Newsletter: May 2000

Some Mizos in Calcutta decided to form a MCGN. As a start, Buddy Lalmuanpuia reported that about 25 students are members now and more are expected after their exams and summer vacations are over. Calcutta is the gateway to Mizoram from the outside world and MCGN-Calcutta will be helpful in many ways for the visitors to Mizoram. Calcutta Mizos are dynamic and willing to serve in the name of the Lord, and MCGN is very encouraged to hear this wonderful news.

Mamber Pu Chhiarruma has offered to provide needed information from Delhi for members and friends of MCGN. He was requested to get information on the procedures to obtain a Radio Station License in India for educational purposes. Delhi is the capital of India, and such a service is valuable for those who are far away. Pu Chhiarruma has set a good example for all of us. He also reported several from Delhi are interested in MCGN, but they not sure about membership fees. Dr. Liana Mualchin informed him that they could just form their own unit with their own fees and adhere to the principal ideas of MCGN By-laws. We expect to hear more good news from Delhi.

INDIA: MIZORAM:

MCGN Mizoram is doing an outstanding job in coordinating the activities of the Mizoram Action Research Center (MARC). (A brief history of MARC was reported last month). The activities involve a wide spectrum of studies for the development of Mizoram. They are working closely with all levels of society, from grassroots to top leadership. More will be written in future newsletter about this important involvement of MCGN.

The first priority is to have a good communication system to and from Mizoram. MCGN International President Dr. Lalliana Mualchin is personally involved in Internet Service Provider (ISP) to serve Mizoram and NE India, primarily to serve the needs and not to generate personal wealth. Pray that the Lord will bless the effort and make it a reality soon for His service!

Another priority is to get involved in the formulation and development of the Mizoram University. It was introduced as "Mizoram University Bill" by the Union Minister for Human Resource Development and was considered and approved overwhelmingly by India Parliament on March 16, 2000.

Though MCGN is one of the youngest organizations in Mizoram, it is being looked upon as a model because of the integrity and reputation of its leadership. It is trusted by most organizations, from the grassroots level to the highest level of leadership. The Lord is using MCGN in significant ways for His purpose.

MCGN leadership has been encouraged by patron Chief Minister Zoramthanga in its fund-raising needs. The leadership is working to invite more members by considering various membership classes and working with other organizations. Pray that the leaders have time to devote to MCGN and to be ready when God presents opportunities before them.

Rev. Stephen Rotluanga, previous MCGN Coordinator of Canada and a long-time and faithful contributor to MCGN, is now in the capital city of Agartala. He is teaching Arts and Communication in a school of about 2000 students. Rev. Rotluanga is responsible for caring for those preparing for ministry. He asked prayer for peace and safety in the very disturbed state of Tripura. We hope to hear more from him via email.

Coordinator Lalhruaia reported earlier that the first Mizo speaking worship service was planned for May 14 and permission to use the church facility was approved. They asked for our prayers. Now, we are happy to report that it was successful by the grace of God! They met in the worship service and called themselves "Tokyo Mizo Christian Fellowship". Let us pray that the Lord continues to provide such a gathering for mutual support and service. The Christian population, and its influence, is minimal in Japan. We should remember believers in our prayers for strength. In some ways, the new fellowship is our missionary wing to Japan and may God use them for His glory. MCGN is grateful to be a part of this community.

Coordinator Vani Tochhong and friends are planning a MCGN meeting sometime in July. Most of the friends and members of MCGN are missionaries, so a rainy July will be the best time to meet since most of them may be at home. At other times, they are in the fields and it is difficult to get together. Let us pray for success in their planned meeting for mutual support and encouragement.

Vani also reported that they had a procession to declare Jesus Christ on Palm Sunday, April 16, in the capital city of Kathmandu. They shouted: "Who is Jesus? He is Lord!" and sang hymns. Also, on Easter, some 10,000 believers rallied together to pray for the Nepal capital and to hear more about Jesus Christ!

Mizo missionaries Ringa and Dika are teaching 1,000 Nepali students reading and writing in a "non-formal education class". A few hundred students have to drop out for financial reasons. Because of their ministry, some 800 students are able to read and write today. Praise God for that! In spite of his demanding ministry, Ringa is willing to be our Mizo Editor as his time permits, and we thank him for that. He is very supportive of MCGN and is now a member. Welcome, Pu Ringa!

Coordinator Pu Sapzova provided good ideas to our Canadian Coordinator Stuart Spani when Stuart visited him in early April on his way to video the work of Siami, a Mizo lady missionary among the hill tribe people in the Chiangmai area. Pu Sapzova has a long history of involvement for Mizoram.

Pu Vanlaltlana (Tlana) is encouraged by the April 2000 Newsletter. He is concerned about the lack of building regulations in Mizoram and is interested in doing something about it. As a responsible engineer in Aizawl, he has first-hand knowledge of the lack of space and the extremely crowded conditions in Aizawl. In the spirit of MCGN, members and friends are expected to support him in prayer and expertise. Tlana is also interested in being involved in Mizoram Action Research Center (MARC) which is facilitated and coordinated by MCGN. Thank you, Tlana, for your reports.

John Lalrina (Parina) has graciously accepted to be our Coordinator for Europe. He has already contacted a number of friends there. Parina is now in Germany studying sociology. Let us pray for his health and studies. It is encouraging and good to add Europe in our MCGN family. Our circle of family is growing by His grace. Please tell a friend about MCGN, as Parina does.

