October Update 2025

Dear Faithful Supporter,

Autumn greetings! Hopefully, you are enjoying the beautiful fall colors as much as we have. Recently, while traveling to different churches on the East Coast, we encountered radiant fall colors along the highways that took our breath away. We cannot help but give praises to our Creator God…

A Joyful Celebration Amidst the Dark, Evil Holiday…

Last month, we shared information about a Cambodian holiday called Pchum-Ben and asked you to pray for the young believer in Cambodia. This is how God answered prayers. Several Alliance churches in the northwest region planned activities on their church properties, transforming this somber holiday into a joyful celebration. The Anlong Veng Firm Foundation Alliance church invited families for a day of fun and fellowship at the church, featuring relay games followed by a potluck meal. Many of their relatives, who had not yet believed, came to participate in the celebration. At the same time, the Living Water Alliance church in Poipet decided to hold a baptismal service in the pond located behind the church property, where 32 people were baptized. While the local villagers were busy celebrating their dead relatives, the Christians transformed this dark and evil holiday into a celebration of life, introducing the Light of the World to lost people so they may find their way into life.

Soccer kids prepared for baptism

32 people got baptized in Poipet

Poipet youth sang their special song

Anlong Veng kids playing soccer in the rain

                                                                Rains & Floods

As expected, the abundant rains from the recent monsoon season (June-August) are causing raging floods among the floating villages.  We have just received news that as of October 10, the floodwater in Tonle Sap Lake is already 18 meters deep! One house church (please refer to pictures below) was built 15 meters above dry ground. This week, however, the floor of this house church was 0.8 meters underwater! Please pray for the safety and protection of the hundreds of thousands of families living in the floating village.

This house church was 15 meters above ground. Because of this week's floud, the floor was 0.8 meters underwater!

In dry season, this home church is 15 meters above the ground

The house church is underwater resulting from a recent flood

A floating house

Syna on a boat to visit a floating village

Floating during a dry season

Reminiscing About Old Memories and Familiar Places…

Recently, we had the opportunity to revisit familiar places from our early years in New York. In August, we “swam” in the ice-cold water of Jones Beach, Long Island, NY.  On September 27, we took a leisurely walk on the boardwalk of Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY, the place where we had our first date 39 years ago, on the same date. And after completing a mission conference week at a church in upstate New York last week, we drove another 2 hours to spend a night at Niagara Falls, the place where we had our honeymoon, 33 years ago. As we enjoyed revisiting these familiar places, we reflected on the faithfulness of God in our lives, how He has preserved and protected us since childhood from numerous dangers. Before we knew Him, He rescued us from the Killing Fields and returned us to the Living Field as instruments for building His kingdom in Cambodia. In all of these and much, much more, we give thanks to our God.

Visiting Niagara Falls

Visiting Coney Island

Dates & events needing your prayers:

1.     Updates on tensions along the Thailand-Cambodia border: After being evacuated three times since July 24, villagers from the Anlong Veng and Preah Vihear regions remain unsettled in their homes, as tensions and threats of potential war persist. Some families who have the means chose to leave their hometowns permanently due to the instability and uncertainty of what might take. Please continue to pray for peace along the border. (For more details, please refer to the July and August blogs.)

2.     Because of the instability of life along the borders, some families with means decided to send their young children to attend school in other provinces. At the same time, many people had to leave their hometowns to find work in distant provinces. This temporary family separation is an additional strain on their lives.

Thank you for your faithful prayers and support for the Cambodian ministries. We appreciate you!

 

In His care,

Soeuth & Syna Lao 

September Update 2025

Dear Supporting Friend & Family,

We are so excited that the Fall season is upon us! It is one of our favorite times of the year. Sadly because of our work schedules, we get to enjoy autumn once every four years.  

