Teaching, inspiring, and encouraging followers of Christ
to serve God more effectively as Spirit-led leaders
May E-Newsletter
Good News, Bad News
MIT students back on campus!
Greetings!
After three long, painful years, MIT has finally opened its doors once again to in-person classes in Insein (Yangon). Due to the strong demand of the students, MIT is taking a risk to bring their students back on campus. The full MIT student body of 1400 students will not return for the time being, but 80 first year theological students are already on campus for pre-term to study English. One or two hundred more students are expected in Insein by June 1 when the first semester officially begins. Though I cannot yet return safely, I will continue to advise faculty and students and teach online.

Meanwhile, the country turmoil has increased and living conditions for the 53 million people continue to deteriorate. Soldiers are relentlessly burning down homes and whole villages and hunting down those who oppose military rule. Military jets are bombing schools while they continue to strike terror and wreak havoc throughout the country on a daily basis. A few weeks ago, they bombed a new civic center, killing at least 165 people, including many children. The U.N. currently estimates that the number of IDPs (internally displaced people) has swelled to 1,704,00 men, women, and children, many of whom are desperately in need of humanitarian assistance. 
Zaw Tuseng, founder and president of the recently formed Myanmar Policy Institute (MPI), in reflecting on the 60,000 homes that have been burned down across Myanmar since the beginning of the coup and the inability of foreign governments to stem the tide of military violence or of humanitarian agencies to get aid to so many of the worst hit communities, soberly asks, “How much longer can Myanmar’s villages withstand the Junta’s onslaught?”  Not much, he fears. The people are exhausted and in many places their resources are depleted. 
Village of Bin, in central Myanmar, burned to ash by the junta
Read what just a few of my former students reported to me this past week from various parts of the country.
“Lashio is under military control. However, robbers, looters, and illegal gambling as part of worldwide online cheating are advancing everywhere here. Going outside during nighttime is quite dangerous…!”
-BM, in Lashio, northeast Shan State, Myanmar
“ [The advancing military] has cut internet connection. And a lot of jet fighters are bombing villages near Hakha [the capital of Chin State]. Many people living in villages have gone to Hakha for their safety. 120 bombs have been dropped already. 30 civilians have died. 100,000 are now in IDP camps.”
- CC, writing about the most recent onslaught in Chin State, northwest Myanmar, which has been steady for two months now
Children in an IDP Camp sent to us by Swe Maung
Out in the villages and war zones, where the fighting is fiercest and the needs the greatest, MIT faculty member and former FHLGM staff member, Swe Maung, recently returned from teaching and ministering to IDPs from Paletwa (western Myanmar). He reported, “It was heart-breaking to see our people in suffering and need due to the political situation in the country. And it was heart-touching to see their strong faith and their testimonies of their hope in the Lord in such a hopeless situation.”

Most of the adults and children didn’t even have curry to mix with their meager portions of rice, yet the mothers were keeping a positive attitude, thanking God that at least they have rice. During the teaching time, one man said, “It is true that the news we have been hearing is only bad and sad news. The only true and good news is the word of God... [So] let us turn to God who loves and cares for us instead of [looking elsewhere].” 

Good news. Bad news. Good news. We may never be able to explain why God allows so much evil to persist in the world, but for those who look to Christ in the midst of their suffering, "these three remain: faith, hope, and love" and "the greatest of these is love" (1 Cor. 13:13).
 
Thank you for caring, praying, and supporting our work with these people. You are making a difference. 
President and Visiting Professor
Faith, Hope, and Love Global Ministries
Opportunity to Provide Relief for the Needy
Alongside our normal teaching ministries, we have been providing tangible support for people in-need in Myanmar and Thailand. If you want to designate your gift for the refugees and IDPs, please mark your donation, MCR (Myanmar Crisis Response). Thank you.
On a Personal Note
This winter has been a mix of sorrow and joy for our family. My dear sister-in-law, Norma Geoffrion, sadly died at the end of March, after a three and a half month battle with an inexplicable, untreatable malady. Then, within a few weeks, Jill and I welcomed our first grandchild into the world. Sequoia Joy Geoffrion was born five weeks early, but continues to develop day by day in the NICU, and has already brought us joy we did not know we could feel. 
Find out more about Faith, Hope, and Love Global Ministries