God’s ministry of reconciliation confirmed once again in Kalaw, Myanmar Missionary SeungJin Kim November 22, 2025

I have ended all my teachings with the conclusion of the Revelation lectures, and everything was completed by God’s grace. Most of the students and staff had been hesitant to read Revelation because they found it “frightening and intimidating,” but through the lectures they were able to see anew the victorious Lamb and the vision of the new heaven and new earth. We finished our time with worship and prayer, as they committed themselves to stand as worshipers in every circumstance.

For me as well, unlike last week in Yangon, this week’s schedule was much more relaxed physically and emotionally, and I was grateful for the chance to observe the students, staff, and the community here more closely.

Because the local people featured in the post could face negative consequences if exposed, please understand that the photos in the post cannot be copied or used.

Kalaw, where I taught, is located at an elevation of 1,300 meters, so mornings and evenings are quite chilly. The day after I arrived, I was surprised by the cold and damp weather that reminded me so much of Ireland. As I brewed tea to warm myself, it almost felt like being back home in Ireland. Because of this cool mountain climate, the British Empire built a railway up to this area and developed it as a hill station during colonial times. During railway construction, people from India and Nepal were brought in, and even now this small town is home not only to local ethnic minorities but also to Indian and Nepali residents, as well as a mosque. The British rebuilt the town and left behind several buildings, including a church. However, most of the base staff and students knew very little about this historical background.

One student drove me around on his motorbike as I explained the history of this town and we were able to find some of the places where traces of the British Empire remain. He originally came as a bamboo construction technician to help build the base, but during his time here he encountered Jesus personally and is now in discipleship training and the Bible school. After touring the town, we went to the highest viewpoint overlooking Kalaw, read Colossians, and proclaimed that “Jesus is the true Lord of Kalaw.” I also prayed, asking God’s forgiveness for the roots of ethnic division planted during British rule, and interceded for unity among all the tribes in Kalaw.

During the two days he accompanied me, I shared with him—almost like informal discipleship—about reconciliation, and taught him how to pray. I prayed that this 23-year-old brother would become one of God’s soldiers for the future of Myanmar. Though it was just the two of us quietly praying on the mountain, we believed and proclaimed that God has something He desires to accomplish.

That evening, a base staff member told me a meaningful story. Many ethnic minorities live around Kalaw, and about 20 years ago, an outreach team tried to visit one of the villages but was denied entry. So they went to a nearby mountain overlooking the village and prayed with tears that people in that tribe would come to know Jesus. Last year, the sister who prayed that day returned and showed a picture from that time. One of the current staff members said, “That is my tribe.” This tribe has about 150 households. The brother himself came to know Jesus only a few years ago and is currently the only Christian in his entire tribe. He is now serving at the Kalaw base, in the Discipleship Bible School where I am teaching. He and the sister who prayed 20 years ago embraced each other in tears.

Though she could not enter the village and prayed only from a distance, God heard their prayer and raised someone from within the tribe. This strengthened my conviction that in the midst of ethnic conflict and ongoing military oppression in Myanmar, God will raise ambassadors of reconciliation—His soldiers.

Thus, the past week in Kalaw was a time of healing for me, and a moving time of rediscovering God’s heart for Myanmar. I sense that God will send me here again. For now, I am heading back to Yangon.

I will stay in Yangon until next Tuesday. I have a meeting to debrief the reconciliation seminar, and I will revisit a church where I preached last year to meet the congregation and better understand the local situation. While in Yangon, I also plan to continue my research about Myanmar and the city.