A “Pchum-Ben” Holiday

The Cambodian annual religious holiday, Pchum-Ben, is taking place in the fall. The word ‘Pchum ' means ‘the gathering of’ and ‘Ben’ refers to merits. Pchum-Ben is a religious holiday when the Buddhist Khmer (Cambodian) people celebrate their ancestral spirits by bringing daily food offerings to the Buddhist temples. Primarily, the belief behind and motive for celebrating this holiday are driven by fear, family obligations, and opportunities to gather merits for the “next life.” By following this holiday practice, Khmer Buddhists are hoping to accumulate as many merits as possible. At the same time, they are still alive, hoping that after they pass away, they will be reborn as a better person in their next life. As a result, even in the midst of extreme poverty Khmer people would save, collect, and even be willing to borrow a large sum of money from distant relatives/trusted friends to have enough for purchasing food supplies to prepare for these required daily offerings. They believe that this is one of the few times when the spirits of their deceased ancestors are being released from captivity and are allowed to roam around the Buddhist temples surrounding birthplaces. They also believe that these ancestral spirits are back on earth looking for food offerings given by their living relatives. Because of this belief, the surviving relatives feel obligated to bring food offerings to as many as seven temples! These food offering practices can begin a few weeks before and after the appointed holidays. The actual dates, according to the lunar calendar for this year’s Pchum Ben takes place on September 21st to 24th. To get the people up early and ready to prepare for daily food offerings, the religious leaders would (in loud, somber, and dirge-like monotones) chant their wake-up prayer songs into microphones every morning as early as 3 am. These loud “call to prayer” or chanting times often repeat every hour, throughout the entire day, and end around 10 pm! As a result, the overall surrounding atmosphere can be eerie, gloomy, and oppressive. During the daylight hours, to keep down the oppressive sounds, we often blasted out praise and worship songs. However, there was little to be done when the chanting took place at 3 am.

Church gathering during Pchum-Ben holiday

Many unfortunate incidences tend to occur around this time of year such as family/personal losses, team conflicts, sudden illness among family members, major accidents on the mission field, or complicated issues within church families. Spiritual warfare is most prominent and noticeable during the Pchum Ben holiday. As a result, this is one of the most testing times for new believers in Jesus Christ because of family pressure to observe the traditions of the holiday. Needless to say, your prayers for the young believers are crucial. Pray that they would remain steadfast with their decisions to follow the One True God, no matter what.

Home Bible study group in Anlong Veng

Road Trips & Good Health 

We have been busy visiting churches with speaking engagements. Every week, we are off to visit a new church, driving 2-6 hours each way. Recently, we came close to a few road-rage drivers along the busy highways. We were so grateful for God’s protection over our lives. We appreciate your prayers for safe road trips and good health.

We are grateful for your faithful prayers and support. Your generous donation to the Great Commission Fund enables us to continue serving in Cambodia, sharing the message of Hope in Jesus to the many who are lost and seeking. To financially support the growing Cambodian ministries, please visit here. We appreciate your prayers and support. Please feel free to reach out to us if you have questions or concerns. And please share with us what God is doing in your life. We would love to hear from you.

With a grateful heart, 

Soeuth & Syna Lao

August Update 2025

Dear supporting friends and family,

We delayed giving you updates because we were hoping to gain a better understanding about the situations in Cambodia. 

First of all, thank you so much for your prayers! 

Below is an update of what took based on the information we gathered from our friends in Cambodia.

• As the fighting escalated, the commune leaders in the entire Anlong Veng district recommended that the people leave Anlong Veng as soon as possible, especially the children, women, and elderly. By the evening of July 25, about 90% of the people from villages surrounding the Anlong Veng regions left town. Some people went to settle with relatives in nearby provinces, while the majority of villagers (over 200 of them, some believers, but most of them were not yet Christians) found refuge at the Srae Nouy Alliance Church. Pastor Dee and church families made sleeping arrangements with mosquito nets, folded mats, tents, hammocks, and other necessary sleeping gears. However, with so many people suddenly residing in one place, there was a shortage of water, food supplies, and bathroom facilities. In response to the needs, many people, especially local believers, sent funds, water bottles, and food supplies to shelter areas where these refugees were temporarily settled. 

