanmar in the Lord’s name. Including me all of the evangelists are in well health and serve the Lord where the Lord had placed us to serve.

1. Evangelists
   a. 20 Evangelists are serving faithfully and enthusiastically in their mission fields.
   b. After the G.C.I. KengTung, Jean, Ong and I chose 5 of the trainees to send them to the new fields. Now they are serving in as following mention.
   1) Sai Moe Lawn, Pau Soa Village, Muong Yang T.S.
   2) Sai Paulu, NamKiu Village, Muong Yang T.S.
   3) Maung Hsam Kang, NamPai Village, Muong Bawk T.S.
   4) Sai Yaw Ba, MuongHaw Village, MuongYawng T.S.
   5) Sai Enoch, WinLau Village, TaChiLeik T.S. Remark. 25 Evangelists are serving in the mission fields.
2. New believers
   During 3 months (Oct. – Dec. 97), 33 new believers were accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
3. Visiting and encouraging mission fields
   a. From Dec. 27-31, 1997 visited 6 villages and encouraged them in Muong Khat and Muong Yang Township.
   b. From Jan 1-5,1998 visited WanSai, CaNan and WanMai Villages in KengTung Township
4. Church dedication
   a. WanNarMai new Church building was dedicated in 1997 December 23. Jean, Ong and Takashi had been there in 9 December 97.
   b. WanMai new Church building in Muong Khat T.S. was dedicated in 28 December 97.
5. Student Hostel
   This is a new project, which we are going to implement in 1998. I had discussed this project with pastor Ong and Jean in KengTung already. I hope pastor Ong had already told you all about the project. I also believe the AOI will help this project also. There will be 50 students in the hostel. The school term is June 1998 to March 1999. I need to hear something from you.
6. Scholarship to Bible school Students
   In 1998, there will be 6 young men and women who will attend the Bible College in B.Th. degree level. The school term is from June 1998 March 1999. The expense will be round about US$ 300.00 per year for each of them. I want to request the AOI to help us US $ 200.00 per year for every one of them.
7. The report sheets
   Now I send you 4 sheets of conversion report and 2 sheets of training report. I will send you continually.
8. Communication
   Make contact with me by sending letter to my KengTung’s address. But please don’t tell about the finance for the security reason but only about the mission work.
   I will be in Maesai, Thailand in first week of March. I will contact with you by fax.
9. Financial support (first quarter)
   I had already received US$ 300.00 from pastor Ong and 10,000 Kyat from Jean in KengTung. This will cover me one and half months for the Evangelists’ salaries. I want you to send me the 2nd quarter support to my bank account in Maesai, Thailand in March when you receive my fax.
10. Photographs
    a. I believe you have seen some of the photos that Takashi, Ong and Jean had taken in KengTung:
    b. The negative (I had sent you now) No. 1 to No. 9 are the activities of Church dedication in MuongKhat Ts, WanMai Village.
    c. No. 10 to 18 are the trip visiting to the mission fields in Muong Yang Ts.
    d. No. 23 & 24 are the new Church building of WanMai Village, Muong Khat Ts.

Conclusion
Thank God for His blessing. Thank you very much to AOI for helping and praying for us all the time. Please bring my regards and greetings to all of AOI staffs.
In His Service, Sai Stephen

Asian Outreach International Ltd
To: Mr. Sai Stephen c/o Pastor Boonyuen Chaiprasert
From: AOI Finance, Date: 4 February 1998

Re: The Support for January to March 98 for Burma Ministry

Dear Pastor Boonyuen,
Warm Christian greetings from Hong Kong.
This fax is to advise Mr. Sai Stephen. Would you please tell him that the details of the telegraphic transfer sent to his account from AOI on 3 February 1998 for the months of January to March 1998 as follows:
Co-workers’ Support US$ 504.00
Training Seminars US$ 210.00
Operational Support US$ 126.00
Church Building US$ 70.00
Less: Advance payment in December 1997 (US$ 300.00)*
(US$ 40.00) = (Kyat 10,000.00)
Total remittance US$ 570.00

• Remark: The amount of US$ 300.00 & Kyat 10,000.00 received by Mr. Sai Stephen when Rev. Ong Siew Huat and Jean Harper visited Burma in December 1997.

Thank you very much for your help. May the Lord God bless and keep you.
In His service, Signed/ May So , Finance Department, AOI.

Letter from Rev. Sai Stephen, ESS, Burma to Asian Outreach International Ltd, Hong Kong .
4 March 1998

Greetings to you in the name of Jesus Christ. We all are feeling well and are serving the Lord in the mission fields. Thank you so much for all of your prayer for us. Here below are some of our reports that we have done in the last two months and the new project we are going to implement.

Evangelists
24 Evangelists are enthusiastically working in the mission fields. After the G.C.I KengTung, pastor Ong, Jean and I selected 4 students and sent out to the new mission fields. That’s why the total Evangelists become twenty-four, 5 in KengTung Township, 5 in MuongKhut Township in MuongYang Township, 5 in MuongYawng Township, 1 in TaChiLeik township, 2 in MuongPhat Township.

Conversion Report
In receiving the report from the Evangelists, those who accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior are as below mentioned. As the pictures are shown in some events, I myself participated and some were not.
CaNan village, KengTung T.S, 7 persons ( 12-1-1998)
WanHweHsa Village, MuongYawng T.S, 35 persons ( 22-1-1998)
WanKyaw Hla Village, MuongTaung T.S, 27 persons (14-2-1998)

Training Report
We have no training during the last two months.

Traveling
(20-22)-10-1998 Meeting with Dr. Sai Htwe Maung in Yangon for the future Shan Mission.
(10-16)-2-1998 Visiting MuongYawng mission fields and baptizing the new converts.
4-2-1998 Visiting KengTung mission field.
25 Feb. to 9 March, Visiting in the TaChiLeik and MuongPhat mission fields.

Budget
Thank you very much for receiving the financial support from AOI as below.
14-12-1998 From Pastor Ong Siew Huat 72,000 Kyat = 300 US$
14-12-1998 From Miss Jean Harper 10,000 Kyat = 42 US$
4-02-1998 From AOI 144,960 Kyat = 604 US$
Total 226,960 Kyat = 7 946 US$

Bible Students
For the leadership promotion program, there will be six students attending the Bible College in this year. The expense for one student will be 300 US$. The Shan Baptist Conference will take the portion of 100 US$. So I earnestly request to AOI to help us 1,200 US$ for six students. I will send each of their autobiography to you later. The Bible College will open in June.

Student’s Hostel
As I have discussed with pastor Ong and Jean, we request to AOI to help us for the student’s hostel in MuongYawng. Being so many new converts from the mission fields now we established a student’s hostel for their children in MuongYawng. We hope they will become leaders in their own villages in the future. Since our Evangelists cannot live in the village for their whole lives we need native young people to become their own leaders. The school will open in June. I will send the detail project to you later.

Photos
Here I send you some of the negatives that we are doing.
From 0 to 29, 14-2-1998 WanKyawHla, the whole village accepted Jesus. The way to the village abandoned their animist charms and worshipping things. Baptism ceremony and worshipped together with them.
From 30-31-48 people accepted Jesus on 1-3-1998
From 32-34 Water supplying program for the new village and new Church building.
Other 4-2-1998, Visiting to the village.

Thanks
Thank God for His guidance and loving-kindness. Thank AOI for all of your prayer for us and help us in financial support. Thank all of our faithful Evangelists who dedicated themselves totally to God and serving the Lord in the mission fields.

