January Update 2023

Dear Faithful Prayer Supporters,

Happy New Year! We trust you had a blessed Christmas season and a joyful New year. We can hardly believe that 2023 is already here! It feels like yesterday when we were dealing with all the issues accompanied with 2022. So, before another month slips by, we want to share with you some updates and a few highlights of what took place in December 2022…

Christmas at Boeng Beng Church…

Dec. 20: We joined a small group of believers to celebrate Christmas at Boeng Beng church in Malay district, about an hour drive from Poipet. Led by Lalin and Pheap’s leadership, a Khmer national couple from Poipet, the number of attendees grew to about 25 adults and many children. Lalin, a National Children ministry coordinator, has a special ministry reaching school-aged kids in the community. She and her husband, Pheap, travel from Poipet every week to teach and preach. On this special occasion, the children and their parents were invited. About 70 people participated-- 40 plus of them were children! Many of those who attended said that this was “My first Christmas celebration!” When Soeuth gave an altar called, four ladies responded and prayed to receive Jesus. From past experiences, we always asked people if they had any spirit strings after leading them to Christ. And if so, would they be willing to cut them off? One lady, Sokry, was willing to cut off a total of six spirit strings! She kept adding one string at a time whenever she discovered that her husband was cheating. When asked why she decided to receive Jesus, “I am tired of being rejected and betrayed and unwanted, over and over. If what Lok Kru (meaning teacher- referring to Soeuth) said is true, that Preah Yea-sue came down to earth to seek lowly people like me, well then, I believe! I want Jesus in my heart”. 

40 plus children joyfully participated in a Christmas celebration at Beong Beng for the first time!

A lady, cutting off 6 spirit strings (her old life) to follow Jesus!

Children paid close attention to the Christmas message!

A Surprised Christmas Visit at Kabin Phlaov 3…

Dec. 22: As if it was previously planned, 11 key church leaders and their wives from the northwest region decided, individually, to pay a surprise visit to a Christmas celebration at Kabin Phlaov 3, (literal translation meaning the “merging of three roads”). Among the surprised visitors were Rev. Sok Sophon, a former KEC president, and his wife, Maram, and some of Tongsy’s dear friends—other elderly widows from northwest region. It was such a wonderful surprise to us all. Auntie Tongsy, the 83- year- old widow, the main hostess for this special event, had no clue that all these key leaders would show up at her doorstep! Her joy was so overwhelming that it moved to tears…

(Tongsy and her friends sang joyful songs to Jesus

During the early 1980s, Tongsy and her six small children were living in refugee camps along the Thai-Cambodia border with her drunken husband, then. It was inside the refugee camps that Tongsy and her children found true peace, happiness, contentment, and refuge through her genuine faith in Jesus Christ the Rock. Shortly after she received Jesus, Tongsy was mistreated harshly by her own husband.  Whatever the reason, Tongsy’s husband seemed to take pleasure in beating up his wife and children, especially whenever he was drunk, which was almost every day. Sometimes, the beating was so severe that Tongsy was found unconscious for days at a time and with her body completely covered with cuts and bruises. He was constant demanding Tongsy to deny her faith. But no matter how severe the verbal and the physical abuses she endured, Tongsy remained faithful to God. In late September 1993, after the refugee camps closed, Tongsy and her family returned to settle their lives in Kabin Phlaov 3 where she became the founder of an Alliance church there. Even as Tongsy was a leader of this small church, her husband, then, would always look for opportunities to mock and humiliate her in front of people. In spite of the constant abuses, Tongsy was faithfully determined to practice forgiveness over retaliation to his evil deeds! Her unshakeable faith in Jesus and her willingness to remain living with a very difficult husband were an inspiration to all her six adult children, that they also became faithful followers of Jesus Christ. Sadly, in October 1999, her husband drank himself to death without having a relationship with Jesus.

Presently, Tongsy remains a faithful, vibrant, and fearless spiritual leader for this small remote Alliance church. As for distance, Kabin Phlaov 3 is far removed and remotely located from any Christian community. To visit this church, we drove almost 6 hours from Anlong Veng, (a 315- kilometer one-way trip), mostly on bumpy and dirt roads. 

Auntie Tongsy sharing her joy and gratitude upon seeing many surprised visitors at her village.

