December Update (Part 2)

Dear Friends,

We want to let you know that the quarterly northwest regional youth rally on December 10 was a big success!  Though only 129 youth registered and paid for the meal, 190 people (and more) showed up!  Thanks to the devoted and hard working youth committees, all things went smoothly as could be.  Young people from three provinces came to join the festive celebrations. This was the first Christmas gathering for many of the people who came! Everyone seemed to have a great time, and everyone participated well.  And the singing was so joyous and LOUD that the musicians (especially the drummer) could hardly hear the beats! Many groups of talented kids took turns to perform their favorite songs and/ or choreography dances!  There were given opportunities for testimonies and sharing.  All giving praises to the Lord Jesus, the ONE who is the true reason for this celebration!

During the time of message Soeuth challenged the youth with many questions relating to the meaning of Christmas. “What would you do for Christmas?  What would you give back to Christ?”  Many stood up to give their appropriate reasons, including Thong, a newly convert. 

Thong, aged 24, is one of the key strikers for the division I soccer team for the Living Water Church. Over the summer, Thong, one of the soccer players from the community kids, has been coming to play soccer at the church ground.  Usually, gambling is very common in Cambodia.  There is an underline saying that goes like this, “If no bet, no sweat”.  In other words, people gamble for everything, especially during any sport events.  At first, Thong, being one of well know

best players, came to the church ground looking for such an opportunity.  Yet, as Thong observed, there was something totally different at the Living Water soccer games!  The games were exciting!  There were many great players from each competing team.  Yet, no one was betting!  “Odd!  What a waste of time” grumbled Thong.  Instead, the losing team members were doing the 10 push- ups for every goal made by the opposite team!  Thong also noticed that the language used by the players was different, too!  There was hardly any cursing or foul language heard!  From time to time when a player “accidentally” shouted a cursed word, then the game suddenly stopped!  Nobody played.  After a few moments of awkward silent, a guilty person stepped forward, apologized to the other players, stoop down, did the 5 push-ups in front of the groups, only then could the games be resumed!  “Such strange behaviors!” commented Thong.  But this fascinated him very much!  He liked it, in fact.  The warm welcome from the other players the fellowship after the games intrigued him.  

Even from the very beginning, Thong felt included and acceptance. This and many other reasons kept compelling Thong to come and to play at the church ground.   His curiosity to these “strange” activities led Thong to ask many questions.  Eventually, on Sunday morning, during a Sunday Bible study class, July 28, 2013, Thong gave his life to follow the Lord Jesus!  Since then, Thong has been very faithful coming to church regularly.  His new and exciting life caused him to constantly singing praises to God, non-stop!  Thong is often seen to participate in every church event.  Even with his off-key voice,
Thong is not ashamed to join the worship team on Sunday services!  Thong is currently studying a Living Water class with one of church leaders.  So, at the recent youth event, when challenged by the question, “What would you give back to Christ?” without any hesitant, standing up in front of nearly 200 people, Thong boldly declared, “I commit to give my life to serve Jesus Christ for the rest o my life!”  Please keep Thong and many other new believers in your prayers as they are taking “baby steps” trotting this new ground of being followers of Jesus Christ.

Another new believer who will participate in the Christmas event, first time in her life, is a young lady of 20 years old named Da Nat.  Because of her new, reversed role of being the “bread winner” for the family, and with her other responsibilities of caring for the family needs, Da Nat was sad that she could not join the recent youth event.  But she is excited about the coming joined Christmas event at the Living Water church on December 25!  Da Nat is working hard saving up money so she and her mother, Lena, and two younger sisters could afford a taxi ride from Malay to Poipet!

Da Nat was a typical care-free young lady who had high hopes and dreams of finding a good husband and a good future.  She is the oldest of three daughters belonging to Lena. As a good and responsible daughter, Da Nat was always careful to listen and obey her mother in every way she could.  Though Da Nat had helped earning some money from various side jobs to help caring for the family needs, the role for feeding the family was always belonged to her mother.  All of these had changed suddenly, however, on the morning of June 1, 2013, when her step father took an ax and brutally attacked Da Nat, her mother, Lena, and her younger sister (please refer to Lena’s story for details).  Like a flash of light, all her hopes and dreams instantly shattered right before her eyes!  Her beautiful oval face was suddenly replaced by a huge scar on her left cheek, and two missing front teeth now took the place her once beautiful smiles…  By the grace of God that all three victims miraculously survived!  (Lena who had suffered the most had to undergo many reconstruction surgeries on her head and eye)...

Before this tragic incident took, Lena, with the help of her three daughters, ran a small saloon shop at the corner of their small grass hut, where she did nails, hairs, and make-ups for interested costumers.  The small meager payments she received from customers were barely enough to put food on the table (mat) feeding the girls and while keeping the girls in public school.  Nevertheless, Lena was thankful for the shop.  However, now that Lena has one good eye remained and with poor eye sight along with other constant medical issues, Lena could no long carry on this responsibility.  The reversed role 
of being the bread winner now suddenly falls on Da Nat, the oldest girl of the family!

During the long recovery periods and with her mother constantly returning to the hospital, Da Nat was able to reflect on the miracles that God allowed in her life.  At their moments of difficult times, she was able to see the Love of Jesus pouring to her family through the loving care and responsiveness of the Body of believers.  And every week when the Bible study often took place at their house, Da Nat was able to hear the word of God being taught in the class.  As the result Da Nat was encouraged to study God’s Word with her family and on her own.  So upon Soeuth’s invitation, Da Nat committed her life to Christ on Monday, October 21, 2013.  Since then, Da Nat has been one of the regular attendees at the Malay house church weekly Bible study class. 

As the new role of caring for her family now falls on her, Da Nat is taking full responsibility of running the saloon shop where she earns small amount of money to help feed the family.  When asked what her future plans for life would be, Da Nat could only think for “one day at a time”.  Her immediate goal is for a chance to attend a beauty school in order to improve her skills in cosmetic and hair stylist.   And she will have that chance when January comes.  Starting in January will move to Poipet to live with us for a while in order to train in such a skill at one of the saloon shops here.

Please continue to pray for the many Christmas programs that are yet to be done throughout the remaining days of December.  Pray that each of these celebrations would truly bring honor to Christ and not just following the programs.  

This morning , we received words that Synath Tol, (Syna’s older brother), after over two years of struggling against cancer, finally went HOME to be with the Lord at the age of 50.  Synath, a devoted follower of Jesus, had served as a pastor with the Cambodian Evangelical Church  (CEC) in Tacoma, WA, for many years.  Synath is survived by his wife, Soupha, and three teenagers, ages 19, 16, and 13.  Please pray for the family during this difficult time.

We wish you and Blessed and Merry Christmas. 

He is the reason for this season,

Syna and Soeuth Lao