We need your prayer
Pray for all of the Evangelists to stand firm in the Lord’s work, to obtain physical as well as spiritual strength. Sometime they face difficulties in encounter with the area authorities. Being uneducated people they dare not to face with the authorities when the Buddhist to convert and become Christian. Because the area authorities are Buddhist and they dislike the Buddhist to become Christian.
Now I send you three conversion report sheets.
In His Service, Signed/ Sai Stephen

From Asian Outreach International Ltd
To Rev. Sai Stephen, Baptist Mission Compound, Nong Pha, KengTung (KengTung), Eastern Shan State, Union Of Myanmar. 3 April 1998

Dear Sai Stephen,
Warmest Greetings from Hong Kong.
We have just completed working at the budget of our ministries that are being processed by AOI. Last year, there was a deficit of US$ 424,436 in this area alone. We covered the deficit by liquidating some properties. This year we will not be able to sell any more property. Thus, AOI is not able to honor 100% of budgets presented. As we restructure AO, there might be an increase in income. But still we don’t foresee a significant increase in the income for this year.
In principle we are cutting back on all operational expenses by ±30%. We are not cutting back on the support of co-workers and footsoldiers. For your case, we will trust in God for your entire presented budget, which is:
Co-workers’ Support US$ 2,016
Operational Support US$ 1,344
Church Building US$ 280
6 Students to Bible School US$ 1,200
We are encouraged that you have taken the initiative to raise local support. However, we still must be careful in starting new projects. Our efforts should concentrate in initiating new funding sources as well.
The Lord bless you.
Signed/ David Wang
President, Asian Outreach International

Date: Tue, 05 May 1998 14:19:57 +0800
From: Professional & Organization Development, SSMC, Malaysia.
To: Asian Outreach
Subject: Shan Support

Greetings in the Lord! How are you keeping? I had a discussion with Siew Huat on Sunday (3/5) on the above matter. He confirmed what we earlier discussed sometime in late 1997. That is, any AOI sponsored project, SSMC will support financially through AOI. However, for non-AOI project, SSMC is free to support directly. We need only inform for proper coordination, not get approval. As for the 1998 Shan Project sponsored by AOI, SSMC can consider a sum of US$ 2,000 which can come from our Gift Day. Please revert soonest and kind regards.
Seng Gee

From: AOI
To: Professional & Organization Development, SSMC, Malaysia

Date: Sunday, May 24, 1998 7:21 AM
Dear Seng Gee,
Warmest greetings from Hong Kong.
Thank you very much for your email of 5 May 1998. I apologize for the delay in getting back to you. With regard to the US$ 2,000 that SSMC can help with the Shan ministry, thanks in advance. Currently, the footsoldiers and Church building programs are already sponsored. We would like to suggest for SSMC to sponsor the training programs and 4 Bible School students. That will be US$ 2,000. I received a letter from Sai Stephen stating that he will be coming to KL for the Mission Conference. Can you please let me know when that will be? I need to get in touch with him. If you could give me a contact number where he will be staying, I can call him at a convenient time. Thanks so much.
The Lord bless you.
Yours in Christ, Signed/ Yeow Mooi

From SSMC, Malaysia to AOI
Wednesday, May 27, 1998 7:03 PM

Subject: 1998 Shan Budget
It was good that we could talk on the above matter. I would be able to hand over US$ 1,870 to Sai Stephen and the rest will be sent to you via Swee Muong in due time.
Seng Gee

From: AOI
To: SSMC, Malaysia
Date: Friday, May 29, 1998 4:23 PM

Subject: 1998 Shan Budget
So good to talk with you the other day. Thanks so much for the gracious support of SSMC re. Shan ministry. We appreciate this partnership very much.
Attached is a summary of our agreement on telephone. There are some slight adjustments, which I hope will be acceptable to you. Please let me know. Also, thanks for arranging the quarter support to be given to Sai Stephen personally. That will help greatly. Please send my warmest love to Sai Stephen. I am also sending a separate email care of you to Sai Stephen. Feel free to read it so you have an idea. I just thought it would better help him to understand our arrangements.
Blessings,
Mooi

From. Asian Outreach International LTD
To. Mr. Cheong Seng Gee, SS Methodist Church,
Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA. 4 June 1998

Warmest greetings from Hong Kong.
First of all, we would like to thank SS Methodist Church for your partnership in ministering to the Shan people in Myanmar. We are thrilled at what God is doing there. With reference to our telephone conversation and discussion, please find attached the partnership support between Shan Baptist, SS Methodist and Asian Outreach for Sai Stephen’s Budget Proposal. We trust this partnership is agreeable to you. As discussed, all funds will be channeled through Asian Outreach to the Shan Ministry. Thank you very much for advancing part of the support to Sai Stephen amounting to US$ 1,870. The balance of US$ 2,574 could be sent through Asian Outreach Malaysia. You mentioned that there is a budget in SSMC to draw up to US$ 5,000 for the Shan Ministry. Should any special projects arise this year, we will certainly keep you informed.
Again thank you very much for your partnership in the Gospel.
The Lord bless you.
Budget requested for 1998
Evangelists Salaries 720,000 Kyat
Refreshers course 150,000 Kyat
Evangelist Training 150,000 Kyat
Traveling Expenses 100,000 Kyat
Building new Churches 100,000 Kyat
Administration 10,000 Kyat
Contingencies 70,000 Kyat
Budget for the year 1998 was approved

Budget requested for 1999 (all in Kyat)
Contributors Shan Baptist AO SSMC
Sai Stephen’s Salary 40,000 40,000 40,000
Total 120,000
24 Evangelists Salary 432,000 432,000 432,000
Total 1,296,000
Training & Seminars 133,333 133,333 133,334
Total 400,000
6 Bible College Students 180,000 0 360,000
Total 540,000
30 Hostel Students 300,000 0 600,000
Total 900,000
Bible School 300,000 600,000 900,000
Travel & Admin 123,333 123,333 123,334
Total 370,000
5 new Church building 150,000 150,000 150,000
Total 450,000
Total 1,658,666 878,666 2,438,668
Budget for the year 1999 was approved.

Letter from Rev. Sai Thein Aung Kham to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, 29 June 1998

Dear Dr. Htwe
Greeting in Name of our precious Lord Jesus Christ. I received your letter dated June 6th and learned that you haven’t received my letter. Anyway I thank God for your letter reminding me about your not receiving my letter regarding the forth-coming GCI training in November. As we had discussed with you in Rangoon, the training will be in MayMyo and the date will be 8.11.1998 to 20.11.1998 as you proposed. I would like to make 60 instead of 40 from ShweLi Shan since it is possible for them to travel to MayMyo. The EC of ShweLi Shan had divided participants according to Churches proportionately as MuSe 15, NongSanKone 15, SeLan 5, Myo Ma 5, Chinese 3, Man Bong 2, LaShio 5, Mo Goke 2, MuongMeik 2, MuongHbar 2, Hill tribe 4. Would it be alright? In MayMyo we have some Shan believers whom we have relied on for our meal. They also entitled to attend. We will discuss later. Regarding translators we have Sai Htun Kyaw, Sai Aung Win and myself. If Sai Stephen comes he will be also ready to help. Dai Mao and Burmese have to be used depend on situation. We’ll see to that. No problem.
Regarding expenses (all in Kyat)
Traveling:
MuSe to MayMyo K 4,000 each x2x60 480,000
NamKham to MayMyo K 4,500 each
Allowance K 400 each x2x60 48,000
Lodging K 200 each x14x60 168,000
Meals K 400 each x14x60 336,000
Miscellaneous 8,000
Total 1,050,000 Kyat
I have estimated on 60 participants. We need to give donation to the hall we use for training. You may estimate altogether about 1,100,000 Kyat. We are opening new fields in 9 areas and the Lord gives us good harvest. We plan to open another field in MuongWei and go full swing in Palong mission. We need your prayer and suggestion. Please write and inform your Mainland China mission so that we may also be somehow helpful to your mission. God bless our Dai people through your tireless toiling.
May the Lord blessing be on you and your whole family.
Abundant blessing,
Yours in Christ’ Service, Signed/ Bro. Kham.