Because of the distance, we visited Kabin Phlaov 3 only a few times in the past few years, but we had always seen Tongsy or some of her adult children attending conferences or seminars in one of the central locations throughout the northwest region. Many times, she invited us to visit her place, but time would not allow us, until this Christmas season. On this appointed date, to see so many visitors from distant places surprised at her humble village, Tongsy was speechless and flooded with tears of joy beyond description. At the end of his messages, Soeuth offered another alter call where seven (7) ladies responded. And all seven of them cut off spirit strings.  

Seven ladies prayed to receive Jesus at Kabin Phlaov!

A Christmas Celebration on a Floating Village…

Dec. 24: Early morning on Christmas’s Eve, we took a truck-load of church members from Anlong Veng to join a celebration at Kampong Klang floating village. Similar situations as in Kabin Phlaov 3, families who live remotely on various floating villages found themselves lonely and isolated from other Christian community. They rarely received any visitor from the mainland. So, upon our recent visit, the hosting families rejoiced exceedingly upon receiving 20 visitors who packed into two boats full to join their Christmas celebration. We brought individual wrapped gift bags filled with school supplies, coloring pages, crayons, small toys, and some goodies as gifts for 68 children! While it was fun visiting the floating village, some of the visitors found the trip to be challenging due to the lack of adequate bathroom facilities. They were glad that it was only a short visit and everyone was glad to step on land again…

Visiting a floating village

(A joyful Christmas celebration on a floating village!)

Christmas Celebrations at Poipet…

Dec. 29: Even though our original plan was to join the Living Water Alliance church for an evening Christmas celebration on Dec. 31- Jan.1, we decided to arrive a few days early just to visit with some church families. Shortly after arrival, we learned that another church nearby, Santepheap Alliance Church, was also doing their evening celebration on the 29th. We showed up unannounced at the appointed time, and what a wonderful surprise it was to everyone there. The beautiful thing about this celebration was the entire program was carefully planned, organized, decorated, and prepared activities and including meals—all were done by mostly youth and a few young adults! Our hearts soared beyond measure to see young people stepped up to serve and to get involve in various ministry capacities. Two families from that church who raise goats for a living. Months before Christmas, each of these two families decided to dedicate their first-born goat and to raise it for the Christmas celebration. When Christmas arrived, each family brought their fatten goat (s) to prepared for the Christmas feast. There was plenty of food to feed 150 people!

Christmas celebration at Poipet

Dec. 31-Jan.1:  When we arrived a few minutes before 4 pm (as was mentioned in the program), there was hardly anyone at the Living Water Church! Someone jokingly commended that they were following a “Khmer time." But as the evening approached, church people from various villages began to show up at a rapid pace. The leaders had 400 plastic chairs set up. Late in the evening, people were still standing to worship, because there were no seats. Every year, this church spent, on the average, at least $500-$800.00 for Christmas meal. This year, however, the families decided to contribute home cooked meals from their own personal expenses! There was plenty of food, 15 plus course meals larvishly displayed on two longs tables serving as buffet style, feeding nearly 500 people! Every expense was covered by each family’s personal expenses, and not a penny was taken from the church offering account. It was a beautiful site to see church families generously and joyfully gave, some families gave out of poverty. They all gave in various ways—through finances, times, and or services. The evening program ended at 10 pm, but many people lingering on around a bon fire roasting hotdogs, corns, and sweet potatoes. They stayed on to welcome the New Year and then slept in the hammocks, tents, and mosquito nets that each family brought from home. We joined the camping group and stayed up until 2 am then checked into our favorite and comfortable portable “hotel," our hammocks…

Dates and events needing your prayers…

1. We have A LOT more highlights and stories still need to be shared, but not this time… Meanwhile, please continue praying for the well building situation that we have been trying to get done in villages where people are crying for cleaning drinking waters. As shared last month, even after three tries, we had failed attempts in Andong Chan. The same company went on to drill three more attempts at Srae Nouy but with meager results.  For the first and third sites, after drilling passed 130 and 140 meters deep, were completely failures. The second site, after reaching 136 meters, produced about 1000 liters of water per day.  We put pumps and kept it going. With extra fund added to their request, by mid- January, the same well company drill on the second site, again, hoping to go deeper for a chance reaching clean water level… We will also plan to build a well on the property of the Anlong Veng Ministry Center. Hopefully and prayerfully, they will not face similar problems in Anlong Veng... 

