matt2819.com/myanmar

The Day of Missions is Not Over

Martin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 01:00:33 +0000

This is the fifth in a series of eight short posts. They are direct quotes from the last few pages of John Piper’s book Don’t Waste Your Life and I have found them to be informative, stirring, challenging, and/or motivating and so wanted to share them with you. The remaining posts will appear each Friday for [...]

God Issues a Call to This Generation: Listen

Martin — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 01:00:23 +0000

This is the fourth in a series of eight short posts. They are direct quotes from the last few pages of John Piper’s book Don’t Waste Your Life and I have found them to be informative, stirring, challenging, and/or motivating and so wanted to share them with you. The remaining posts will appear each Friday for [...]

Our Situation in the World Today

Martin — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 01:00:04 +0000

This is the third in a series of eight short posts. They are direct quotes from the last few pages of John Piper’s book Don’t Waste Your Life and I have found them to be informative, stirring, challenging, and/or motivating and so wanted to share them with you. The remaining posts will appear each Friday for [...]

We Will Not Know Him Fully Outside His Mission

Martin — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 01:00:04 +0000

This is the second in a series of eight short posts. They are direct quotes from the last few pages of John Piper’s book Don’t Waste Your Life and I have found them to be informative, stirring, challenging, and/or motivating and so wanted to share them with you. The remaining posts will appear each Friday for [...]

Mission to Myanmar Newsletter – June 2010

Martin — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 10:29:49 +0000

Hello friends. In this edition I’ll be sharing with you what’s been happening since the last newsletter, sharing news and events in brief, and wrapping it up with some prayer points. From Learning to Yearning – The Final Stage Well I almost can’t believe it. On Friday, June 18th I handed in my final assignment for Bible [...]

Something Ought To Be Done

Martin — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 06:00:53 +0000

This is the first in a series of eight short posts. They are direct quotes from the last few pages of John Piper’s book Don’t Waste Your Life and I have found them to be informative, stirring, challenging, and/or motivating and so wanted to share them with you. The remaining posts will appear each Friday for [...]

Prayer points – June 2010

Martin — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 05:39:10 +0000

Martin Thanksgiving: The Lord has been strong and faithful in keeping me and encouraging me since returning from Myanmar in February. He has also equipped me and given me the ability to complete all my assignments (11,000 words in total) during the Bible college semester just gone. For finishing my Associate Degree of Theology at Bible college. For the [...]

Mission to Myanmar Newsletter – March 2010

Martin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:38:45 +0000

This is my regular … long awaited … occasional newsletter. In it I’ll be sharing with you what’s been happening since the last newsletter, sharing news and events in brief, and wrapping it up with some prayer points and some photos. My Life in Myanmar On December 3rd last year I headed off to Myanmar for my [...]

Myanmar 101

Martin — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 04:25:35 +0000

I’ve visited many places speaking about Myanmar and what we’re doing there and so I thought I’d share with you the top 3 questions I get asked. 1 – Where is Myanmar? Myanmar is bordered by Tibet and the People’s Republic of China on the north, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the [...]

Mission to Myanmar Newsletter – Jun 2009

Martin — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:43:12 +0000

This is the June 2009 edition of my “Mission to Myanmar” newsletter. What’s News? Another semester of Bible College almost finished, which leaves just one more to go. It’s not been an overly eventful semester which is why you haven’t heard from me – nothing much to say really. I’ve been chipping away at my college work [...]

Prayer points – May 2009

Martin — Tue, 19 May 2009 05:38:43 +0000

Martin Thanksgiving: For the assistance of a dear friend in helping me understand how to do proper and effective research for college assignments. I now feel empowered to succeed in this aspect of college. For consistent financial support which has helped toward this semester’s college fees For the blessing of Bible College and the opportunity to learn and be [...]

Prayer points – Feb 2009

Martin — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 01:23:08 +0000

Martin Thanksgiving: For rest and refreshment during the December/January college break For the blessing of Bible College and the opportunity to learn and be equipped for future ministry For recent financial support, meaning that I can now afford this semester’s college fees For God’s providence in the short-term mission work so far* Petition: Bible college has begun. Please pray that I would [...]

Mission to Myanmar Newsletter – Jan 2009

Martin — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 10:36:50 +0000

This is the January 2009 edition of my “Mission to Myanmar” newsletter (previously called “Myanmar Musings”). New Year, New Start, New Look It’s almost 12 months since I sent out my last newsletter so I’m thinking of calling this the “Anniversary Edition” (ha ha). When I started the newsletters it was my intention to send one out [...]

Chin refugees in India forced back to Myanmar

Martin — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 20:38:56 +0000

BANGKOK (Reuters) – Up to 100,000 Christian Chin who have fled to India in the past 20 years to escape persecution by Myanmar’s Buddhist military rulers are at risk of being forced back, Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday. The New York-based rights said local authorities and community organisations in Mizoram frequently targeted Chin migrants, one [...]

Prayer calendar

Martin — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 02:08:30 +0000

On behalf of those in Myanmar, and from me, thanks for your support and prayers. I know the Lord is working through your faithfulness. If you’d like my 29-day prayer calendar you can download a PDF version here [196kb]. Print both pages on one sheet, back and front (i.e. double-sided), and then fold it in half [...]

