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Volume 10, No. 3

December 2015

Merry Christmas from Lifetime!

Christmas in a Foreign Land

hristmas is celebrated in the Buddhist country of Myanmar?

Surprisingly, yes; and the festivities begin early. December 1
starts the month called Sweet December, and the city of
Yangon, the capital, takes on the glow of lights, trees, and other signs
of a holiday season, rivaling any city in the U.S. Malls are heavily
decorated, anticipating a rush of Christmas shoppers, and its not
unusual to hear Hark! The Herald Angels Sing or Jingle Bells
playing over and over on the public address system.
Light of the World Childrens Home is no stranger to Christmas. During
the first and second weeks of December, the children practice Christmas
songs for caroling, and from December 10th to 20th they go caroling
around Yangon City, singing from house to house and having Christmas
gift exchanges.

A shopping mall at Christmas in

Myanmar. Look closely and youll
even see a SALE sign!

Especially in this December season, the people of Myanmar enjoy many festivals and picnics: the
Christmas family picnic, the Christmas friends picnic, the Christmas race festival and so on. LWCH
has its Christmas picnic outside since the weather is very pleasant at this time of the yeardry and
not too cold as well as not too warm.
Gifts for the children this year will include new shirts and new long pants. For Christmas dinner, the
workers will kill a 50 kg (110 lb.) pig, to be served along with other holiday treats. The children say
it best: Our most exciting and happy month is December: Christmas!
More freedom for public gatherings in Myanmar is available during December than during any
other month of the year. Pastors and concerned lay leaders take advantage of this freedom by
sponsoring large (in at least one instance in the thousands) get-togethers during Christmas week
where people are fed and entertained, gifts are given, but, most importantly, the Good News of
Jesus Christ is preached.

A Changing Political Landscape in Myanmar

wenty years of prayer are resulting in a change for the better in the daily lives of many of the
citizens of Myanmar. One of Lifetimes board members first visited the country in 2002 and
describes in his own words the political climate at that time.

My first experience in Myanmar was one of fear and intimidation, despite the fact that I had full
permission to be in the country, passport, visa and all. The Yangon airport was filled with soldiers
carrying rifles. No one entered or exited the building without their approval, and luggage was inspected thoroughly for contraband items. One Bible per person was allowed; two or more Bibles
were cause for suspicion and possible denial of entry. Today the atmosphere is considerably more
relaxed. While there are security personnel, the soldiers are gone and baggage checks are minimal.
Prayers of the Christians to change the country into a real democracy have not been in vain. Unexpectedly, in last months election, the Aung San Suu Kyi National League for Democracy won more
than two-thirds of the votes in the country's first national vote since a nominally civilian
government was introduced in 2011. This has caused the people to rejoice. The victorious NLD has
secured the right to nominate the president.
Despite the fact that Christians living in the capital and other large cities have freedom to meet
together in churches, Christians living in the ethnic areas continue to be oppressed by the Burmese
military. As for the prospects for change, Christians in outer areas dont expect that the military will
listen to the NLD. Attacks continue against the Kachin, Shan and Taang in Northern Myanmar.
That said, the elections held in November are a good step forward.

Baby Elizabeth Update

n our last newsletter you heard about Baby Elizabeth and the medical problems she developed a
few months after her March 2015 birth. We did not know then what Gods final decision would
be as many people around the world prayed for her. In August it became clear that Elizabeths
condition had deteriorated to the point where the decision was made to turn off her respirator, and
she was lovingly carried by the angels to the arms of Jesus. We take comfort in knowing that we
will see her again.
Will You Pray?

For the preparation and carrying out of a very large Christmas festival in the Yangon area, where
many will hear the Gospel for the first time;

For Christians that live in Northern Myanmar that continue to be attacked by the military despite an
improving political climate;

For Zachary and Naomi, Elizabeths parents, as they mourn the loss of their firstborn child.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Lifetime Orphaned Childrens Ministry
PO Box 745, Lemont, PA 16851
www.lifetimeorphan.org
E-mail: lifetimeorphaned@yahoo.com
Lifetime is a 501(c)3 organization.
All donations are tax-deductible.