May Update 2020 (part 2)

Dear Praying Friends and Family,

Greetings! We trust you are enjoying the remainder of the spring season. In our last update, we shared some prayer requests and God answered us amazingly…

Rains

Immediately after we sent out those prayer requests, God literally opened wide the skies and poured down rains upon his people! Church people gave amazing reports that they had rains all on the same day from most of the affected villages where Alliance house churches were located. Since then, there have been a few more heavy rains. In one village, the rains came down so fast and so hard, that it flooded the areas! It was a blessing to see some smiling faces of our friends who had been patiently waiting for rain…

The Well of the Living Water

Last month while visiting Popel village, after learning about the need for clean drinking water, the church families gathered outside standing in a circle on a portion of donated land (this part of land was specifically donated by a local family for the purpose of building a house of worship) to pray. After many failed attempts, the families were desperately crying out to God to show us where to drill a well. Two weeks later, the well people arrived. After testing a few spots for where the potential source of water underneath might be, the workers finally agreed on a particular location.

Workers drilling a deep well at Popel village

But, before they begin the actual work, the workers (who were not yet followers of Jesus Christ) asked that the host family would offer food offerings to the evil spirits of the region. Traditionally and culturally, superstitious Khmer people would often fear and worship evil spirits of the land. To avoid offending or upsetting the evil spirits, before any major construction works took place, local people were obligated to give food offerings or animal sacrifices to the evil spirits of the region. They did this with the hopes of pleasing , asking the spirits permission to do the work, and gaining favor from the surrounding evil spirits for a successful project. Because of these imbedded traditions and century old cultural practices, the workers naturally and automatically asked the host family for food offerings before beginning their works.

But Vanna, a fearless designated church leader of the village firmly responded, “No! We already prayed to the Living God for this well. Jesus was the one who answered our prayers and gave us the money for it. And He alone will see to it that the well drilling will come to be a successful project. Now, you (referring to the workers) must decide what you must do. Are you to take this job or not? For us, there will be no sacrifice to the evil spirits on this land, but only prayers to Preah yea-sue, the Living God!” Seeing the believers’ determination, the well workers reluctantly agreed to accept the job offer. When they drilled past the 80- meter deep, they hit the spring underneath the ground! The water immediately gushed out from underneath! Seeing the abundantly overflow of fresh water, Vanna called to give us the exciting report, “Teacher, the water is so fresh and clear! It is clean enough that we could drink it directly! And the people are singing and dancing and giving praises to the God of the Living Water”. Vanna paused to sob then added, “We prayed to God for help, and He answered our prayers”. The Popel church families appropriately named their precious well “Andong Teuk Rous” meaning “Well of the Living Water”.

The amazing part is that in early March of this year, Vanna and his family, seeing the need for a place to worship God, had willingly and generously donated a portion of their own land specifically for a church building for the community of Popel village. To make the transaction legal and official, the names appeared on the original land and was officially transferred to be the property of the Cambodian Alliance church of the areas. This transaction was witnessed and signed by local church families and some official KEC church leaders of the northwest region. Then, last week (May 19, 2020), when the workers were testing the ground to drill the well, they decided on the very spot where church families had encircled to pray! God miraculously led the workers to the right location! What’s more, this was the first deep well ever built successfully in this entire village! Other homes and families had attempted many times before trying to build a well for the community, but all attempts failed, until this time, when God showed up…

Before the well was built, poor families of Popel village who could not afford to buy water had to collect waters from a faraway stream. They would collect the water into 20-liter containers, transport the water-filled containers one container at a time on the back of their motorbike, and then drive 15 kilometers across the dried dusty red-dirt paths. If any attempted to bathe or clean oneself in the stream before heading back to village, the motorbike driver or passenger holding the water container would be completely covered with red dirt by the time they arrived home. To keep oneself cleaned, the family had to carefully measure out the amount of their precious water so that each family member could get a chance to bathe; a small bucket of water would be divided among three or four people. Each person bathed about once every two to three days! But since the establishment of a new well which provides abundant fresh water, Vanna joyfully shared, “Now, we can bathe as many as five times a day! And we don’t have to worry about the shortage of water anymore!”

A group of church families celebrating the successful of the well

Rice Distribution: Round 2

Because of an ongoing and overwhelming need from church families, in agreement with the local church leaders, this week, we are doing a second round of rice distribution to a few village churches around Popel and Srae Nouy areas. With the early coming rains, farmers can begin to plow fields and prepare soil for planting season, hopefully the fields would yield much crops this year…

Second round of rice distribution

Field Director’s Visit

We were thrilled for an opportunity to host our dear friends and Field Director, Rev. David Manfred, and his lovely family in Anlong Veng this past week. Upon learning that our “boss” was coming to town, the Toul Prich church families insisted on, “You must share them with us too!” Even though the Manfred stayed in Anlong Veng for only one night, the church families determined to prepare a feast of a four-course lunch meal for “our guests”. After visiting a few families in Toul Prich village, the Anlong Veng International Worker team enjoyed a relaxing time of a traditional Khmer meal on the Dong Raek mountain, along the Thai border. Before heading back to Phnom Penh the next day, the Manfred stopped by Srae Nouy where Dave was able to share an encouraging message to some church leaders in the areas.  Thanks for visiting us, Manfred!

Manfred visiting Anlong Veng mimistries

Manfred fellowshipping with Srae Nouy church families

We Got The Land!

After many months of prayers and waiting on God's timing, we are now in the final process of purchasing and securing a piece of property for the future building of Anlong Veng Ministry Center!  We had an unanimous agreement and approval from local Alliance leaders. The new land is located in Toul Prich village, a walking distance from the church community but a much closer distance to two public schools in the area. It has a good enough size (42x107 meters) and we bought it at a great price! With some money left over, we hope to expand and buy smaller plots nearby in order to enlarge territory to meet the original purpose of the future need. For the past six months, we had openly shared this vision and dream with church families in Anlong Veng region asking them to join us in prayers. They did. When they finally heard that purchase had come through, everyone was so excited and gave shouts of praises to Jesus. Upon hearing this news, some church families even donated fruit trees and flower plants to be planted on the land. It is a joy to see local church people shared and embraced this vision. They have prayed for and participated in the purchasing process, Now they are taking ownership of the property calling it “our land”.