Food distribution among the fleeing villagers at Srae Nouy church

• On Sunday, during church service hours, the Alliance church leaders at Srae Nouy and Poipet gathered the people for a time of worship and prayer. Everyone prayed for the peace of Cambodia.  It was an excellent opportunity for the unbelievers to witness the "hands & feet of Jesus" at work as the Body of Christ came together, in a time of great need, to pour out love and support to all people. 
• Although the ceasefire has been ordered, many people were reportedly still afraid to return home. Some brave men have already returned to Anlong Veng to care for the animals they left behind. Hopefully, as the tensions continue to calm down, people will return home and to carrying on their everyday lives again.

Nearly 200 villagers from Anlong Veng found refuge at Srae Nouy church

Village children received food at the church

• We are grateful to learn that, while a majority of people had fled Anlong Veng, Poipet, and other villages along the borders of Thailand, many of the KEC (Alliance) church families, leaders, and pastors remained in towns to welcome and to offer comfort to the frightened and weary souls. Even amidst the "ghost town" atmospheres in the Anlong Veng and Poipet regions, there were church services this past Sunday, July 27!

A time of worship in the midst of border tensions

Thank you for standing in the gap with us through your vigilant prayers and support.

With a grateful heart,

Soeuth & Syna

June Update 2025

Dear Faithful Supporter

Summer greetings from New Jersey! We trust you are doing well.

We apologize for the delayed update. To say that we were busy is an understatement. For the past few weeks, our lives have been a whirlwind of packing, storing our belongings, moving, and traveling repeatedly. Due to a miscommunication, we were unable to move into our current home until June 7. Meanwhile, since leaving our home in Anlong Veng on May 13th to the present, we have moved and stayed in 14 different guesthouses/hotels and various friends’ houses. After extended weeks of living out of suitcases, it feels great to be able to unpack the bags we brought from Cambodia. We have yet to visit the storage room where our stuff has been kept for the past three years…

During our recent trips to various places, we had the opportunity to reconnect with friends and family, including opportunities to share in small home groups in meaningful ways. Attending the Alliance General Council, May 24-30, in Columbus, Ohio, was an exciting week. It was the second-largest attendance in the Alliance's history, with over 3,000 in-person attendees and hundreds more viewing online. It was a fantastic time to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones…

A few days before and after the general council, we visited family friends who live in various parts of Ohio. From June 10th to 18th, we spent a week visiting Syna’s 93-year-old mother and her extended family in Tacoma, Washington. 

Visiting Syna's elderly mother in Washington

It has been a blessing to have Jonathan, our youngest son, stay under the same roof with us for these few weeks, where we enjoy long walks in the late afternoons and playing board games into the evening hours. We treasure and are grateful for these precious moments with our son, before he moves on July 10th to begin a new job in Hawaii. We appreciate your prayers for Jonathan as he still tries to figure out what the “next step” would be in his life…

Enjoying every precious moment with Jonathan

We are so grateful to our sending Metropolitan District for graciously providing us with a reliable vehicle for ground transportation. We look forward to reconnecting and visiting with supporting and partner churches from August 1st until the second week of December. We have a very full fall schedule ahead of us. 

Grateful to God for providing a place to stay and a vehicle for a year

Please pray for the following needs below…

1. Pray for the ongoing border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia. Many of the church families rely entirely upon incomes earned from working in the border markers. With the border closed, there is a desperate need for these affected families. Some families had moved out of Poipet or other bordering towns in search of job opportunities. 