1. Currently, three different building companies are working closely with church leaders to discuss plans and strategies for three building projects: a library and a soccer field in Anlong Veng, and a church building at Srae Nouy. Our desire is to see the groundbreakings established (hopefully by mid- January or early February) and the foundations laid (by early March at the latest) while we are still in the dry season. Rainy season begins in early May. Pray that the church building committees and the construction companies would reach an agreement so the they can go on with building plans… Pray for the integrity of the workers (who are not yet believers) and the foremen (believers) who overseeing each of the building projects. And please, pray for safety and for protection for everyone, especially the workers… The believers all over Cambodia are bursting with excitement as they waiting with expectation for the 100th year celebration, January 26-28. Pray for workers, the organizers or overseers at every level—pray for strength and energies and unity. May the light of Jesus shine ever brighter at this celebration…
2. 7 members of Field Leadership Team (FLT) met every two weeks via zoom for 9 minutes at each meeting to discuss plans and strategies for the field. On January 12, FLT is invited for a full day meeting with the National Church Committees (NCC) to discuss plans and strategies for overall Cambodian Alliance church. Pray for discerning hearts and unity for all as we seek to work for God’s kingdom purpose…

THANK YOU so much for your continual partnership in the overall Cambodian ministries in the effort to share the message of Hope in Jesus Christ to lost people in the country and around the world. Your generous donations to support Alliance Mission enables us to remain serving in the Cambodia. We greatly appreciate your partnership, your prayers, and your support. 

It has been one year since we launched the fundraising for the Anlong Veng Ministry Center approved project. And supporters like you have been sending their generous financial support.  The total amount needed to complete this project is $350,000. As of date, we’d received $176,393.74! Praise God for this amazing provision in such a short time. Lord willing, our heart desire is to see this project complete funded during the next few months or by early next year so we can carryon with the building plans during this three- year term serving in Anlong Veng. Our next home assignment is June 2025.  

Won’t you join us to see this dream become a reality. To support this project, please send your donation, make it payable to the C&MA and write  the word “Anlong Veng Ministry Center” on the memo line, then mail the check to The C&MA, 6421 E Main Street, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068. 

To give online, please visit the C&MA website then scroll down to click on “find a project” then type in “Anlong Veng Ministry Center”. For detailed information about this project please refer to an attached file below…We are so grateful to God for you. May 2023 bring abundant blessings and true happiness to you and your family and ministry. With a grateful heart.

Blessings,

Soeuth & Syna Lao

December Update 2022

Dear Friends and Family,

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” Isaiah 9:6

As you are preparing to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, may you experience the true meaning for this holiday season.

Churches all over Cambodia (and around the world) are busy preparing for Christmas celebrations. Church members are encouraged to invited their non-church family members to participate in these festive events. This year is the first big-group Christmas celebration since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic began. Therefore, everyone is very excited and looking forward to join any celebration. Many things had happened since our last update. Here are just a few events…

Kong’s Memorial Service

Nov. 19: Pastor Dy led a small group (about 30 people) of believers to gather as a memorial service at the tombstone of the late Mr. Kong, who went to be with Jesus on April 5. To honor the occasion, the groups sang a few of Kong’s most favorite Khmer traditional hymnal songs. Even though it was a hot day, the only shade was from a single neem tree, but everyone seemed to enjoy singing and sharing stories of their late friend. At a proper time, people took turns to express their love and gratitude to the memories of the late Mr. Kong for introducing Jesus to them. While the service was going on, Kong’s oldest son and some men were busy mixing cement and gravels in and attempt to mount up a memorial marble plaque onto the tombstone. Many were grateful to God for an opportunity to know Mr. Kong…

Soeuth preached at Mr. Kong's memorial service

KEC Men Conference

Nov. 24: The KEC held a national men conference at Phnom Penh where about 120 people from around the country participated. This event took place right in the middle of a very busy harvesting season, where every helping hand was needed in the fields to gather and collect crops. As a result, not many men were able to participate. All the messages and workshops for the conference were based on Matthew 24:14.

 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come”

Although it was a national men conference, there were about 30 plus ladies were among the attendees. In between the services, there was a rich time for personal testimonies, prayer requests, and a time for confession. Many men raised their hands to recommit their lives and ministries to God. 

