Myanmar Mission Report - January 2018
Dear brethren,
Greetings in our sovereign and gracious covenant Lord's name. Blessed New to you all. This is the First letter that I wrote to you in this new year. Thanks for all your prayers and encouragements in 2017.
A year is speedily gone and a new year started, the time of our Lord Jesus returns in one more year near, for that we are thankful, then new creation will start for the final fulfilment of His covenant of grace.
Thank you very much for all the cards that you send us in covenant love. We (my wife Certe, our children, and myself) do not know how to express our joy seeing them; some time we like to cry for joy knowing we have brothers and sisters in the Lord for His covenant sake. And I like to tell you that, that is the first time in our life that much cards received in one time; so first time has a lot to say in one's life. Thank you and the Lord's blessings on you all in 2018.
That reminds us Ps. 133 "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore." And our Apostle's creed, "I believe an holy catholic church: the communion of saints." We are united in His truth, that is a real beauty.
When, my wife and I were in U.S., there were many places that we enjoy very much visiting. Among them, some of the place for me, personally, were, visiting the RFPA building. The Lord used books and Standard Bearer to lead me to know the truth and to know you all. My life was richly blessed by those books, and I am translating some of the books from that publishing, so to see it face to face was really something special for me, I could not express it with words. Some pastors think that, to preach good news in the only important thing, and they even suggest that I should not translate books rather preach gospel; but I think books are like coffee to American. When I was in U.S., even before breakfast, you drink at least a cup of coffee, but if I ask you, what will be your main source of energy, your will tell me food, but coffee also have a very important role in American's life. In that way, the Bible and preaching are our main spiritual food, but books also very important. Books still talk and preach after that person died. Even, e g. Hoeksema still talks to us with his triple knowledge volumes and others books also the same.
And visiting PR Seminary classes and attended some classes there, from the day that I learned PR distinctives, I am so eager to see that school; for your kindness, I could made that dream come true. Thanks to you all and to our faithful covenant Lord.
Thursday Bible classes begin again; now the first hour, we listen Prof. Cammenga's seminary lectures on "Soteriology," that is doctrine of salvation. Now we reached third lecture of four; the second hour we discuss our Essentials of Reformed Doctrine. Now I am discussing the means of grace, preaching especially, how to make sermons Reformed way, especially for Ah Lin; the rest also as leading their small groups, they said very helpful. For me also, all the books on preaching are in English, this is the first time I am putting them in Burmese language, quite a challenge, because, Burmese language does not really concern "Tenses of Verb." It is kind of spoken written language; e g. I can say "I come yesterday," which is very wrong in English but it is perfectly OK in Burmese, I think you will notice in my report as well, when I write English that kind of thing always there. But we enjoy very much in learning together.
And on Thursday night, I have another Bible class to equip two young men from our congregation to become new elder and deacon, so that we may have rotation of office bearers. Since the Bible said, " In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, (Titus 2:7 KJV)" I am teaching them, all the things that necessary to know as officers of His covenant Church. They are brought up under my pastoring from their very young, so class is like lecturing. They dare not to ask me questions, so I have to encourage them: "do not afraid me but ask me and have dialogue with me." I hope slowly they will do that.
I am still busy, editing my KJV Burmese translation, I am now editing the book of Revelation, the last one, very soon NT will be ready to publish. Evening services Heidelberg Catechism, now eight time just started, reached LD 7.
For Sunday Digest, now I started translating, the book of Judges, reach chapter 8, I reached translating "Come, Ye Children," by Gertrude Hoeksema, "Jeroboam Teaches Israel to Worship Idols." I am translating, "Unfolding Covenant History," by Homer C. Hoeksema, I am translating the topic "The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil." I send Sunday Digests as attachment.
Catechism classes, younger one, Heidelberg Catechism, by Rev. Wilbur Bruinsma; this week we reach lesson 48. Older youth, I am teaching them our Belgic Confession itself now, reach Art. (11).
Thank you very much for supporting my ministry, without your help I cannot do all the things that I do for His people. Please, continue to pray for us, so that the Reformed truth that we hold dear as PR churches will be through out generations, not just when I did ended.
In my congregational prayer as well as in personal prayers, I continue to pray, always for you, especially the long struggle that the Lord sent to your midst to end. The Lord's blessings to you all.
Your brother,
Rev. Titus