A COVID Testimony from Pastor David

If you’re wondering more about the state of COVID-19 in Myanmar, then we are happy to share some insight from our associate there, Pastor David. We asked David a few questions to get more information on the state of their nation and ways we can help.

1. How many days did your family battle COVID-19?

We battled for 14 days and nights with COVID.

2. Tell us about your local doctor during your illness.

There is no clinic or hospital in our hometown for COVID patients. No doctor comes to your home to treat a positive patient. By the grace of God, I got in contact with a young Christian doctor who is serving at the COVID volunteer center where my eldest son and a young person from our church are serving. We talked to each other through my son two days before we were infected (he had already known our football team, the reading room and our activities among the community through social media as he was actually inspired by it). This was a divine appointment from our Father as he and his medical team were ready to treat us when we were infected on August 23, 2021. The medical team came daily to our home to treat us, a miracle in itself.

The doctor advised infusions of Remdesivir for me, my mother and my aunt because we have diabetes, but the Lord had already provided the Remdesivir through Firefall! Hallelujah! Actually, we would have had to wait several days if we had to order these medications. The Lord worked on time for us.

3. What was your greatest fear and how did the Lord meet it?

More than 300 pastors and missionaries passed away during the third wave of COVID in our nation. Many of them were my classmates at the Bible school, my spiritual leaders and colleagues in ministry. Some went to their eternal home while I was infected. That made me consider every minute might be my last minute. The third and fourth days were the most difficult time for me as I suffered from high fever, heavy breathing, coughing and vomiting. My mother was also unconscious during this time. I did not want to die when I thought about my family, my flock and the lost souls in our nation. That was my greatest fear!

Though I feared much when thinking about it, the peace and joy that I received from Jesus was much stronger than my fear, as I considered the passage from Phil. 1:21 and John 21:19 (I shared this message to the flock through Zoom last Sunday). On the fifth day, I was better and my mother felt better, too, through an oxygen supply. I received confirmation from our Lord that He would like to extend my life on the sixth day. All of my family has now recovered.

4. What did you learn about God and about yourself during COVID and after?

The Lord gave me the word “remnant” on the seventh day (I Kings 19:18; Isaiah 1:9; Rom. 11:5). The Lord has given me the privilege to be a remnant for His kingdom and righteousness in our nation. The Lord reminded me also that death is nearer than tomorrow. I desire to serve more for His glory in our country for lost souls. I do understand and learn that our God is sovereign over life and death. I have to be humble in my everyday life by serving and obeying Him alone.

5. How has your life been changed by this experience? What adjustments will you make?

This experience has inspired me to pray for my nation and my people at least three hours each day with tears now. I am very excited to share about Jesus to my neighbors, my unbeliever friends and many lost people in our town after COVID! Now, I am telling the gospel to our footballers, readers at our reading room and community leaders through phone, viber and messenger. Sometimes fear and shyness hindered me before, even though the Lord opened the doors. I will not hesitate to share the good news in the coming days.

If I want to continue to serve Him and share the good news to my people, I have to be healthy and need a long life so that I can see more souls saved. To implement this, I have to take care of my health more in the coming days.

6. What else do you want to share with Firefall partners?

First of all, I would like to give thanks to God for all the mercy He has shown to us. Then, I would like to say a word of thanks to Firefall partners for praying for us while we all were ill and fighting with COVID. It means a lot to us.

Hear from Pastor David’s family

Thanks for your financial support for our family as we could prepare for the pandemic by buying medicines (especially the Remdisivir from India as Mum Nancy suggested), oxygen concentrators and cylinders (our doctor told us that these saved us from a medical viewpoint).

May God bless you all! The Lord chose you to use you for our people during these very difficult times in Myanmar! Please continue to pray for us and our nation.

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In Closing

There is nothing I can add to Pastor David’s eloquent and challenging words. Jim and I praise God for extending David’s days and ministry on this earth.

In light of this great mercy of God, what is our response? For me, it is threefold:

• Praise and thanksgiving to the One who alone can heal and save and restore.

• I am challenged to ask Jesus what is hindering me from sharing the gospel of Jesus with more urgency.

• Needs for food and medicines are critical in Myanmar. In Vietnam, there is a great need for food. I am quickened to give personally to supply our faithful associates with funds for food to demonstrate the love of Jesus as they go to serve the lost and those who are in need within the body of Christ.

Your prayers and generous giving are being used by the Lord to advance His kingdom. Please use the button below to support these needs, as the Holy Spirit leads.

With our thanks and love,

Nancy & Jim

'Please Tell Jesus: Thank You So Much!'

Today’s cuppa is a perfect one for the “dog days” of August. It’s a frosty glass of strong iced tea enhanced by fresh mint sprigs from the pot on my front porch. So refreshing!

Proverbs 25:25 says: “Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.” Though the situations remain dire in both Myanmar (military coup and COVID lockdown) and Vietnam (COVID lockdown), your prayers and giving are reaping good news through our associates.

Last week, we invited thirty writers, poets, journalists and other frequent visitors to come to the Glory Reading Room. Pastor David gave a short greeting of welcome and the announcement that, because of God’s goodness, followers of Jesus had supplied food bundles for each of their families.

As they came forward individually to receive their provision, many had tears of gratitude. Some shared they had spent all their savings on the first and second waves of COVID and had nothing left to feed their families.

They blessed us in return by bowing in the traditional manner. Some even said, “Please tell Jesus, thank you very much.” Let’s continue to pray that as the food is consumed this week and the next, they will have a hunger to know this Jesus who has blessed them.

Pastor David’s son Shem and his friend Wiliam felt called by God to move into the local quarantine center and serve those with COVID.