120 people participated in KEC men conference

Regional Church Committees (RCC)’s Visit

On Nov. 30- Dec. 1, we had the honor of hosting 7 members of the northwest regional church committee members (with their families, a total of 16 people total) who came to visit church ministries in the Anlong Veng region. During a warm fellowship and worship time, Rev. Nhea Pherum, a district superintendent for the northwest region, gave an encouraging message based on the book of Judges chapter 6 and challenged the believers to remain faithful in their service to God no matter what lowly backgrounds they came from saying, "If we are just willingly surrender our lives into His plan, God can use any one for his kingdom purpose." After the message, there were opportunities for church members to share their personal testimonies on how each of them came to faith in Jesus. Immediately after the service, members from the Toul Prich Firm Foundation Alliance church surprised the visitors with their famous Khmer traditional dish of green curry and rice noodle! 

Regional Annual Women's Christmas Celebration

Dec. 3: The northwest regional KEC women also held their annual Christmas celebration at Svey where 300 plus ladies joyful participated! 26 ladies from the Anlong Veng and from Srae Nouy were also part of this big group. Some ladies put on their beautiful Khmer traditional outfits for this special occasion. There were two keynote speakers for the event: one gave a Christmas sermon message and while another gave a health lesson/message. Because of the pandemic, the last big group women gathering was since December 2018! When an opportunity to meet finally arrived, the ladies made every effort to join. The total attended was an overwhelming surprised to the committees who had planned, expected, and prepared meal for only about 150. Fortunately, the location was not too far from a local wet market where the cooks were able to buy already prepared meals for the extra attendees. Over all, everyone was not too much concerned for the lack of food, they were just enjoying the conference and one another’s company. During a time set aside for special songs, each group sang their hearts out in songs of praises, worship, and dancing to the one true God and King Jesus. The word AMAZING was the common expression from every lip of those who participated in this Christmas celebration…

300 plus ladies attended a regional women Christmas celebration

Syna taught a health lesson at the women conference

Other dates and events needing your prayers...

1. After facing many “red tapes” in an attempt to find well building companies, we found one and hired their services on December 4. However, just two days before the workers arrived, one of the key leaders had an accident and needed to be hospitalized immediately. This leader was to be present at the work site to monitor the well building process. We found a replacement, but then we faced another bigger problem. The workers had worked diligently for 5 days in a row drilling the well. Even after they had reached 106 meters deeps underground, they still had not reached the clean water level. At this writing, the workers removed pipes from one location and tried again at another location. So far, at this second attempt, they already passed the 70 meters depth, but still have not reach the water level. Please join us to pray for a miracle. The people in Andong Chan Village are desperately crying for clean drinking water. This is the fourth times we had tried building a deep well for this village! After Andong Chan, the same well workers will try to build a deep well at Srae Nouy. Please pray for a successful attempt.

A fourth attempt to build a deep well at Andong Chan village

2. Since the school-aged children are on a long 3-week break, we worked together to plan fun activities or fellowship events for them. December 5 was one of such events when we took 15 youth from Anlong Veng areas for a field trip to visit the ancient Angkor Wat temples. All but two of these youth had never visited this place of wonder before. Needless to say that everyone had a fantastic time. Although many of the school-aged kids have not professed faith in the Lord Jesus yet, they willingly come every day to the church property to hang out and to learn in various classes that our teammates offer. Even their parents (who are not yet believers) have also entrusted their kids into our care. While these children are with us, every conversation, every game, every song, every dance or fun activity, and every lesson plan-- these are all careful designed, developed, planned, and geared toward Bible based messages. The seeds of truth have been deeply planted in their hearts. Pray that the God of the harvest would allow these seeds to growth in His perfect timing.

3. Dec. 8, we held a Christmas outreach event for the school aged kids in Anlong Veng region. 86 kids 16 parents showed up.

Christmas outreach event for Anlong Veng school aged kids

86 children and 16 parents showed up an a recently Christmas event!

Visiting Angkor Wat with Anlong Veng kids

4. Christmas celebration are happening in every village that we know of, and it happened almost everyday! Obviously, we cannot be in all the places. At this writing, we had already participated in four Christmas celebrations, only eight more places on our list, so far... Christmas is a big thing for the Cambodian believers, stretching from early December to early January, with a back-to-back plan, going from one church celebration to another, without much breaks in between.  It is fun and joyful time for the hosting villages, but it can be a weary and exhausting time for the “traveling” preachers. Pray for safety as we take long distant road trips. Many of the remote locations required an overnight stay either before and after the celebration. In such places, we often stayed in the village people's home sleeping in our own hammocks. Pray for receptive hearts from the audiences. Most messages have been prayerfully and carefully prepared with an evangelism outreach purpose.

