About Myself...

THE DESIRE OF MY HEART

By Muana Khuptong

     Growing up in a small village, it is almost impossible for me to even dream about traveling to a bigger city in India, let alone visiting foreign countries. However, for whatever reason, deep down in my heart I had a belief, I can't even fathom till today where I got this desire from, that one day, I will drive a car, live in a decent home, and travel on an airplane from coast to coast. By then, I was looking at a passengers-carrying bus traveling from Lamka to New Suangdawn in the Southeastern part of Manipur, India from the field where we are growing rice and corn. We practiced Jhum cultivation which requires us (farmers) to move our plots from year to year to allow the land to recover.

There was a small stream of river flowing between the main road and our farm. I looked up those moving vehicles from our tent wishing and hoping at least one day I would travel to Lamka. In 1993, I lived in Lungchin village, Manipur State, India. In our town, we have up to 5th grade elementary school run by the Evangelical Church. When I completed 5th grade, I had no choice but to work on the farm. My parents wanted the best education for me but they did not have the guts or the stamina to send me to middle school in another village. Because we did not have any source of income apart from the harvest from rice and corn farms, we had financial difficulties throughout the year.

     I missed my school day. Many of my friends went to bigger towns like Singngat and Lamka where high school was there to go for further studies. I am jealous of them. When I asked my father if I wanted to go to a bigger town to continue further studies, he replied “no we don’t have money to pay for school.” I told my parents that I did not want to work on a farm my whole life but I wanted to study and become an officer and make money and support them when they grew old, living in a city. But it was just a dream.

Now I realize that acquiring a dream or desire that came within our hearts is given by God. Without the wisdom of God, we cannot even think of something valuable or worth living. That is why God gave dreams to young Joseph. The Bible says in Psalm 37:4 “Delight thyself also in the LORD, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” The secret key to our wishful thinking is delight in the Lord. Not in the things of this world. So, to be honest, I have been delightful my whole life. I was able to appreciate the little blessings I got from God. So, as a result of that, God gave me the desire of my heart as a young man. My childhood dreams are coming to pass today. To make the long story short, God opened the door for me to study in a bigger town and I completed my High School Diploma, went to Bible College and Seminary, and became pastor in a warm vibrant church among my own Zomi people here in the United States of America. I happily married my wife Ziri and we have two daughters Bethany and Kimkim and a son Joel Hauliansang together. Our friend CZi told us that we inherited God's blessings, especially with beautiful children.

Things I like to do: I love to sing praise and worship songs. I enjoy reading the Bible and playing the guitar. I love to make friends with different people. I love to joke as well.

Favorite scripture verse: Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you a future and a hope and future.

Vision: I have a vision to plant churches and schools in the future.
My ambition is to be a servant of God.

Passions & Values: I have a burden for the perishing souls that do not know Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. I want everyone to be saved.