its Gospel workers in Burma had killed at least one young Christian and children of two missionary couples. US-based Christian Aid Mission (CAM), which supports indigenous preachers in the area, said it has learned that 23-year old Van Ro Sui "succumbed to malaria on May 27 while serving on the mission field."
Van Ro Sui accepted Christ in 1995 at a children’s crusade and graduated from an indigenous ministry’s Bible institute with a bachelor’s of theology degree, CAM told BosNewsLife.
REACHING TRIBALS
"Brother Van Ro Sui was known for his commitment to preaching the Gospel. He was reaching tribal groups in remote Sia Taw village," CAM said citing people who knew him. CAM said he was the latest victim among missionaries working in the closed nation.
"Ministry leaders report that two missionary couples lost children to miscarriages due to lack of proper care. Two other native missionaries have only recently recovered from serious bouts of malaria. Another gospel worker asks prayer for his year-old son, who has been extremely ill for several weeks," CAM added.
Less than half of the impoverished country’s rural people are believed to have access to clean drinking water or acceptable sanitation. Average life expectancy in Burma is reportedly around 50 years.
"SACRIFICE MUCH"
Missionaries "sacrifice much, including health, to work in rural regions among tribes who have never heard the Gospel," CAM said. It said indigenous ministries in Burma need medical support for missionaries and those they reach. "Often, missions need only $4500 to support a medical outreach for a year," CAM claimed.
Besides disease, missionaries and other Christians also face persecution, human rights groups say. Christian Freedom International said recently that Karen people of Burma, a predominantly Christian ethnic minority group, are among those persecuted. "Many thousands have fled to refugee camps along the Burma/Thailand border [as] they are under the constant attack of the brutal military regime in power in Burma…"CFI said.
Human rights groups believe the situation could improve when the military regime releases Burmese democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been imprisoned and under house arrest for most of the last 16 years. She celebrated her 60th birthday Sunday, June 19, in captivity. CAM can be reached via email: insider@christianaid.org or website: http://www.christianaid.org (With BosNewsLife Research and reports from Burma).