5. Normally, after Christmas season, we tried to carve time for rest and relaxation during January—but not this year, and it is for a good reason Cambodian churches all over the country are super excited for the joined effort to plan for the 100th anniversary celebration for when the first gospel was brought into the country by Alliance Workers.  Everyone is waiting with great anticipation. Pray for good health and protection of those who will be traveling from around the world to join the event. Pray against the enemy schemes that might thaw the plans for this celebration. May His will be done for His purpose…

Preparing for the 100th anniversary celebration...

THANK YOU so much dear faithfully supporters and ministry partners. Thank you for your love and concern for the lost of the Khmer people and other lost people from around the world. You have demonstrated such love through prayers and financial support. Your generous donations to support Alliance Mission enables us to remain serving in Cambodia sharing the message of HOPE that can be found only in Jesus Christ. We are very grateful for and appreciate you! Have a blessed and a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Jesus Christ is the reason for the season,

Soeuth & Syna Lao

November Update 2022

Dear Faithful Supporting Friends and Family,

Greetings from Anlong Veng, Cambodia! We trust everyone of you is doing well by the grace of God. It is harvest season in Cambodia and rice farmers all over the country are busy harvesting and gathering crops to store in the barns before the rains come. In spite of the worst flooding season we had recently, church families were grateful that some crops were not completely destroyed by the flood waters. With the floods, came a season of sickness related to contaminated waters and mosquito bites.  Some church families were hospitalized with various diseases, but by the grace of God, every one of them has been recovering well. 

VBS with the Village Kids… 

From mid-October to early November, we had been busy hosting a visiting team from Hawaii to help with VBS school-aged children to conduct adult leadership seminars among church leaders. Then in early November, another team (also from Hawaii) came to do trauma and healing workshop seminars for all age groups. The seminars were done mostly in church locations at Anlong Veng, Srae Nouy, Batthambang, Svey, and at Poipet. While in Anlong Veng, upon a request from a local public school, a two-hour session of trauma and healing was taught to 102 middle school-aged youth in addition to their teachers, the school principle, and a village leader! Some of the youth from that same school were members of the Toul Prich Firm Foundation Alliance church! Praise God for a precious opportunity to plant seed in this school community.

Fruits of the Spirit VBS with village kids

Leadership workshop at Svey

A fellowship meal with Toul Prich church

Trauma and Healing Workshops…

While trauma and healing sessions were being taught at the local churches, participants paid close attention to what was taught and discussed. Even during the hot afternoon hours after a hearty meal (a time when people normally fallen asleep) many participants were wide awake! They were like sponges-- absorbing every word being said or discussed! During a wrap up time after trauma and healing session, each of the participants had the opportunity to practice being a counselor or a client. It was a beautiful site watching people willingly share about their painful hurts and past to their trusted neighbors. For many of them, this was the first time that they had someone to really listen to their stories of past hurts and traumas. Our hope and prayer are that more people would find true healing in Jesus and also that relationships are restored after their stories are being heard.

Participations taking turns to practiced sharing and listening stories

Floating Villages… 

In between the Hawaiian teams, we also hosted a vision team of five pastors from Mosaic church in Nevada.  In addition to visiting two public schools in Anlong Veng, some Alliance church in the northern region, this team also visited some floating Alliance churches on the Tonle Sap Lake. Even though it was a very long (about 3.5 hours each way) and an uncomfortable boat ride for the visitors, this trip to the floating villages was especially meaningful to the hosting families. The village families who live in remote places often feel completely cut off from other communities. These small floating huts/homes are constantly surrounded by deep waters anywhere from 8-15 meters deep, depending on the season, and many of them live in constant fears whenever there was a storm approaching. Children who live in floating houses often learned to swim before they learn to walk. The older kids and most adults don’t even know how to ride a bicycle or a motorbike! 