A newly purchased land for the Anlong Veng Ministry Center

The purchase of this land could not have come at a better timing. We sensed that God was leading us in the right direction as evidenced in the number of new believers coming to Christ recently resulting the birth of four new Alliance village churches, even in the midst of Covid restrictions! When we first arrived into Anlong Veng back in July 2017, we only knew about the existing group of believers at Toul Prich village. But having met leaders like Pastor Dy and Mr. Kong, and through the ongoing efforts of evangelism outreach and discipleship training, as of this May 2020, we now have a total of 15 Alliance house churches scattered over the Anlong Veng and Srae Nouy region! So, we celebrate that God graciously allowed us to begin (and almost complete) the process of Anlong Veng Ministry Center Phase 1--- obtaining and securing a piece of property...

Mr. Kong sharing the good news to some men at a newly planted village church.

Thank you, dear friends, family, and faithful supporters, for your partnership with us in the Anlong Veng Ministries. Your prayers and financial support to the Alliance Mission allow us to continue serving our God here in this part of the world sharing the Good News to the people who are lost and without hope. Please share with us what God is doing in your life…

Blessings,
Soeuth & Syna Lao

May Update 2020

Dear Supporting Friend and Family,

In our previous update, we shared about an overwhelming need as church families in rural areas were desperately crying out for help as the result of Covid crisis. Some of YOU took immediate actions with your generous financial donations to support our Work Special fund. With this fund available, we bought three tons of rice, dried and canned food goods, medical supplies, and other basic needed items to distribute to many needy families. Working closely with some key church leaders, all distributions were done in a low-key setting in villages where each unit of recipients was personally contacted ahead of time by the designated leaders of the areas. The recipients were asked to come at a designated time and location to receive their donated portions, one unit at a time. On behalf of the church families in Anlong Veng areas, thank you!

Rice distribution at Ksach Ampel village

Home “Surprise” Visits

Because of Covid restrictions, large group gatherings were reinforced by local authorities, especially for those who live in big city areas. But for many people who live in rural regions, life is being carried on as “normal." People are encouraged to wear facial masks and to practice social distancing when they go to wet markets or participate in public gatherings.

In relation to church ministries, for the past few weeks, we’ve been doing “surprise” visits 2-3 times each week to check up on church families always bringing along bags of rice and food/medical supplies on each visit. We surprised them because if aware about our coming ahead of time, the church families might be tempted to gather in large groups just for a chance to see us. Lately, during those unannounced visits, we were amazed at the way God ordained his perfect plans in allowing for us to be in the right place at just the right time.

Last week, upon arriving into Srae Kandal village, we noticed three couples/families sat together under a mango tree, heads bowed and teary eyes in prayers. After a brief time of greetings, we learned that all three families had run out of rice. Desperate for answers, the families comforted each other in a time of prayers asking God for help. And God sent us. Our timing of the unannounced visit bearing loads of food supplies turned their worries into a time of celebration with joyful tears...

Rice distribution at Srae Kandal village

Soeuth giving cookies to village kids during a home visit

Kids entertaining themselves during Covid restrictions

A little girl trying to cool herself during a heat wave

At another surprise visit to Ksach Ampel village in April, our timely visit allowed us opportunity to help a troubled young couple work out their disagreements. Because of on-going unresolved marital conflicts, the young wife had already decided to leave her husband. Just minutes before we arrived, the angry frustrated young wife and her small child were packed and ready to leave her husband giving up their seven years of marriage! But God was not finishing with them yet. He sent us there at just the right time to give them some sound advice. We ended up spending an afternoon with the couple counseling and praying for them. A week later when we called to check in on them, the young couple were still living together. This couple were heard laughing joyfully together. God saw their needs; He sent us...

Love in Actions…

Aware of the overwhelming needs among believers in other villages, church families from Toul Prich village generously donated rice, live chickens and ducks, dried salted fish, fish sauce, canned food, cooking ingredients, including homegrown fruits and vegetables with other basic but necessarily household items. A few people even gave money for us to buy supplies. The amazing part was how these donors were poor peasant farmers who gave out of their own poverty! They were poor and did not have much to offer, but they were rich in love. Knowing that someone else was in need, these farmers took immediate actions and responded generously and sacrificially. It was a privilege and a true joy for us to see believers sharing their possessions with other families in need, just like the early church people did in a story found in Acts 4:32-36!

From Restrictions to Opportunities...

Despite Covid restrictions in city places, church people in remote villages not only were out and about carrying on daily life as peasant farmers, but also becoming bold in sharing the Good News of Jesus to others. Before Covid restrictions, some Christian villagers took a day off from their busy and much needed farming works in order to study God’s words in a weekly discipleship class. Since Covid restrictions, however, each student continued taking a day off from classes and instead visited and evangelized to family and neighbors in small group settings. As a result, the report of those who came to Christ recently was overwhelming. As of mid-March, four more Alliance village-house churches were planted! At one village, after a sweet time of worshipping God and sharing, 32 people prayed to receive Jesus! Still at three other villages, 19, then 14, and then 9 people accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Four Alliance village-house churches started during Covid restrictions

14 people prayed to receive Jesus after an evangelism outreach in Popel village

After Mr. Kong explained the salvation plan, 9 people invited Jesus into their lives

Now, all these new believers are pleading for someone to teach them God’s word! Because of lack of personnel, some potential key emerging leaders were being assigned and instructed to lead and teach small groups at these new villages. To help lessen their financial burden, we used our Work Special money to pay for motorbike fuel and some travel expenses for each visiting leader. Because of the increasing number of those who came to Christ recently, believers are praying for the Corona pandemic restriction to be lifted soon, so we could have another joined baptism…

