August Update 2026

Dear Praying Friend and Family,

Warm greetings from Anlong Veng. We trust you and your family are doing well. The rainy season in Cambodia continues at its peak, with heavy rain falling 2-3 times a day… Last month, we shared a few prayer requests with you. The stories below are testimonies of how God answered your prayers…

                                                                    Field Forum…

First of all, we had an amazing time in fellowship with other International Workers at our annual Field Forum in Kep Province. Due to transitions with every family, either returning to the States or Canada for home assignment or returning to the field after an extended leave, some families we had not seen in almost three years! It took us 14 hours to get there from Anlong Veng! Because of the distance, we stopped overnight in Kampong Thom Province. Although the long car rides to and from were a challenge, having a blessed time of fellowship with other workers was worth the trip. Sadly, shortly before and throughout the Field Forum, Syna was under the weather with cold-like symptoms that persisted for the next few weeks. As soon as Syna’s health was improving, it was Soeuth’s turn. We both still suffer dry, itchy coughs from time to time. (These symptoms seemed to spread among the local villagers). Other than that, we are doing okay, by the grace of God. Appreciate your prayers for our health.

Everyone enjoyed team building activities at Field Forum

More team building activities 

        Trauma Healing Workshops in Poipet…

August 11-13: In partnership with the Healing Distress Organization, a local nonprofit, we held a 2.5-day Christian-based trauma-healing workshop at the Living Water Alliance church in Poipet, attended by 37 church leaders. The workshops not only provided information on how to deal with emotional wounds, but they also allowed people opportunities to reflect on painful past experiences, revisit and identify hidden emotional wounds, and find ways to heal through sharing and trusting in the Word of God. The participants were taught how to be good listeners. After careful instructions, participants were encouraged to share their deep wounds with another trusted partner. As a result, there was not a dry eye in the room! It was evident that everyone suffered deep emotional wounds and longed for their stories to be heard, but they were not given the opportunity. For fear of losing face, going against cultural norms, and/or grappling with honor vs. shame, people, instead of expressing what had happened, kept bottling up their emotions and past wounds deep in their hearts and souls, becoming prisoners of their past… Overall, everyone who participated in the workshops expressed deep gratitude for these timely seminars.

37 people participated in the trauma healing workshops in Poipet

Trauma healing workshops in Poipet

        A Shocking Discovery...

Aug 13: Immediately after the Poipet workshops, we rushed back to Anlong Veng in order to get things ready for another workshop in Anlong Veng, the next day. Normally, there are a few 3-hour drive routes we can travel between Anlong Veng and Poipet. On this particular day, we decided to take the route through the border area, where intense battles took place during last year’s border conflicts. To our dismay, we were shocked to discover that the same road that was once busy with farmers and travelers had become a desolate place had become a ghost town! Instead of seeing farmers busy driving their tractors, trailers, wagons, and motorbikes as in the year before, there were hardly any people nearby this time. As we kept driving along the road, we noticed trenches and bunkers with armed Khmer soldiers standing guard. The bunkers with armed soldiers were set up along the road facing Thailand at intervals of 30-50 meters apart. As we kept driving onward, there was visible evidence of ruined homes, school buildings, Buddhist temples, gas stations, clinic buildings, bridges, and many, many valuable buildings that were either completely destroyed or severely damaged by the bombs! We also noticed Thai national flags planted and raised inside Cambodia, about 2 kilometers from the border! It was infuriating to see these foreign flags inappropriately erected inside Cambodia! Seeing these devastating sites, our hearts ached for the farmers who lost their precious homes and properties along these border towns. May God bring justice for the poor and the oppressed.