A floating Alliance church in the middle of Tonle Sap Lake

To go from one house to another or from one village to the next, they would spend a high price on fuel for the motorboats. Therefore, with on-going family poverty and limited funding available, many of them hardly seen or walked on lands for months or years at a time. The fact that Mosaic team was willing to visit them in such far away locations, to be able to sit down and enjoy a humble meal with them, brought MUCH blessings and encouragement to the local hosting people. It was also a great learning experience for the visitors. We started the day with a beautiful sunrise from Siem Reap to shore of Tonle Sap and ended it with a beautiful sunset on the way back. 

Visiting floating villages

A long boat ride to and from the floating villages

An Alliance Church building stood proud and strong even in the raging storms among the great Tonle Sap Lake of Cambodia!

Sunset by the Tonle Sap Lake

Pheap’s Story… 

Recently, we took the Mosaic visiting team to visit a 45-year old lady named Pheap, a member of the Toul Prich Firm Foundation Alliance church in Anlong Veng, (details of her story were mentioned in our April 2021’s blog as well as in the Alliance Life magazine, volume 157, Jul/Aug 20022), and gained more details to her amazing story… 

Mosaic team visiting Pheap's house

During the long and difficult Covid months, like many other families in Cambodia and around the world, Pheaph’s family faced loss of employment which resulted in lack of other basic supplies. In the midst of hard times, Pheap’s natural survival instincts, prayers, and her amazing cooking skills, Pheap took charge and led her family above a survival mode. Together with some helps from her husband, three teenage son, two young daughters, Pheap prepared packaged home cooked meals which she sold to farmers and to people who were trapped in various quarantine quarters. When people called to place a meal order, Pheap carefully and prayerfully packed up meals that often included a small Christian tract in each of the lunch box! While everyone else was crying out for work, God blessed Pheap’s business so much that the family earned enough money to build a house! Before Covid, Pheap shared a tiny one-room wooden stilted house with seven family members. Pheap had always dream that one day, she would have house of her own safe enough for her sons and daughters. So, she saved up every penny she earned for the building cost of her dream home. BUT from past experiences, Pheap also learned that if she waited to have all the money saved for the house, eventually, her own husband or mainly her in-laws would try to “borrow” whatever money she had saved, as they had habitually done in the past. To avoid these no returned-borrowing methods, Pheap secretly purchased building supplies including, bricks, sands and gravels, metals, woods, and any other building supplies she could think of and stored them away in the back of her property. Whenever she had some cash on hands, she would always invested in the construction supplies, buying one item at a time, hoping that one day, she would have enough supplies for her dream home… 

Finally, March 2022, Pheap hired some workers to build her house! The house is not quite finished because the family had ran out of supplies and money. But Pheap was grateful to the fact that, “I have a roof over my head and strong brick walls to the house." She then added, “One day, when we have enough money, we can add one door and one window at a time." Recently, seeing that her house is still incomplete, a neighbor offered to pay Pheap handsomely, “If you would just recite to me the words/ the chanting of the magic power you once used." Pheap said, “NO! I am a follower of Preah yea-sue now. I don’t do that thing any more." But the woman went on to plead, “You don’t have to say the actual words out loud, just write them down on the paper, and that would be enough." Pheap firmly refused and asked the woman to leave and never repeat that question again… As we were about to depart, we asked if Pheap had any prayer request. The needs were obvious and we thought that Pheap might ask about financial need, but Pheap’s only request was, “I would love to see my husband (Ron) believe in Jesus and also my three sons. More than anything in this world, I want my whole family to believe and serve God together as the family, just like my teachers, Soeuth and Syna…