Soeuth shared an evangelism message at Rohal village

Lost & Found…

Two weeks ago, upon accepting an invitation to do an evangelism outreach in a new village, we got lost along the dirt roads in the middle of tall, thick cashew, cassava, and rubber plantations. There were no road maps, no post signs, or a GPS to tell us where to go. We stopped a few times at houses located by isolated roadsides to ask for directions. After two hours of attempts, we decided to quit. But before turning around, we stopped at another house only to discover that this was a believing family that we knew of from Ksach Ampel! Due to economic reasons, a young believing couple with two small children recently uprooted their family from Ksach Ampel hoping to find jobs as labor workers in the cashew plantations. For the past for 4 months, they were the only Christians and were desperately hoping to meet other believers in this new place. So, while we were lost in middle of nowhere, God had other plans in mind. He amazingly directed us out of the path so we could find this seeking family. As for the village that we were originally hoping to visit, we finally found it a week later where got to share with many people and afterward, 9 people prayed to receive Jesus (same 9 people as mentioned above)!

Dates and events needing your prayers…

1. While we are grateful to have our son, Jonathan, home with us during this Covid pandemic, he longs to return to Dalat International School in Penang, Malaysia, so he can finish his junior semester by early June. But Malaysia still has its borders closed. The original plan was that Jon would fly out from Penang to Minneapolis to spend a summer with his brother in St. Paul, MN. This plan now depends on Malaysia’s Movement Control Order will be lifted, hopefully soon.
2. Pray for daily wisdom and discernment as we constantly respond to requests for help from every village. Rural villagers are struggling to find works and to feed their hungry families. Unless God steps up and does something soon, we are not sure how long we can keep up with the overwhelming needs all around.
3. Please join the desperate farmers in prayers for rains. Crops and plants are drying out and livestock animals are sick dying from lack of adequate water supplies.
4. Next week, it will be a fourth attempt for the well people to drill/build a deep well at Popel village. The people in this village are desperately crying to God for clean drinking water. In past failed attempts, the well people kept on hitting hard rocks underneath.

Believers in Popel village prayed for rains

5. It feels like the hot season is unusually hotter and is lasting longer this year than ever before, with average temperature in the mid 90’s to low 100’s. In addition to the extreme heatwaves, we also experienced frequent and daily electrical power shortage! It was a constant challenge for our Jonathan and other local Cambodian students trying to do online schooling.

Thank you so much for your partnership with us in the Anlong Veng church ministries. We appreciate your on-going prayers and financial support to the Alliance Mission which enables us to keep on serving in this part of the world sharing the message of Hope in Jesus Christ to the Cambodian people.  Please share with us what God is doing in your midst.

Blessings,
Soeuth & Syna 

April Update 2020

Dear friend and family,

At this writing, our thoughts and prayers go out to the many of you, especially those from the Tri-State (NY, NJ, CT) areas who are deeply impacted emotionally, socially, physically and spiritually by the effects of the corona virus.

While the Cambodian government is putting restrictions on those who travel internationally through border crossing or by airplane, local Cambodian people continue with their “normal” life in obedience to federal social distancing rules in efforts to lessen the spread of Covid-19. While being socially isolated in this rural part of northern Cambodia, we had plenty of time to study the
Word and pray/encourage (through phone calls) many believers who live in remote villages. Through these modern technological interactions, here are some uplifting stories to share with you hoping they would bring encouragement to whatever you are going through…

Family Worships at Homes…

Before corona virus hit Cambodia and everywhere else around the world, many young adult
Cambodians from the rural areas left their hometowns and their small children in the care of their aging parents in order to find labor works in Thailand or in big city places. Now that these factories,
businesses, and construction sites closed people lost their jobs and these young parents reluctantly
return to be with their children and parents. They are restless and understandably anxious and
concerned about unknown future. While these adults were away working and earning meager incomes to send home regularly, their elderly parents and small children became followers of Jesus Christ and attended our weekly discipleship classes. Now, having all family members under one roof in each home again, these aging parents took the opportunity to share Jesus Christ to everyone. These elderly believers were once timid and shy about their faith are now bold and rising up to become
spiritual leaders in their own family! These past few weeks, every time we were on the phone
talking to someone from a remote village, we kept hearing that someone’s son or daughter had recently prayed to receive Jesus! And people are asking for more Bibles and hymnals and other Christian literatures.

Closed Doors, Opened Windows…

Due to new government regulations resulting from Covid-19, we are not allowed (at least for a time
being) to meet in large groups as we had normally done for weekly village discipleship classes. With this new “closed doors” movement, God conveniently allowed “windows” of opportunities for church
families to meet in smaller groups! Having extra times on their hands with nothing much to do, believers began to meet regularly for worship services with family and neighbors, each group consisting of 10 people or less, sitting on wooden benches or on grass mats in open space underneath stilted homes or under the cool shades of mango trees. At the sounds of singing during a worship time, other neighboring villagers flocked to join these small group gatherings as well. In each new group gathered, there was a “designated leader” to lead the group into a time of singing hymns, sharing testimonies, reading Scripture, and praying for the current needs. Recently, we received frequent requests (from church leaders like Pastor Dy from Srae Nouy village, Mr. Kong from Andong Chan village, or other emerging leaders like Sally from Ksach Ampel village and Lang from another village) that more and more people from neighboring villages want to hear the Gospel as well. Although these poor godly leaders have the passion and the willingness to go and to proclaim Good News to other people, they lack the financial means to go. At their humble requests and using money from the Work Fund that some of you have faithfully supported, we offered to cover for the cost for fuel in their motorbikes and for some travel expenses for each of the leaders. At the end of their ministry trips, each leader gave amazing ministry reports on how God was at work in their midst… Through this experience, for the first time in our Christian walks, we began to get a better and clearer picture of what the Scripture was saying about the story found in Luke 10:1-24 where Jesus sent out the seventy-two…

