This has been a very exciting time for one good friend of ours in Myanmar. Than Htoon has been accepted into seminary in the Philippines, in fact he has received a full scholarship which will provide not only for his education but also living expenses for his family. Than Htoon is one of my best friends in Myanmar and has labored beside our teams as a translator and teacher. He is one of the brightest young men I have ever met, and he has a zeal which would put most of us to shame. Many days during our conferences he will translate all day and then go out in the evening to a "preaching point" and proclaim the gospel, he is truly an evangelist. His classes will begin on June 8 please pray with us as he and his family begin this new adventure.
Here is Than Htoon's "testimony" which he wrote for me a couple of years ago:
"My name is Than Htoon (pronounced tawn toon) I was born in 1969 into a strong Buddhist family. My grandfather was a famous Buddhist monk in my native city. I learned the doctrine of Buddhism under his teaching. As I was belong to Buddhism, I spent most of my time by doing good works for the cessation of suffering and rebirth. It means I tried for salvation by following the teaching of Buddha. But I could not find any way to have eternal life by my own effort.
At that time some Christian friends came to me and shared the gospel. We did much discussion about salvation between the grace of God and the teaching of Buddha. In 1989, God opened my spiritual eyes to see the person who can save me and turned my heart to know and accept Jesus Christ as my personal savior and Lord. From that time on God assigned me to preach the good news among the Buddhists. My parents made me to leave my faith on Jesus by many ways. But God have me encouragements to overcome all the difficulties. I married with a devoted Christian woman in 1997. Now I have one lovely daughter and very soon I will have a second child (April 2004).
I proclaim the gospel with love and faithfully wherever He sends me. God draws many lost men and women to Christ by using my life. Please pray for me so that I may be able to share the Gospel to many lost and to equip new converts with the Scripture."
I'm very excited for Than Htoon and this new opportunity. We will miss him on our projects in Myanmar, but I believe this young man will be a tremendous leader in the future for the Church in Myanmar.
May God richly bless you, Than Htoon!
