A special message about our Companion Diocese

A special appeal for our brothers and sisters of our Companion Diocese of Yangon

The Most Reverend Stephen Than Myint Oo

Archbishop of Myanmar

and

Bishop of the Diocese of Yangon

"My dear brothers and sisters from the Anglican Communion, please pray for Myanmar and the Province of Myanmar which is badly affected by the heavy flood. Within two weeks the flood will cover almost all states and divisions in Myanmar. This flood reminds me of the catastrophe effected by Cyclone Nargis in 2008. We need your prayers and support"

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Flooding in Myanmar and the Diocese of Yangon

by Anne Ni, Cascadia Diocesan Council

In July 2014, The Diocese of Cascadia sent its first youth mission team to Myanmar to participate and share their faith at Myanmar Province's Annual Monsoon Youth Camp in Yangon. The Cascadia team - age between 18 and 28 - not only shared their faith in Jesus Christ to the attendees at the youth camp, but also had fellowship and encouraged Myanmar youths - age between 15 and 19 - in their walk with the Lord. Then the Cascadia team travelled to other parishes of our companion Diocese of Yangon, and to the Diocese of Mandalay.

The Cascadia youth couldn't make to Annual Monsoon Youth Camp in Yangon this July, but there were over 250 attendees at the camp. Unfortunately, almost 50 of them could not go home as the heavy rain of Cyclone Komen hit the country toward the end of the youth camp and major roads were flooded with rain. CPM (Church of the Province of Myanmar) had to house those youths in the Headquarter Compound after the youth camp until the roads were safe for travel.

Heavy rains are common in Myanmar as it rains during Monsoon season from May to October. But sometime the rain turns into a cyclone which causes tremendous destructions and flooding in many areas. In May of 2008, a few months after taking office as the Bishop of Yangon and Archbishop of Myanmar, Archbishop Stephen Than Myint Oo had to undertake major rebuilding and relief works due to the tidal waves and rain in the Delta area of Yangon Diocese caused by the Cyclone Nargis. The Myanmar Church has just been recovered from the effect of that Cyclone and is now facing the destructions left by another cyclone - Komen.

Komen claimed 69 casualties so far and the numbers are rising. Unlike Cyclone Nargis which caused destruction mostly in Yangon Division, Komen caused flooding in eleven out of fourteen States and Division of the entire country leaving towns and villages still submerged to this day.

A Yangon Diocese Church

All six Dioceses in the Province of Myanmar were affected by Cyclone Komen. The most affected areas are in the Diocese of Mandalay and our companion Diocese of Yangon. Bishop David Nyi Nyi Naing of Mandalay Diocese sent out relief teams to the affected areas to help with the basic need of food and clean water as well as the medical needs. Archbishop Stephen Than Myint Oo, who has been in the United States when the flooding occurred, is now on his way back to Myanmar. The Yangon Diocese relief team is also working with local leaders in the affected areas with cleaning and rebuilding of the churches. On August 2, 2015, Archbishop Stephen Than Myint Oo released the following request to the Anglican Communion around the world.

"My dear brothers and sisters from Anglican Communion, please pray for Myanmar and the Province of Myanmar which is badly affected by the heavy flood. Within two week the flood will cover almost all states and divisions in Myanmar. This flood reminds me the catastrophe effected by Cyclone Nargis in 2008. We need your prayers and support" - The Most Rev. Stephen Than Myint Oo, Primate of the Church of the Province of Myanmar

As recorded in the Book of Acts 11:27-30, the church in Antioch sent their support with Paul and Barnabas to the famine victims of the Judean Church, Christians throughout the centuries have been helping not only to each other but also to the non-believers during natural disasters. Galatians 6:10 also says, "Therefore, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good toward all - especially those who belong to the household of faith."

This is an opportunity for all those in the Diocese of Cascadia to put these verses into practice and to come alongside with our brothers and sisters in Myanmar Province - in particul with those from our companion Diocese of Yangon - as they go through the relief and rebuilding of their churches from this natural disaster.

May we all live our faith with actions as we serve our wonderful Lord Jesus. May the Lord bless, protect, and provide the Province of Myanmar and the Diocese of Yangon as we partner with them in the work of the Kingdom.

Anne

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How to Help

The Diocesan Council has provided up to $5,000 matching funds.

Churches and Communities

Community giving from outreach funds or special offerings will be matched. We encourage each church and community to participate however little they can to help parishes in our Companion Diocese

Individuals

Individual giving is also solicited. The people in the below gallery are individual Anglican brothers and sisters.

Note:

PayPal is only a method for the diocese to accept credit card donations. One does not have to belong or join PayPal to contribute