October Update 2026

Dear Friends and Family,

Updates on Rains, Floods, and Dengue Fever…

Recently, we sent out an urgent prayer request to some of you concerning rains, floods, and dengue fever that affected many families living in the northwest region of Cambodia. At this writing, the rains come less frequently, but the flooding continues. Although the level of flood water decreased somewhat, there is no other place for drainage with all the ponds and lakes completely filled up. As a result, many homes are still flooded. Some of the children who were hospitalized for dengue fever have been discharged from the hospital. We praise God that despite many hardships and life challenges, no one was seriously harmed…

A church lady from Batthambang province

Hope School in Poipet was completely underwater

Pastor Chean from Poipet trying to keep things dry st Hope Church

Floods cut off Cambodian Highway #5

Ta Mok lake  in Anlong Veng at a rainy season

Village Students Visiting the Capital City…

Since early September, we have been making multiple trips (an average of about 7.5 hour drive one way) to the capital city for meetings and follow ups on medical & dental appointments. We also have been taking rural high school students to visit Bible schools, universities, and dormitories. In one of those trips upon returning home, we were delayed for a few extra hours due to heavy rain and flooding. As shared in our last news update, ongoing border conflicts (July-December'25) forced many families to flee for their lives and schools were interrupted. Despite these obstacles, nine students from Toul Prich village had successfully passed their 12th grade examination! We joyfully celebrate their success and greatly admire their resilience in never giving up their dedication/devotion to study and their perseverance to move forward despite countless obstacles. Despite their success, these kids dare not dream of going beyond 12th grade due to ongoing poverty, lack of means, and no outside help. Seeing their needs, we made efforts to connect village students with various schools in the big city, making arrangement for them to tour around the campuses, as well as giving opportunities for these village students to have an overnight stay experience at the Bible schools. During their overnight stays, the village students had opportunities to shadow other university students for a brief experience campus life. From these experiences, three students were able to enroll in Phnom Penh Bible school, while two other students enrolled in the Phnom Penh International University. All five students received scholarships including some expenses for their dormitory stays. Learning about this opportunity, students from the Srae Nouy church are requesting the same opportunity to visit schools and colleges in the capital as well. Next week, Soeuth and another KEC pastor will accompany about 12 students (grades 7, 11, and 12) from the Srae Nouy region to visit school in the city...

Church families prayed for two students who go yo school in the big city

Dropping off two village students at the dorm in the capital city

Dropping students at Phnom Penh Bible school for their overnight stay

Summer School Classes & the Firm Foundation Library…

Taking advantages of the long summer break, we planned a few youth events throughout the breaks. In addition, we added an English class in Toul Prich village, two English classes at a local elementary school, and a beginner guitar class at the Firm Foundation Library. Having an Envision couple serving alongside us for two months helps ease the burden of teaching responsibilities. As part of the ongoing after school program, we also have two basic computer classes taught by Pastor Heng at the FF Library.  With frequent field trips, monthly youth & children fellowships, including various fun activities being implemented during the summer break, we are seeing an increased number of church attendance among the children and youth. Every Sunday on our way to church, we had to make a few stops along the way in order to pick up excited children who “We want to go to church, too!” 

We are seeing more youth attending church during this long summer break

Firm Foundation church youth sane their special son on Sunday service

106 youth participated in a youth event at Koakspean village

With the library open Tuesdays to Saturdays, we are seeing more children and students enjoy hanging out on the church grounds by reading books at the library. At the teachers’ recommendations, we ordered more books to stock up the library. Your generous donations toward Lao’s Strategic Need and toward the North Cambodia Church Planting accounts enable us to use these funds to purchase necessary supplies…

