Myanmar, also known as Burma, is in South East Asia. It neighbors Thailand, Laos, Bangladesh, China, and India. With a population of about 54 million, most of whom are Burmese speakers. Many would also speak traditional, tribal languages like Karen or Chin. The biggest city is Yangon (Rangoon). The main religion is Buddhism.

Clear and Simple Media made our first trip to Yangon in 2013. Our friend Rova (Lai Ro Thanga), the brother of a friend of ours in Canada, served as our host and guide. In addition to pastoring a Presbyterian Church in Rangon, Rova is a seminary-trained translator in Burmese and Mizo-Chin. After visiting pastors in and around the area, Rova asked to translate Simple Truths for the New Believer in Burmese and his traditional language, Mizo-Chin. We agreed. We made arrangements to have the books designed and printed locally and, for the past eight years, the books have been in use by the church in Myanmar.

What I did not mention is that Rova is also an incredible networker. He has helped organize and lead a collection of evangelical pastors throughout Myanmar to pray and strategize to spread the gospel in their war-torn country. One of the tools they have been using since 2014 is the “little book” (စာအုပ်ငယ်လေး). Since 2014, thousands of copies of the book have been distributed and are being used in both Burmese and Mizo-Chin.

Here is the latest news from Rova:

Hello Tom. I hope you are doing well. We are well, by the grace of God. As you know, our country has been under deep crisis, mainly caused by the military coup, since February 1, 2021. Moreover, the Covid-19 has affected us very much since May 2020.

I am very happy to tell you that many missionaries working among the Burmese-speaking unbelievers around Yangon have used Simple Truths (Burmese). Last week we gave 500 copies of it away to six missionaries. They use it to teach Bible to their new believers in their respective fields. I am grateful to you and your team for writing such a simple book that is very helpful to many servants of the Lord here.

Even yesterday, three pastors from Reformed Evangelical Church came and took 300 copies of Simple Truths. As they work among the Burmese-speaking people, they found the book very helpful to their new believers. They are very thankful and happy that Simple Truths is available in Burmese.

Last week, five missionaries of the Myanmar Assembly of God were given 300 copies. The founder of the Great Commission Church ( Mission Presbyterian Church ) was given 200 copies of it, and he shared them with his co-workers. They are all happy, telling me that the book is very helpful to their new believers. I am very happy too.

And I am very happy too.

Since we began Clear and Simple Media, one of our controlling images is that of the sower in Matthew chapter 13. This farmer sows the seed widely and indiscriminately in hopes that some will find ‘good soil’. And when that seed finds good soil, it produces a crop – to the delight of the farmer, to the glory of God.