Letter from Rev. Sai Thein Aung Kham, ShweLi Baptist Mission, NamKham, NSS, Burma, to Dr. Sai Htwe Maung, Hong Kong, 3 August 1998

Dear Dr. Sai Htwe,
Thank you for reminder regarding November GCI in MayMyo. This is my third letter regarding our forth-coming training. There is no problem regarding date of our training. As for translators, we have Sai Aung Win, Rev. Sai Htun Kyaw, you and myself. If Rev. Sai Stephen comes he will be able to render some help. As for trainees I suggested 60. As we have discussed in Rangoon, 5 from Rangoon, 5 from SSS, 50 from ShweLi and some from MayMyo. At least our expenses will exceed Kyat 1,000,000. Pray that the Lord sees to our needs and provide all we need for training. Presently our evangelism department is outing to our Shan within Kachin State. The Lord has given us good harvests.
Praise be His Name! Abundant blessing.
Yours in His Service, Signed/ Rev. Sai Thein Aung Kham.

(1999-2001)

Letter from Rev. Sai Stephen, Eastern Shan State,
To Miss. Low Yeow Mooi, Asian Outreach, Hong Kong. 13 January 1999

Dear Low Yeow Mooi,
Greeting in the name of the Lord! Happy New Year to you all. Tomorrow I will proceed to Yangon for Board of Management Meeting of MBC. So if anything you would like me to know please fax. I will wait here to hear anything from you. As I have written to you in the previous day I participated in my Church Christmas celebration on 23 December. I left KengTung to MuongLa on 24 and preached gospel message on 25. MuongLa is situated on Burma-China border area and belong to Shan insurgent group (now making peace with government). On 26, I led the Bible study for new believers. On 27 Sunday I baptized 15 people including 5 soldiers, 6 Chinese and other 4 who accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Yeow Mooi, I beg your pardon for I could not send you the footsoldiers’ testimonies because I have some works to do. I believe you received footsoldiers’ information. We will have 4 trainings including women, Wa Youth and children ministry training in March and April. The SSCM will help and take all the responsibility for the trainings. How about Jean and your trip to KengTung?
Well, I would like to hear something from you. We always remember AOI in our prayer.
In His name, Signed/ Sai Stephen

Fax from Rev. Sai Stephen, Eastern Shan State, to Miss. Low Yeow Mooi, Asian Outreach, Hong Kong. 25 February 1999

Greeting in the Lord’s name. Thank you for your financial support of US$ 561.25 dated 8 January and US$ 479.68 dated 3 February 1999. We are using them to support the evangelists and traveling expenses.
As now is traveling season for us we are so busy visiting the evangelists and their fields. I just came back from MuongLa mission field on 14 February. The implementation of Shan mission works are going well because of all of our prayer. In MuongYang township of WanHook village there were 30 people who changed their lives and accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior on 22 February. Now the senior pastor of MuongYang Baptist Church lives with them and preaches to them every night. We are arranging to send them an evangelist. I will be back to KengTung on 27 February at the early morning. If anything you would like me to know please fax or phone. Now we are preparing training for Wa and women ministry, which will be led by SSMC.
Blessings, Signed/ Sai Stephen

Fax from Miss. Low Yeow Mooi, Asian Outreach, Hong Kong
To Rev. Sai Stephen, Eastern Shan State. 25 February 1999

Dear Brother Sai Stephen,
Warmest greetings from Hong Kong.
I am sorry I was not able to response to you immediately yesterday. I was actually traveling back from Chiangrai to Hong Kong yesterday. I was hoping you would be in touch on Monday or Tuesday so that we could meet up in Maesai or Chiangrai on Wednesday. Anyway, that’s OK. I hope to visit you one day. Thank you for your testimony of MuongYang Township and WanHook village. Can you please answer a few questions regarding this so we can print it on Asian Report?

1. How many is population of WanHook village?
2. Why did 30 people accept Jesus? Was there a miracle that happened? Who went there to preach gospel? What happened?
3. Is WanHook village a new place the team visited?
4. Who visited the village? How far did the team have to travel? On foot or by bus?
5. Was it the first time WanHook villagers heard the gospel of Jesus?
6. What do the villagers in WanHoook do for living?
7. What do the villagers in WanHook normally worship?
   I hope you will be able to get this today and give me some answers before you leave. Have a wonderful time with SSMC team. I have already sent them your budget. May be if Seng Gee is on the team, you can talk to him a bit more. I have not heard back any decision from them yet. The Lord bless you, Brother.
   Your in Christ, Signed/ Yeow Mooi

Fax from Mr. Cheong Seng Gee, SSMC,
To Miss. Low Yeow Mooi, Asian Outreach, Hong Kong. 19 March 1999

Dear Yeow Mooi,
Greetings in the Lord! I trust you are keeping well. Have not heard from you and your ministry for quite a while. My sincere apologies for the long silence on the above matter. Been busy away a few times therefore missed a few rounds to discuss on the Shan Budget. It appears that the Shan Budget is O.K. except we are hesitant on a few items i.e. the 6 bible college students, the 30 hostel students and Bible School Support. More details are needed and are they relevant to Shan work and who is overseeing them? Also the exchange rate between USD and Kyat need to be stated clearly as it varies between Shan Baptist, AOI and SSMC. I can understand about the exchange rate. What is the current exchange rate? Once you give me more details for my further discussion, then we can tell you what is approved. Also the GCI budget is a separate issue and you need to liaise with Dr. Ng on that. However please highlight the Shan budget within it and indicate it as discussed with me. That’s all for the time being. Looking forward to hearing from you.
In Christ , Signed/ Seng Gee

Fax from Miss. Low Yeow Mooi, Asian Outreach, Hong Kong,
To Cheong Seng Gee, SSMC, 23 March 1999

Subject: Shan Budget

Dear Brother Seng Gee,
Warmest greetings from Hong Kong.
Thanks for your email. I did wonder at the silence but I was also traveling so often for the last one month — almost once a week, with only a few days in HK each week — that I did not pursue the Shan budget with you. With regard to the 30 hostel students, Bible College Students and Bible School Support, Sai Stephen sees these projects as training future leaders for the Shan ministry. He finds that the young Shan people are easily influenced by the world. The hostel he is running is to disciple these young people as well as educate them according to the requirements of the government. As most of the footsoldiers have not gone through formal Theological Training, Sai Stephen is hoping that he would be able to develop more leadership teams through the Bible Schools. Sai Stephen is overseeing all these. As AO is focusing this year on the footsoldiers, we are not able to help with these three projects. We have informed Sai Stephen of our focus and said we will let you know of the budget and see if SSMC is interested. No commitment has been made on your behalf on these three projects. Trust that is sufficient for you. The exchange rate we are working on is according to the budget presented to us, USD1 to 250 Kyat. It would be great to know your decision soon as we are having to advance the ministry support (excluding the three projects mentioned above) to Sai Stephen.
Blessings/ Mooi

Letter from Miss. Low Yeow Mooi, Asian Outreach, Hong Kong
To Rev. Sai Stephen, Eastern Shan State, Myanmar. 20 April 1999

Dear Rev. Sai,
This letter is to invite you to come to our Key Coworkers’ conference taking place in Hong Kong from October 6th to October 12th 1999. You would be joining with our key coworkers from around the world for a time of planning and reporting.
Asian Outreach International will be responsible for all the costs associated with your accommodation, traveling and living expenses while you are in Hong Kong, and also the cost of a return air ticket. Please can you make the necessary travel and visa arrangements to be in Hong Kong for the dates mentioned above. Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
Low Yeow Mooi, PA to International Director.

Fax from Rev. Sai Stephen, Eastern Shan State
To Miss. Low Yeow Mooi, Asian Outreach, Hong Kong.4 May 1999

Dear Low Yeow Mooi,
Warmest greetings. Thank you so much for all of your letters. Thank you for the financial assistance for the month of January, February and March.
I beseech you for giving no information since February.

