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.
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
