(1964 – 2021)
By Kenneth H Suanzanang
Early Life
Nang Do Dal Dopmul-Suantak was born of Tual Za En Dopmul-Suantak and Ning Za Kim Gualnam on March 14, 1964 at Civil Hospital, Tiddim in the Northern Chin State. His parents are well known as ‘Pa En – Uncle En’ and ‘Nu Kim – Aunty Kim’ while Dal was affectionately known as Dalpu by his nickname.
Pa En was born on March 23, 1932 at Tonzang village of the Sukte chiefs during British rule. Despite being the home of the chiefs, the main occupation remains primitive hillside cultivation. In 1958, Pa En left his hilly village for Kalemyo looking for a better career than cultivation. He found none. Then he tried recruitment for military service. Unfortunately, his height could not meet the requirement. Discouragingly, Pa En returned to Tonzang. On his way to and from Kalemyo he was warmly welcomed as a guest by Pu Thang Vai, one of the brothers of his father. Pa Gin Khan Nang, the son of Pu Thang Vai, was working as a clerk at the Civil Hospital in Tiddim. In spite of being just a clerk, he was very influential at the hospital. Because of the kindness of his cousin, Pa En was employed as a general worker at the Civil Hospital.
Even though the monthly income was not handsome, he was able to manage his household needs. Unfortunately, his limited meagre income, fortunately the pay was regular with free accommodation at the General Workers’ Quarters. Moreover, during the Ne Win rule, rations were available at a cheap price at the People’s Shop. On Oct 10, 1963, he married a shopkeeper at downtown Tiddim but she was a native of Leilum about three miles from downtown. Her name was Ning Za Kim who talked less and worked more. She was ten years younger than Pa En but the exact day of her birthday could not be traced. Therefore, it was recorded as March 23, 1942 on their Marriage Certificate. Every year, Pa En and Nu Kim could celebrate their birthdays on the same day. Five out of nine of their children were born at the General Workers’ Quarters of the Civil Hospital. Even though Pa En was a native of Tonzang, his wife and children were natives of Tiddim.
In 1973, God guided Pa En to buy a plot of land bordered with the Mission Station of Seventh-day Adventist Church at Lawibual, Tiddim. There were three ideal locations in Tiddim: firstly, the Adventist Mission Station, secondly, the Civil Hospital and thirdly the Baptist Mission headquarters. By choosing the right location, it was easier for him to become an Adventist. Pa En was born as a member of the Laipian Church. Later he was affiliated with the United Pentecostal Church, then Catholic Church, then his family became members of Lawibual Baptist Church. Finally, his family and he became Adventists. In 1983, a series of Daniel and Revelation Seminar was conducted by Pastors V. Kipzanang, president of Upper Myanmar Mission (UMM); Lang Sawm Mang, district pastor of Tiddim/Tonzang townships and Kham Khen Pau, a junior and unmarried evangelist. On October 15, there was a big baptism officiated by Pastor V. Kipzanang. Among the candidates, Pa En, Nu Kim and five of their children were included. As a big family joined the Lawibual Church, automatically the church was strengthened. By and by Pa En became a well-known local church leader such as a deacon, a head deacon and a church elder until now because the former leaders were asleep to wait for the Second Advent. The family members of Pa En were dispersed to various places. Wherever they are, they become active members of the Adventist Churches. For a decade, Pastor Nang Do Dal became one of the three union officers of the Myanmar Union Mission (MYUM).
Dal was the eldest among nine siblings: 1] Nang Do Dal, husband of Ning Hau Cing, [Yangon] 2 sons and 1 daughter; 2] Nem Nuam Cing wife of (Tuang Do Nang), [Kapteel] 1 daughter; 3] Ciin Lam Vung, wife of Thang Lawh Mang [USA], 3 sons & 4 daughters; 4] Nang Lam Thang (Thailand); 5] Zen Ngaih Ciin, wife of Dai Sian Mang, [Tuingo] 1 daughter; 6] Nang Khan Mung, husband of Cing Lam Vung, [USA] 2 sons & 1 daughter; 7] Niang Hau Dim, wife of Nung Go Kap, [Kaptel] 1 son & 2 daughters; 8] Pau Ngaih Suan, husband of Dim San Nuam [Malaysia] 2 sons; 9] Cing Lawh Mang, wife of Dal Khan Tuang [USA].