Children singing praises to Jesus at a recently Sunday service

English at Toul Prich

Students learning basic computer class at the Firm Foundation Library

Pchum Ben Festival Holiday…

Based on a brief overview definition from Wikipedia: Pchum Ben is a Cambodian 15-day religious festival, culminating in celebrations on the 15th day of the tenth month in the Khmer calendar, at the end of the Buddhist Lent, Vassa. The day is a time when Cambodians pay their respects to deceased relative up to seven generations. Although this year the holiday of Pchum Ben falls on October 10-12th, people already started preparations for the holidays. For believers in Jesus Christ, this is one of the most testing times of their faith due to pressure from family members for them to bring food and offering to the Buddhist temples. Because it is a religious holiday where Khmer people actually celebrate evil spirits, this is often a significant time for believers who endure spiritual warfare. Tracing back to any major sicknesses, accidents, team or personal conflicts we ever had in the past, most of these incidents took place during this holiday… Pray for spiritual protection for the new believers. Pray for safety for all, especially when family families will be traveling to their hometowns for the holiday…

Other Dates & Events needing your prayers…

1. Please continue to pray for the flood victims. Although the water levels reduce gradually, the damages of home and properties from these floods will leave significant impact on their financial burdens, not to mention other diseases resulted from contaminated waters and dengue fever…

2. Pray for students who will resume school after Pchum Ben holidays. Pray also for those college and Bible school students who are studying in the capital city. Pray for their safety and protection as they find their ways among the crowded and congested city; it is a night and day contrast compare to their rural live in the village.

3. Please continue to pray for Little Sarah (9 years old) and for Seng (51, female), both of them are suffering with severe chronic heart diseases. Unless God step in and does a miracle in their lives, their conditions are dire and hopeless…

4. Every other Thursday, the Cambodian mission field holds a Field Strategy Team (FST) meeting of seven members, Syna is one of the members, to discuss plans and strategies related to the overall mission field needs and activities. Pray for unity as we come together to seek God’s guidance for the building of His Kingdom in Cambodia. The next FST meeting is Oct. 8.

5. Oct 10: A number of churches from northern Cambodia will hold a joint baptismal service at Srae Nouy. We are anticipating about 25 will get baptize. 

6.  Oct 11: We anticipating at least 30 KEC men from Poipet will spend a night at our place in Anlong Veng. The men are encouraged and expected to bring their personal hammocks, tents, and other sleeping gears. Our responsibility is to prepare enough food to feed these hungry men both dinner and breakfast, on the next day. They are our dear friends from Poipet who have been wanting to visit us since early July, but with all the traveling and busy schedules we had, we kept postponed their visit until now. Pray for safe traveling and for a fun and good fellowship at our place. 

7. Oct 12: The northwest regional KEC church will hold an all- day men seminar at Srae Nouy. We anticipate at least 80 men will participate.

8. Nov 2-3: The northwest regional church leaders will hold a two-day conference at Svey Sisophon. 

Thank you so much for your prayers and support. Thank you for your partnership in the growing Cambodian ministries. Your support toward the Alliance Great Commission Funds enables us to remain serving in northern Cambodian sharing the message of hope in Jesus to the lost people who are without hope.

With a grateful heart,

Soeuth & Syna

A typical mode of transportation for a rural villager

Inside the Firm Foundation Library

Students learning basic computer class at the Firm Foundation Library

A young girl enjoys reading books at the library

September Update 2026

Dear praying friends and family,

We trust you are doing well by the grace of God. The rainy season in Cambodia continues at full speed, making everything wet and muddy. It also brings refreshment, cooling the heat and lowering the humidity, and making everything green and lush… A lot has happened since we last sent you a newsletter. Below are some of the events that took place because of your prayers…

Roads to Hope in Cambodia…

August 26-Sept 4, we had the privilege of hosting a trauma counseling team called Roads to Hope (RTH) from Hawaii, who came to Anlong Veng for the fourth time to minister with us among the church families in the northwest region. Using their trauma-counseling expertise, we planned workshops for children and adults in various regions. We had multiple workshops for children and students, helping them to deal with fear, nightmares, and other traumas caused by the recent war. The workshops included role-plays, skits, and fun, relatable activities designed to help children understand what happened and support their overall physical and emotional well-being. With permission from school teachers, we addressed the root causes of their situations and pointed them to God for ultimate solutions. In Poipet, at Hope School, sponsored by a local Christian NGO and staffed mostly by Christ followers, students learned Bible verses and could recite the Lord’s Prayer! Overall, we had opportunities to conduct five different workshops for children, where a total of 390 kids participated…

