A FORMER ADVENTIST WM DIRECTOR DIES
Yangon, Myanmar – 10 November 2009
Loretta Paul, a former Adventist Women’s Ministries director of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Myanmar (MYUM) died in Taungngu on November 8 at 11 p.m. local time. Taungngu is the headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Central Myanmar (CMM) where her son, Kalusay Paul is working as the treasurer of the mission.
Childhood Days and Background:
She was the daughter of Pastor Baw Dee, born on April 1, 1941 at Shwenyaungbin, Thandaung Township, Karen State. It is about some twenty miles from Taungngu. Pastor Baw Dee was the first national missionary to the Chin Hills when Pastor Arthur E. Anderson, the first missionary was ordered by the government to return to Myaungmya in April 1955. Tiddim was the home of the Dee family who were loved by the native Chin people, numbered them as their own tribe. Her maiden name was Naw Loretta Dee, one of the sisters of Pastor Sandy Dee, who later became the president of MYUM.
Education, Work and Marriage:
Upon passing the Division School Leaving Certificate, she taught at Miss Lorry Gifford’s Church School at the headquarters of MYUM during 1961-62. Then she served the church as a cashier at the Rangoon Adventist Hospital during 1962-63. She was transferred to Hpa-an, Karen State to serve the Adventist Middle School as a teacher in 1964-1965. She married Montana Paul on February 1, 1965 and resigned her work in August 1965.
Her Death and Survivors:
She was survived by her husband, Pastor Montana Paul; five of her sons – Klu Htoo, Klu Say, Klu Mu, Klu Ser and Klu Moo; five daughter-in-laws and seven grandchildren. Klu Mu is dean of the Boys’ Hostel at MUAS. Her husband Montana Paul’s brothers – Samuel Paul and Timothy Muna Paul are the secretary of the Ministerial Association of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Southeast Asia region (SAUM) based in Singapore and the president of CMM respectively.
Ancestors Are First Adventist Converts in Taungngu Area:
Paul’s parents were the first converts of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Taungngu area. Thra Paul senior was a devout worker so as Thra Tha Myaing, another one of the first converts. The Seventh-day Adventist church situated at the headquarters of CMM was named Paul Myaing Church when it was dedicated back in 1962.
Good Singer Family:
Most of the descendants of Paul are good singers; Enoch Paul, one of Montana’s uncles at his eighties still sings the song, “We Thank Thee” in Jim Reeves style. Montana has a good voice so as Loretta, a good blender; they often sang duets. The sweet voice of Montana will still be heard but Loretta’s will be missed forever until we meet again at the Sea of Glass.
Good Housekeeper as Husband Works:
Montana started work as a teacher at Siyin, Kalay, Sagaing Division. The school is now known as Upper Myanmar Adventist Seminary but it is only a 12-grade boarding school. Montana was a teacher and the dean of Boys’ Hostel back in 1975. They have four kids already then. Therefore Loretta was taking care of the kids. While her parents were missionaries to the Chin Hills, Loretta used to spend her vacations with her parents. The Chins admired them to welcome them back to Kalay area as a homecoming in 1975 but their staying with the Chins who love them was short-lived by their transfer to MUAS, the only Adventist College in Myaungmya the next year. Pastor Paul continued his ministry as evangelist from 1979 in Thayarwady and Twantay areas. In 1991, he became the district leader in Thandaung.
Loretta Paul Resumes Her Work:
In 1993, when Paul became the principal of Central Myanmar Adventist Seminary (CMAS), a 12-grade school, Loretta resumed her work for the church as a teacher during 1992-97. From 1997 to 2001, he became the president of CMM. During that period, Loretta was the director the Ministries of Women’s, Families, Children’s and Shepherdess International of CMM. Then Montana was elected as the director of MYUM Stewardship Department and Philanthropic Services in 2002 until he retired on 1 January 2006. During this term, Loretta was the MYUM director for the same departments of above that she shouldered for CMM.
Health Fails as Loretta and Montana Paul Retire:
After their retirement, both of them suffered health failures – mostly Loretta suffered leukemia as she did not feel better with the medical treatments, they went to Malaysia to be being treated with natural remedies. Then she went to Thailand to stay with relatives but her condition was getting worse, she returned to Myanmar. Within a few days after arrival in Myanmar she passed away.
Funeral:
Pastor Shine Tha, director of the Youth Ministries Department and his wife Sohila Shine, director of the Women’s Ministries Department and group will leave Yangon tonight that they can lead out the funeral service which will be solemnized at 7 a.m. tomorrow. The funeral service will be at Kyauktaing village, 9-miles east of Taungngu where their new home after retirement is located.