Education and Marriage
From 1974 to 1979, Dal attended KG to 4th Standard at Basic Education Middle School, Lawibual, Tiddim; from 1979 to 1985, he studied 5th Standard to 10th Standard or Matriculation at Basic Education High School (1) at Sakollam in Tiddim. Very few candidates passed Matriculation on the first attempt. Dal was included among the few. Besides, they were new converts to Adventist Church. Pau Za Khan, an Adventist businessman, gave some financial help to Dal to begin his studies at Myanmar Union Adventist Seminary (MUAS) in Myaungmya, Ayeyarwady Region. During 1985 to 1988, he studied the Ministerial Training Course (MTC) at MUAS. From 1994 to 1998 he took Summer Courses for Bachelor of Arts in Religion minoring in Education at MUAS and graduated in 1998. From 2006 to 2010 he was enrolled at the Distance Learning Center for Master of Ministry (M. Mn) Course from AIIAS, Philippines (Yangon Campus). Unfortunately, Dal was reaching the Finishing Line almost grasp the Master’s degree but his aims came to naught for the DLC program discontinued. Then he attempted a Master of Business Administration from Adventist University of the Philippines (Yangon Campus) but it was incomplete.
On 26 November 1995, the marriage ceremony of Nang Do Dal and Ning Hau Cing (alias) Haunu was officiated at Mandalay Central Church of Seventh-day Adventists by Pastor Sandy Dee, president of the Upper Myanmar Mission of Seventh-day Adventists. Haunu is a Trained Nurse who got her diploma from Gifford Memorial Hospital in Nuzvid, Andhra Pradesh State in India. She came from a dedicated Adventist Family who resided in Mandalay for more than half a century. Her father was Khan Cin Zam Vungh Sukzo Bawmkhai, who got his male nurse diploma from the Rangoon Seventh-day Adventist Hospital in Rangoon [now Yangon]. After the nationalization of the hospital, he served in the Mandalay General Hospital. He was promoted to Male Matron and served at Kalay District Hospital before he retired. He was a strong tithe payee and conducted several evangelistic meetings on his own expenses. Her mother was Khup Khaw Man Gualnam. Her siblings are: 1] Ning Hau Cing, wife of Pastor Nang Do Dal; 2] Vung Khan Tungnung (alias) Tungpi, a strong lay-leader of Mandalay Church, husband of Cing Suan Dim, daughter of Pastor Ngul Khaw Pau (alias) Di Dim, a dedicated lay leader and had been a delegate to SSD Executive Committees and Constituency Meetings. 3] Ning Ngaih Lun, wife of Kai Hen Thang (USA); 4] Dim Lam Lun, wife of (Len Tin Thang, a successful businessman in Yangon), 5] Vung Don Nuam, wife of Mang Sian Piang; 6] (Nang Zo Minthang).
Dal and Hau were blessed with two sons and a daughter. They are: 1] En Sian Sang (alias) Pipi – 3rd Year College, Asia-Pacific Adventist International University, Bangkok, Thailand; 2] Cin Khan Zo (alias) Zozo: 1st Year College at MUAS, Myaungmya; 3] Kim Sian Sung (alias) Sung Sung or Snow Dal, Grade 9 at YAS, Yangon.