Students at Hope school find creative ways for entertainment as their playground as covered by rain water

Soeuth guided students in fun activities during workshops at Hope school

Children received animal shaped balloons after workshops

Students lined up to welcome the Roads to Hope team

Workshops for Adults and Families…

Leveraging their specialties, we also held three different workshops for church leaders and school teachers. For church families, the team focused on the two requested topics (“The House of Marriage” and “Biblical Parenting”) in Popel village for 140 people, and discussed the same topics at Living Water Alliance church in Poipet, where 84 people participated. During an afternoon workshop in Popel village, a heavy rainstorm abruptly interrupted us. Overall, despite the interruptions, everyone seemed to enjoy the fellowship. These workshops were the first large gatherings for many of our church families since the December 2025’s war. Because of the constant fear related to last year's wars, many large gatherings among the church families were either canceled or postponed. These recent workshops offered opportunities for people to step out of their routine farming life and meet other believers with similar life circumstances.

140 people participated in Family workshop at Popel village

Workshop for School Teachers…

Although most of the Along Veng’s school teachers are not yet believers in Jesus, they were quite interested in participating in the workshop, which was held at the Firm Foundation Alliance church. The RTH team conducted a half-day workshop for 35 teachers, helping them understand the differences between boys and girls and identify effective methods to teach and nurture each child. All teachers who participated in the workshop expressed deep appreciation for the Roads to Hope team for helping them better understand their students. They even invited the RTH team, “Please come back again soon.”

Visiting the Floating Village…

On Sept 3, we took the Road to Hope team to Kampong Khlang Floating Village, their first time visiting a floating village. Over the past year, while we were away on home assignment, the families in this church suffered much of their own. Being isolated from other church groups and having endured many hardships, they felt discouraged and abandoned. Our timely visit encouraged the few faithful families who chose to remain loyal to God and steadfast in their faith journey…

Visiting the floating village

Boat ride to the floating village

Envision Team Ministries…

On the same day we dropped off the Roads to Hope team at Siem Reap International Airport, we also picked up an Envision couple, Shaun and Richard Standford, who came from upstate New York to join us for two months. With a willing heart to serve and a genuine love for children, the Standfords seemed to fit in well with the established ministries in Anlong Veng. Every day, while Shaun rides her bicycle to teach two English classes at a local school, an English class at Toul Prich village, and a beginning guitar lesson at the Firm Foundation Library, Dick also rides his bicycle to work on the church grounds, doing various odd jobs at the library. We are so grateful for their YES in answering the Call to serve whatever and however God allows them to do…

English class at Toul Prich

Dates & Events needing your prayers…

1. Last month, we asked you to pray for the youth rally scheduled for Sept. 5 at Siem Reap church. The event went well. 98 participants from seven different locations came together for a half-day fellowship. Because many young people suffered from low self-esteem and a lack of confidence, Soeuth shared an encouraging message on “Identity in Christ,” based on Jeremiah 29:11, and challenged them to seek approval from God. 

   

   98 youths participated in a rally in Siem Reap church
   
   
   

   

   Young people visited Angkor Wat after youth rally in Siem Reap
   
   

2. Many of you have been asking about and faithfully praying for Syna’s family, who live on the West Coast. On Sept. 5^th, Syna’s mother celebrated her 95^th birthday with family and friends. Recently, Mom went through a few scary episodes where she was rushed to the Emergency Room repeatedly for heart-related issues. By God's grace, Mom remains steady and strong at her age. Happy Birthday, Mom! 

   

   Syna's mother celebrating her 95th birthday
   
   

3. Praise God that all nine young people from Toul Prich Village successfully passed their 12th-grade exam! On our way to the youth rally in Siem Reap, one girl shared, “During the exam, I was so scared, but I remembered what Teacher Syna told me: the many positive characteristics that God sees in me; so, I just repeated to myself these words: I’m smart. I’m beautiful, I’m a child of God. I can.’” September 16-17, we took four girls form Anlong Veng to visit colleges and Bible schools at the capital city.
4. Sept. 12, we had a work day for school-aged kids at the Firm Foundation church grounds. Because it was a volunteer effort, we didn't think many would show up on a Saturday during their summer break. But on the appointed day, 35 people- kids and adults came. 

