May Update 2019 (part 2)

Dear Praying Friends and Family

Greetings!  Early in the month, we shared some requests with you, and here is how God answered your prayers…

Rains

The farmers are very excited that the rainy season is finally here! But it rained hard every day! Heavy rains bring challenges for us to do weekly village ministries. In some locations, we had to cross 3-5 wooden bridges to get to our final destination. This week, we almost did not make it to our discipleship class at Srae Kandal village as one bridge had some missing planks.

Typical bridges on the roads to our weekly village classes

Soeuth detoured off the main road due to broken bridges

Visitors

We enjoyed having the three Filipina ladies staying with us. They are shadowing us to every village around Anlong Veng area with hopes of seeking future ministry opportunities. In addition to these dear ladies, we also have two other young ladies staying with us until early June. Having raised two sons of our own, Syna was used to having a house full of boys, but these few weeks Soeuth is out- numbered by 6 gals to 1 guy!

These ladies are shadowing us around Anlong Veng ministries

Motorbike Missions Trip

Every year in May, we host annual motorbike mission trip for Alliance national youth ministry in the northwest region. The purpose of the mission trip was two-fold: (1) To expose potential emerging church people to see where the needs are in terms of ministry opportunities as well as to raise prayer support and (2) to encourage and support Alliance church families in remote places. Thus, on the appointed date, May 12-15, the visiting team traveled to Alliance village churches in Preah Vihear province, the northern part of Cambodia.

Upon arriving at every village, we held worship services which included short testimonies, a message, and opportunities for prayer requests given to both the visitors as well as testimonies from the hosting villagers. There was an overwhelming need at every place.

Soeuth prayed at a village worship service

In one village, a new believer experienced the most heart-breaking story ever told. At aged 26, Phally, a young mother of a severely disabled 3-year old, was in her third trimester of pregnancy with her second child! Her young husband, in desperate search for ways to make a living, went to cut wood (illegally) along the border of Thailand. He eventually got arrested by Thai soldiers where he is still locked up in prison. In a great time of need, Phally cried out to the Living God for help. God answered her prayers by sending the visiting team to her village. At the end of the trip, we took an offering and collected $150.00 (about a month salary for average people) where the youth leaders presented the gift to Phally! At every village, participants were sharing their faith with villagers. As the results, six people gave their lives to Jesus!

Six villagers received Christ at a recent motorbike mission trip

Because of the rainy season, the youth leaders decided that we should stay in one place for night time lodging during the entire trip including 3 nights and 4 days. We stayed at Sra Em village where adequate water supplies and bathroom facilities were moderately available. Participants set up their camping gear including tents, hammocks, and mosquito nets. Daily morning devotions and evening worship services were conducted by designated youth leaders. At these morning and evening services, opportunities were given for participants to share what they saw and experienced and how they responded to each need. At the last evening service, as participants were sitting around the bon fire taking turns to share what God laid in their hearts, there was not a dry eye in the camp! God had truly stirred the hearts of these participants. Young people were so moved by what they saw and experienced that some had requested to have more trips. Input, suggestions, and recommendations about the trips were also given to the leaders for future trips. On May 15th, the last day of the trip, about 50 of the participants chose to visit one of the ancient temples in that province. We parted companies around 4 pm at Anlong Veng…

Overall, there were 71 visitors traveling from four different provinces in the northwest region who participated in this motorbike mission trip. 35 of them were first timers on a mission trip! All participants rode on 28 motorbike and in three vehicles, covering over 480 kilometers (298 miles) to
visit five villages in Preah Vihear Province.

About 50 of the participants visited one of the ancient temples in Preah Vihear province

Young people participated in motorbike mission trip

71 Alliance believers participated in motorbike trip

71 people participated in a motorbike mission trip

Toul Prich youth participated in mission trip

Date and events needing your prayers…

1. May 21-25, we will be traveling to Phnom Penh, the capital city, for a Total SDI Assessment conference.
2. June 1 is our next Poipet leadership class. 
3. June 6, we look forward to Jonathan coming home for summer break.
4. June 7-14, we will be in Bangkok for medical/dental checkups as well as some R&R times
5. June 18 is the next youth rally
6. Please continue to pray for permission to worship for village churches in Poipet areas.

Thank you for your partnership in the Anlong Veng church ministries. We are grateful for your on-going prayers and support.  Please share with us what God is doing in your midst.

God is on the move!
Soeuth & Syna