1. WanHook, MuongYang Township
   MuongYang is about 75 miles form KengTung. WanHook village is 12 miles from MuongYang and it takes four-hour walk. There are 20 families and 76 people in the village. Normally they worship evil spirit. The villagers survive their living by doing shifting farming. ParMai Shan Baptist Church is a big Church in MuongYang. They have 8 groups of evangelistic team in the Church. One of the evangelistic teams went to WanHook in December 1998 and preached gospel. The villagers are so happy and paid so much attention to the gospel. After the program the village leaders came to discuss with the group leader. They explained that they always got sick and died. Whenever they got sick witch doctors ordered them to scarify to evil spirit. So they left no dog, cow, pig and other animal in their house. They wanted to be freed. How can they do? The team leader said that he would send them the pastor from ParMai Church to solve the problem. After they went back the pastor called Rev. Ai Kyit who is 78 years old but still very strong came to the village. He lived with them, preached them and drove out evil spirit from their village. He collected all the things they worship and destroyed them all. After living with and teaching them for two and half months 30 people accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Now they received a happy life. But they still need the evangelist to come and live with them, preach and teach them the Christian living.
2. Sai Kong’s Ministry
   Sai Kong is a very active evangelist as well as pastor. While pasturing in WanSai his Church he always visits the nearby villages to preach the gospel. Now 20 people of the new believers are waiting for baptism.
3. Training Led by SSMC
   In the last month of March 30 to April 3, we had held 3 trainings in one time at the separated places led by SSMC. The training was women’s ministry, Wa leadership ministry and Children ministry.
4. Budget for 1999
   I had discussed with SSMC mission team while visiting KengTung regarding the budget for 1999. I had explained all the areas that they are not clear. They brought all of my explanation to the Church. We understand the present situation. We thank you so much for those who are supporting us. We all will faithfully serve the Lord whatever difficulties we may face in front of us.
5. Evangelistic Bible School
   It will be opened from 2nd August to 31st October. We hope at least 15 students will come and train for evangelist and pastor.
6. My Future Ministry
   By the grace of God I was chosen by MBC to go out for further study for one year. It is from September 1999 to May 2000. It will be at Overseas Ministry Study Center, New Haven, CT, USA. The mission work in the Eastern Shan State will be carried on by the Shan leader Rev. Sai Philip. He will serve as acting General Secretary of the Conference for one year. I am so sorry to say that I could not participate in the Key co-workers conference, which will be held in Hong Kong 6-12 October.
   The Lord bless you.
   Yours in Christ, Signed/ Sai Stephen, evangelist

Fax from Rev. Sai Stephen, eastern Shan State, to Cheong Seng Gee, SSMC, Malaysia. 11 June 1999

Dear Cheong Seng Gee,
Greetings to all of you in the Lord’s name. Thank you for your fax of 10 May 1999. I am so sorry to reply back you so lately. This is the best way in contact with you only while I come to Maesai, Thailand. On behalf of the Shan Baptist Conference I would like to thank to the SSMC and the mission teams coming to us.

1. November Mission Team
   My US trip is confirmed. I will leave in the last week of August. I will be there from September 1999 to May 2000. Rev. Sai Philip will be in charge of the Conference’s activities including the mission work in my absence. He cannot speak or write English. I hope he can manage the training but when it comes to discuss the important matters about our future cooperation and mission work for the long term he cannot handle that area. So I would like to suggest you frankly that for the cell Church in November 1999, shall we consider to postpone to November or December of 2000? In fact, the cell Church training is a great need for our people.
2. The Wa Training
   Thank you for having concern upon Wa group. They are the people who are really in need of spiritual as well as physical support. That is why we the Shan people are helping the area they need. As you have mentioned it is very true that the need of the Shan and Wa are not the same. So whenever arranging for sending the mission team to KengTung considering both of the needs of the people are necessary.
3. Telephone Line
   My telephone line is not ready yet. As far As I know when we call you we have to go through operator in Yangon to be on line. However we get only three minutes to speak. But if you call us we can speak as much as we want.
4. Year 2000 and 2001
   Yes. AD 2000 will be a year of celebration for us. We will be very busy. So let us have cell Church training in November or December of 2000. Also yes, the Youth mission team should be planned in April 2001.
5. 1999 and 2000 Budget
   Thank you very much for information of 1999 budget. Now the Bible College and high school had started open in June last and the Evangelistic Bible School will be opened on 1st August. I hope you will send support to us on time. I will be taking over my position until the end of July. While I am away I will contact you. I would like to request you to help us for the project of 2000.
   I will stay in Maesai until Monday. Please contact me by fax. Thank you and God bless you all.
   Yours in Christ, Signed/ Sai Stephen

Fax from Sai Stephen, Eastern Shan State
To Miss. Low Yeow Mooi, Asian Outreach, Hong Kong. 11 June 1999

Dear Low Yeow Mooi,
Greetings to you in the Lord’s name. I hope you all are in good health and serving the Lord. Thank you for the help support for the month of March, April, May and June. As the Bible College and high school has started open in June 1st and the Evangelist Bible School will be opened on 1st August, I may need the support. I had already faxed to SSMC to send the help support to us through AOI.
My US trip is confirmed. I will leave in the last week of August. I will be there from September 1999 to May 2000. While I am in US, I will be very happy and thankful if you can arrange me to visit AO America. I will be taken over my activities and mission works until the end of July. I hope I will come to Maesai and get in touch with you before I leave. At that time I will inform you in detail the arrangement about the co-operation and mission work while I am absence. We had held the Pastor Training from 24 to 28 May in KengTung leading by the Shan Baptist Conference and Myanmar Baptist Convention. 30 pastors are fully participated. At that training we taught them the topics of The Role of a Pastor, Exodus, Servant Leadership, How to present the Bible Stories. I will be back (to Myanmar) on 15 June, Tuesday. Please do contact me by fax or phone except Sunday. Thank you Yeow Mooi for helping us and God bless you all.
In Christ Name, Signed/ Sai Stephen

19 July 1999
To. AOI
From. Sai Stephen, Shan Baptist Conference, (Eastern Shan State), KengTung. Six months report (January to June 1999)

1. The Evangelists.
   25 evangelists serving full time. 98 people accepted the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Trainings
   From 30.3.1999 to 3.4.1999, 45 people attended. Women Ministry Training, lead by SSMC at KanNaLone Church, 40 attended Children Ministry lead by SSMC at Calvary Church, 30 attended Wa leadership training lead by SSMC at Conference Hall, 30 Pastors attended Pastors’ Retreat Training lead by MBC and Shan Baptist Conference at Calvary Church.
3. Sai Stephen visited field mission works from November to May with local evangelists.
4. Three months Evangelistic Bible School will be started from August to October. Hoping that 15 students will join the school.
5. Bible Students Support
   12 students are studying in MayMyo Lisu Theological Seminary. We plan to have a Bible School in KengTung by AD 2001 offering two years course certificate level.
6. Hostel Students
   We have two hostels for children of poor new believers.
   25 students in MuongYawng and 10 students in KengTung.
7. Budget for year 2000.
8. Thanks for His guidance and loving kindness, to AOI and SSMC and our evangelists for their dedicated services.
9. Challenges: economic hardship, inflation, poor communication and transportation, restriction from local authority, need of computer.
   Signed/ Sai Stephen

20 July 1999
From Sai Stephen To AOI

I am sending you evangelists’ personal testimonies. During my absence please send money to Rev. Sai Philip bank account Thai Farmers Bank # ………. God bless you.
Sai Stephen
(Note: Sai Stephen was sent to USA for ten months job training program under Myanmar Baptist Convention in August 1999)

E-mail letter to Rev. Sai Stephen in USA from Low Yeow Mooi, Asian Outreach, Hong Kong.
9 September 1999

Dear Brother Sai Stephen,
Warmest greetings from Hong Kong.
Trust you are well settled in the US by now. Please let us know if you need any help from us. I am sending your contact details to Rev. Jim Swanson so he could keep in touch with you. His email address is aousa@…. When I was in Malaysia I met with Brother Seng Gee. He mentioned that a lady from the Wa tribe approached them for help. He said the team met this lady through you. Brother Seng Gee would like to check with you if the projects we are supporting already include the Wa tribe. We certainly do not want to duplicate any efforts. Could you please write to Brother Seng Gee and cc to me? Thanks.
Secondly, I am now working on your budget proposal for the year 2000 before sending it to SSMC (Brother Seng Gee) for their consideration. In the evangelists support column, we noticed that the support for one evangelist has been raised from 4,500 Kyat per month to 6,000 Kyat per month. Our understanding is that a teacher in Rangoon only earns 4,500 Kyat a month. And many people do not earn as much. Is there any reason why the increase is needed? We would like to be prudent in that the evangelists have to live with an element of faith.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
God’s blessings, /Mooi

Letter from Rev. Sai Stephen to Asian Outreach, Hong Kong
21st September 1999
(This is the last letter from Sai Stephen to AOI before he went to be with the Lord in July 2000)

Warmest greetings from New Haven, C9, USA.
Thank you so much for your email dated September 9. I would like to apologize to you for being reply back lately. I have been busy with some jobs that have to be done here. Here in New York, we have a Burmese Church established in 1995. But they have no pastor. Therefore I go there every week and help the Church. Thank you for introducing me to Rev. Jim Swanson. I do not make a contact with him yet. I will take time to contact with him.

