TWO years ago plans were made to conduct an effort in Myaungmya. When U. Kyaw Din, who was assigned to lead out in these meetings, approached the authorities for permission to hold a public effort it was denied.
A second attempt to hold the meetings was launched last year. U. Kyaw Din worked his field near and around the church among Buddhist friends during the rainy season. The church gave him excellent cooperation by visiting nearby families.
This time he abandoned the idea of seeking permission from the authorities, and decided instead to conduct the effort in the church.
Believing that the Lord would send many people to hear the message, U. Kyaw Din allowed neither church members nor students to come to the meetings except the seminary students- who were to assist as ushers, and they were not to occupy the seats in the church. This was to give more room to the audience.
During the first ten nights an aver age of about one thousand Buddhist friends (mainly Burmese) attended the meetings; this was the largest number of Burmese Buddhists ever to at tend our meetings in the union. There were groups of people who regularly walked five miles to be present.
Since the congregation was too large to manage, a children's department was introduced. It was conducted by Pastor Kyaw Din II, a seminary student and relative of U. Kyaw Din I.
The attendance was good through out the meetings with about five hundred present on the closing night. The people were deeply impressed with our message and are eager to hear more of it in the future.
At the close of the meetings, 96 people signed their names as being definitely interested in the message. Follow-up work was continued by Pas tor E. Dwe, seminary students, and our laymen. So far fifteen souls have been baptized and others are being prepared as a result of this initial work.
Our Buddhist friends living around us have heard our message. The whole community has now been stirred with our truth. We are no longer considered atheists, and we have faith to believe that the Lord will yet draw many to Himself and into the church.