Missing our precious grandchildren

2. Pray for the church families in Anlong Veng and Srae Nouy areas to remain faithful in their Christian walks even during the absence of the International. Pray that they look to only Jesus for their source of help. 
3. As war rages on in Israel, please pray for the protection and safety of our son, Justin, and his family, along with the International Workers serving in the Middle East regions. 
4. Please pray for meaningful and effective mission fall tours as we visit and share with supporting churches about the current developments in Cambodia related to church ministries.

We are grateful for your ongoing partnership in supporting us through your financial contributions to the Great Commission Funds (GCF), which enables us and other Alliance International Workers to continue serving God in Cambodia and around the world, proclaiming the message of Hope in Jesus to lost people. 

Have a blessed summer,

Soeuth & Syna

April Update 2025

 Dear Faithful Supporter,

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” Romans 12:18

For the past six months, God allowed us opportunities to help some church families in a long and difficult journey to find conflict-resolutions. The process involved multiple meetings, patience, and discernment as we listened to each side of the story. There was forgiving and asking for forgiveness, many tearful moments, and lots of prayers. In some cases, we had to spend an overnight in remote villages in order to gain a better understanding from their perspective. At times, it felt like a losing battle, but, by the grace of God, as each party was willing to allow God to be the center of their lives, reconciliations and resolutions eventually took place. In the Srae Nouy region, four individuals who once considered each other as sworn enemies, became close friends and ministry partners after reconciliation took place. Today, these reconciled leaders travel in pairs every week on their motorbikes to teach discipleship classes at two new village house churches—these leaders planted two new churches after reconciliation!

Prayer service at the floating village followed

Recently, Soeuth and some leaders visited the Kampong Klang floating village. After finishing sharing a brief message about loving and forgiving one another, Soeuth encouraged participants to find a partner to whom they could share their burdens and pray with. It was a tearful yet rejoicing moment as believers came together in humility and prayer. As a result, two families were willing to put aside their personal differences and start things afresh together…

Family Reunion in the Middle East…

A family reunion at the airport after four years apart!

As shared in our previous updates, we went to the Middle East to spend an amazing time spending with our two adult sons, beautiful daughter-in-law, and three adorable grandchildren during our family reunion. Jonathan met his youngest nephew, Levi, for the first time. The three grandkids absolutely love their “Uncle Jon." We were especially thankful to God for sweet moments of family time. In the short time we had, we were able to visit many interesting historical sites, enjoy a few dishes of home cooked Cambodian meals, sleep in a tent like hotel, ride camels, and swim in the Red Sea! Since the beginning of our visit, however, most of us have been plagued with flu-like sickness, one after another, which lasted more than a month each. Despite the sicknesses, we managed to do and enjoy everything that was planned. It was totally worth it all and we were thankful for this amazing family reunion.

Riding camel for sunset view

Lao Family visiting the Red Sea

Enjoying our prescious grandkids

Reading time with "Uncle Jon"

