(AUTOBIOGRAPHY)
( 1971 – Present 15th October 2021)
The Beginning of Life
On the 13th of April, 1971, he was born from U Maung Lae and Daw Tin Sein in Karen State, Hlaing Bwe Township, Wah Gode Taw Village which is now known as Myaing Gyee Nguu. He is the third born among his 10 siblings. He was born from a Buddhist family and up until now, he is the only one who became Christian and continue his service for God through missionary works. He pray that someday, His family will accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior as he did.
Education
When he was around elementary school age, his village was one of the civil war zones and hence his family and he were moving from place to place to avoid the shootings and to seek refuge. Since, then, his education has halted and many of his friends’ too. Sometimes, he would be learning in the monasteries and sometime at the government school. Obviously, he did not receive a proper education. When he was around middle school age, God led him to a school named, “Ohn Taw Seminary,” located alongside the Than Lwin river, at the area of Hpa-Pun; Kamamaung district. It was a Christian school where no discrimination of religion, race, and family background occurred.
The school was first established by Eric. B. Hare, a pioneer missionary from Australia, in 1916. He was in grade 7 when he first attended Eric. B. Hare’s school and he spent his two years of middle school there, from 1985 to 1987. He was baptized on February 2, 1986. After that, he continue his study at Myanmar Union Adventist Seminary (MUAS) from 1987 to 1995 and got a Bachelor in Religion. God was always his provider and comforter all his life while studying, and He gave him strength to go through all the hoops and hurdles in his education journey. Yet, He is still working on him to fulfill His purpose in him.
In God’s Service
Ohn Daw
After he graduated, he was assigned as a teacher to his initial school, which is Ohn Daw Seminary, in 1995. Due to unstable political conditions, the school was temporarily moved to Hpa-an. However, there were still some Church members left in Ohn Daw, so he was appointed to look after the church members. That is how he became a shepherd; pastor in the service of God. And soon after, he was recognized as a regular laborer in the service. Meanwhile, the school buildings were destroyed and occupied by Burmese military and DKBA, and thus most of them were left with no shelters and dwelling places. God is good even in the tough times. U Tun Maung; a former MYUM president Pr. Memory Tun’s father, welcomed him to stay with them while they were reconstructing new shelters and dwelling places for people in the school campus.
A Partner for My Journey
God’s timing is perfect and due in the perfect seasons. He was married to his beloved wife; Daw Lun Khek, on December 20, 1996, at Yangon central church. And God blessed them with two daughters named Tracy and Daisy as a source of blessing into their life. His love is never ending and it amazed him every time he count His blessings.
A Call from Dawei
After married, he was appointed to Dawei province, Htee Pa Doh village, as a principal and church pastor in 1997. He was looking after three churches; Htee Pa Doh, Pa Htee Lor, and Laung Min Hpa, while being a full-time teacher for middle school. That place is so rich in nature. Durians,
Mangosteens, fishes, fresh streams, awesome sight views, fruits and vegetables can be seen and reach just around us.
Although physical and other basic needs are satisfied, the people there are longing for spiritual food. And that is why God sent him there to be His agent, to bring all the lost and unlost sheep together in His yard. Those eight years were unforgettable and precious with the support of his wife as she was also serving as a shepherdess and a full-time teacher.
They did not have a proper house and school buildings when they first got there. Gradually, by the grace of God and with the support of enthusiastic church members, they were able to finished new middle school building and a house for pastor’s family. The church members there were so active and supportive, yet at the same time, they were so depended on him to the point that sometimes he had to be their physician for their common diseases. And that was how he learnt to give injections and provide medicines for minor illness. He is not a doctor. He did not study medicine. But when God want to use him and they have a willing heart, He will make ways for them to serve Him increasingly. He will bless them with the skills and abilities to fulfill the needs of His sheep.
A Call from SEAS
In 2004, they received a calling letter to serve as a full-time middle and high school teacher at South East Adventist Seminary (SEAS), as they were urgently in need of staffs. The school is a continuation of Eric. B. Hare’s Ohn Taw seminary. Going through many circumstances and hardship, the school finally found a permanent place to nurture the young people.
After eight years of service in Dawei, Htee Pa Doh, they accepted the call to serve in SEAS. They had to move there during heavily rainy season on August. A side from teaching, he was appointed to be the school cafeteria manager for five years (2004-2009), and then served as the head of student affair department for another three years (2009-2012).
Anointed Servant
After serving another eight years in SEAS as a teacher, God called him to be the shepherd again in 2012, at Hpaya Gone-Nyein Chan Yay. In 2015, he was anointed as an ordained pastor. That was exactly 20 years journey of his service for God. In the following year 2016, God sent him to South East Mission Headquarter in Mawlamyine Township, to serve as a Youth Department Director, Health Department Director, and Stewardship Department Director, along with Worldwide Missionary Director. And his wife as a secretary for Worldwide Missionary (SEM).
Never Ending Journey
2021 is the 5th year of their service at SEM Headquarter. They have been counting God’s blessings and the counting is still going on. There is no end in serving Him. As long as they are alive, they are to live for Him. Their time, energy, and existence are to glorify God and Him alone. The journey may not be smooth, but the reward is as sweet as His Grace.
“God is the only creditor for all of my achievements. The God who led me in the past, is leading me today, and will lead me tomorrow. I have no other desire than to see Him face to face and live eternally with Him.”
With Best Wishes & Love
Pr. Sein Tun