By Fr Eamon Sheridan

From 1936 until 1979 Columban missionaries ministered in the Diocese of Myitkyina, Myanmar. During those years they worked hard to develop and strengthen the local Myanmar church but they were forced to leave in 1979.

Since leaving the country, the Columbans have tried to continue to support the Diocese. The Columbans always placed great emphasis on education and during one period, they opened 47 primary schools, six middle schools and four high schools.

Two vibrant women, one aged 85 and the other 84 share stories of how the children of Myanmar (Burma) bonded them. Burma was renamed ‘Myanmar’ in 1989.

Daphne Tun Baw (85) tells her story.

I was born in Thaton, Mon Division, Burma in 1921, and my sister, Violet, less than two years later. My mother died when I was five and my father when I was nine. When he died, our grandparents and two aunties and an uncle from my mother’s side looked after us. We both started kindergarten when I was nine and my sister was seven. When I finished Grade Seven I was already 17. I trained as a teacher for one year and volunteered to teach children in a remote village for a year. I then transferred to the Paan (Baptist) mission school. I was 21 when the Japanese bombed Rangoon and World War II started for us.

All from the cities evacuated to the hills. We teachers continued to do mission work - Sunday School from nursery to the elders, choir and Bible recitation. Every month we went to different villages to have Christian Endeavor and Women’s Meetings. One headman led 15 villages, twelve Christian and three Buddhist. We had no money but didn’t feel hunger. The people gave us food because we taught their children.