My Myanmar Trip

Myanmar Journal

The day starts at around 3 am headed to the airport. Flight is cancelled and will be rerouted. I think it’s time to pray. They finally get it right and I head to New York to find out my flight is cancelled all the way to Burma. I call friends and family telling  them my changes and asking them to pray. After a long while of waiting Thai Airways put me on the flight. The last person. I don’t sleep at all. Over 24 hours awake. It’s tough trying to be comfortable. I don’t even read any books. Just pray for patience, and wondering if those people in first class are sleeping like a baby. Finally arrive in Thailand.

More flying from Thailand to Burma. Finally get to the 3rd world. It smells and looks the same as I remember. The long ride from the airport is in the dark so I miss a lot of the sights. And Frank, our director is briefing me on the new updates for our mission. I feel very tired but pretty good. Frank and Dan are really hospitable. I really don’t sleep well again. Dan snores big time so I stay up and pray for his wife and for other pressing things. My heart that feels like it’s on auto pilot, Lord help me be focused and living in the present.

Today one of the first things I realize is that there aren’t any overweight people here. People are actually very thin. No one jogs, or works out. The highlight of the day was having a little boy come to me and shake my hand. He kept yelling hello. We hear that a lot. But after unknowingly walking past the little boy I look back to see him running toward me saying hello. I stopped and shook his hand. He had a big smile but the pleasure was really all mine. We continued walking and I asked my friend if we could stop and take a picture. We did. How funny that I cameto the other side of the world to share the Gospel and I was again too busy to stop. We attend dinner at a small celebration in what looked like the upper floor restaurant from The Godfather. They honor us but I spend most of the meal worrying about speaking at church on Sunday morning. Then, after dinner, they ask us about speaking at a second church on Sunday evening. God is good.

Thursday

Today we went to a very third world farmers market. It had just rained that morning so there was mud sometimes inches deep under our sandals. I LOVED the energy in the market. I couldn’t have felt safer. No where in Myanmar have I really felt that there was real danger. People generally were into having their pictures taken. I loved the atmosphere, but the muddy ground kept us looking down. I love the smell and the sights and the organic feel of this. This is entirely different from the pristine market Tonica and I just went to days earlier in Durham NC, where people walked their well groomed dogs and a group did yoga on the grass. Here’s there’s a to survive and people only make 1 to 2 dollars a day. There were unidentifiable fish and fruit of every kind.

People were less in your face than in other markets I’ve been in, in say, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Guyana. The highlight was seeing a lady buy a fresh (alive) chicken and then video taping the whole process of preparation till it’s ready to take home. As we get to the studio, Youram ( a very talented guitarist and lead engineer, who lives in a tiny sparce apartment under the studio, with his wife and 2 year old son) has already recorded an entire song on the 1880 which I’m about to teach. He is very bright and a really humble guy. We again go to the Monsoon for lunch and have a drink. A lot of feelings run through my mind. Especially ones of nervousness about preaching Sunday. I have this aversion to trying to “prove” I can preach in a way that moves people. I don’t want to act like what I’m not. Lord, help me to speak and minister from a pure and sincere heart only the words which You want.

We spent today in the recording studio. Again it was amazing to hear the talent and passion of these young artists. I learned more about what they face everyday in this closed nation. They seem to be making the best of it. I noticed that they laugh alot. Much more than me. They actually made me crack up when telling me they could get software for me in Burma for cheaper than the states. Hmmm, so how much is, say… Adobe Premiere ($299 in the states) 50 cents in Myanmar they said with a smile. What do you want? I asked them about numerous software titles. They reply over and over, 50 cents. I couldn’t stop laughing. They said if software was more expensive than 50 cents, no one would buy it.

We got to the studio to record keyboards. David had me playing and I wasn’t so happy about that. I wanted this to be their project, so I tried to give him pointers and let him do the playing. He has a great mind for arranging and the more I know of him, I see that his heart is one of grace, compassion and a burden to reach his people one at a time… through the gift of music. He actually organized 4000 people to sing the Hallelujah chorus on a mountain in central Yangon. Not an easy feat in any country. He conducted it himself and the DVD is staggering. His vision is now to have his songs and We Will Rise affect his nation with hope and the love of Christ. Something that Buddhists and Muslims long for but cannot grasp. On a side note I ask a lady on the side street around the corner from the studio why old ladies sell dried corn and rice to be thrown to the huge flocks of pigeons on the sidewalk. She explains to me that the birds are reincarnation of past Burmese souls. Leaves me thinking, “But how do you know they like popcorn seeds”? We go and eat at the same restaurant, the Monsoon, for curry and water. I stay up late because I can’t sleep. The bed is rock hard and there are roaches in the bathroom. But this is my life for this season. I don’t really miss home too much. I want to experience more of the culture and learn more from the people here.

