Mokokchung, March 29 (MTNews): A 5-member delegation from Mokokchung Town Baptist Church went for the dedication of the new Solou Baptist Church building at Solou Village, Myanmar on 26th of March, 2022.
In an exclusive interview with Mokokchung Times, Rev. Ponen Longchar, Pastor, MTBA and Shilula Imchen, Associate Pastor Women, MTBA shared their story and vision for the community living in the remote parts of Myanmar bordering Nagaland, who are mostly Nagas, stating that Solou village is one of the main gateways for mission works in Myanmar.
Rev. Ponen Longchar said MTBA is presently sponsoring 2 wardens working at Zapha Orphanage Home in Solou and further stated that the church has earlier sent missionaries to Myanmar and they are actively working to spread the Gospel.
He informed that the medium of education continues to be Burmese in the region, restricting the children studying in those schools to a future limited only to Myanmar. He suggested that voluntary work of short term English teachers for teaching Basic Spoken English to the students living in the orphanage and the village would be a great initiative as it would enable the students to hold at least a basic conversation in English.
Shilula Imchen further stressed on the health and agricultural mission opportunities for helping the community, stating that healthcare for women, children and the elderly was the need of the hour. She said, “Medicine is so out of reach for them that even though they are sick, they choose to bear it.”
She said that the community also needs training on agricultural and effective methods of farming. “Although they have readily available resources, there was a lack of proper knowledge on utilizing them,” she added.
Solou village is a village in Myanmar located within treacherous and ravenous terrain, which is about 1 and half hours from the International Trade Centre, Dan at Pangsha, the last of Naga village in Nagaland. It is the second Naga village in Myanmar after Henpo, the first Naga village in Myanmar.
The village is isolated from the outside world as there is no cellular connectivity and only a few households have connectivity through walkie-talkies and the only source of electricity is through solar energy, both of which is procured only by some of the few privileged villagers.
While stressing on the various mission opportunities for young working people, the Pastor mentioned that the minimal basic food expenses for a person at the orphanage costs only Rs.1,500/- for a month, thus, anyone can easily sponsor for their needs.
They also highlighted that surrounding villages from the region are also living in similar conditions or worse, which is why the church is willing to be a liaison to bridge the gap between the communities of the region there and the people here who are willing to offer financial assistance or their services for the betterment of the villagers.