Overwhelming Needs…

As our phone kept on ringing many times each day from church leaders reporting to us many good
news, we also heard their constant cries for help. Many of our church families and other villagers are
from poor farming families with small children and elderly parents, 2-3 generation family living under the same roof. Usually, in between the times for planting or harvesting crops, young adult family members would go out and hire themselves as labor workers in plantations and fields, in business shops, or at construction sites either in Thailand or in local major city areas. These labor- workers often send back portions of their monthly incomes to support elderly parents who are watching their children at home. With the impact of Covid-19, people are crying out for help. Some church families had already run out of food! Recently, immediately after learning about this overwhelming need, some Cambodian-American church families from Tacoma, Washington, took a collection and sent their generous donation to our Work Fund where we were able to distribute 1.5 tons of rice to 30 plus families! On behalf of the Khmer Alliance church families in Anlong Veng areas, thank you, Tacoma CEC! Your immediate response along with the sacrificial and generous donations you gave are greatly appreciated.

New Kinds of Ministries…

Since we could no longer hold large group meetings (at least for now), we’ve been busy doing home
visitations, targeting 2-3 homes each week. Every time we visited a home, we always brought along 1-2 sacks (50 kilograms in each sack) of rice for the needing families.

Sacks of rice to be distributed to needy families at Srae Nouy village

Soeuth shared a message at a home visit to Srae Nouy village

Soeuth prayed at a a recent home visit to Toul Prich village

Syna teaching a small group at Toul Prich village

Also, at their requests, we brought along bags of Bibles, hymnal books, Christian literature, in addition to MP3 radios containing audio Bible, reading glasses, off the counter medicines, and among other requested items. While Soeuth always brought with him a prepared message and was always ready to give encouraging words to expecting host families, Syna brought along home baked goods to share. Although we missed meeting with our students and friends from our regular village ministries, surprisingly enough, we actually and really enjoy this new way of doing ministries! Recently, having tasted and enjoyed Syna’s home baked goods, many church families asked to learn how
to bake using local ingredients found from local resources and charcoal ovens. Since it is mango season, the ladies enjoy making mango breads and mango muffins...

It's mango season!

Syna's baked goods to share with church families

Village people learning how bake mango breads/ muffins

Toul Prich ladies baked mango muffin using charcoal ovens

School aged girls proudly showing off their new baking skills

Family Updates…

Many of you have been praying for Syna’s sister, Nay. Thank you!!! After a few weeks full of anxieties and unknown, Nay was recently discharged from an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to a medical unit awaiting to be transferred to long term skills nursing facility. Nay is able to use her upper arms, but she is completely paralyzed from below waistline. After weeks of waiting, it was relief to receive a message directly from my sister! Nay shared, “Pray for the long-term nursing home before go to rehab," and “How God kept me alive after falling from a 28 ft roof top is still an amazement to all the doctors and nursing staffs who cared for me." Though Nay still has long battling roads ahead we are still grateful that she is alive…

Even though his spring break will end on April 5th, Jonathan will remain with us in Cambodia a bit longer because of Covid-19 travel restrictions from both countries, Cambodia and Malaysia. He will resume online school effective April 6th  Please pray for sufficient electrical powers for his online schooling...

As Corona virus continues on its full course, no one is exempted, globally, from being impacted by the effects of Covid-19 pandemic, though some of you may have been severely impacted more than others. At these times of darkness full of unknown and uncertainties, we continue to trust in the ONE who knows what tomorrow may bring and to hang on tight to His promised words that He “would never leave us nor forsake us," and that “… in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose,"  Below are the actual words from our Alliance leaders:

"Our ministry and the work of The Alliance is impacted by the economic realities that

come with the Covid-19 crisis. Like many of you and your churches we are significantly

reducing spending, including having all workers like us live on 10% less for the months

ahead. We’re grateful to remain where God has called us, and for new opportunities to

serve in this unique moment. Thank you for partnering with us, especially to those of

you continuing to give online. Let us know how we can pray for you, too, in the

challenges of your experience in these days."

As we all go through this hard time together, we want to acknowledge your commitment to remain as
ministry partner through your prayers and financial support to the Alliance Great Commission Fund. We continue to practice good stewardship toward resource that God entrusts in our care through the
sacrificial gifts that some you have been faithfully supported.

To support us, please visit https://cmalliance.org/give/. Under Gift Type, choose “give to The Alliance” or “to a worker you love.” Under the latter, find “[Soeuth & Syna Lao]," and then select the fund(s) of your choice. Then enter the amount you want to give and scroll down to continue with your information.

Standing in the gap together,
Soeuth and Syna Lao

March Update 2020 (part 2)

Dear Praying Friends and Family,

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior" Habakkuk 3:17-18.

At this writing, in relation to the latest coronavirus updates, things are going down hill for Cambodia. The national Cambodian Alliance churches, with respect to the local government, had cancelled three regional church conferences and an annual youth conference. It is such a chaotic and confusing time for Cambodians, and we can only imagine the same experience is felt by you and by people from everywhere around the world. YET, even with the uncertainties and the unknown, we rejoice for opportunities that local believers have recently had to shine the Light of Jesus in these dark times…

A First Prayer Meeting in Toul Prich…

Though the few believers in Toul Prich village have met regularly for Thursday afternoon Bible studies during Firm Foundation Discipleship class and Sunday church service, they had never set a specific time for just prayers (although prayer requests were often shared and included at weekly discipleship classes and church services). Recently, while everyone in the village was fearful of the coronavirus, believers decided to meet regularly, (while respecting the latest government social rule- of keeping 2 meters or 6 feet apart) in prayers on Monday nights! These meeting were their own initiation, and they have been meeting a few weeks already. Recently during our visits to some church families, we were amazed though not surprised to see Noun and her husband, Kane, passionately and courageously sharing the Good News of Jesus to their neighbors!

