Rapid changes over the past couple years have brought Myanmar out of a long standing, oppressive, military rule. Fragile beginnings of democracy have heralded new freedoms. Its incredible to me to see the changes since I was here two years ago. Myanmar is in motion.
Tourism was extremely limited. Several areas of the country could be visited, but you had to fly there from Yangon- foreigners were not allowed on inter-city public buses. What may be seen in the countryside (including the state of the roads) was considered bad for the nation's image. Now the nation has thrown open its doors to tourism, and the embassy in Bangkok was swamped with people getting visas. The plane was no longer full of locals, asian business people, NGO workers, and the occasional culture-loving retired western couple. It was full of backpackers, and adventurous tourists. It concerned me rather deeply, seeing the influences that are arriving by the plane-ful.
In other changes, limited numbers of permits were given for vehicle ownership. The permits were expensive- as were the cars. Cars were old (often 30 years old) and in ill repair, taxis the same (no meters), and roads were often seen quite quite empty. Now the cars have multiplied- many shiny and new- and there is traffic at once quiet intersections.
The list keeps going. Sim cards for mobile phones were very expensive and limited. They too have become more easily acquired. Newspapers were only government owned and the censorship was extensive- now privately owned papers have sprung up and are able to publish. The entire country used to operate on an cash basis with no ATMs. As foreigners, we had to bring fresh new USD to exchange- and had no way to access more money if we ran out here! The money was in small denominations and we were told not to leave it in our rooms... so last time I was here i carried a bundle of money the size of brick in my purse (and my coleader carried another two!). Now there is ATMs easily accessed. There were about a dozen restaurants in the city that our contacts listed as safe for us to eat at (sanitation at stalls and local restaurants was notoriously low) and now there is easily over a hundred.
The changes go on and on- and these are only the things I experience or observe on a surface level. I can't imagine how this fast moving transition is affecting the culture at large. Freedom has blown open the door and the winds of change are rushing in so fast and all of Myanmar is in motion.
Please pray for Myanmar - as I mentioned, not all the influences rushing in are good things. For instance, there has been an influx of cults (JWs, Mormons)- making me glad that during my last trip I spent time teaching the church here about guarding themselves from false teaching- it was for "such a time as this". In addition, Myanmar culture has preserved a precious degree of modesty- but thoughtless and culturally (and often morally) clueless tourists could quickly deteriorate that. So please lift up the church here, that they would shine as a light in their nation, taking their cues from Christ, not the world thats rushing through their nation's open door.