Wa Ministry:
Concerning the Wa ministry, I had introduced the Wa lady, who graduated from Singapore Bible College called Angela Shwe, to Dr. Leung. She served as an interpreter at the Wa ministry training. She was invited to visit the SSMC in May. After coming back she told me the planning she has discussed with the SSMC. I warned her that I did not want to duplicate any effort. Last month I had already written to Sung Gee that they can help them in the ministry applying is not overlapped with our ministry.

Budget proposal for the year 2000
Thank you for working on my budget proposal for the year 2000. According to your e-mail, you said I raised the support for one evangelist from 4,500 Kyat per month to 6,000 Kyat per month. I would like you to check the last year budget proposal carefully. Actually I did not raise the salary support. The budget proposal of the year 2000 is the same as an old one budget of 1999. I think that I had explained you about this issue vastly in the last year. Again I would like to give the explanation that the cost of living in the Eastern Shan State for the time being is; one piece of chicken, pork, beef 1,500 Kyat, one kilogram of rice 100 Kyat, education, medical care expenses. Therefore you can imagine that how the evangelist will survive his own living with the 6,000 Kyat salary a month. You mentioned a teacher in Yangon only earns 4,500 Kyat a month. I understand that a government schoolteacher gets only 1,200 Kyat a month but they have the outside income. How can they survive only on 1,200 Kyat a month? In mission work, even a sweeper in Myanmar Baptist Convention, Yangon gets 6,500 Kyat a month. The Shan Church’s pastor in Rangoon received 10,000 Kyat a month. The Church has to pay for his transportation and house renting expenses also. So in order to help the evangelists to serve the Lord without worrying about the family, we would like to help them to meet their needs. In KengTung, almost all of the ministers receive at least 6,000 Kyat a month. I hope you will understand what I am explaining and hope that you can share to the donors also. Thank you very much for everything that assists us. Looking forward to hearing from you too.
In His Service, Signed/ Sai Stephen
Requested budget for 2000 (all in Kyat)
Local 40% AOI 30% SSMC 30%
Director Salary 48,000 36,000 36,000
Total 120,000
24 Evangelists Support 691,200 518,400 518,400
Total 1,728,000
General & Admin 148,000 111,000 111,000
Total 370,000
Training & Seminars 160,000 120,000 120,000
Total 400,000
5 new Church building 180,000 135,000 135,000
Total 450,000
Bible School 360,000 270,000 270,000
Total 900,000
6 Bible School Students 216,000 162,000 162,000
Total 540,000
30 Hostel Students 360,000 270,000 270,000
Total 900,000
Total 2,163,200 1,622,400 1,622,400
Total 5,408,000
(Requested budget for the year 2000 was approved.)

Nang Thu Zar Mon reported on 26th December 2000 that there were 25 full time evangelists in Eastern Shan State supported by Asian Outreach.
They were;
Nang Thu Zar Mon, Sai Kup, Sai Sam, Sai Num, Ai Wan, Nang Ester Moon, Nang Sun Yin, Rev. Ai Kyit, Sai Tay Myint, Sai Kong, Sai Seng Kham, Sai Saw, Sai Yaw Ba, Dan Ye Hla, Sai Phut, Sai Lee, Sai Yaw Han, Daw Nang Noi, Hla Raing, Daw Tin Seng, Rev. Nyi Thai, Rev. Yohan, Sara Ai Shie, Sara Sam Khin, Sara Lok Rony.

Requested budget for 2001 (all in Kyat)
Contributor: Local AO SSMC
Director Salary 48,000 36,000 36,000
Total 120,000
24 Evangelists Salaries
691,200 518,400 518,400
Total 1,728,000

General and Administration
148,000 111,000 111,0001
Total 370,000
Training & Seminars
168,960 126,720 126,720
Total 422,400
5 new Church building
180,000 135,000 135,000
Total 450,000

Evangelists Bible School( 6 months )
1,764,000 0 2,646,000
Total 4,410,000
8 Bible Scholl Students
288,000 0 432,000
Total 720,000

35 hostel Students 420,000 0 630,000
Total 1,050,000
Sub Total 3,708,160 927,120 4,635,120
Total 9,270,400

Letter from Dr. Sai Htwe Maung to Rev. Sai Stephen, 4th December 1999
(This is the last letter from Dr. Sai Htwe Maung to Rev. Sai Stephen before Sai Stephen went with the Lord on 12 July 2000)

Dear Rev. Sai Stephen,
Greeting!
Thank you for your letter. In fact this letter is the first letter from you in more than a year. I do not know why you don’t write me. There must be some reason behind. God knows. Anyhow I thank God for your work in Eastern Shan State Churches. I praise God for what He is doing in our Shan people. I pray that by His amazing grace we may be able to do wonderful work among our people.
We had GCI in MayMyo last year and in Yangon this year. It was very successful. 77 people attended in November 1999 GCI. But regretfully none came from KengTung. We have about 15 from MuongYawng, about 25 from TaungGyi, about 15 from ShweLi and the rest from Yangon. Some people from MuongYawng paid for their own expenses and came. They even contribute 10% of their allowance back to GCI cost. They are really wonderful people. The showed the best example to our people. They sang and recorded about ten choirs for my radio program. We are planning to have local GCI training in May 2000 in TaungGyi and in November 2000 in MuongYawng. International GCI will be held again in July in Yangon.
I am very busy now. My radio program is continuing one hour every day. It is a blessing to all the Shan people, Christians and non-Christians alike. My New Bible Translation is almost finished. My New Testament and Psalms are ready to be printed. Hopefully it can be printed in early year 2000. We have issued Our Daily in Shan language for the first time, in history of our Shan ministry, in December this year. It is another blessing to our Shan Churches.
I have printed Four Gospels in One Book. It is good for Christian and non-Christian alike to read and know more about Jesus with out confusion. I have also printed Psalms in large font so that old people who have poor eyesight can read easily.
I went to China twice this year and going again next year.
I hope you are doing well in US. Hope that you may learn something that can be applicable, useful and effective for your works among the Eastern Shan Churches. You may know that Asian Outreach has changed its structure and formation. We have new National, International and Executive Board. I am selected as Myanmar National Director and elected member of International Board. My term of office will be 3 years. I am thinking of doing GCI for other group of people in Myanmar. When we have GCI again in Myanmar, it will be self-supporting. (Local Churches will sponsor the cost of the training)
May the grace of the Lord be upon you as you honestly serving Him for His glory and Kingdom.
In His Service, Signed/ Dr. Sai Htwe Maung.
4 Dec 1999.