Noun, Kane (light blue shirt), and Savy praying at Toul Prich village prayer meeting

Pastoral/Leadership Seminars in Srae Nouy…

On March 17, before we were aware of the official cutoff time, we were able to hold a large group gathering for a leadership seminar at Sray Nouy where about 60 believers from 9 different villages participated. Our dear friends and workshop presenter, Pastor Joel Arndt and his wife Becca, from International Alliance Church in Hong Kong did an excellent job leading a three-session workshop about characteristics of a leader through the Life of Joseph entitled "Character Is Passed Down, Character Is Forged Amidst Temptation, and Character Is Forged While Waiting."

Leadership seminar at Srae Nouy

The messages were well received.  We were supposed to hold the same workshops in two other places at a later date. But as we finished up the day, we received news that due to the rapidly spreading of Covid-19, the Cambodian government had banned all group gathering which was effective immediately.  Cambodian Alliance churches in the northwest region were thankful that we had this last workshop and a regional church conference (March 4-7) done before the cutoff date.

Leadership seminar at Srae Nouy

Mr. Raa (from Srae Kandal village) supported an amputee friend in a stand-up prayer time at Srae Nouy.

A Fisher of Men…

Aged 55, a fierce & vibrant believer, and most effective, gifted evangelist in his community, Kong from Andong Chan village continued to be on fire for Jesus! Everywhere he went, every chance he got, Kong was always looking for opportunities to share with someone about Jesus. But with the severe drought affecting all of Cambodia, Kong was desperately searching for ways to earning a meager living being a peasant farmer in addition to having great responsibilities to care and to provide for his family. But there were no other options left. Having been miraculously rescued by God from a near-death accident in a charcoal over a few years ago (see his story in the October 2017 and also recently in an Alliance Life magazine article: “Harvest Time in the Former Killing Fields”), Kong promised God that he would not return to that former and dangerous occupation. Out of desperation, however, Kong recently accepted his young brother’s invitation to harvest fresh-water shrimps and mullets at Mart Klaa floating village from the great Tonle Sap Lake. He took a taxi to the outskirts of Siem Reap province. As he was nearing the Tonle Sap shore, Kong felt led to visit some believing families of the areas. Upon arrival and entering into a small house on stilts, Kong was greatly surprised to see about 15 people were already sitting and waiting for him! Apparently, someone of that village heard about Kong plans to the floating village, and they secretly alerted the villagers of his trip. They all were in the house waiting and praying that God would direct and guide Kong to them. And God did. In the house, Kong took the opportunity to share the Good News. After a sweet time of worship and sharing, a family of 5 prayed to receive Christ! Kong quickly gave instructions to local believers to help train and disciple this new family. He left and continued with his planned trip to Mart Klaa. But by the time he reached to the water edge, it was late in the afternoon, a dangerous time to cross the lake. Due to unexpected yet common storms, people of the lake naturally followed a daily schedule of when it was safe or not safe to cross the lake. For security reason, everyone abides by these daily guidelines. But at that moment, Kong was determined to cross the lake and proceed to Mart Klaa. As he boarded an open motorboat with a few other passengers in the same boat, Kong prayed out loud in everyone’s hearing, “Lord Jesus, please hold off the storm for a while until we arrive." Kong continued praying for the next two hours of the boat ride.  Immediately upon reaching a “safety zone," strong winds and raging storm came upon them suddenly, but they all had safely reached their final destinations. Seeing the storm, those people riding in the same boat remembered what Kong had prayed before they left the shore, and they all exclaimed, “Oh, Jesus is very powerful!” At this remark, Kong grabbed the opportunity to share the Good News. When he finished, seven more people prayed to receive Jesus! After spending the next few days in Mart Klaa trying to catch fish, he caught absolutely nothing! But Kong kept on trying.  While waiting and hoping to catch fish, God gave Kong more opportunities to share Christ with more local floating villagers. And three more prayed to received Jesus! A total of 15 people prayed to received Jesus in just a short visit to Mart Klaa. Amazed, Kong finally realized and surrendered his will and life to Jesus while accepting and embracing the fact that God is giving him a new occupation, to be a fisher of men…

Kong (middle) praying at Srae Nouy leadership seminar

Upon returning home to Andong Chan and during a “Prayer & Share” time in Syna’s recent discipleship class, Kong excitedly and animatedly described his adventures to the entire class about his recent visit to the floating village. Everyone was amazed and acknowledged that the hand of God was upon Kong. Inspired by the stories and realizing the present needs that Kong’s family was facing, everyone agreed to take up a collection and presented a small gift as a love offering to Kong’s family. In gratitude and with drops of tears rolling down his cheeks, Kong humbly accepted the gift.

In response to the needs and while working closely with Pastor Dy as the middle person, we used some of Work Special fund (that some of you have been faithfully supported) to help repair Kong’s motorbike and purchase some of the basic necessities for Kong’s family. We are praying and looking for creative ways and alternative ideas to help Kong’s family live, but to do it in a way without creating jealousy or a sense of partiality or favoritism from other believers…

Crisis at Home…

On the morning of March 14, after spending two days with our teammates in an annual prayer retreat, we were heading home, an 8-hour road trip, to Anlong Veng. About half-way through, we received news that the local government banned people with foreign passports from five different countries from entering Cambodia, including USA starting from March 17! Jonathan, our 17 years old son, a US passport holder, was supposed to come home for spring break from Dalat School in Penang, Malaysia, March 21-April 5. But if we were to wait until this date, he would have not been allowed to enter Cambodia. Through quick thinking and with our field leader’s support, we bought a ticket and Jonathan was able to come home, arriving safely at 9 pm on March 15! Two days after he arrived, Dalat School closed its campus and switched to online schooling. We are not sure if Jonathan will be able to return to Penang after spring break. We are just grateful that he is with us now!

