Shan Dai Advocacy

#17 His Next Verse: Earthly Tents

The photo in the His First Bible for the devotional of 2 Corinthians wonderfully captures a Shan Dai grandmother viewing her own “earthly tent”. Death is certain. And the older one gets, the more certain it becomes. Beliefs of what happens after death varies and a life lived in peace or fear can largely be traced back to how death is viewed. A funeral was held for a Dai grandmother. She, her daughter and granddaughter all embraced forgiveness of sins and new life in Jesus. But due to strong Dai Buddhist community, the funeral was performed in Buddhist tradition. A monk chanted, candles were lit, and food and water were presented to “feed” the grandmother (the monks later ate this offering). Other offerings were made in the form of burning paper money, a paper car and a paper T.V. –all things the grandmother would need in the afterlife. The daughter and granddaughter were respectful to the ceremony and yet it was clear when they did not bow down that they no longer believed in the Buddhist values. Father, we pray today for the peace that You bring would be experienced by more and more Shan Dai to where whole villages see You as the way to live life and communities are changed by hope. You are more certain than death. “For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing.” (2 Corinthians 5:1-2)

Thank you for your partnership in praying for the Shan Dai. May God bless your days with full life in Him. Amen.

#16 His next verse: Prince of Peace come to Burma

Tension is rising in Burma (Myanmar) again. The military government (SPDC) have doubled the price of fuel and there have been demonstrations in Yangon. Elsewhere in the country too there is talk of possible fighting. As the “government” gets to the end of its discussions on creating a new constitution the pressure to strive for one army over all of Burma is creating tension with ethnic minorities who have their own armies. Many of these armies have fragile ceasefire agreements with the SPDC. One man recently said, “We don’t want to resort to arms, we want to live peacefully, but the Burmese army come and take all of our produce leaving us with nothing. We have no alternative but to leave our homes and protect ourselves.” Please join us in praying for the Prince of Peace to rule in Burma.
Isa 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Yesterday, we had the privilege to host nearly 40 servants among the Shan/Tai/Dai. These God has called out from several countries represented work going on within Thailand, Burma and China. The one day retreat was a time of Praise to God for His goodness, honest reflection on the year with Psalm 66 as our guide and focused prayer for each who serve. Please pray that the relationships that were strengthened through time together in the living room would be a wonderful start to the Tai Consultation happening this week and for God’s guidance lead on to the joyful expansion of His Kingdom.
The devotional from Nehemiah in His First Bible talks of communal living. We are so thankful that although miles may separate prayer partners from one another, yet we labor together for a common good for the Praise and Glory of our Everlasting Father.
With love and thanksgiving to God for you,
The ShanDai advocacy team.

For more information on the current protests in Burma, read this article.

#15 His Next Verse: Titus!

!!!First Completed Book in the Shan Dai Bible!!!

A wonderful prayer opportunity for all praying for the Shan Dai: the book of Titus is almost completely translated into the Shan Dai Language…God please bless the translation team with your wisdom, and for all who will be testing the newly translated Titus give to them understanding, and Lord, for the Shan Dai believers may the letter that Paul originally wrote to Titus encourage them on in holy living that many would long to know you and your love. Amen!

When we see the panorama view of the market in the devotional for Titus, please keep people like these in mind the next time we read through the 3-chapter book, being thankful to God for the Bible in our own heart language. Thank you for your on-going prayers for the on-going Bible translation.
Titus 3:4-8 4 God our Savior showed us how good and kind he is. He saved us because of his mercy, and not because of any good things that we have done. God washed us by the power of the Holy Spirit. He gave us new birth and a fresh beginning. God sent Jesus Christ our Savior to give us his Spirit. Jesus treated us much better than we deserve. He made us acceptable to God and gave us the hope of eternal life. This message is certainly true.

#14 His Next Verse: What is the most important commandment?

Part of the Bible translation process is testing the translated texts in several Dai locations. This was done recently for the first set of Bible texts and very good feedback was given. ”They can understand and follow the stories well. I think our materials really get into some people’s hearts. One guy in Mg even asked if he can keep the copy though he can’t read it by himself. Some really agreed along with the texts especially those guys who have ministry in the temple but they are not monks. They like the text a lot especially the great commandment from Matt 22:34-40”.

Lord, as we ponder the question, “What is the most important commandment?” may we not just know it in our heads, but live it in our choices. May we and the Shan Dai truly “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind…and love your neighbor as yourself.” (From Matt 22:34-40)
Thank you for your prayers for the Shan Dai as Bible translation continues.

#13 His Next Verse — Plea for Burma

Thank you for the response of prayer to the recent letter addressed to the Prime Minister of China concerning the people of Burma (Myanmar). Our photographer for His First Bible journal offers us a glimpse of this plight in the photos for the devotionals for Nahum and in Zechariah. May we continually be prayerful for those whose lives are lived in continual strife.

Nahum 1:7— The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him.
Zechariah 7:9-10— This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another. Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. And do not scheme against each other.

May God’s Word as it is prayed and lived out among His people offer eternal hope that begins today. Thank you for your partnership for the Shan Dai and the hope of God’s Kingdom of peace to expand.

Reality in a Letter

Dear Prayer Partners for the Shan Dai,
The following letter offers sober insight to serous needs for the Shan of Burma. Please consider reading and from it much can be taken to our Lord in prayer.
Thank you.

