Pray for Burma

Myanmar, also known as Burma, is a country in Southeast Asia.

It is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast,
Bangladesh on the west and India on the northwest

Naypyidaw is the capital
The population is over 60 million

FACTS
Burma is the largest country in Southeast Asia.

Burma has over 100 different ethnic groups.

DEMOGRAPHICS
68%   Burman
9%    Shan
7%    Karen
4%    Rakhine
3%    Chinese
2%    Indian
2%    Mon
5%    Other

89%   Buddhist
4%    Christian
4%    Muslim
2%    Animist
1%    Hindu

HISTORY
Burma is home to some of the early civilizations of Southeast Asia.

In the 9th century, Burmans from the Kingdom of Nanzhao entered the Irrawaddy Valley.

In the 1050's Pagan Empire was established.
During this period, Theravada Buddhism gradually became dominant.

The Pagan Empire fell due to the Mongol invasions (1277–1301), and several warring states emerged.

In the second half of the 16th century, the country was reunified by the Taungoo Dynasty.

In the early 19th century Konbaung Dynasty ruled over an area.

The country was colonized by Britain after three Anglo-Burmese Wars (1824–1885).
British rule brought social, economic, cultural and administrative changes.

Burma became independent in 1948

Since independence in the country has been in a long civil war between
the Burman majority and the Karen, the Shan and others that remains unresolved.

From 1962 to 2011, the country was under military rule.

CONDITIONS
Burma is one of the poorest nations in Southeast Asia
It has suffered from decades of stagnation, mismanagement and isolation.
Lack of an educated workforce contributes to problems.

The country lacks adequate infrastructure.
Railways are old and rudimentary, with few repairs.
Highways are normally unpaved, except in the major cities.
Energy shortages are common.

Goods travel primarily across the Thai border.
Many illegal drugs are exported.

There are widespread human rights abuses.
Human traficking, child labor, murders, imprisonment and forced labor are practiced.

Those who advocate improved human rights are often harassed or imprisoned.

There is frequent ethnic tensions and violence.

In 2008 A cyclone devastated much of the country.
The military limited international humanitarian aid to storm victims.

There has been severe famine is Chin State since 2008
Some families have had nothing to eat but rats.

There has recently been weeks of ethnic violence in the Rakhine state in west Burma.
The violence has left more than 80 dead and up to 100,000 living in desperate conditions

SPIRITUAL CONDITIONS
89% of the country is Buddhist.

Officially, Buddhism is no longer the state religion, but it is actively promoted
by the regime.

The government discourages and persecutes any group it considers harmful to the state.

Muslims have been persecuted.
The Rohingya Muslim community has been described as one of the world's most oppressed groups.

Some Buddhist monk organizations have called on people not to associate with the Rohingya community, and have blocked humanitarian assistance from reaching them.

Christians, are also singled out for repression.  
Christians are prohibited from buying or renting properties for their activities.

New believers are pressured to return to Buddhism both by their families, who see conversion as a betrayal of the country, and by Buddhist monks, who traditionally hold power in the villages.

There have been widespread reports of churches being burned, forcible conversion of Christians to Buddhism and Christian children being barred from schools.

Most believers live in Chin State, which has been devastated by famine and rats and are very poor.

The church is continuing to grow.
Many Buddhist monks are interested in finding out about Jesus.
There have been many miraculous conversions!

PRAYER NEEDS
Pray for those who suffer from poverty and hunger

Pray opportunities to learn about new crops that rats will not ravage and other livelihood skils

Pray that government oppresion will cease.

Pray that strife among the different ethic groups stops.

Pray that drugs and human trafficking cease.

Pray for protection for ethnic and religious minorities.

Pray for Muslim and Christians who suffer from pesecution.

Pray for pastors' families.
Pray for women lay leaders and pastors' wives, some of whom silently
submit to domestic violence.

Pray that the Gospel continue to spread.