Hello friends! In the last episode Tam Ki successfully published songbooks in their local dialect, overcoming many challenges, against all odds. In today’s episode, he was going to start new journeys, venturing into new territories to fulfill God’s calling to spread the Good News further afield.

During the rainy season in 1985, the Lord commanded Tam Ki to go out into the surrounding towns and villages in Southern Chin State to preach the Lord’s Word. He promised that he would go. But when he looked at his family, Tam Ki was worried about how they would survive without him. Tam Ki broke the promise he made to the Lord.

Tam Ki fell ill within a week and was unable to eat or sleep. He repented and promised that if God would make him well, he would make a trip to the neighbouring villages to preach. However, when he recovered, Tam Ki thought that instead of going out, he would just preach the Good News to his neighbours in Machung. Again, he did not do as the Lord had instructed.

Tam Ki began to suffer from severe dysentery. Close to dying, he repented. “Almighty God, I have disobeyed you. I will go out and preach the Good News even if I die!” Tam Ki struggled to his feet. His wife helped him prepare for the journey.

The next day, still weak, he set off. Tam Ki had no money. Feeling utterly disappointed at himself for breaking his promise to the Lord, yet sensing His forgiveness, Tam Ki staggered off into the mountainous jungles. Little did he know that this trip was to take him away from home for five months. The Lord was gracious. Not only did He heal and strengthen Tam Ki as he journeyed through the villages; He also guided and provided Tam Ki with all the wisdom he needed to share the Good News with strangers.

It was during the rainy season, so many places were flooded or shrouded in fog. Two months into the journey, Tam Ki lost his sandals in flood water and for the next three months, he walked barefoot. In all, Tam Ki visited 26 villages and towns on the steep slopes of Southern Chin State.

Tam Ki was plagued by blood-sucking leeches. Worst of all was to be bitten by leeches in the eyes while travelling alone. All he could do was to wait until they were full, when they would drop off by themselves. Many homes Tam Ki stayed in were infested with fleas, lice and bed bugs, so that he was scratching himself all night. Some villages had no sanitation systems and living conditions were basic. However, Tam Ki kept returning to these places because of the real hunger of many who came to hear the Good News.

Tam Ki’s experiences spurred him on to make a second missionary journey in October 1986. He ventured into the Magway and Sagaing divisions. Over a period of three months, Tam Ki travelled more than 600 miles through the mountainous regions, mostly on foot.

In villages where there were believers, Tam Ki preached at their churches and lodged in their pastors’ homes. In places where he was rejected, he slept in zayats – the little open-air village pavilions characteristic of Burmese villages. Through the extremes of warm hospitality to hostile rejection, Tam Ki learned to be content in whatever circumstances came his way. He knew the Lord was preparing him for greater assignments.

One day when Tam Ki was praying and fasting, the Lord said, “Tam Ki, go and preach the Good News throughout the entire state of Chin.”  It was in August 1988 when Tam Ki set off on a third mission trip. As he headed to reach his destination, he had to go through two particular villages that were suffering from dysentery. A number of deaths had occurred. When he arrived at the next village, the five-strong council met and surrounded him, obviously fearful that he might be bringing the disease there. They threatened if anyone in the village contracted dysentery within 14 days and died, he would have to pay with his life. Cursing, they forced Tam Ki to sign the agreement. Tam Ki feared for his life and prayed for the Lord’s protection. By God’s grace, no one in the village suffered from dysentery. He went on his way.

Finally, Tam Ki arrived at Matupi where he met up with three other evangelists. Together, they preached the Word of God in nightly open air rallies. In Matupi, there was a handsome and athletic school teacher by the name of Thuang Thang. He was a promising young man but, sadly, he had been mentally disturbed for some time. At a loss as to what to do with him, his brothers locked him in the family home. When they heard that Tam Ki was in town, they asked him to help.

When Tam Ki visited Thuang Thang along with fellow evangelists, he screamed in fear. They prayed, asking the Lord to reveal the cause of the man’s insanity. The Lord told Tam Ki, “This man’s girlfriend has cast a spell on him.” Tam Ki confronted Thuang Thang’s parents with this revelation from the Lord, and the father confirmed it. They began to pray in tongues for Thuang Thang.  Tam Ki raised his voice, “In the name of the Lord Jesus, evil spirit, I command you to leave Thuang Thang!” Thuang Thang let out a bloodcurdling scream as the evil spirit left him. His face underwent a dramatic change, becoming perfectly normal. Within two months the young man, quite restored and happy, returned to his job as a school teacher.