Catching time with the Lao Guys

Dates & Events needing your prayers…

1. April 12-13, Soeuth teaches a monthly leadership class (April 12) at Living Water Alliance church in Poipet, followed by a Sunday message on the next day. A number of house churches in the Poipet region will join together for this early Easter celebration weekend.
2.  April 14-16 is a festive National Khmer New Year holiday, “the year of the snake." Please pray for safety for those who travel to visit their hometowns as the local people have a tendency to celebrate this event in the wildest way. This is one of the major testing times for believers because their family members often pressured them to observe traditional ancestor worship. Pray for spiritual protection for all believers, especially for those new believers who recently got baptized.
3. Resulting from the recent earthquake in Myanmar, although we are located at least 1000 kilometers (about 620 miles) away from the actual site, we literally felt the ground beneath us shake! Some church members who were swimming in a local pond when the incident happened testified of seeing unusual and scary movements in the waters! All the waters from the deep wells in all of Anlong Veng areas turned brown and rusty for a few hours after the quake. Praise God, no one was reportedly hurt and there were no significant damages to the newly built Firm Foundation Library!
4. The Firm Foundation Alliance church in Anlong Veng will have a combined Easter Sunday and Khmer New Year celebration on April 20. Church families were encouraged to invite their non-church friends and relatives to celebration, followed by a baptismal service.
5. Please pray for strength and stamina as we wrap things up in ministries as well as transitioning responsibilities to key church leaders during our one-year home assignment in the US. For the first three months after we depart on May 15, the 23 house churches in the Anlong Veng and throughout the northern Cambodia regions will be without a physical presence of an International Worker. Pray for the leaders who are taking on added responsibilities to overseeing the growing church ministries. God will protect His church. Pray for peace and comfort for those who are staying behind.
6. During the next couple weeks, there will be bitter-sweet moments as we will say goodbyes to our dearly beloved friends in Cambodia. Pray for our travel mercies within the country as well as our overseas trips. Pray for Shalom in all of us.
7. At this writing, our key ministry partner and Anlong Veng Ministry  coworker, Aide Rose Fernandez, is on home leave for three months in the Philippines. She will return to Anlong Veng in early July. She will be the key International Worker overseeing the ministries in Anlong Veng until we return, summer 2026. 

   

   Firm Foundation church families prayed for Aide before return to the Philippines

   
   
8. The first week of May, our youngest son, Jonathan aged 23, will drive from Florida to stay with friends in NYC to wait until we arrive. For the past three years while serving in Cambodia, Jonathan had a hard time adjusting to life in America without having any close family nearby. During his darkest moments, we were thankful for Godly, concerned friends who willingly reached out to help Jonathan in practical and tangible ways. Please pray for wisdom as we will work with Jonathan to find his “what next” in his life…

Lord willing, we hope to visit and see you again during this upcoming home assignment year. Please feel free to reach out to us through email and let us know what God is doing in your life. We would love to pray for your needs as well.  If you happen to be in the New York or New Jersey areas, please feel free to drop by for a visit or spend a night at our place. We will have plenty of spare rooms for your stay. 

As always, we are so grateful for your faithful and loyal partnership in the growing Cambodian ministries through your love, support, through your faithful prayers, and sacrificial giving to support the Great Commission Fund. Because of your involvement, God is at work in amazing ways. We can’t wait to share with you, in person, about stories and testimonies of the lives that God has been doing in and through them. Until then, have a blessed Resurrection Day.

Because He Lives,

Soeuth & Syna Lao

March Update 2025

Dear Faith Supporters,

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” Matthew 28:19

Recently, we have seen an amazing movement of the Holy Spirit at work among the believers in northern Cambodia. Church families are showing strong interest in studying the word of God. Since the beginning of 2025, people were signing up to enroll in small bible study groups. New discipleship classes were being added every month! In addition, church families became bold and willing to go out and share the Good News of Jesus with their neighbors and relatives, winning souls in to the kingdom every week! We are in a season of harvest…

Last week, after learning about a need, Syna along with her TEE students went to visit a very sick elderly lady in Toul Prich Village. Touy, an elderly woman in her late 70’s, has been suffering from chronic eye infections in addition to her many chronic illnesses. Desperate to get better, Touy had spent much of her wealth and resources seeking help from various medical facilities and even from witch doctors. However, no one offered any help. Recently, after hearing about Jesus from her neighbor, she requested, “Please ask the ‘Jesus People’ to pray for me.” Thus, came the invitation for that visit. After explaining the salvation plan, Touy willingly prayed to receive Jesus as her Lord and Savior. The next day, Syna bought her some prescribed eye ointments and prayed for healing over her. Arrangements were made so Touy could visit an eye clinic soon. With great anticipation, we are begging the Great Physician to heal Touy’s eye according to her faith...

Touy, an elderly lady, as a new believer sitting in church for the first time!