E-mail letter from Sai Htwe Maung To Asian Outreach International. 22 July 2000

Dear All Co-workers
Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
I am just back from Burma yesterday after GCI Training in Yangon for ten days from 3rd to 13th July and late Rev. Sai Stephen’s funeral on 14th in KengTung. I am still at the state of shock because of unexpected sudden loss of our hard working co-worker Rev. Sai Stephen.
I had the opportunity of talking to him by phone from Yangon to KengTung on 4th evening of July. During our conversation he had indeed given me a revelation that he was going to “heavenly home” by saying “I am so busy that I do not have time to put my head down to rest since I come back home.” In our Burmese culture “putting head down to rest” means “death.” But I did not understand the meaning at that moment. We talked about our future Shan mission. He desired to have GCI level two for the Eastern Shan in November or December. (His wish has been fulfilled when Rev. Takashi Yoshida and team conducted GIC in KengTung in February 2001)

The story of his final moment:
On 9th July, Sunday, he preached and conducted Communion at Calvary Baptist Church. People realized that he talked unusually slow and soft. When asked what happened he said that he had very bad headache. He went home and took a nap.
On 10th July, Monday, he and his co-worker were planning to go to TaChiLeik by plane for a Baptist Convention meeting. But he still had a very bad headache. He went to see a doctor and blood pressure was checked. It was very high and he was advised not to travel. His co-worker went to the airport alone. But the plane did not arrive and his departure to TaChiLeik was postponed until the next day.
On 11th July, Tuesday, he felt a little better and went to see doctor again and blood pressure was checked. It was normal. He asked if he could travel by plane to TaChiLeik. Doctor gave him green light and few medicines to travel. But when he arrived at the airport and about to check in he was told that his name had been deleted from the passengers’ list because he failed to show up yesterday at the airport. He was not allowed to go on the plane. He was very up set and angry with the airline staff at the check in counter. He suddenly felt dizzy and severe headache. He could not stand on his feet. He was helped to a car and brought to the clinic immediately. His blood pressure at the clinic was very high. Doctor gave him treatment and let him rest for a while. He felt better in the afternoon and he was allowed to go back home.
On 12th July, Wednesday morning, he woke up with headache. Despite severe headache he met with director of mission & evangelism from Myanmar Baptist Convention who came from Yangon two days earlier than schedule to meet with ESSBC. He discussed about mission work with that person at his home the whole morning. He had sweating on the body and pain in his head. He went to take bath and came back and had lunch with the person. After having lunch he asked for excuse and went to bad. When he woke up from a nap he was found confusing. Talking incoherently. His wife realized that he was in a bad situation. She telephoned a doctor and told her about him. She was advised to bring him to the clinic immediately. At the clinic, doctor realized that his blood pressure was dangerously high. He was advised to go to see the specialist’s clinic. But on the way to the specialist’s clinic he got stroke and loss his consciousness. They sent him to the hospital immediately. He got cardiac arrest when they arrived at the hospital. Resuscitation was done. But failed to revive. He was declared dead at 8:15 PM.
I received this bad news from phone call from KengTung, Rev. Philip, on the early morning of 13th in Yangon. I was really shock. I cried and cried. I could not help Takashi in translation at GCI final training session any more. I ran to domestic airline office. By the Grace of God I was able to buy a plane ticket to KengTung. In fact our GCI finished on 13th and I was about to come back to Hong Kong on 14th. I praised God that I was able to go to KengTung on 14th, send his body back to the earth and say final farewell to him. His wife, three daughters and family members were very much encouraged by faxed messages from Eric Fung, Malaysia AO, SS Methodist Church, Malaysia, Lau Tak Siong, Singapore AO, David Wang, Hong Kong AOI, Takashi, Japan, and my presence at the funeral as a representative from Asian Outreach and his co-worker. (Some faxed messages were too late for me to get them to KengTung)
Attached are three pictures of late Rev. Sai Stephen’s funeral.
May the Peace and Grace of the Lord be with you all.
In Christ, Sai Htwe Maung.

Shan Mission Report to AOI, Reported by Rev. Sai Philip, KengTung, Eastern Shan State. August 2000

The ministry in the Eastern Shan State is a partnership effort between the Shan Baptist Convention, Eastern Shan State (SBC, ESS), SS Methodist Church Malaysia (SSMC) and Asian Outreach.
It was a shock to everyone in July when Rev. Sai Stephen, the coordinator of this ministry in the Eastern Shan State of Myanmar passed away. He poured his life into many around him, who are now evangelizing among the Shan people. Sai Philip is now the coordinator for this work, please pray for God’s strength and anointing as he undertakes this role.
(1) The evangelists
There are 25 evangelists who have totally dedicated their lives to serve the Lord. The progress reports of the evangelists are submitted to the director every three months.
There are some changes of the evangelists in some fields. In KengTung field instead of Nang Seng Kham we have appointed Sai Hsam. Rev. Ai Kyauk (CaNan) and Saya Sai Kong (WanSai) are now supported by their own Church, which they planted. So instead of these two we support Nang Esther Moan (WanLao village) and Nang San Yin (WanHeramon village).
(2) Training
May 22-26th, 30 participants, led by the Myanmar Baptist Convention (MBC) and SBC (ESS.) at Cavalry Church, KengTung. The subjects that were taught
a. Discipleship
b. The book of Jeremiah
c. Teaching the Bible effectively.
(3) Three month evangelistic Bible School
The three-month evangelistic Bible School is held from August to October 2000, with 18 students. It’s quite convenient for them.
This year is the busiest year for the S.B.C. (E.S.S.). We are going to celebrate the century jubilee in the year 2001, March 29-April 1st in KengTung at Kang Nar Lone Church. The M.B.C. also will celebrate to praise the Lord for the year 2000 from Nov 21st – 26th. We too will have to participate along with them.
The Youth Department of the M.B.C. and S.B.C. (E.S.S.) will hold basic training for youth from October 15th-20th. We also have heard from Wa’s secretary that SSMC will be coming and hold training for us. To make sure I will contact them and get more information.
(4) Bible Students
New Bible students are studying in MayMyo, Insein and Yangon. M.Div. 2 students, B.Th. 6 students, BRE. 1 student.
(5) Hostel Students
We have two hostels for the basic education students. There are 15 students in KengTung and 28 students in MuongYawng.
(6) Thanksgiving
Thank God for His guidance and loving-kindness. Thank AOI and SSMC supporting the money to our Convention.
(7) Please pray for us
Pray for the century jubilee celebration. Pray for three-month evangelistic Bible school. Pray for our Bible students. Pray for our Convention staff.
Signed/ Sai Philip. August 2000

Letter from Nang Thu Zar Mon, Eastern Shan State,
To Miss. Low Yeow Mooi, Asian Outreach, Hong Kong. 21 November 2000

Dear Low Yeow Mooi,
Warmest greetings in the Lord’s name.
I would like to introduce myself. My name is Nang Thu Zar Mon. I’m 30 years old. In 1994 I graduated with B.Th degree from Myanmar Institute of Theology, Insein, Yangon. I have been serving the Lord as Assistant Pastor in Calvary Baptist Church since 1994, KengTung. Rev. Sai Stephen was our pastor. I worked with him in His service for six years. As you know he had been called to heavenly home. After 6th EC committee meeting of the Shan Baptist Convention, Eastern Shan State, held on 4-6 October in NaungCho, Wa Baptist Church, EC committee decided to select me as the Assistance Secretary and Director of the (ESS Evangelism and Mission). I know I am not worthy to be the director of (Mission). I have no experience and skill I need your help and encouragement, good advice, guidance and co-worker with me. Looking forward to co-operating with you in future.
Yours in Christ, Signed/ Thu Zar Mon

Fax from Low Yeow Mooi, Asian Outreach, Hong Kong,
To Nang Thu Zar Mon, Eastern Shan State. 7 December 2000

Dear Thu Zar Mon,
Warmest Christian greetings from Hong Kong.
Thank you for your fax of 21st November informing us of your appointment to be the representative from Shan Baptist Convention (Eastern Shan State) to Asian Outreach in our partnership. We will be in touch with you regarding future cooperation. As you know our arrangement was with Rev. Sai Stephen who was one of our GCI graduates. For a few years we have been looking at expanding our ministry in Myanmar beyond the Shan people, so we are currently reviewing our ministry in Myanmar. We might not be able to commit to the same level next year. However, we do look forward to receiving your budget and plans for next year so we know which area(s) we can cooperate in.
Would you also be able to provide us with an update on some of the footsoldiers that we are currently supporting, so that we can pass the information on for our supporters to pray and give. In a report dated August 2000, Sai Philip mentioned that Nang Seng Kham who was ministering in Jorden Village, MuongYang Township was replaced by U Sai Hsam. Could you provide us with some more information about the reason for this change, and what Nang Seng Kham is now doing? Can you also provide us with some background information about
U Sai Hsam – when and how he became a Christian, about his ministry and its results?
Thank you so much for your help.
Blessings, Signed/Low Yeow Mooi.
(Note: AOI and SSMC stopped supporting Shan Mission work in Eastern Shan State from 2002.)