March 19, after doing ministries in Siem Reap, we were driving home to Anlong Veng when we received news that Syna’s older sister, Nay, who lives in Tacoma, Washington, had fallen off a ladder when attempting to clear out the gutter! Nay suffered a huge laceration on her forehead, broken spine (C2 & C7 vertebrae), some broken ribs, a broken collar bone, punctured lungs, in addition to many small cuts and bruises. My 89 years old mother just happened to sit underneath an apple tree nearby watching Nay work. When seeing the accident, Mom called 911 for help. Nay was rushed to a local hospital as a trauma patient. After enduring a 10+ hours of surgery, she was placed in an ICU care with IVs, a monitor, and chest tubes attached while breathing on her own. The most recent update is that Nay was able to move some fingers and toes! In amidst all of this, Nay’s two adult children (from New York City and from Toronto, Canada) were not able to visit their mother due to Covid-19’s federal travel bans. Even those close family members and friends who are from Tacoma areas, they were not allowed to see Nay, except through phone calls for frequent medical updates from nursing staff. Recently, Syna was able to talk with her family and learned the latest reports: Nay was conscious of the whole situation, and she was able to take in some food. Though the days ahead are still uncertain, things looked hopeful for Nay…

In these days of unknown, we continue to cling on to the hope of God’s faithfulness and in His promised word that “Joy comes in the morning." Thank you for standing in the gap with us and for us in these difficult times.

In Christ the Solid Rock,
Syna & Soeuth

March Update 2020 (part 1)

Dear Prayer Warriors,

At this writing, many Cambodians live in fear of the Coronas virus, especially people who are from big city areas. But for many Cambodians who reside in the rural and remote villages, life continues as normal where small children go schools and adults do their normal farming and agricultural works.  In the times of chaos and confusion, believers in remote regions find comfort and strength as they regularly gather together in small groups at prayer and worship services. As a results, God is working mightily among His people. These testimonies were shared at our recent weekly gatherings…

Sally’s Unexpected Provision…

Sally age 43, a mother of four, peasant rice farmer from Ksaach Ampel village, and only 5- month old believer is very passionate about her new faith in Christ! Having personal experiences with Jesus and being set free from years of an alcoholic lifestyle Sally now has great concerns for the lost specifically her relatives and friends. She was always looking for any opportunity to share Christ with anyone she met. Recently, sensing an urgent burden to bring the Good News to one of her sick relatives, Sally took a risk to make the trip. But a dilemma was before her. Her old raggedy motorbike had no fuel! And she only had 5000 riel ($1.25), enough to cover one liter of fuel with some extra cash to pay for a small bottle of drinking water and for some snacks on the road. At a local gas station, as a young lady working there was about to pump gas, Sally told the girl, “I don’t have enough money with me. Please give me just one liter of gasoline," (one liter of fuel cost 3500 riel). As the young lady proceeded to pump gas, she asked Sally, “Auntie, you seemed anxious. Is everything okay? And where are you going?” Full of concern for her family, Sally told the girl that she was on her way to visit an aging and dying great aunt. Sally also shared, “My aunt is very sick and may not live long. I must tell her about Preah yea-sue before she dies." “Why? And who is this Jesus are you talking about?” inquired the curious girl. Sensing a given opportunity, Sally passionately shared about her own personal encounter with the Living God and about the immediate and total freedom from alcoholism and about the exciting joys she had been experiencing since the moment she prayed to receive Jesus Christ. While Sally went on rapidly telling her testimony, the girl paid close attention to every word. Toward the end of Sally’s story, the girl asked, “Auntie, how much gas did you want me to pump for?” Sally responded, “I told you that I only have enough money for one liter." “Oh well," the girl surprisingly but reluctantly answered, “I was busy listening to your story that I did not pay attention what I was doing. I accidentally filled up your tank (which was 4 liters of gas!). But don’t worry”, she added. “It was my fault. I will cover for the extra fuel. And thank you for sharing with me about Preah yea-sue!” With that said, the girl willingly gave Sally back her exact change.

While sharing her story to everyone in a discipleship class Sally boldly exclaimed, “Preah yea-sue not only gave me the three extra liters of gas, He gave me an opportunity to talk about Jesus to that girl". At Sally’s visit, her aunt and two other family members prayed to receive Christ! Sally promised that she would go back the same gas station to see that girl again…

"Let the little children come to me"

Usually during village Sunday church services, because of the lack of helping hands, Soeuth mostly leads adults and older kids into a time of worship service while Syna keeps the little children occupied, entertained, and engaged with short Bible stories. They are a precious little bunch who always looked forward to Syna’s arrival. But because of their tender ages (1-7 years old) with so many of them (15-20 kids to one adult) and without any adult assistant in the kid ministry, by the time Soeuth was done with each worship service, Syna would be exhausted. This would happen every week, two village churches each Sunday. To get things ready, Syna brought along three big “Bags” full of age appropriate children books, coloring pages, crayons, plastic toy animals, jump ropes, and puzzles or games in addition to animal crackers and gummy vitamins for snacks. Those little kids adore Syna as much as she adores them. Recently, four children from Toul Prich prayed to receive Jesus as their Lord!

Syna's kids ministry at Toul Prich village

A little girl enjoys "reading" children book at Toul Prich village

A Field Trip…

It has been a blessing having Aide Rose helping out with kid and youth ministries at Toul Krous village teaching them English. About 10-15 school aged kids are studying English with Aide five days a week. Recently, we took 10 kids on a field trip to visit one of the ancient temples called Prasat Preah Vihear in Preah Vihear province. Naturally, everyone was excited. It was their first time visiting this place. As words began to spread, more kids want to go on the trip as well. Although some of the youth had prayed to receive Jesus in December, due to family pressure worldly temptations, some of the kids chose to go back to their belief of their parents. Please pray that God soften hearts toward Him.