Here are some praises and prayer requests for your consideration…

1. The KEC churches are busy planning Christmas events. So far, Soeuth already accepted five speaking invitations… This Christmas time is significant for churches in Cambodia. This may be the first big gathering since Covid-19. Needless to say that everyone is supper excited. Pray that people would see the true meaning of the season and that hearts be receptive and responsive to the Good News…
2. In respond to the needs, we received enough funds from interested donors to build two deep wells for two villages that located a bit distant from one another. Even though we offered to pay a full- asking price required for building deep wells, because of distant locations, most well companies were reluctant to haul all the heavy equipment to work at each designated location. Pray that these companies would change their minds and would be willing to do the job soon.
3. As for the Anlong Veng Ministry Center, so far, we received about 1/3 of the total funding needed for the entire project! With the money received, we are in the beginning stage of building a smaller project, one at a time. Earlier this month, based on the need, we began a multipurpose open- space children center next door to the house church where the Toul Prich Firm Foundation Alliance church is currently meeting. Our next project is to build a soccer field… At the same time, the Srae Nouy Church is also planning to build their church building. The need to find honest construction workers is crucial. As we go through each project, we are reminded that if God is not in this from the beginning, no matter what we plan or do, nothing will accomplish. Please join us in prayers that God will see through all the detail of each project.
4. The Cambodian church leaders are busy planning for the 100th years anniversary event, January 25-28. The first Gospel was brought to Cambodia, in January 1923, through Alliance International Workers. Despite the massive killing during the Killing Field regime  (April 1975- January 7, 1979) where about 2 million people were killed, among them about 80% of the first Christians were also killed. But what the Enemy “intended for evil, God intended for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives…” (Genesis 50:20). Today, there are over 200 Alliance Churches and many other evangelical churches all over Cambodia. The first Khmer Bible translated by Alliance Mission is being used all Cambodia and among the Cambodian communities all around world.

We are so grateful to God for YOU, our dear faithful supporters. We appreciate your partnership through prayers and financial support. Thank you for investing your efforts and resource in to building God’s kingdom in Cambodia reaching out to lost people to find true hope and love and salvation in Jesus Christ. To financially support in any project through Alliance Ministry, please visit this website at: https://secure.cmalliance.org/give  And please share with us what God is doing in your life. 

Have a blessed Thanksgiving holiday. 

With a grateful heart, Soeuth & Syna Lao 

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 

August Update 2022

Dear Friend and Family,

We trust this note finds you well. We’re almost settled into our new house. Since August 1 (the first day we moved in), we’ve been fixing and renovating the house. Adding one small item at a time, it is slowly becoming more like “home." We asked some of you for prayers on how to live with a few difficult people in our new community, and God gave us some unique opportunities to show His love to our neighbors and landlady—like constantly cleaning their chickens’ poops from our front porch! 

Local chickens roaming freely in our front yards

People here raise chickens and let them roam freely. Even with our locked gates and fenced property, these annoying birds always find a way to our yard and make a mess everywhere they go. Recently, as we unpacked our things, we discovered that some items were completely damaged/destroyed by unsuspecting termites! One such item was Soeuth’s most precious acoustic guitar! 

Termites completely destroyed Soeuth's guitar!

We recently had an amazing time visiting and reuniting with church families at Srae Nouy Alliance where Soeuth was asked to preach for a joined Sunday church service. About 100+ people from the surrounding villages participated. It was good to see some old, familiar faces and meet new ones. Sadly, because of poverty and life's difficulties, some families had left their hometown in search of job opportunities in the big cities. The families who remain are still struggling to make ends meets due to lack of employment.

Adult service at Srae Nouy Alliance church

Children Sunday school class at Srae Nouy

The First Baptism in Kampong Plouk Floating Village!

On August 15th, upon request, the first public baptismal service was done at Kampong Plouk floating village where 15 new believers got baptized! In the fall of 2020, through the vibrant outreach ministry of Vanna and his wife, Srey Noch, the Kampong Plouk floating village house church was birthed. In the process of planting this church, this young couple faced numerous and constant opposition from angry believing neighbors. They also experienced the loss of their two small children from a drowning accident.  For a while, both Vanna and Srey Noch were very discouraged and had questions about their decision to plant a church in Kampong Plouk. Through prayers and loving supports from Christians families, they persevered and remained faithful to teach God’s Word and helped the believers in the house church thrive. 

Village people travel to Srae Nouy church

A boat ride to Kampong Plouk floating village

As time when on, another leader, Po (Pastor Dy’s oldest son), one of the leaders from Srae Nouy, joined Vanna to disciple and teach God's Word to these believers. At this first public baptism, it was right that the two emerging leaders were the ones to baptize their flock. Vanna and Po, standing side by side in the deep water baptized 15 new believers! About 40 of us traveling from Anlong Veng and Srae Nouy joined this festive celebration. To reach the floating village, we rode in a big boat to the house where a fellowship meal and service were held. Then, we all took boat rides back to the shore, where the water is shallow enough for the baptism. Even with leaches in the water, everyone had a joyful time!