Shan Mission Report to AOI
By Dr. Sai Htwe Maung. 28th September 2000

Shan Bible Translation and Publication.
By His wonderful grace I am able to finish New Testament and Psalms this year. It is now under printing process in Yangon sponsored by “The Bible League.” Bible League will print 10,000 copies and give us 3,000 copies as a free gift and the rest will be used by Bible League in their Project Philip Bible Study courses.

Shan Gospel Radio Production And Broadcasting.
This is the only one radio broadcast in the world that preaches the gospel in Shan language. By His wonderful grace, since 1989, I am able to produce 45 minutes Burmese-Shan program and 15 minutes Chinese-Shan program every day for FEBC (Far East Broadcasting Company) broadcasting from Manila, Philippines, every morning. Our target listeners are Shan people in Burma, Thailand and China.
Responses from listeners are very encouraging. 90% of letters received from listeners are from Buddhist monks. This is the best effective way of reaching Shan people who live in high mountainous thick forest where our evangelists cannot go.

Shan Daily Bread Translation and Publication.
No periodical Christian publication in Shan language available except Our Daily Bread. (Translated from RBC Our Daily Bread booklet) We are able to translate and publish ODB since December 1999. This is the only book that Christians can read and get Spiritual inspiration daily. 10,000 copies of “The book of Psalms in big bold letter” was published last year. 10,000 copies of “Four gospels in one book” with pictures illustration was also published last year.
(Note: Shan Daily Bread Publishing stopped in 2002 because few Shan Churches ordered the books.)

Great Commission Institute Training (GCI).
We have conducted GCI training for the Shan people in Burma 7 times in 6 years and 425 graduated.

Footsoldiers.
We have about 40 full time footsoldiers in the field supported by Churches from Malaysia and Hong Kong.

Mission Trip.
I was able to do “the first mission trip” in the Southern Shan State in June this year after conducting 10 days GCI training in TaungGyi. I traveled to seven towns and villages in 6 days. Sitting on the bus for 20 hours, walking on the muddy road bear foot, preaching and teaching to believers and non-believers from dawn to dark was a wonderful experience. Hundreds of people accepted Jesus.
Many people were very hungry of the good news. Some said that they had never heard the gospel in their own language. Some requested to tell them more and they were willing to listen until dawn. Some refused to go back home even the meeting was ended. They wanted to hear more. Many believers do not have pastor to take care of them. There was no Church in some places.

NarKan’s Hungry Souls
The rains poured down heavily. The road was muddy and slippery. There were no stars in the sky. We were walking through the darkness of the night heading to the Church which was somewhere in the rice field which we could not see. Following the footstep of the one in front of you with out seeing the road so that you won’t get fall into the fishpond reminded me how we should follow Jesus’ footstep. I was really wondering how many people would come to the Church to hear the gospel in such dark raining night. After walking for one hour we got to the end of the road but seeing no Church in the darkness. I was told a Church was there. But I could not see it. We proceeded for another ten minutes and we got to the Church. There was no light in the Church. I could not see any one there. Then we started running our portable generator and the light went up in the Church. To my amazement I saw more than hundred people sitting in the Church quietly waiting to hear the gospel. How long they had been sitting there waiting? After preaching gospel to them for one hour all people stood up and accepted the Lord. They said that they had never heard the gospel in their language (Shan) before except in the radio. The small Church was belonged Lisu Church. (Lisu is another tribal group). One of our footsoldiers was doing follow up work there. Pray that His Church will be established in this NarKan village.

Financial Report (all in HK dollar) year 2000
Project Received/Source Expense

Radio Broadcast Nil/Nil 23,400
Bible Translation 666.27/AO Japan 21,060
Footsoldiers 3,239.53/AO Japan 15,040
11,800/ PA Church HK
Yangon Church 1,299.92/AO Malaysia1, 1,300
Our Daily Bread Nil/Nil 17,940
Publication 4,000/EEC, HK 48,750
GCI training 7,800/GCI 7,800
Mission Trip Nil/Nil 14,500
Total 28,805.72 149,790
(Deficit) (HK$120,984.28 ) = (US$15,510.81)
(All this deficit was born by Sai Htwe Maung)

Project and Planning

1. To finish Old Testament Translation in 3 years and publish the Holy Bible in 4 years. I need one co-worker to help me and learn from me so that he/she can continue the work in the future. Shan Bible is in great demand.
2. To improve Shan Gospel Radio Broadcasting Program. Since many people are listening to our program we need to improve the quality and format to be more effective. I need one co-worker to help me and to learn from me so that he/she can be a successor in the future.
3. To improve Shan Daily Bread Translation and produce Shan Gospel Tracts.
4. To conduct GCI training once a year.
5. To have once a year mission trip to the Shan people. Meeting radio listeners and preaching to them in person is very effective.
6. To improve Footsoldiers ministry. Most of our footsoldiers are inexperienced and have limited training. We need to give them more training that can be accepted by the people and the Church and be able to pastor the Church.
7. To produce Cassette Tape Ministry. Many people ask for Gospel and Bible Teaching on Cassette Tape so that they can listen again and again until they understand and believe.
   (Buddhist monks have produced Buddha’s teaching and Scripture reciting on Cassette Tape)
8. To produce music ministry.
   We only have about ten Gospel Music in Shan language produced in one hundred years. We need to produce more Gospel Music on tape and be available for Churches and young people.
9. To produce Gospel Tracts.
   Since we can not give Bible to those who want to read and know more about Jesus and His salvation, we have to produce Gospel Tracts for free distribution. It can be also be sent by mail to the radio listeners.
10. To establish Shan Mission School. (In 2002)
    There’s no Bible School or Seminary available for the Shan people. Our people have to go to Burmese or other language Bible School or Seminary. It takes four years to graduate. They do not have money for four years study. We want to have a School of Mission that will offer one-year study for our Shan people. It will be a great help to produce a well-trained evangelist acceptable to the people and Churches. It will be a live-in training school one-year course. Trained by local and foreign trainers who can dedicate their time, money and effort for this training school. They will be offered Diploma after successfully finished the course.

Conclusion
Difficult but not impossible.
Zech. 4:6 “Then he answered and spook unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”
I have quit my professional medical job on April 30, 2000 and dedicated all my life and my time to His works. However I still need help from Him, from You and from Them.

Need of Co-workers.
We have lost one of our dedicated co-workers Rev. Sai Stephen three months ago. Pray that God will provide more for us. I need one co-worker to help me in my Radio Ministry. I need one co-worker to help me in my Bible and other translation and publication.

Need of Material and Spiritual Support.
Without AO and other partners’ support it will be very difficult for me to do these works. Please help me to save millions of the lost souls.

Financial Need For The Year 2001
Radio Broadcast US$3000
Bible Translation US$2700
Daily Bread Translation US$2300
Gospel Tracts production US$1700
Training & Evangelism US$2000
Footsoldiers Support US$2400
Audio Cassette Production US$1000
Two co-workers in Radio US$9500
and Translation works ( to live and work in HK)
Total for the year 2001 US$24600

Matthew 19:26 “But Jesus beheld them and said unto them, with men this is impossible but with God all things are possible”

Letter from Russell M.(American Missionary to the Dai Nua in China) To Dr. Sai Htwe Maung

I have just recently talked with local workers in RuiLi (ShweLi). They have reported that some Dai (Shan) in Myanmar are interested in going to preach in China to the Dai there but their pastors tell them not to go. This is very unfortunate.

Several of the believers are growing in their faith but I have not encountered any new decisions since July.
Blessings.