58 New Believers Got Baptized

58 new believers got baptized on Feb 22

On February 22, we joined a baptismal service at Srae Nouy where 136 people from eight different village churches came together for a joyful celebration. After a few songs of praise and worship, Soeuth gave an encouraging message about “Finishing Well.” 

Soeuth and Pastor Dee baptizing new believers

Through this message, Soeuth challenged the believers to remain faithful in their spiritual walks even when facing daily life struggles. After the message, people had opportunities to testify why they chose to follow Jesus. One after another, 15+ new believers eagerly fought for opportunities to share their testimonies. In between testimonies, the crowd gave praises to Jesus. They erupted with songs of joy and dancing. There was so much joy and gladness in the house that Noeu (please refer to Noeu’s story in ‘Jesus Was Never Too Busy to Answer My Prayer’ from August 2024’s update), one of believers who got baptized declared, “If there is much joy and happiness on earth now, just imagine how much more joy it will be in heaven!” Altogether, 58 new believers got baptized on that day.

Noeu excitedly shared about her baptismal experience at Srae Nouy

Noeu and her granddaughter got baptized

A Jesus Hater Becomes Jesus Lover

One by one, new believers lined up to give powerful testimonies. When it was his turn, Chhen (please refer to ‘Chhen’s Faith Journey’ from December 2024’s update) stood up with sadness in his eyes. He shared how he used to persecute and torment many Jesus followers in his village. For unknown reasons, “I just could not stand to hear at the mention of that Name.” Chhen’s own mother was once a young vibrant believer, but because of Chhen’s constant nagging and determination to “destroy the Jesus people at all cost,” she eventually abandoned her faith altogether. In order to slander and maliciously harm the Jesus people, he was willing to go to places just to stir up trouble among Christians. It was one of those trips, that Chhen got himself arrested and imprisoned in Thailand on October 2013. He was released on April 2016 and “dumped” back at the Cambodia-Thailand border. In his great time of need, the very people whom he hated the most became his saviors. “I was God’s enemy, but He sent His people to rescue me.” Since his encounter with the living Christ, Chhen’s mission had changed drastically. Every chance he could, Chhen is asking for prayers that his mother, his wife, and many of his relatives would turn back to God. Chhen concluded in his testimony, “I used to hate Jesus. But now, I love Him so much that I want all my family and friends to know Jesus as well. Please pray for my unbelieving relatives.”

Chhen's baptism

Dates and events needing your prayers:

1. April 1-3: the seven members of the National KEC Youth Committees member will have a prayer retreat in Koh Kong Province.
2. At this writing, March 3-17, we are having our family with our children in the Middle East.
3. The house churches in Poipet will come together for a joined Sunday service on April 13.
4. Khmer New Year, April 14-16.
5. The Firm Foundation Alliance Church will have a baptism on April 20. 
6. May 15, 2025, we will return to the US for a one-year home assignment. We will be at Cedar Lane Missionary Homes, Inc. in New Jersey. We will have a lot of space for visiting guests if you are close by and have time for a visit.
7. As we anticipate the coming home assignment plans and activities, please let us know of a potential date if you are interested to schedule for a mission weekend with us. For the past three years, we have seen many noticeable works that the Lord is doing among the Khmer people. Please watch this video: https://vimeo.com/1055256522

Please share with us what God is doing in your life. We would love to pray for you as well. Thank you for your love, generous financial support, and partnership in the growing ministries of northern Cambodia.  

With a grateful heart, 

Soeuth and Syna Lao

February Update 2025

 Dear Faithful Support and Friend,

In case you are wondering, ‘What ever happened to the Lao?’ We are still around, alive and kicking, but we have been swarmed with busy schedules. Thank you for being so patient with us…

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 

The Seed Has Been Planted…

For the past few years, living in the community of our host culture, we have strategically and intentionally worked closely with two local public schools, where many of our church children attend. We made ourselves available when opportunities allowed us to attend or participate in meetings for school events or village activities. As we got involved and immersed in the community, we were frequently invited into homes to pray for the sick, open houses, weddings, funerals, and or baby dedications. Knowing we hosted visiting teams occasionally, the schools gave up opportunities to teach workshops or seminars to students and their teachers. We do not truly understand the motives behind each invitation. Our primary desire is to be a meaningful and impactful presence as we live in the community, always looking for opportunities to share Christ with our neighbors.