   

   
   Young people participated in a working day at FF church
   
   

5. Taking advantage of a long school break, we tried to plan fun opportunities for kids to enjoy one another. Many of the children came from very dysfunctional families who hardly had the opportunities to enjoy themselves as children. We hoped these fun moments would give them a chance to enjoy their childhood and let them know they are loved, cared for, and cherished by us and by God.
6. Sunday afternoon of September 13: We scheduled a cooking contest day for kids ages 11 and up. The kids were divided into two groups and received a small budget for purchasing food supplies and preparing a two-course meal for their team. While Soeuth took them to the wet market for shopping, Syna gathered supplies and ingredients including pots and pans and charcoal ovens. After two hours of shopping, intense preparing, and cooking, the two groups presented a fest of four-course meal (two dishes of soup and two dishes of stirred fry) to share with everyone. Everyone had a great time and asked if we could do this event more often. We desire to help the children learn responsibilities in meal planning, budgeting, and have fun while doing it. Overall, it was a successful first attempt… 

   

   140 people participated in family workshop at Popel
   
   

   

   FF Church kids learning to budget and prepare meals
   
   

7. September 19 is another youth rally event at Koakspean village when young people from three different locations come together for an all-day fun and fellowship. We are anticipating about 100 participants. So far, about 25 youth have already signed up to go from Anlong Veng church.
8. Please continue to pray for the TEE workshop in Svey Sisophon.
9. Sept 26: the National KEC Youth Committees will have a Zoom meeting to plan and set up goals and activities related to the overall KEC National youth ministry.

As always, thank you so much for your prayers and support. Your generous financial support toward the Alliance Mission Great Commission Funds enables us to remain serving in this part of the world sharing the message of hope in Jesus to people who are without hope.

With a grateful heart,

Soeuth & Syna

Rains brough beauty to plants

August Update 2026

Dear Praying Friend and Family,

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

                                                                    Field Forum…

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

Everyone enjoyed team building activities at Field Forum

More team building activities 

        Trauma Healing Workshops in Poipet…

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

37 people participated in the trauma healing workshops in Poipet

Trauma healing workshops in Poipet

        A Shocking Discovery...

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

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

Trenches, bunkers with armed soldiers along the border roads

    Trauma Healing Workshops in Anlong Veng…

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

52 people participated in the trauma healing workshops in Anlong Veng

Trauma healing seminar amongst school teachers

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

Other dates and events needing your prayers…

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

   

   Children enjoying fried rice at the kids fellowship

   
   

   

   46 children participated in the monthly kids fellowship

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

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

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

With a grateful heart,

Syna & Soeuth 

July Update 2026

Dear Praying Friend and Family,

Happy rainy season! Cambodia is at the peak of the rainy and monsoon season! Almost every day, we experience pouring rains accompanied by strong winds from all directions. Recently, we left home on an errand, forgot to close the windows, and got caught in a rainstorm. Upon arrival, we had a few inches of rainwater flooding inside the entire house! Praise God, besides a few wet items, nothing much was damaged… It has been over a month since we landed back in Anlong Veng. As we continued making rounds to visit villages and families affected by the December war, we learned about stories of how God provided and protected His children in many tangible ways. Here are a few of the stories…

More Than We Asked or Imagined…

Recently, while visiting a family on the outskirts of Anlong Veng, and after receiving and enjoying the warm hospitality of a home-cooked meal, we asked the head of the family, Mr. Oan, aged 63, to tell us more about his faith journey. Oan told us that in June 2019, while living in another province with his wife and six children, a friend shared the news about Jesus with him, but he was not excited and only showed mild interest thinking that Jesus was just another god. Although most Khmer people called themselves Buddhists, they often worship other idols or spirit beings; their rationale is “the more gods, the better." Mr. Oan was no exception to this mindset. Oan continued with a description of his living conditions: “My family was poor beyond description.” He often went into the fields to trap field rats and other wild animals to sell them for meat and money, so he could buy rice and other food supplies for his family. 

