The Diocesan Dialogue
Current Issue
May 2008
Myanmar Stories
School children from the congregation of St. Matthew's in Namti,
Diocese of Myitkyina, wore their traditional clothing during our visit.
The Rt. Rev. Carolyn Tanner Irish lead a humanitarian mission to Myanmar,
the impoverished former Burma, in Asia. Several from the Utah delegation
are sharing their personal stories and pictures for the rest of us
in the Diocese of Utah. Their stories and pictures are just a few of
the many touching moments the Utahns will always remember from the
trip.
The stories come from the Rev. Lee Shaw, Susan Fischer, Sandy
and Preston Motes.
Rev. Lee Shaw:
Following the Sunday services at the Cathedral of Christ the King in
Myitiyina, in which Bishop Carolyn was the preacher, members of our
delegation were invited to meet with a different cathedral group. We
split up and met with the Sunday School teachers, the Men's Group,
the Mothers' Union while Preston Motes and I were invited to
meet with the Youth Group.
 We had a very engaging conversation on a
wide range of topics, from what the church is like in Myanmar to what
it is like in Salt Lake City, to computers and soccer, and to what
teenagers do in Myitkyina for entertainment and fun.
I found the young
people in Myitkyina and elsewhere in Myanmar to be bright, curious,
articulate and at times very shy. They were very curious about life
and the church outside of their country. They were eager to try out
their English. Their warmth, sincerity and curiosity really stood out
for me. I was very impressed by them.
When we visited the school
in the Diocese of Toungoo, we were greeted in every classroom with
the children/young people standing and singing a welcome to us—a
beautiful custom. And they sing with gusto and in great voice.
One
evening we met with a group of about 40-50 young people in the school
dining room. The power had gone out and so our light came from portable
battery-operated lights, casting interesting shadows on the walls.
We had a very engaging and fun Q&A time with them. Then one young
person asked the question none of the Americans were expecting: "Why
don't you sing for us? We sing for you."
Young men from the Diocese of Toungoo greet the Diocese of Utah with
song. The Rev. Lee Shaw describes the singing as "with gusto."
Six Americans
with the "deer in the headlights" expression on our faces
from battery operated lights! Then a quick caucus. Bishop Carolyn suggested "Amazing
Grace." So we stood and sang the first verse of "Amazing
Grace" to this room full of young people. I can never hear this
hymn again without seeing their eager, beautiful, grace-filled faces
as we greeted them as they had greeted us (although with not as much
gusto as they had greeted us!). It was one of the most moving moments
for me during our trip to Myanmar.
I know for me as I sang, I prayed
for these children, for their physical safety as well as their spiritual
well-being in the beautiful yet very isolated and troubled land.
Susan Fischer:
I find the picture of the bell and of a woman at the well. Both speak
to a way of life we experienced on our pilgram journey.
 The picture
of the bell—caught my eye and curiosity when we were visiting
one of the parishes. Later I find out that the bell is made from a
missile from the war. It spoke to how people live into the suffering
of the past and/or present and were using this "suffering bell,
as it became known to me" as a call to worship, singing of hymns
of praise and thanksgiving, a celebration of life, a communion of saints
and servants of God in honor and respect for the dignity of each other
and the abundance of life in spite of hardships, struggles, oppression
and poverty.
The unnamed woman at the well, along with this bell, catch
not only the essence of the shadows of suffering that are the life
of the people, but also an experienced loveliness of God, "the
outward manifestations of thankfulness," the flowing Word of
God, lived out in their compassion, love and hospitality to this group
of strangers from Utah.
People from the Emmanuel Church in Mogaung welcomed our group from the
Diocese of Utah.
Preston and Sandy Motes:
Almost every parish in Myitkyina sponsors a school for the town, not
just for the children of the parish. Many of these schools have been
funded through efforts of Bishop David's wife and other women
of the Diocese by making items and selling them.
At every parish we visited members of the congregation were lined
up and wanted to greet us individually, which we did. This meant shaking
many hands from the very elderly to the youngest children.
Some of
the congregation of Emmanuel Church in Mogaung, Diocese of Myitkyina,
in their native dress. All were eager to hear us speak and talk about
the Diocese of Utah.
Everywhere we went we were thanked by the people
in the congregations for bringing them encouragement in their faith.
We all felt that they strengthened and encouraged our faith much more
than we did theirs.
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