They are wearing PPE, filling and delivering oxygen cylinders and assisting with food distribution. These young men are our heroes. Several Buddhist monks are currently housed at the quarantine center. They requested books be brought to them from the Glory Reading Room since they are bored. Pastor David has sent some books (gifts, no need to return) along with 25 copies of the Evangelistic Bible in Burmese, complete with his contact information in case they have any questions or want to discuss what they are reading.

Please pray for hungry hearts and good conversation as God’s Word is consumed.

Thanks to your generosity, here are other outreaches:

• Each House of Glory family received much-needed food staples, plus vitamins and supplements to support their health

• Food parcels were given to the local community workers who care for the neighborhood

• Two special hot meals (with protein) were cooked and served to the 90 patients in the quarantine center. They had no chicken or fish for weeks.

• Minh in Vietnam has purchased rice, oil and basic items to administer in Vietnam during their COVID crisis. The government is unable to assist and welcomes the giving through Christians.

My heart rejoices in this good news from two far countries! Your giving is manifesting the love of Jesus to many and we thank God for each one of you. We are humbled by your generosity.

Much love in Jesus Christ our Lord,

Nancy

Update from Myanmar: Zoom Services & Current COVID Situation

I preached in Myanmar!

Because of the military coup (and COVID, too!), no one is allowed to enter Myanmar. It’s been tough to learn about the suffering of those we love yet unable to be with them. Nancy and I long to give them hugs of love and words of encouragement.

Zoom around the world

At least we got to speak with our beloved friends by Zoom. It meant so much to see the faces of so many whom we’ve grown to love so dearly. Last month, Pastor David invited us to join their Sunday morning service (11:30 p.m. Saturday night our time). Nancy shared words of blessing from the Scripture and prayed for the nation. I preached the Sunday sermon then Pastor David led us in receiving communion (each home had prepared the elements).

Still longing for the day

We long for the day when we’ll be together in person. Still, we thank the Lord that through Zoom, we could celebrate His presence and worship Him with our brothers and sisters on the other side of the world.

-Jim

From Pastor David: The Current Situation in Myanmar

Thanks for your love, concern and encouragement during the pandemic and political crisis we are facing. We are praying at least three hours each day for our people and our nation with tears. We are not fasting this time, as the doctor suggests the immune system is very important to support.

By the grace and protection of God, no one from House of Glory (HoG) families and our network are infected with COVID-19. Though some are feeling sick (seasonal flu), they recover day by day. However, the third wave of the pandemic is still very bad in our nation. An average of 20 people die daily in our hometown. More than 210 pastors and missionaries died during this third wave. As for me, I lost some of my classmates, spiritual mentors, professors at the Bible school and ministry fellowship partners.

Many people are still struggling for their daily food since they lost their incomes because of lockdown restrictions. Many people fear they will die because of starvation rather than the pandemic. We are praying for them with tears.

Because of the political conflict, many are still being shot to death and some are put in jail. We are confronting pandemic, famine and political turmoil.

Nevertheless, we give our hearts more to Jesus as everything is under His control. The spiritual life of HoG families is growing in the midst of these challenges!

-David

How you can help

Connecting with House of Glory by Zoom and sharing the communion service with them was a high water mark for Jim and me this summer. How beautiful is the Body of Christ! Your prayers for them in this hour are being heard and answered.

We rejoice that doors are still open to send funds to feed hungry people in both Myanmar and Vietnam. If you care to give, we will gladly share 100% of your gift to feed those in need in this critical hour.

-Nancy

Thank you for praying, caring and giving.

We love and appreciate you,

Jim, Nancy and Grace

Love In Action During COVID-19

It’s one thing to say “Jesus loves you” to someone, and quite another thing to demonstrate that love by action.

Thanks to your prayers and giving, love in the form of eggs, noodles, rice, fruit and cooking oil has been distributed to hundreds of hungry people under the direction of Minh in Vietnam and Pastor David in Myanmar. 

One of the construction workers goes home with food today

These photos tell the story of how your dollars became food donations distributed by believers to families with no hope of food for the next two weeks. Most had subsisted on one or two bowls of rice soup per day, due to COVID-19 lockdowns and inability to work. 

In Vietnam, Minh and youth teams from the church (where he serves as elder) purchased and packaged food to give to 60 families. Priority was given to families with elderly and with young children. 

In Myanmar, Pastor David and the House of Glory team visited the local Buddhist monastery serving as a quarantine center for Covid-19. They supplied masks and food and met with the chief monk who welcomed them gladly. They were the first Christians to help with the needs of the center. The monastery expressed their gratitude on their Facebook page. How amazing that the Lord is using your gift to ease tension between Christians and majority Buddhists!

A warm reception at the Buddhist Monastery/COVID-19 Center

Three young men from House of Glory decided to dedicate their time by serving for three weeks at the quarantine center. Please pray for their safety and the influence of their lives as they serve. 

These three youth group members will serve for 3 weeks at the COVID-19 center

We also shared masks and a cooked meal for fifty social workers and those in charge of controlling the pandemic. In addition, Pastor David has shared a supply of food with some of the poorest of the construction workers at the House of Glory building site. David is already seeing them (by faith) as his eventual “sheep” and himself as their shepherd. 

Pastor David shares how the Glory Community Center (foreground) will bless the neighborhood

Thank you for responding to the financial need to finish the Glory Community Center. At present we are $14,900 away from having the funds we need to complete the center.  Hear from David about the progress in the below video.

“Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me - you did it to me.’” -Matthew 24:40, The Message

As you look at these touching photos, we pray you will enter into the joy of your Father, knowing lives are being touched by His love and our small acts of giving and sacrifice. 

With grateful hearts,

Jim and Nancy and Firefall Board Members