A field trip with Toul Krous kids

Water and Filters… 

In response to the needs, using Work Fund generously donated by supporters, we attempted to have three wells built in three different villages. However, due to high elevation of the areas, in addition to rocky soil, only one well was successfully built at Ksach Ampel. We will look to other options for the remaining two villages. Meanwhile, the cries for clean drinking water remained. It is such a severe drought right now and people are in desperate need for clean drinking water. Please pray for rains.
At the same time, we want to acknowledge some generous and Godly people (whom we have yet to meet) from Ohio who have been faithfully supplying us with precious Sawyer Water Filters!

A church leader demonstrated on how to use Sawyer filters

Since the establishment of the Anlong Veng ministries (July 2017), we already received nearly 300 filters! Because each filter is small and portable, farmers and villagers were able to bring filters to their fields during the days and weeks spent away from homes during busy times of planting or harvesting crops. To avoid potential conflicts and jealousy from those who do not receive, and to promote ownership from the recipients, instead of giving away for free, we “sell” each filter for 10000 riel ($2.50), about 13 times cheaper than the original price! Recently at a regional church conference Batthambang province, we “sold” about 40 filters. At least 80 additional families put their names on the list for filters. Please let us know if you are interested in supporting this project. We can then direct you to the right contact information.

Church families received water filters

Leadership Seminars…

With all the scares of Coronas virus where international flights from around the world are cancelling, two dear friends (in their late 60’s) from New York City braved their ways to spend two weeks with us teaching leadership seminars to Alliance church leaders at three central sites in the northwest regions. During the workshop seminars, these Cambodian believers and leaders from various locations of the northwest district were like a sponge absorbing every word spoken with Syna was translating. Even with the extreme heat and a day full of 3 or 4 topical sessions/workshops, everyone was alert, interactive, engaged, and actively participated class discussions. The Cambodian leaders were quite impressed at the vast Biblical knowledge and with the down-to-earth characters that visiting friends had toward them. Many Cambodian people had never met a Jewish person before. They only read and learned about Jews from Bible stories, that is, when our friend from NYC, Daniel Mann, came, now everyone of them could proudly claim, “We met a Jew!”

Leadership seminars at Srae Nouy village

Leadership seminar at Batthambang (left) Teuk Chou village (right)

Dates and events needing your prayers…

1. In events of Covid-19, the national youth committees are praying what to anticipate concerning the coming annual Alliance youth camp. Another possibility is to postpone the April conference and reschedule it in mid-August. The problem then, we would be in the middle of a monsoon season!
2. About 30 plus people, due to troubles with transportation and distant locations, arrived late for the December baptism! Since then, more people had prayed to receive Christ. As the result, about 40 people want to get baptized. Soeuth and Pastor Dy along with some leaders are in the process of preparing people for the next baptismal service. Our dilemma: where to find good water for this event!
3. Our son, Jonathan, will come home for spring break on March 21. Please pray that his connecting flights would go smoothly. First time ever this year Dalat offers a two-week spring break. Sadly, some dorm kids whose parents live in Singapore, South Korea and in some other restricted countries, will NOT be able to go home this school break due to Covid-19. Please pray for peace and comfort for these dorm children as they will be separated from love ones and for their disappointed and anxiously worrying families back home…
4. This week in Phnom Penh, we will join other teammates for annual prayer retreat! Praise God that our guest speaker and his wife from Hong Kong were able to arrive into Cambodia. We look forward to hearing God words.

Please share with us what God is doing in your life. Thank you for partnering with us through your faithful prayers and financial support toward Alliance Mission.  We appreciate you.

With a grateful heart,
Soeuth & Syna Lao

February Update 2020

 Dear Praying Friends and Family,

We are constantly amazed at the way God works among new believers. As lives are being continually transformed after each encounter with the Living God, curious unbelieving friends and neighbors flocked to visit small groups that met weekly at various village church sites just to see what was going on. Humbly led by Mrs. Rate, about 18-20 vibrant young believers in Ksach Ampel (see a related story in September 2019 update) village faithfully met together a few times each week to sing hymns, worship God, and pray. As a result, their faith increased significantly while God often revealed Himself through answering prayers about their daily provisions and protection. Recently at our weekly village discipleship gathering, young believers excitedly took turns to share about miraculous stories that each had encountered with the Living God and how Jesus showed up in time of their great need …

Toul Prich village church

Jetra & the Water Buffaloes…

Jetra, aged 34, a peasant farmer mother of 4 small kids, prayed to receive Christ just two months ago after watching the amazing changes in her neighbor’s life! Recently, in her desperate need to find food for her family, Jetra took her young children to a nearby almost dried up swampy rice field trying to gather small fish, crabs, snails, and other edible proteins. While her children were joyfully playing in a puddle at the edge of the field, suddenly a group beastly water buffalo stampeded at a full force running toward her direction! Panicking, she screamed and ordered her children to run and climb onto a nearby tree for protection, while she was still trapped in the knee-deep mud in the middle of the field! With no place to hide she  realized her life was in danger. She bowed down in a prostate position and uttered, “Jesus help!” She then added, “And suddenly, the buffaloes came to complete stop at about 10 meters away from me! They just stood there and stared at me! Then, they all walked away!” Everyone in the room who heard this incredible story was at awestruck as Jetra excitedly described her miraculous experience. She went on to share, “And the Lord Jesus not only protected me and my children, He also gave us bucket full of fish!”