Thawmhleihmang (Thawma) received the MCGN April 2000 Newsletter from John Lalrina (Parina) of Germany. He is interested in what we are doing. We expect to hear more from him.

Zatawneng (Enga) also received news about MCGN from Parina and is now a member of MCGN-Europe. Enga attended the World Music Conference in England on May 4-13. We hope to have his brief report for our Newsletter to encourage others. Welcome Pu Enga to MCGN!

CANADA:

Coordinator Stuart Spani shared many of his good ideas for Mizoram with the Mizoram Action Research Center team members. He is trying to form a group to visit south Mizoram on a hiking camping trip sometime (November) this year, to document useful plants and as a pilot project for tourism. He has contributed an interesting article on his recent visit to Mizoram in this Newsletter. Stuart is now in the process of making four different videos of Mizoram based on his recent visit.

USA:

A quarterly meeting was held on May 6 by telephone. The minutes are being prepared.

MCGN was invited by the Tentmaker Ministry to present our ministry. Liana Mualchin, Ngeni Mualchin and Jeff Mead met with them in Vacaville, California. The Tentmaker people are interested in working with MCGN.

Rev. Dr. Robert Damkoehler, a senior Baptist Pastor, is complimentary about the ministry of MCGN and characterized MCGN as a cutting-edge ministry. His viewpoint will be useful to others, so he is requested to write about MCGN ministry from his theological and biblical understanding.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• That Mizoram will be used by God for His glory.

• That more people will be involved in MCGN ministry.

• Contacts made by MCGN will result in meaningful ministry relationships.

• For the work of Mizoram Action Research Center

Over the past four years, God has given me the awesome opportunity to travel into the developing world primarily to produce videos about Christians who are making a real difference to their communities. What a privilege! In March of this year, I made my third visit to Mizoram. It was by far the most extensive and rewarding trip.

Dr. Liana Mualchin and I arrived two weeks before the Fielding Institute’s Mizoram Action Research Team. We were invited to an exhilarating planning meeting with the Mizo team. I was particularly impressed with the care they had given to matching members of the Mizo team and the North American team. This was a mammoth job and the MCGN team of Drs. Liana, Zela, and Mr. Dika are to be commended for their vital part in it. There was an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation mixed with nervous interpretation as nothing approaching this size and scope had ever taken place before in Mizoram.

I had a wonderful opportunity to speak at South Pointe school in Aizawl to a class of graduate students of North East Hills University (NEHU) studying economics under Dr. Zela. English is the language of instruction, so I had a wonderful opportunity to share with the students. Mr. Dika’s children attend South Pointe, a school of over a thousand students.

Also, I had some time with my old friend Vanlalnghaka in preparation for doing the commentary on a video "Mizoram, Gandhi’s Dream Achieved" which was part of the motivation for this visit to Mizoram.

The drive south from Aizawl to Saiha is one of unending gorgeous vistas. We made the one-hour trip from Saiha to Bualpui (Ng) for the memorial honoring Dr. Mualchin’s parents. The roads are steep and narrow, mostly unpaved, with sheer drops. Heavy rainfall had turned the red clay to grease. We thank God for the skill and endurance of our excellent driver. I took comfort in the fact that our driver was close to my age and had to be good to have driven Mizo roads for years and still be alive.

Dr. Mualchin’s youngest sister shared her remarkable knowledge of local plants for medicines during our walks to other villages. This triggered an idea to send six people this fall on a three-week hike to document these plants. What a wonderful adventure this will be! The group will visit at least ten villages reachable only by foot and where no westerner has visited for many, many years.

In Lawngtlai we saw some very interesting methods of growing and crossing species of vegetable. The district commissioner is an avid horticulturist who coined a phrase, "When God made Mizoram he supplied it with air conditioning".

In Lawngtlai I had a vision that I call 10-10-10. If every Christian in Mizoram would spend ten minutes each day asking God to guide him as to what he, or she, could do for Mizoram, then spend ten hours each month doing just that, and do this for ten years, Mizoram would indeed be a shining jewel and the world’s prime example of the blessings that flow from following God.

We traveled north to Lunglei where, much to my delight, a youth festival was in progress with many dance groups competing. Everywhere we stopped a feast was awaiting us. Lalliana is well known and loved, and I was lucky enough to be able to partake in the welcome they gave him.

Our side trip to Tlabung, right on the Bangladesh border, was taken in a large, motorized dugout canoe. A large river flows to the deep-sea port of Chittagong. I believe one day this will become a major trade route for products from Mizoram. The area near the river is ideal for citrus orchards. We saw miles of untouched tropical jungle, trees heavy with blossoms, orchids everywhere, continual calls of hornbills and monkeys, the air soft and fragrant—truly a paradise.

In Lunglei we met a remarkably sharp lady of 92 who was the first student in the first school for girls established in Mizoram by missionaries Clark and Chapman. She became the superintendent of schools for all of NorthEast India. I also had the privilege of meeting the parents of Siami, a Mizo missionary in Thailand.

I came back home with so many wonderful memories, not to mention several hours of exciting video footage to be edited into several shows. We serve an awesome God, and throughout my travels I have continually felt His presence.

(Submitted in His name by His servant, Stuart Spani)