Friday, Jan 11, 2013

Friday, Jan 11, 2013.

This is our last day in Myanmar. I woke up feeling much better. My fever is gone and I am only coughing a little bit. It should be a good day today.

Lazarus picked us up at 8:45 am and after we dropped off Darryl at the college to teach his last lesson, the rest of us headed out to go sightseeing and do some shopping. Lazarus took us to the Shwedagon Pagoda, which is one of the largest Buddhist temples in Myanmar. It was a beautiful place with all their gold statutes of Buddha and teak wood carvings. There were a lot of people who had come to pray, burn incense, and listen to the monks. For me it was a pretty creepy place. To get into the temple we each had to pay $5 US and take our shoes and socks off.

We then went shopping at a local market that was in downtown Yangon. Prices were pretty good overall. There were some really inexpensive things as well as gold and jade jewelry that were really expensive. Michelle wanted me to find a nativity scene but all I could find was lots of carvings of Buddha; lots and lots of Buddha's. I did buy some water colored pictures, a lion carving, and some handmade bracelets.

We ate lunch at a nearby restaurant and then drove 10 or so miles to a WWII cemetery for British soldiers. 27,000 soldiers from Britain other United Kingdom nations were buried there. They died fighting alongside Burmese soldiers who fought the Japanese.

The traffic, smog, and congestion is just terrible here in Yangon. I have a hard time seeing how people can live like this.

For dinner this evening, we met Lazarus and his family at a restaurant called the Golden Duck. The meal was great! Of course, we did have roast duck and it was very good. After dinner Lazarus and his family presented each of us with some gifts. We gave them all a big hug and said our goodbyes.

This has been a great experience and one that I will never forget. The people are so friendly and hospitable. The food is great and inexpensive, and best of all I was able to teach a group of future Christian pastors and ministry leaders the principles of leading like Jesus.

Tomorrow morning we will depart for the airport at 8:30 am and our plane departs at 11 am. Maybe one day the Lord will bring me back. In the meantime, I will be praying for Lazarus, his family, Yangon Christian College, and the people of Myanmar.

Blessings from Myanmar! Hope to see you soon.

Fred

Fred R. Waggoner
 
Fred R. Waggoner
4221 Forsythe Drive
Lexington, KY 40514
Home: 859-223-7972
Cell: 859-312-5334
 
Soli Deo Gloria - "For God's glory alone".