Life Career
From 1988 to 1990: Upon completion of MTC from MUAS, Dal entered work at AAS as the principal for two academic years. During 1990 to 1991, Dal was assigned as an Evangelist based at Sakollam in Tiddim for a year. During 1991 to 1992, he was assigned as an Office Secretary for a year at UMM headquarters in Pyinoolwin. From 1992 to 1997, he worked as an accountant for six years at UMM headquarters. During 1997 to 2002, he served the church for five years as the mission treasurer for Central Myanmar Mission (CMM) in Taung Ngu. During 2002 to 2005, he was appointed as the Assistant Treasurer of MYUM in Yangon for three years. Then from 2005 to 2015, he was elected as Treasurer of MYUM for two consecutive quinquennials. At the constituency meetings of MYUM in December 2015, elected Dal as Treasurer of the Yangon Adventist Mission (YAM) for the term 2016 to 2020 for five years but because of the Covid-19, there was no constituency meeting in December 2020. The Session was postponed to 2021. Dal was ordained to the Gospel Ministry on 24 January 2015.
Later Life
On July 10, 2021, the younger son Zozo was the first person to be infected with Covid-19. Then the next was his mother. Dal, the father and husband was the third to be infected on 18 July 2021. Then the last to be infected was the only daughter, Sungsung on 1 August 2021, they were admitted at Insein Seventh-day Adventist Church which was turned to be Covid-19 Treatment Center. On August 15, 2021, Dal was transferred to Pun Hlaing Hospital, one of the best hospitals in Yangon, Myanmar. But the Ambulance Service was not really an Ambulance but the Volunteer Services that offer Free Transport for needy patients and dead persons. The road as well as the driving was rough. Dal said, “I am regretful for coming here.” The next day, on August 16, 2021 at 6:45pm Dal life was ebbing away. The next day on August 17, 2021, his body was cremated at Hteinpin Cemetery in Yangon. The sad story of Dal was kept as confidential to his beloved wife who was under treatment at Insein Church. As the condition was getting worse, on August 28, 2021, his wife was transferred to Asia Royal Hospital, one of the best hospitals in Yangon. On September 26, 2021, the psychiatric doctor told Haunu about the death of her beloved husband. On September 28, 2021, Haunu was discharged from the hospital. She was readmitted to ICU of the same hospital on Nov 3, 2021. She was treated at the ICU for four days. On November 19, 2021, she was discharged from the hospital. But oxygen is on until December 5 when this biography is being written. No salary comes from the mission anymore. There is no benefit from the retirement plan because her birthday was 16 April 1967. She was baptized by the writer himself on 18 April 1981. She is not entitled for retirement benefits.
Legacy
If we summarize the life of Pastor Nang Do Dal, he served his Master for thirty-three years: as a principal for two years, as an evangelist for a year, as an office secretary for a year, as an accountant for six years, as a mission treasurer for eleven years, as a union assistant treasurer for three years, as a union treasurer for ten years. He talked less and worked more. He worked neatly and systematically. He always wears a smiling face. Every year, he produced a pocket size diary in which information about contact numbers, email addresses of every worker was very convenient and helpful for workers and laity. After he was gone, I doubt in my mind that the diary produced yearly will be continued in 2022?
“The greatest want of the world is the want of men—men who will not be bought or sold; men who in their inmost souls are true and honest; men who do not fear to call sin by its right name; men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole; men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall.” – Ellen G. White, With God at Dawn 109.2.
About the Writer:
Kenneth H. Suanzanang worked as a teacher, evangelist, ordained pastor, district pastor, school principal, ADRA Country Director, District Administrator, Mission President, union communication/PARL/Legal director. He retired in January 2009. His wife Lian Za Dim and their two children and families live in Yangon, Myanmar. Suanzanang continues to be active in his church. Under Suanzanang’s leadership, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Health and ADRA was signed on 10 July 1993 and the Declaration of Ownership of TradeMarks of the Adventist Church – the logo and typeface – was registered on 28 August 2007. He received an Award of Merit from Adventist World Radio in October 2009 and the General Conference Communication Department’s NET Award in May 2011. Suanzanang has written two books, The Gospel Echo from Genesis. The second was The Gospel Echo from Exodus that covers Exodus to Joshua. Now he is writing a book entitled: “The Life of Jesus Christ.”