Jetra, in yellow top, described how God rescued her from water buffaloes

Rate & Her Neighbors…

Mrs. Rate, a one-year old believer who is also a designated spiritual leader for Ksach Ampel village, shared how God had used her, recently, to stop two angry neighbors from hurting each other. Two of Rate’s neighbors were constantly in conflicts with each other.  During their frequent fights, they often screamed and called malicious names at each other. At the sounds of their shouting and cursing, Rate would stop from whatever she was doing and pray for her friends. Recently, in a heated and explosive argument, each of the two rivals grabbed a machete and marched toward each other in an attempt to brutally hurt one another! Seeing the commotions and feeling led by the Holy Spirit, Rate rushed into the scene, stood in between the two angry ladies, and with her hands pushing each of the two ladies away from each other, Rate shouted, “In the Name of Jesus Christ, I command you to stop this fighting!” Suddenly, they both stood still! Rate went on to explain that she spent the next few minutes reasoning with her friends not to fight saying, “Think of your family. Stop thinking about yourselves. You should start to think about your children. If one of you got hurt or killed, what would become of your children?” With that, both ladies became quiet, dropped their weapons, and then walked away. And for the next few days, Rate frequently visited her friends, one after another, reasoning with them not to fight any more. She then invited both ladies to join her nightly worship services. They did. And they continue to join Rate and others in worshipping the Lord Jesus, where about 15-18 adults meet regularly at Rate’s house for nightly worship service…

At a recent weekly discipleship class in Andong Chan village, Rate and her two friends were among the 24 students who sat in and had lively participated in Syna’s Christian Family class discussions! As one of the two ladies boldly shared, “We are no longer enemies. The Lord Jesus is helping us to become friends”, and another lady added, “We are now sisters in Preah yea-sue!” 

Syna teaching a Christian family class at Andong Chan village

After hearing these two amazing stories, other participants in the class were also inspired to share their own unique versions of God encountering stories…

Lang: From Slavery to Freedom…

Among the 52 people who got baptized on Christmas day, some of them are on fire for God! They were very bold in their sharing and witnessing Christ to their unbelieving friends and relatives. And some of them have led others to the Lord! 

Before surrendering his life to Jesus Christ, at aged 32, Lang was a party goer and a constant drunkard of the town for the past 10 years. Although he is married with two small kids, Lang was not a responsible person at all. Instead, he was always wasting away his family income through a partying and drinking lifestyle. He was a slave to alcohol. One evening in late November 2019 after a drunken party, Lang had a nasty motorbike accident. According to the police reports and based on the nature and the descriptions of his accident, Lang should have dead. How he was kept alive was beyond human understanding. While lying in a hospital bed awaiting doctor’s reports and while processing his life journey, Lang’s elderly believing parents  pleaded with Lang to surrender his life to Jesus. Realized that he was kept alive for a reason, Lang surrendered his drinking habits and his whole life to Jesus. The Holy Spirit began to do some amazing works in Lang’s life. Lang found completely freedom in Christ! He not only stopped drinking, he got so excited about God! Lang was among the 52 who got baptized on Christmas Day, and he is enrolling in Syna’s weekly Abundant Life discipleship class in Srae Nouy village! In class, Lang is like a sponge, absorbing in every topic discussed! While attend the Srae Nouy Alliance church, Lang sits in the front row always taking careful notes so he could pass on sermon messages to those who are in his small group. Yes! Already at three months old Christian, Lang is leading and teaching a small group at his hometown where about 18-20 people come for fellowship every week!  These people, after seeing the changes in Lang’s life, are curious about and interested to find out the “secret” of his success. Please pray for Lang and other new believers to remain steadfast with their new faith in Jesus Christ.

Lang, middle in light blue shirt, enjoyed a meal with friends

On-going Persecutions Amidst Freedom in Christ…

While some of the new believers are on fire for God, many of them are facing on-going oppositions from their unbelieving friends and relatives. Sadly, because of the severe attacks of the enemy, some have already drifted away from the truth. While some, because of economic reasons, had moved away to neighboring countries in search for jobs. Those others who remain in the country are facing daily life difficulties as their basic needs are not met. And with the Chinese New Year holiday which took  place recently, and due to family pressure, some young believers had turned back to their old ways of ancestor worships. While we rejoice at the many who joined the Family of God every week, we are sad to see to some of them have willingly walked away from the One True God…

Leadership Seminar…

As the number of new believers keeps on increasing every week, the need for solid biblical teachers to come along side us is crucial. While are grateful to have Aide Rose Fernandez help us with the kids ministries at Toul Prich and Toul Krous villages, we could easily use 2-3 other Khmer speaking Bible teachers to come along side us now…  To train and encourage others to teach, Rev. Bo Samoeun, our national ministry partner from Sveysisophon, was invited to teach on “How to Preach/Teach” workshop to potential local key church leaders. But among the 32 workshop participants, about 20 of them could read and write at minimum levels. Because their limited education, Samoeun had to go very SLOW.  And we still have a long way to go yet.  We are just grateful that these potential leaders showed interests and they were willing to try.  Please pray that God would either send us more workers/ helpers soon, or that he would raise ups leaders from within.

About 30 key potential church leaders participated in “How to Preach/Teach”  workshop

Dates and Events Needing Your Prayers…

1. Feb. 14-28: two of our dear friends from New York City will come to to help teaching leadership seminars to key church leaders in Anlon Veng & in the northwest region.

2. Feb. 17-18 is our next Poipet leadership class.

3. Feb. 10-12: Soeuth to Phnom Penh for Field Leadership Team (FLT) meeting.

4. March 12-13: Annual Prayer Retreat for IWs in Phnom Penh.

5. March 24-25: Next workshop on “How to Preach/Teach at Srae Nouy.

6. Please continue to pray for a potential piece of property which we hope to purchase sometimes this year for the Anlong Veng Ministry Center.  Pray that God would direct us to the right location and with right price.

7. Pray for protection for the new believers to remain strong in their spiritual walks.

8. Pray for the seven national youth committees who are busy preparing for the coming youth conference in April 7-9.

Please share with us what God is doing in your life.  We are very grateful for your on-going partnership in prayer ministries as well as through financial support through the Alliance Mission.

Blessings,

Soeuth & Syna Lao