Recently, in an attempt to obtain legal building permissions for the Anlong Veng Ministry Center, we encountered a few “red tapes” with local authorities. Seeing our dilemma, a school principal offered to help us! When asked why, he said, “These past few years, we have been watching you helping our community in so many different ways. Our villages are poor and have little to offer, yet you came to live among us and even built a library for our children. Although we don’t share the same beliefs, you treat and welcome us kindly. Helping you is the least I can do.” This school principal, Mr. K, has been secretly conversing with our church families about the Christian faith. Although he has not made any decision, the seed has been planted. Lord willing, we hope to “reap a harvest” soon…

“Let the Little Children Come to Me…” 

Srae Nouy's children ministry

In response to the needs, we opened our home in early October and invited local children and teenagers (about 30 of them) to participate in fellowships once or twice a month when times allowed. These children, between ages 2 and 18, come from dysfunctional families. Many live with aging grandparents and extended family members while their parents (mostly divorced and remarried multiple times) work in the capital city or Thailand. Often, the children are left to fend for themselves, including cooking, washing, bathing, and caring for their younger siblings while walking or riding a bicycle to school. The risks of accidents or misbehaving are significant without proper parental supervision. They all waited by our gate on Sunday mornings, hoping to catch a ride to church with us. We provided simple snacks and soft drinks at a monthly fellowship gathering, followed by relayed games and fun activities. 

Children monthly fellowship

During the three-hour time with us, we kept them busy with fun activities and engaged them in conversations as much as possible. Over time, relationships were built, we earned their trust, learned about each child’s needs and struggles, and tried to meet them as much as possible. It broke our hearing recently when one of them said, “Thank you, teachers! We love coming to your house. You care more for us than our parents ever did. I miss my parents and wish they would stay home more often.” Another child also said, “My mother left me long ago. Sometimes, I wonder what she looks like now or if she ever returns to get me.” There are so many sad cases among these dear children. And we do not have answers to their problems. The best we can offer is to invite them in and let them enjoy a childhood experience with fun and laughter, even if for brief moments of their lives.

Monthly children fellowship at Lao's house

Dates and Events needing your prayers…

1. Feb. 13-15: The Anlong Veng team plans a prayer retreat in Siem Reap.
2. Pray for a joined baptismal service at Srae Nouy on Feb. 22. 
3. Recently, our church families have been busy and boldly sharing their faith with their neighbors. Young believers take God’s word at face value and willingly share the message of hope they found in Jesus. It was encouraging to watch brand- new believers proudly making disciples of their own!



Discipleship class at Srae Nouy

4. Please continue to pray for safety on the long, distant trips we make each week to teach leadership classes. 
5. March 3-17: We are excited to visit our children in the Middle East. Jonathan will also join us from Florida on March 10-17. This will be our first family reunion since November 2021!
6. For your information, we will return to the US from May 15, 2025, to June 1, 2026, for a one-year home assignment. We will stay at Cedar Lane Missionary Homes, Inc. in New Jersey. Please let us know if you would like us to visit your church or small groups.

As always, we appreciate your partnership in the Cambodian ministries through your prayers and financial support to the Alliance Mission. Your generous and faithful financial support to the GCF enables us to continue serving God among the Khmer people in northern Cambodia, sharing the true hope found in Jesus Christ with lost people. Together with your partnership, we are “reaping a harvest” for the Kingdom in Cambodia and everywhere. Thank you for being so supportive!  Please share with us what God is doing in your life.

Blessings,

Soeuth & Syna Lao