September 2022 Update

Dear Friends and Family, 

The rainy season seemed to linger a bit longer this year than ever before. Heavy rains are causing much damage on roads and crops. Everywhere we turned, there were always potholes, puddles, and floods, making traveling very challenging… 

Rain and flooding

Flood water completely covered Anlong Veng bridge!

Visiting’s Kong’s village…

Even with difficult roads, we were grateful for the opportunity to visit a few village house churches. One of such village was Andong Chan village where our dear friend and late ministry partner, Mr. Kong, used to live. It was sad to see his two widows and children struggle to make ends meets after losing Kong, who was their bread winner, to a tragic accident six months ago. During that visit, Kean (Kong’s younger brother) from the floating village, who also was with Kong when the accident took place, was able to join us for this first meeting with the family as well. Through Kean’s sharing, we gained a better understanding of what actually happened on that tragic day. With the money they had, the family built a merger tombstone for their beloved Mr. Kong in the back of their property. After discussing with the family, we planned to have a barb wired fence built around this family’s property to keep away petty thief and unwanted strayed animals from stealing goods or destroying the family crops. We also plan to have deep wells installed onto the property for the family and community to use. 

Mr. Kong's grave yard, Khean (far left) and Haggai (far right)

Opportunities to impact communities…

Lately, the Anlong Veng team has tremendous opportunities to work and serve alongside the local community through the after-school programs, targeting school-aged kids using a Bible based English literacy program. Every afternoon on weekdays, the kids come to learn English and math while on the weekends they participate in a Bible story lessons. Everyday, rain or shine, local kids joyfully and willingly walk or bike to the Firm Foundation Alliance church ground. During the weekdays, two-three age appropriate classes are being taught by our teammates where the kids study for an hour in each class. While waiting for their turn, the children keep themselves occupied or entertained with jump ropes, soccer games, hacky sacks, and the UNO card game! Although, no one has publicly professed their faith in Jesus, yet, some kids are asking deep and meaningful questions. While they hang around on the church property, these kids seem to enjoy singing along with the Christian worship songs that were being played loudly from our portable speaker. On Sept 10, our team scheduled a bimonthly joined Sunday church services, allowing kids to join in the worship service before sending them out to their designated age appropriate Sunday school classes. It was a joyful and chaotic service, but everyone seemed to enjoy it. See photos below…

Solar lights and panels…

Early this month, upon their request and based on the needs of the community, with the money YOU sent to support the Northern Church plant, we purchased 26 solar lights and solar panels, 26 metal poles and then donated the supplies to two local schools. The parents and the teachers the villager leaders expressed appreciation for the gifts. 

26 solar lights were donated to local schools in Toul Prich village

The first monthly kid evangelism service in Toul Krous village…

Also, because of this rainy season and due to distance, on August 28, our Anlong Veng team decided to initiate a monthly evangelism outreach service to community kids in Toul Krous village. Parents and community leaders of that area were made aware, and they were supportive and appreciative of the after-school programs that our team is offering to their kids. On this first evangelism outreach service, 72 kids participated with ages ranging from 4-14 years old! Seeds are already planted. We are trusting God for growth…

First evangelism message in Toul Krous

Village kids joining church service at Toul Prich

Church Plant Workshop

On Sept 17, we joined our Alliance teammates for a one-day church plant workshop in Siem Reap province. Although the goal was to discuss plans and strategies for church plant ideas, we ended talking mostly about how to care for existing churches and promote awareness about “sheep stealing” problems that the local Alliance churches are constantly facing—this seems to be on-going issue among the local Alliance church in every part of the country. Please pray for spiritual protection over the innocent new believers. These “sheep stealers” are using worldly materials to lure younger believers from the truth.

Church planting workshop

Srey Poev’s journey…

Sept 3-4, we made an overnight trip to visit our dear friends who are from the Living Water Alliance church in Poipet. Our hearts soared with an overwhelming joy to see the vibrant faith of believers in that area. After spending time visiting various individuals, there seemed to be a movement of people wanting to study God’s word in a deeper and meaningful way. 

Soeuth preaching at Poipet Living Water Alliance

As Pastor Chean, the lead pastor of that church and the key leaders overseeing the 10 other church sites in that region, mentioned, “It all began with one new believer, Srey Poev, who just wanted to study God’s word. She was always asking for a class." After asking around about Srey Poev’s spiritual journey, this is what we learned. 

Srey Poev who is 57 years old met Jesus one year ago and experienced a miraculous healing. She had a stroked and was paralyzed on her right side for 8 months. Through prayers and her complete trust in the Great Physician, she experienced complete healing. To her and everyone else’s amazement, this lady was noticeably handicapped, after meeting Jesus, she not only experienced complete healing of a physical body, she also experienced a transformed heart. Before meeting Jesus, she was in a wheelchair being pushed by her family, now, she was often seen walking and sharing the power of Jesus to her family and neighbors. And she kept asking, “I want to know God. Please teach me more about Him." At one point, she was participating in three discipleship classes a week! She not only was sitting through the classes, she actively participated in class discussion and memorized all the weekly Bible verses required for each class! Her love for God’s word made other “old time” believers feel embarrassed or guilty, that now, more people are joining small groups of discipleship classes. There was so much excitement from people wanting to study God's word, the pastor together with other leaders were teaching 9 classes a week! When we talked with Srey Poev, every word from her lips was credited or giving praise to Jesus. She said, “I was dead in my sins and was completely helpless with my handicap, but God took pity on me and raised me up. I am forever grateful to Jesus!”

Srey Poev sharing her journey

Please pray for dates and events below…

1. At this writing, the Nation of Cambodia is celebrating a religious holiday called Bon Pjum Ben where local people are required to bring food offering to the Buddhist temples hoping to appease the spirits of their deceased ancestors. This is a very testing time for believer in the One true God. Many young believers were pressured by family members to return to their old faith or risked being rejected by family and friends. But for those who are rooted in the Word, they often become very bold about sharing Jesus, especially at this time of the year. 
2. About 25 plus national youth committee members will participate in a one-day workshop in Siem Reap on Oct 14. 
3. Oct.2 is our next monthly kid evangelism outreach in Toul Krous village.
4. Pray for safety and project on long road trips that we travel every week. Even with careful driving, bad road and other careless drivers making it very challenge. The roads are at their worst now with all the rains we’ve been having.

Roads severely damaged by too much rain

Thank you for your partnership in the northern Cambodian ministry. God is moving and stirring hearts toward his kingdom. Thank you for your prayers and on-going financial support toward Alliance Mission. Your sacrificial giving enables us to remain serving in Cambodia sharing the message of Hope in Jesus to lost people in this part of the world. We appreciate you. Please share with us what God is doing in your life.

Blessings,

Soeuth and Syna