Bridges completely destroyed by bombs during the last year’s border conflict

Trenches, bunkers with armed soldiers along the border roads

    Trauma Healing Workshops in Anlong Veng…

August 14-15: The same Trauma healing team also conducted a 1.5-day workshop at the Firm Foundation Alliance church in Anlong Veng, with 52 people participating. Because the majority of participants were not yet believers, the workshops were designed accordingly with strong emphasis on working with children and teens dealing with their emotional wounds.  Among these attendees were an assistant district leader for Anlong Veng, 3 school principals, 37 school teachers, two village leaders, and 9 members from the Firm Foundation Alliance church. The entire workshop was resourceful, engaging, and informative, with a lively atmosphere. As was done in Poipet, every participant in Anlong Veng had the opportunity to find a trustworthy partner and take turns sharing their past wounds with another person. The sharing time was moving, and they all requested extra time for this session. As in Poipet, people longed for their stories to be heard, but they were not given the opportunity until this workshop. At the end of the workshop, after a few people shared their testimonies and expressed their appreciation and gratitude, Soeuth asked if he could pray for all the participants. They all agreed. Though most of them had not professed faith in Jesus, soft cries could be heard during the lengthy heartfelt prayers. Before everyone departed, we exchanged contact information with an invitation, “Come and give Jesus a try. See what He can do in your life…”

52 people participated in the trauma healing workshops in Anlong Veng

Trauma healing seminar amongst school teachers

School teachers and Anlong Veng’s official leaders prayed after the trauma healing workshops

Other dates and events needing your prayers…

1. On August 16, 4-6:30 pm: We had a monthly village kid fellowship at our house. Most of these children come from severely dysfunctional and abusive families. Many of them live with grandparents or extended family because their parents are divorced, remarried, and are busy caring for their new families, leaving their children from the first marriage, small as they are, under the care of close or extended relatives. As a result, most of the children coming to our monthly ship often feel neglected, unwanted, and uncared for by their own parents. Many preteens and teenagers were forced to take on the responsibility of caring for their younger siblings. During these monthly fellowships, we sought to create opportunities for kids to enjoy games and food fellowship while spending time with their peers. Syna spent the entire Sunday afternoon cooking sausage-and-egg fried rice and baking banana muffins for everyone. When the food was served, most kids returned for their second, third, and even fourth serving! Overall, 46 children, ages 2-16, joyfully participated in this monthly kids fellowship. 

   

   Children enjoying fried rice at the kids fellowship

   
   

   

   46 children participated in the monthly kids fellowship

   
   
   Two year old boys had fun with an arm wrestling match
   Children enjoying relay games at the recent fellowship
2. August 28: Pastors/wives workshop among church leaders in Poipet village.
3. August 10-11: The 12^th students took their end-of-the-year final exams. 9 young people from the Firm Foundation Alliance took the 12th-grade exams and are now eagerly and anxiously awaiting the results…
4. After the final exams, the students have a long summer break, mid- August to the end of October. Taking advantage of these long school breaks, church leaders and youth workers in the northwest region are planning various youth activities for young people to fellowship. Sept. 5: a youth rally in Siem Reap; Sept. 19: a youth rally and soccer fellowship in Koaspean village; Oct 1-3: A rally & cooking contest at Anlong Veng…
5. Sept 10: The Cambodian aXcess International Workers will meet in the city to discuss plans and strategies to help the Khmer Evangelical Church (KEC) thrive beyond missionaries exiting…
6. Sept 21: A Theological Education by Extension (TEE) workshop in Svey Sisophon.

7.     Through frequent communication with key church leaders, we learned that although refugees who fled their homes and have been residing in refugee camps were encouraged to return to their hometowns, many families are still hesitant to go back for fear of uncertainties. Using funds that some of you have generously donated toward the “Restoration Refugees in NW Cambodia” project, we were able to purchase rice, food supplies, large plastic sheets, medicines, and other household supplies to distribute among the refugee families. On behalf of these needy families, THANK YOU!

Thank you so much for your continual partnership in the growing Cambodian ministries. We are grateful for your prayers and your sacrificial financial donation toward the Alliance Great Commission Funds, which enable us to continue serving in northern Cambodia, sharing the message of Hope in Jesus to lost people in Cambodia and around the world. Please share with us what God is doing in your life.

With a grateful heart,

Syna & Soeuth