Updates from a Myanmar Alumnus

EAST News caught up with an alumnus from Myanmar, Tu Ja, who graduated in 2005 with a Master of Arts in Mission and Evangelism. He send his greetings and updates below.

Dear EAST Family,

I am Tu Ja from Myanmar. I graduated from EAST in 2005. Thank you for letting me to share with you about my family and my country, Myanmar.

My family

I was married to Moe Pa Pa Kaliar in Dec 2005. God has blessed us with three cute girls. They are now 7,9 and 14 years old. Since I graduated, I have been serving as an assistant pastor at the Myayadana Karen Baptist Church. My wife also has served as a Sunday school teacher at the same church for 15 years.

Our Church

Our church is located at Mingalardon Township in Yangon. The church is running under Myanmar Baptist Convention. The congregation is not so big. Regularly, there are around 150 worshippers in the congregation. Due to Covid-19 pandemic, our church currently stopped worshipping at church since March 2020. But, we worship through Zoom every Sunday at 10:00 am to 11:30 am.

Our Country

The population is about 54 Million. There are 135 ethnic groups in our country. Currently, our country has been facing two difficulties. Firstly, due to the military coup on 1 Feb 2021, more than 900 civilians were killed. According to AAPP, more than 6000 politicians and activist are detained improperly. Everyday, we hear the sound of explosives in Yangon. People are afraid to go out. We feel that our environment is not safe. We all live fearfully. Right now, the generation Z, the People Defense Force and the military coup are fighting in 5 States. We assume that these situations are heading to civil war. Secondly, the Covid-19 pandemic situation in Myanmar is getting worse. There are about 300 peoples are dying without having proper treatment everyday. Covid-19 positive cases are rising to about 5500 daily. The nationwide government hospitals are closed because the doctors and nurses are joining the CDM.(Civil Disobedient Movement). So, the Covid-19 patients are treating themselves at home with poor medical equipment, if at all. The situation in Myanmar is very bad now. We really need your prayer.

Prayer requests

• Our country to be restored back.
• Covid-19 pandemic to be under control.
• Prevention of Civil War.
• Sufficient food for everyone.
• Our church members and our family to pass through all these difficult situations unharmed by God’s sustaining grace.

In Christ,

Tu Ja