During our recent visit to Hoay Maw, Pastor Joseph recounted a bit of his and the Wa Christian history.
Around 1892, William Marcus Young came to Burman with his family as missionaries.
During April 1908, probably on a missionary trip, William Young was attacked by the people shown below.
To save themselves, William Young and company fled, leaving behind their luggage to the robbers.
While going through their loot, they discovered a radio. Turning it on, they became terrified, believing that it was full of demons. They were initially going to burn the box, but thought that the head of the demons (William Young) might become angry.
So they followed William Young and returned his "demon box". William Young explained that it was not demons at all and that he was not the head demon, but instead explained the Good News of Jesus. All five people became Christians that day.
The person on the right was the first Wa to become a Christian, back in April 1907. The second Wa Christian was Pastor Joseph's father, shown below.
William Young had two sons, Harold and Vincent Young. Vincent Young continue to work in the region and worked with Joseph's father, while (William) Harold Young worked with the CIA which Joseph worked with during the 1960/1970's.
The photograph below shows Major Joseph, with a Chinese spy he later arrested.
Vincent Young was involved with the first Wa Bible translation. However this translation is not liked and is currently in the process of being updated. The Young family are still involved with missionary work in and around Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand.
Pastor Joseph's desire is to publish the updated Wa Bible transation in time for the 100 year anniversary of the first Wa Christian in April 2008.
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