Thuang Thang’s miraculous healing attracted a lot of attention. Soon, crowds of people started coming to the daily Bible studies and nightly revival rallies. Invitations also came pouring in for Tam Ki and his fellow co-evangelists to visit other towns further north.

Hna Ring, a village with a population of 500 families, was experiencing a revival. The small church in Hna Ring was still under construction.

Ri Ceu, the deacon of the church, was the headmaster of a middle school. He offered the school hall for the nightly rallies. Soon, even that was filled to overflowing. Standing on a chair used as a pulpit, Tam Ki preached the Good News with Ri Ceu beside him, translating.

Tam Ki charged the people, “We can never get to Heaven unless we repent of our sins. And the only place for the forgiveness of sins is at the cross of Jesus Christ. Therefore, take courage! Say no to your sins! Come to Jesus and He will enable you to shake off your bad habits!” Many received the Lord Jesus and were born again. Many in this village were addicted to alcohol. Even confirmed drunkards, convicted by the Holy Spirit, surrendered themselves to the Lord.

One evening, a group of tough-looking young men showed up at the entrance. They wanted to protest at Tam Ki’s preaching against drinking, smoking and other irresponsible ways of living which were ensnaring the village.  Ri Ceu, who was a black belt in karate, had confronted the troublemakers, forcefully persuaded them to listen to the sermon. Some of them actually surrendered themselves to the Lord at the end of the service. Hallelujah!

Tam Ki and fellow co-evangelists were completely exhausted, having spent two months intensively preaching and trudging through the Chin Hills.  Soon it was time for Tam Ki to bid his 3 co-evangelists good-bye. Their enthusiastic fervour to serve the Lord had given Tam Ki so much energy and encouragement.

As they parted ways, Tam Ki ventured further north to Kyaung Thiya, Htantalan and Hakha to preach.  In Hakha, Tam Ki was greeted by eager souls who kept him for 21 days of revival meetings where throngs of people received the Good News with joy.  That same month, Tam Ki began to be accompanied by an apprentice preacher, San Cung Nung. Together, they headed for Tedim.

Tedim was a sizeable town of about 1800 families. The town was in the midst of a great revival, with nightly rallies conducted in Bethel Assembly of God Church, the biggest church in town.

Each evening, the church was packed to capacity with hundreds of people. Even after removing all the seats from the church, there was still not enough room to accommodate the crowds who were spilling out into the roads.

The needs of the people were so intense that every morning from about 4am, San Cung Nung and Tam Ki were awakened by people knocking at their door, asking for prayer. Some nights they did not sleep at all as people kept streaming in with their prayer requests. And some days, there was no time for meals. But they were deeply moved by the great hunger of the people for the Lord.  On some occasions, the response from the people was so overwhelming that they even had to rent the town hall which could accommodate 10,000 people.

During one such town hall rally, the Holy Spirit was moving powerfully in the hearts of the people, giving a great deal of joy and liberty.  One night, people from different parts of the hall stood and sang together in the Spirit. It was an electrifying moment. There was such harmony in this spontaneous manifestation of the Holy Spirit. As the crowd worshipped, the wind of the Holy Spirit literally blew the people over.

After an exhausting week at Tidem, San Cung Nung and Tam Ki travelled to Thaingin by jeep. From there, they headed for Falam by foot, passing through a number of villages. One village they wanted to go was a small settlement of 25 families. But they were lost in the thick jungle and groping their way in pitch darkness. The forest was full of stinging nettle plants and they were soon experiencing unbearable itching and burning sensation all over their bodies.

Finally, they stopped and prayed to the Lord to remove the clouds and let the moon appear so that they can find their way. No sooner a wind started to blow. The clouds above them dispersed, a beam of moonlight penetrated the darkness, lighting their path. They were even more baffled to see the moon moving. They simply followed its direction, and soon they reached their destination in the valley. The villagers were welcoming, and even rang the church bell to announce their arrival.

They passed through more villages before finally arriving at Falam, from where they returned to Hakha. There, they bade each other an emotional farewell. Through the many exciting adventures, their deep friendship had grown and was to remain strong.

Throughout his missionary journeys, Tam Ki wandered from place to place, not knowing where the next meal or bed was going to come from. The Lord was training Tam Ki to be totally dependent on Him for his daily needs. Tam Ki was also learning that God expected total obedience from His servants. This was indeed a tough calling!

However, the Lord had not called Tam Ki to shoulder his mission alone but had indeed provided wonderful co-workers with whom Tam Ki could share his burdens. What would be his next assignment from the Lord? Find out in the next episode on the following Thursday. Stay tune and goodbye!

With Courtesy-

Song: Come Holy Spirit Fall Afresh On Me – Mark Kwan