Heng, blue shirt, led a prayer time before baptism

Po (white shirt) with Vanna-- two leaders baptizing a new believer

Vanna and Srey Noch

 The Captive Set Free 

At the festive event, I (Syna) had several opportunities to talk to some new believers asking them questions like, “When did you become a follower of Jesus?” and “Why do you believe in Jesus?” One of the new believers, Chanthy, aged 28, had an extraordinary spiritual journey. 

Being a second child in a family of four, Chanthy had a wild and rebellious lifestyle and always wanted to “test and see” new things. But in his late teens, Chanty became sick with constant headaches that would not go away even with medication. “When the headaches got so bad, I started to hear voices in my head” recalled Chanthy. Those voices were constantly telling him to do violent things to harm himself or others around him. The voices often told him to jump in a pile of broken glasses or into any sharp objects like barbed wires or thorny shrubs. Sometimes those voices told him to jump in deep waters! When people saw that he was hurting himself, they tried to help, but he became even more violent and started to attack them instead. He was so violent at times that his own family were afraid of him! To keep him from hurting himself and others, his poor mother, who is also a widow, decided to have a cage of metal built and locked him inside that cage! Sometimes they kept him in the cage for a few hours or a few days. His mother cried as she recalled the story about caging her own son “like a wild animal." 

No matter what they tried, Chanthy was not safe to be left alone. Someone with an adult strength must be with him all the time. Sometimes during the night, they had to put chains around his ankles so he would not get up to hurt himself or other people while everyone was asleep at night. These violent episodes went on for 9 years! In early January of 2022, the family heard about a group of “pouk yeah-sue” (the “Jesus people”—a term commonly given by local people for all the followers of Jesus Christ) were meeting at a weekly basis. At one of those meetings, it happened that both Vanna and Po were in the meeting together. When a group was singing lively, Chanthy, accompanied by his mother, shyly walked into a crowded room filled with people and interrupted the service. Seeing the believers welcome them warmly, Chanthy’s mother blurted out, “If you can do anything, please help my son. He needs helps. We need help." With that, Po took the lead by asking questions about Chanthy’s past conditions. Seeing that they truly wanted help, Po was quick to point out that the real help comes only from believing in Jesus Christ and then he asked, “Chanthy, do you believe that Jesus is the One true God? Do you think Jesus can help you?” To these questions, both mother and son answered in a resounding “Yes!” Po had the privilege of leading both Chanthy and mother Jesus. Since then, Chanthy’s two other siblings had also prayed to received Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Shortly afterr that January service, Chanthy had a few episodes showing anger activities, but at the onset of the old behaviors, his mother just shouted, “Preah-yea-sue jouy! (Jesus help!)." Chanthy’s mother told the crowd who were sitting around her that when she called on the Name of Jesus, whatever evil spirit was bothering her son, it simply went away. At that house church service Kampong Plouk village, Chanthy looked as “normal” as any person sitting next to him. We all were amazed upon hearing about Chanthy amazing journey. Jesus does indeed set the captives free!

Chanthy, in purple shirt, joined in the worship service before baptism

Chanthy and his mother baptizing together

15 people got baptized in Kampong Plouk village: the first public baptism in the village!

Here are some praises and prayer requests for you to consider…

1. Praise for good health. We both had health screening done and will follow up care in six months as recommended by doctors.
2. With heavy rain pouring down every day, we have not had much opportunities to visit different village sites as we had intended. Please pray for clear vision as we will discuss plans and strategies with Pastor Dy and Heng about where to focus and who to do ministry with.
3. School-aged children from the two local villages are coming by the Toul Prich village Firm Foundation church every day. At least 30 plus kids come every day. The kids attended an after school program learning English literacy on Tuesdays to Saturdays, with our team mate, Aide Rose. But it’s one teacher to 30+ kid ratio! On Sunday, some of them came for a chronical Bible stories. Please pray that God would send or raise up children workers to come alongside us. These kids, though not yet professed believers in Jesus Christ, like to hang out around the church areas for fun activities and for fellowship.
4. As we continue to shine the light of Jesus to the community of unbelievers, pray for wisdom, patients, and grace for us on how to work with people, even with difficult people...
5. We just learned from a local phone company that our current location has no internet access! We have been using data from our phones for brief communication. To do emails or other lengthy correspondences, we have to go to a local guesthouse or coffeeshop nearby.

Please share with us what God is doing in your life.  We would love to hear about what is going on and to pray for you as well. 

Blessings, 

Soeuth & Syna Lao