To,
His Excellency Mr. Wen Jiabao
Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of China
Dear Sir,
I am writing not as a politician, nor as a member of any political organisation but as an ordinary citizen of the world. I am a Tai/Dai (Shan) who is now living in the UK.
I would like to bring to your attention that since 1962 until the present day the peoples of Burma have been living in fear and terror. There has been relocation of villagers, confiscation of farmlands, murder, gang rape of women and girls, extrajudicial killings, imprisonment and other heinous crimes committed by the two military regimes against the ordinary citizens especially the non-Burman ethnic nationals.
I would like you to please imagine how a mother would feel when her son or daughter is the victim of such treatment: she is sorrow stricken especially when she has tried to bring up the child with love and care until he or she reaches adulthood. Her basic instinct is to love, nourish, provide warm clothing and shelter for her child. She also tries to teach her child to be a decent citizen and to understand right and wrong, and to respect the law of the land.
You as a Prime Minister, Sir are so much wiser than I am but unlike me when engaging with foreign governments your decisions are based mainly on politics and economy. I would therefore like to make a fervent plea to you when dealing with the Burmese military you would please consider the millions of citizens in Burma who have suffered for more than four decades: many have had the experience of fathers, mothers and relatives being, imprisoned, raped, murdered, executed and their homes and lands confiscated.
Looking back in history China has one of the oldest civilisations in the world; there had been Great Leaders and Philosophers, as well as many geniuses in the fields of inventions and medicines. All the past and present that make up China is something very admirable and an envy of the world.
In recent years, politically and economically China has progressed by leaps and bounds. I am sure China will go far and I have hopes that China will be a good example to all countries, especially those of Asia not only in the progress of economy and politics but also in the progress of mankind. As a Prime Minister of a great nation we have faith and hope that you adopt amongst your other policies a policy to relieve the suffering of all citizens of the world.
As you well know from your experience with the Dais in China, the Tais in the Shan State are also peace loving people who wish to live in harmony with their own as well as other societies.
China is the only country that can make the Generals of Burma see sense and to act responsibly, humanely and ethically, and to bring about the reconciliation of all the different ethnic nationals in Burma.
Respectfully yours,
Sao Noan Oo

His Next Verse: Can praise to God be too loud?

The Psalms are filled with praise songs to our King and it is wonderful that the His First Bible devotional from Psalms 145 is beginning to be lived out among the Dai. Here is an excerpt from a recent literacy training class for the Shan Dai:

“We got a lot of complaints from our new neighborhood because we are quite loud. Though I told the participants every time that we shouldn’t be singing too loudly especially after 11 pm, it was still very hard for them to be quiet because they were so joyful and happy that they want to learn and sing. The landlord called to warn us twice because he got a few phone calls from the neighborhoods and one neighbor came to told us directly… We prayed a lot..the Lord is so worthy to be praised.”

God, may the Shan Dai be bold to “praise your holy name forever and ever.” Thank you for the joy that is theirs (and belongs to each of your children) who with soft hearts sing of Your goodness. Protect them Lord from the evil one who may want to use neighbors to squelch the praises that are due You. Draw these neighbors to You, opening their ears to hear not just loud noise, but the joy that comes from those who trust in Your goodness. Amen. Sing on!

#7 His Next Verse– Holy Spirit

The devotional from Galatians in the Shan Dai Bible Translation Prayer Journal may help to set the scene for a recent challenge to the Bible translation team. Gal 5:22-23 describes how a person’s life is different (it has in it love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) when the Holy Spirit is in control of one’s life. But just how are the words “Holy Spirit” to be translated in order to accurately portray who HE is? The Dai language has no word for “holy”. That is a problem. On top of that, the Shan Dai word for “spirit” is always connected with demonic activity so that makes it unusable in seeking to describe the Holy Spirit. The concept of the Holy Spirit needs to be understood and communicated, may God give His wisdom we pray. Let’s also join in a prayer from the Bible exegete, “Lord, we pray we would not just dissect the word but abide in it more and more. Lord, we thank you for how you have brought this about, and we plead for help in every aspect of this work, please keep our hearts soft and humble before you and help us remain in unity and love for the sake of your name!” Amen.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers for the Dai and the Bible Translation.

His Next Verse - Double Blessing

Four more passages have been translated with a present total of 8 passages of Scripture for the Shan Dai Bible!

Luke 12.13-21 (The Rich Fool)
Matt 8.1-4 (An outcast leper restored)
Luke 8.4-15 (The parable of the Seed and Soil)
Luke 14.7-11 (Self Importance = Humiliation vs. Humility = Honor)

As you read and reflect on these passages (and the first four translated) think about the wonderful aspects of Jesus and His teaching. What a great start the SD have in experiencing more of the Lord!

Happy ShanDai New Year!

The Dai New Year’s celebration is in full swing. (Look to the devotional in His First Bible Prayer Journal from Acts for more info on the holiday.) It may seem strange to us to celebrate New Year in April, but what better time to start off the New Year than with the first portions of scripture in their language! Join us in offering a huge praise to our God: the first 4 passages have been translated into the Shan Dai language!

Matt 22:34-40 Jesus Explains the Greatest Commandment
Matt 15:29-31 The Crowd is Amazed at Jesus’ Healings
Matt 7:24-27 Hear Jesus’ Teachings and Put Them into Practice
Luke 4:33-37 Jesus Helps Demonized Person

As you read these passages about our Lord, please pray for the Shan Dai to grow in their understanding and love for Jesus even more.
Thank you so much for your partnership in prayer. What a joy to see how God answers! May God bless you richly in the New Year!