Sunday

This was an amazing day. I woke early again to go and get my songs copied, call home. I feel pretty good given I have nothing much to offer. We pray together, Daniel and I. My friend offers powerful insight to see myself letting the light of God flow through me. We get there and they won’t let me carry keyboard or stand. One young Burmese guycarrying the heavy keyboard alone is struggling up 6 flights of steep stairs. The congregation is very friendly. As I put my sandals on this morning I thought, “finally I won’t have to worry about removing shoes so, no socks needed” But as I got there I realize that everyone takes their shoes off as they enter church. Ministry goes well. I feel like I pointed people to Jesus to get a drink of hope. Through an incredible translation by Ciin, a young Burmese woman who left an abusive husband, and went on to finish 2 masters degrees in Singapore, in both Theology and Divinity, the congregations gets what I‘m saying. Obstacles can turn to opportunity. Ciin said later that she took the message home to her mother who is in the latter stages of radiation for cancer. She now cares for her mother at home with numerous other family members while raising her 2 year old daughter Nichole Gabriella alone. She told me that Nicole means overcomer. I'll share that with Corin. Thank You Lord for a powerful time of communicating Your love.

This has been a LONG day. I am sitting here infront of this screen trying to stay awake so I don't fall asleep too early and wake up at 3 in the morning. Breakfast today was late, and my guide was early. We had an egg 2 slices of bread and a cup of coffee. We walked a mile to the music school with him showing me landmarks along the way so I can walk alone tomorrow. Walking alone feels OK, except late last night when very few people are out on these dark narrow roads. I had walked back to the YMCA. Today though we went to the music school where I taught composition to eager students. We had alot of fun and even had a jam session. They loved the makeshift concert venue ( a classroom) and I had each of them learn to solo. We also started writing a song. Many students were longing for someone to teach them one on one. Someone came and got me for lunch. The director and his wife had gotten me chicken and rice. I noticed that they weren't eating. I gave them the rest of mine the gave them money. I realize they have no way to treat me to anything. As I ate they showed me pictures of their trip south to the Delta region. They explained also why the govt would never let me down there. They said it was too dangerous. They are very fearful people here. They talk VERY quietly when the government comes up and will never talk about Ang Sung Su Chi.

On the way back to the studio I stopped at a little ( 4 foot by 4 foot stand where a small man was handmaking keys. I asked if he could make my car copy. He was delighted and asked me to sit down. WAAAAAAY down. The seat was so tiny that I thought I might accidentally crush it. It was the exact size of a small shoebox. He told me stories about how long he had been doing this. I asked about his family ( 3 kids). He was Muslim. As we talked, another filthy man walked up saying Hasalam Melecum. I didn't really pay attention. He stooped down and began to talk thinking I was a Muslim too. He was deranged. He started to get hostile and I moved into a different mode, seeing that he was unpredictable. I didn't want to make a scene but we both wanted this guy gone. He started begging for money and got irate when I didn't give him any. My keys were done and I left. On the way to the studio from there I stopped to send an email. Then as I got to the corner about to turn up the narrow alley where the 5th floor studio is located (that's 75 steps) I heard a girl screaming as she ran by me. I NEVER see anyone running here. She was running after a young man and another 12 ish girl the first 2 darted out into the street and jumped into a taxi. The little girl kept screaming for someone to help I ran over as she was trying to get in the car. they were pushing here out as the taxi tried to whisk away. She wouldn't let go but now I was surrounded by a crowd of people which made the cab stop. 2 men dragged the guy out the car and the crowd was intolerant that the little girl was so upset. I had no idea what was happening, but found out later that it wasn‘t a kidnapping, but the 2 individuals had stolen something from the little girl‘s store. I started my video camera in the middle of this huge crowd but I was really expecting police ( which I didn't see any) try to take it. I think 2 guys were plain clothes police. They apprehended the man and took him away with a huge crowd following. This was surreal, and worse not having another westerner anywhere near. I couldn't communicate to anyone . But, I did go into a store and ask for a drink. They poured it into a plastic baggy ( like a kid with a new goldfish) with a straw of course. Then they pulled up a chair wanting me to sit and not stand to drink it. Relax. From there I went up to the studio and worked on teaching a local pastor how to use presentation software. He was very happy to have this new way of using overheads. We then recorded more and went to eat potato curry from a Thailand restaurant. They also made us a mango banana shake. With yogurt and ice. Thank God for ice. It was now dark and I walked with Dan back to the Y. He is now sick and needs rest and to get healing if he's to finish engineering this project. I left and came to the Aye Yars Hotel to use the internet service where I now sit. It's 10:07 and I think I'll pay the 1000 kyats $1.00 for the taxi ride. Shower, pray then off to sleep.

