A Life to be Remembered

On October 6, 2008, Hannie Thleng went home in glory to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She leaves behind a loving husband, Chan, and six children.

Hannie was born on May 5, 1958, in the Chin State of Myanmar. Her father was a Methodist minister who died in 1976, and her mother passed away in 1996. "She loved the word of God she heard from her father from her childhood," her husband, Chan, remembers. "She loved also singing songs of God's praise. Her life in nature was with lowly heart and humble and always thankful to God for every blessing. Her face was always smiling, and she wanted to become a blessing for others."

It was important to Hannie to show Jesus' love to all whom she met. "She welcomed all strangers who came to her house and took care of them and fed them what she had," Chan wrote. "She always bade them with a cheerful word, 'Come again when you can,' when they left."

Chan and Hannie were married on November 20, 1980. Chan left Myanmar to study at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. During the 38 months while Chan was away, Hannie raised their children at home in Myanmar. They were able to speak on the phone once while he was away, and Hannie had to travel 13 days to make the phone call.

Hannie accepted her call from the Lord to be a prayer warrior. Almost every night she prayed for at least an hour, especially for the church activities such as mission work among non-Christians, the Luke Society's ministry inside and outside the country, for the Reformed Theological College (in Yangon), for all pastors and evangelists, and especially for her husband's ministry. Every Friday was her fasting prayer day. For 17 years, Chan translated the Bible into the Matu language for people living in the Chin State, and Hannie was faithful with her support and encouragement of his task.

In early August of 2007, Hannie began experiencing stomach pain and was diagnosed with stomach cancer. The doctors informed her that the cancer had also spread to other organs, and they gave her four to six months to live. Because of the loving support of Luke Society donors, we were able to help Hannie receive chemotherapy in Singapore. She initially showed good response to the therapy, improved and was able to return home to spend Christmas with her family. The remission was short-lived and the response to a second round of chemo was less encouraging. She returned home to Yangon to spend her final days with her family.

All six of Hannie's children were with her when she passed away. "As soon as the sad news spread in Yangon, believers whom we know from different denominations came to our house, and it was filled with people," Chan wrote. Even non-Christian friends of Hannnie's came to see her. "Her children were at her side the whole night before she was taken to the cemetery the next day," Chan says. "Our relatives who came from Matupi and from Yangon area also stayed in the room where Hannie laid. Other people stayed outside the house and in the living room and upstairs, singing continuously. Pastors from different denominations preached alternately."

On October 8, there was a special prayer service at 9 a.m. At noon, Hannie was taken to the cemetery. "Friends of Hannie and believers who loved Hannie and her non-Christian friends filled eight buses," Chan says. These buses arrived at the cemetery for the funeral. "I cannot believe my eyes that the Funeral Hall could not hold the people, and many were standing outside during the service. There were more than 600 people that came to say goodbye to Hannie."

The funeral service lasted two and half hours. "Hannie's activities in the service of the Lord from her youth up to her death were read, and I hope the people learned many good things she did during her life for the Lord," Chan says. "Many condolences from friends, coworkers from inside and outside the country by email were read."

Finally, on October 11, Chan held a final memorial service for Hannie. "I shared the life of Hannie as a housewife and a church woman leader for 28 years to more than 300 people who came to the service," Chan writes.