Letter from Takashi Yoshida to AOI on 28 December 2000
Subject: Church Planting

Since I am responsible for Mongolia and Myanmar, I sent a mail to Alex because we’ve lost Bro. Sai Stephen, it is difficult for me to reorganize Myanmar GCI. We plan to have one in KengTung where Stephen was ministering because when we met together in Yangon a week before he went to be with the Lord I promised to have one there. Now Sai Philip is going to do that. After that I don’t know how and with whom we should work with yet. There are different kinds of offer. I asked pastor Chin Keng Leong to search a possibility to have one in TaChiLeik but he said he would need time.
I discussed the matter with David when he was in Japan and suggested to work with pastor Myo Chit but later I talked with somebody else and I slightly change my mind. I don’t think there is no hope with Myo Chit but unless GCI is a very attractive offer for him or gives merits for him, probably he would not be interested in it since AOG has own training system. Therefore, as I go to Myanmar in coming February I will seek His guidance and leading. The following is the story, which happened between last July and September.
Bro. Winston and I were in Yangon Myanmar to conduct Multinational GCI in July. Until last year, we had 6 GCIs for Shan people. But there are many minorities in Myanmar and we planned to have a GCI for Burmese. However, it turned to be Multinational GCI including Burmese. We have Co-workers for Myanmar ministry. One was Rev. Sai Stephen in KengTung, Eastern Shan State. Rev. Sai Stephen went to be with the Lord last July. It happened last July. He was an able worker with passion and fire although he was belonging to Myanmar Baptist Convention. He came back from the United States last May after 6 months’ study at Colombia.
Last June, I met a brother, Rev. D. Aung Yi from MBC. He invited Bro. Winston and me to teach at their Training Course in September 2000. We planned to go to Yangon again. But a mail came to me, Rev. D. Aung Yi wrote “This is to inform you about the training program we have drawn while you were in Yangon earlier. Our MBC General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Simon Pau Kam En said to me that he cannot allow foreigners to teach in the Baptist Circle for the time being due to complaint from some Baptist leaders recently. So I hope you understand my position and I am sorry to say that we have to cancel the programs both for you and pastor Winston Ee. Please inform him about this cancellation. Only Myanmar nationals are allowed for the time being for the Baptists. Another thing is that I am retiring from my post as AD 2000 Coordinator on 31st December 2000 from Myanmar Baptist Convention.”
When Rev. Sai Stephen was in Yangon, we had a discussion together regarding GCI training in KengTung next year February. He discussed the matter with other pastors in his area. I met them at MBC in Yangon with Sai Stephen. However, I was totally depending on Stephen.

1. Rev. Sai Stephen went with the Lord.
2. According to Rev. D Aung Yi, Dr. Simon P.K. En does not back up GCI in MBC.
   Actually we have planed three GCIs in different location in 2001 with D. Aung Yi. I believe two other GCI planed with D. Aung Yi are cancelled. We were praying if this cooperation with MBC would be God’s will. Because MBC is like a sleeping elephant. They say that there are 16 conventions and 3,700 Churches and 6,000 workers. But most of them have become conservative and lost life and fire. Therefore, some of the pastors asked us to bring fire into them. Now it seems this door was closed. Do you know Rev. Andrew Bawi Ceu, founder and President of Myanmar Gospel Outreach, in Mandalay? He sent a letter to Tak Siong and asked if GCI is interested in cooperation with his ministry.
   Please let us know if you have information and wisdom regarding this matter. I sent mails to a couple of people about Andrew Bawi Ceu and nobody has responded.
   May the Lord bless you!
   Takashi Yoshida

Letter from Cheong Song Gee, SSMC, Malaysia to AOI, 8 January 2001
Subject: Shan Myanmar

Dear Yeow Mooi,
Happy New Year and Happy Chinese New Year at the same time. How did you spend the end of the year and crossing into the New Year?
I met with Rev. Sayama Toe Toe also known as Nang Thu Zar Mon (young lady of 31 who speaks fairly good English) who was assisting Rev. Sai Stephen in pastoring the Calvary Baptist Church and is now the pastor of Calvary as well as Asst. Gen Sec. of Eastern Shan Baptist Convention and Rev. Sai Philip (speaks little English) who took over from the late Sai Stephen as the GS, at Tachileik in late November 2000. Both are doing good work and work well as a team. They are in the proms of visiting the 24 evangelists in Eastern Shan State, which was under Sai Stephen. I believe you may have received a half-year report (June-Dec) from them. They appear committed and want to work with AOI and SSMC. In fact, Sayama Toe Toe was disappointed they could not meet up with you. I would recommend that you meet up with them and believe that it is worthwhile for you to see their work. So the transition has been smooth and there is no gap in my opinion. In fact, we are sending a team in late March to attend their 100th Anniversary Shan celebration as well as do some training there.
Furthermore the Eastern Shan Baptist Conference has adopted another tribe, the Wa thru the Wa Baptist Association (WBA) in KengTung. The WBA hopes to be a conference in their own right in a few years time and we are also linked with them thru a General Secretary by the name of Angela Shwe. She is very dynamic and is the female version of Sai Stephen for the Wa tribe. In fact, she was the one who introduce us to new work in the Tachileik/Maesai (Myanmar/Thai border) area in making contacts with the Four Square Bible Institute and the Ahka Bible Institute, which specializes in training evangelists and Church planters for the TaChiLeik, Laos and China borders. Indeed exciting possibilities are emerging. These institutes are almost a humbler version of your GCI if I may say so. So I hope my 2 cents worth on the above is helpful. God bless and keep in touch.
Seng Gee, (SSMC)

Letters from Takashi Yoshida to AOI on 28 February 2001

Warmest greetings from Japan!
I safely came back from Myanmar last Sunday. Thanks for your prayer. Right after we started the GCI in KengTung, Rev. Sai Philip, the one who has taken Sai Stephen’s place, came in and said that we had to stop the GCI due to the boarder situation he was not able to get a permission from the local government. We prayed while he tried to discuss somehow conduct GCI. God answered our prayer and we restarted it again. I had to leave on the fifth day of my teaching but on the same morning Pastor Jerry safely arrived in KengTung. He could start right after he came to the site. We had Wa students, Lahu students besides Shan students. Due to the situation, some Lahu could not attend GCI. GCI will finish on March 1st.
I met a Lady Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in KengTung, Nang Thu Zar Mon (Toe Toe) who succeeded Sai Stephen. As you know Sai Stephen had different positions. Rev. Sai Philip succeeded his position as General Secretary of Shan Baptist Convention, Nang Thu Zar Mon succeeded his position as Senior Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church. It seems that this lady was appointed as Evangelism & Mission director after Sai Stephen at least among the Baptist people. She once asked me to bring back a letter to you. She was supposed to write to you but she failed to do that. I requested her to write her letter to you before I would leave the site. But finally she said that Sai Philip would send it by fax directly. I don’t know why? Because they don’t have fax machine and Sai Philip told me that next opportunity to go to Maesai Thailand would be June. Anyway, she shared that she should have responded to you earlier but she could not because of her inability, etc. By the way, she was one of my interpreters and her English ability was quite good. After Stephen went with the Lord, many footsoldier were demoralized and lost their passion. Even some of them had stopped their ministries. This time we heard from many witnesses that Stephen was the conspicuous leader in Eastern Shan so much so no one can find such a quality Christian Leader as him. I met his wife, Htwe, also. She was attending the GCI all the time. I saw her crying often times. In Yangon, I had a meeting with Rev. D. Aung Yi, Asho Chin leaders and a Bo Kayin leader at the same time. They requested GCIs. After much talk and discussion I temporally agree to have a combined GCI for both of them coming October. I will share more about this when we meet. They are from Baptist Convention. But I saw their passion for Church Planting and their proposal document was well done. May the Lord bless you!

Saya Sai Myint Lay

Saya Sai Stephen

Saya Sai Aung Tun Shwe

Loone Kyaw Hla

Chapter One – Baptist Missions to the Shan People of Burma (Myanmar) (1861-2001)
Chapter Two – Challenges in Twenty-first Century
Chapter Three – 21st Century Shan Mission Project (21st CSMP)
Chapter Four – Analysis on Shan Missions and Churches
Chapter Five – Conclusion on Shan Missions and Churches
Chapter Six – Asian reports
Appendixes