Share me around

Martin — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 02:00:01 +0000

These are some ways to “share me around” and to let others know about what the Lord is doing in Myanmar… Order some Ministry Information Sheets from me (using the webform) Print and share my prayer calendar with your small-group. Have me or Chris, my Home Support Coordinator, come and talk to your group or church. Contact me [...]

Support continues after cyclone Nargis

Martin — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 02:25:41 +0000

Last May (2008) Nargis, the most deadly category 4 cyclone to ever cross Myanmar’s shores, took over 140,000 lives and left in excess of 1,000,000 people homeless (this image shows the path of the cyclone). Support from outside Myanmar has been strong and I’m happy to report that the Presbyterian Church of Australia answered the call [...]

Prayer points – Nov 2008

Martin — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:00:30 +0000

Martin Thanksgiving: For the Lord’s comfort, patience and long-suffering with me over the last few months For opportunities to share with some churches and small groups about the work the Lord is doing in Myanmar God’s providence in the short-term mission work so far* Petition: Semester 2 2008 did not see me pass too many subjects so please pray that I [...]

RBI has a new building

Martin — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:35:35 +0000

Thanks to more fund-raising by the Presbyterian Church of Australia, the Evangelical Reformed Church (ERC) has been able to build a solid and permanent structure at the Reformed Bible Institute (RBI) site. This building will be used for male student accommodation as well as meeting room/classroom facilities. They’ve sent us a few photos, click here to [...]

Rampaging rats bring starvation to Burma

Martin — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:55:05 +0000

In Burma’s north-west Chin state, thousands of people say they are starving. The Mara tribe say hundreds of their community have died in the past two months alone. Local human rights groups say of an estimated 500,000 population, 100,000 people are at crisis point. They blame a natural phenomenon, which occurs every 50 years in the region [...]

Prayer points – June 2008

Martin — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 04:25:07 +0000

Martin Thanksgiving: Semester 1 2008 was a very busy one with 7 assessments due totalling 15,000 words and I managed to pass all subjects God’s providence in the short-term mission work so far* Some generous and thoughtful people have again provided me with some very timely financial support* Petition: Boldness in evangelism To have more regular personal devotions and prayer times All the [...]

Myanmar After Cyclone Nargis

Martin — Wed, 14 May 2008 09:15:47 +0000

Hello everyone, I’ve been silent on the matter of cyclone Nargis which hit Myanmar a little over a week ago simply because I didn’t have any accurate information that I could send out. Plus there was a fair amount of media coverage around keeping you more informed than I could have – I don’t even have [...]

6 Ways to React to the Cyclone

Martin — Wed, 14 May 2008 08:20:49 +0000

John Piper and his team write many fantastic articles on the Desiring God Blog. This one is relevant to Myanmar so I thought I’d replicate it here as well. (Author: John Piper) As the carnage from Cyclone Nargis moves toward 50,000 dead and beyond, there is a way to pray and act: 1. Be softened to the pain [...]

Myanmar Musings Newsletter – Feb 2008

Martin — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 01:00:13 +0000

This is the February 2008 edition of my “Myanmar Musings” newsletter. Download Feb2008_MyanmarMusings.

Prayer points – Jan 2008

Martin — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 12:20:06 +0000

Martin Thanksgiving: God’s providence in the short-term mission work so far Some generous and thoughtful people have provided me with some very timely financial support Petition: Bible college – to understand and retain what’s being learnt Travel mercies (safety, health, etc.) For God to prepare the way in Myanmar for ministry Financial support required – estimated $1500/month ERC (Evangelical Reformed Church / Thang Bwee’s [...]

Myanmar Musings Newsletter – Nov 2007

Martin — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 01:00:20 +0000

This is the April 2007 edition of my “Myanmar Musings” newsletter. Download Nov2007_MyanmarMusings.

2007 – Jan to Jun update

Martin — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 10:00:27 +0000

I’ll try and fill you in on what’s been happening for the last 6 months and what I expect is coming my way over the next 6. So, sit back, grab a coffee, and enjoy my ramblings. ——— My work doesn’t need to demand my all, and although that’s true in theory, I seem to [...]

Welcome to Texas

Martin — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 09:00:50 +0000

Karen migrants find life in America has its downside When members of the Thai community in the US are asked to help resettle newly arrived Karen refugees from the Thai-Burmese border, old clichés surface. “Are these people members of the God’s Army?” ask some. Others recall headline-grabbing incidents like the murder of a Thai woman by [...]

Myanmar Musings Newsletter – Apr 2007

Martin — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 01:00:23 +0000

This is the April 2007 edition of my “Myanmar Musings” newsletter. Download Apr2007_MyanmarMusings.

Myanmar learns to live with the lights out

Martin — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 00:00:44 +0000

Chronic power shortages in Myanmar are leaving cities in the former Burma shrouded in almost permanent blackout, driving its citizens to despair and crippling an economy reeling from decades of military misrule. As with other problems in the once-prosperous ex-British colony, there is little explanation in the state-controlled media, which abound with pictures of generals inaugurating [...]