I get up again around 4, wait for the sun to come up and take a bike taxi (1000 Kyets) to the Aye Yars Hotel to use the computer. After ½ hour of futility… nothing. It’s so slow and I just get mad. I go back to the room scarf down my egg and bread, ½ a banana and grabe a taxi to head to the school to teach. The students are dressed in their best clothes for the camera. They are so excited. We spend the classes talking of song structure and I get to hear some of their creations. After class a really sweet young girl wants to sit and talk of leading worship. As she talks of feeling too unworthy at times to be leading I identified with her. She has such a precious spirit. They are all smarter and wiser than I think. They think deeply and in a mature fashion. I told her how much of a blessing it was to sit with her. We went to the studio to record all afternoon and then into the evening. But for dinner we took the leaders out. They were on cloud nine and couldn’t believe the treat. They never eat like that and we wereeating at this place.

Today is my last day and I am beyond sad to be leaving. I have never in all my travels been to a place where leaving was so difficult. I think it’s because of the connection I felt with the young people. I have the sense that although I didn’t spend all of my time teaching in the VS 1880, the classes at the music school were incredibly rewarding. My computer and camera are both dead so I have no idea what time it is. I actually had set my palm to be an alarm but it didn’t go off. Therefore we were really late. I wouldn’t get to go and use the phone before being at class. I eat a quick breakfast and head by taxi to the school, actually ½ hour early somehow. We had our time off. But I spent the time talking to David’s wife who is a beautiful, warm, and caring Burmese dancer. She’s eager to show me her video and asks if Corin would have any advice for her. Everyone here is so humble. She serves coffee. I start with the lesson of 10 traits of crafting a good song. Basic lessons, but the students love the examples and illustrations. They also love the fact that we actually wrote our own song in class. In the second hour the videographer arrives and we get shots of the kids singing we will Rise and the song they wrote. But my favorite part was between the class when we would go to a small practice room behind the first class and just jam. They would pack in there around the piano and we would sing and have fun. It felt like Fame. My other favorite part wa watching their faces from the front of the class when they sang and laughed. They definitely laughed more than my students in the states. And never a hint of aggression. One Buddhist boy draws a picture of me and shows it to the whole class then gives it to me. I love these people. I leave there and walk back to the studio stopping to see my muslim keymaker friend. He seems happy. I love walking through these streets. There’s so much to see, and hear, and smell, and feel. So much life to be experienced. So many people, so precious in their own way. At the studio I drop off my bags and hear the finished mix of We Will Rise. They did an amazing job. I leave and go shopping in the rain. It’s easy now to get a Taxi. One dollar gets you anywhere. I meet beautiful people in the market. One little boy follows me around and shows me where to find the taxi to leave. He has a really genuine smile. I end up buying a few more cards from him and as I pull off he’s there saying thank you. I ask the driver to stop and give him a bunch of money in my pocket. He shakes my hand and smiles. I head to the studio and all the students are there. They know I’m leaving in a few hours and we’re all sad. They all want pictures. One girl has brought fresh warm bread for me and Daniel as a gift. She is a gift. I see Jesus in every one of them. David has me offer some last words of farewell and the we pray. I could cry but I don’t want to make a scene. I hug them and leave. Heading back to the YMCA in the rain is an experience. I find myself saying goodbye trash, goodbye men playing checker with bottle caps on a stairway, goodbye ladies selling little pies andunidentifiable breads on the streets. Goodbye peaceful restless streets, goodbye unfree people who live so free. Goodbye resilient souls who seem so satisfied not knowing what they don’t have. Goodbye Buddhist monks, Goodbye stray dogs, geese, chickens, turkeys, and all the rest of the wandering animals. ( by the way, Youram tells me that each person knows who owns each of the wondering animals.

I pack my bags, take a quick shower and head to check out. A young student comes running in with a gift that I left in the studio. He ran the 10 minutes back to my hostel. I gave him money for a taxi back, but no doubt he will save the money and run back. My ride in the airport is in the back of a jeep, with no windows in the pouring rain. I love the experience. The whole drive was a history lesson from a 73 year old man who happens to serve on the YMCA board. He is not afraid to talk uf Aung Sung Su Chi. He even points out her house. If I had time I would insist that we stop. He tells me all about life in Burma from his days as a young boy knowing freedom to now. It is by far the best lesson on Burma, and God saved it to last so I could have an even greater heart of compassion for this beautiful nation.

Playing with no flats and sharps!

Young Buddhist Monks

Kids coming to the YMCA for camp.

A torrential rain in Tangon cut our day short. ( Monsoon season)

This is the center of the city where 10000 monks protested for democracy.

Two very popular Burmese singers in the studio. ( But the govenment cut off the electricity befor we were able to record that day)

Grace Music School director David Suum, Ethnomusicologist Frank Fortunato, Engineer Daniel Snokes and me getting an honor from our hosts.

Taxi anyone?

My room needs a decorator : )

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