One day, even after spending all day in the thick forest, he didn’t catch anything. His family needed food. In desperation and humility, he mustered the courage to borrow a few cups of rice from his neighbor. The mean neighbors did not share their food with Oan. Instead, they mocked him for his poverty. Oan managed to gather wild roots, some green vegetation, and enough insects to nourish his family. In desperation, Oan cried out, “Preah Yea- Sue, if you are real, please help my family." The next day, he returned to the traps he set hidden in the forest, only to discover a huge king cobra was caught in one of his traps! The snake was caught by the head but was still alive. Oan managed to bring the snake back to sell at his village. The money from selling that king cobra was more than enough to buy 50 kilograms of rice, and he even had extra to buy other food and household supplies for his family. In desperation, “I looked to my neighbors in hopes of borrowing 1 kilogram of rice, but was denied,” Oan recalled with a sad memory and then continued, “But when I turned to God for help, He gave 50 times more than I asked.” Realizing that God sees his needs and hears his cries for help, Oan began to put his complete trust in Jesus. 

Oan and his wife recalling the way God provided for his family in times of need

Through his encouragement, Oan, his wife, and six adult children, along with 8 grandchildren, became faithful followers of Jesus. Oan and his family also led about 18 other extended family members and friends to Jesus, where Oan became a shepherd for this small congregation. In March 2025, with encouragement from his oldest daughter, Oan and his wife settled on the outskirts of Anlong Veng. They hadn’t met any Christians and didn’t know about the Firm Foundation Alliance church until recently by chance Oan met a family of believers who introduced him to a local Alliance church. It was during our second Sunday service with the local Alliance church that we met Oan and his family. For the past three consecutive weeks, Oan has been attending church along with his wife and four other family members. During our recent visit to his house, we discussed the possibility of starting a small-group Bible study there...

Oan recalling how God came to his aid in a time of need

Visiting A Refugee Camp…

On July 7, we traveled for three hours with four members to visit a refugee camp where some Khmer Evangelical Church (KEC) members were among those who fled their homes during the December Thailand-Cambodia war in search of safety. About 500 refugee families have been living in makeshift tents since early December 2025! The camp, arranged by the local government, was intended as a temporary settlement until border tensions cooled. Immediately after arrival, each family received a large sheet of taupe plastic for covering, a bag of rice, and some basic necessities. Each family then gathered their own wood, sticks, and bamboo to build their temporary homes because their village hometowns were still classified as an Orange Zone—unsafe to return to. However, seven months later, these families were still not able to return home. During our visit, we noticed that the same plastic sheets the government has received since December were mostly damaged by extreme heat during the dry season and now have cracks and holes, resulting in “leaking roofs” during the rainy season. 

To make matters worse, the food rations received from the local government were lower in amount and less frequent... Normally, farmers take advantage of the rainy season by repairing fields for planting. These refugee families, however, felt trapped inside the refugee camp, not able to return home, having no other options to move forward, and wondering where to find the next meal. Those who had the means left the camp to live with extended family in other provinces, but the majority of them still remain in the camp, waiting, hoping, and longing to return home… 

After seven months of fleeing away from homes, over 500 refugee families are still living in congested makeshift tents

Soeuth shared a message of hope in Jesus to refugee families

At our visit, we gathered some believing families for a time of fellowship, worship, and prayer. We also brought vitamins, over-the-counter medications, second-hand clothing, food supplies, and plastic sheets for some families of believers. The needs were overwhelming, and obviously we could not meet everyone’s expectations. When asked how we can pray for them, everyone said in unison, “We just want to go back to our home."

Visiting this refugee camp hit us hard to the core. It brought back a déjà vu memory, especially for Syna, who had lived inside refugee camps along the Thailand-Cambodia border for almost three years (Oct. 1979 to May 1982). Seeing tents made from blue plastic tarps brought back painful memories of her past. But God, in His redemptive plans over our lives, has made us, who were once refugees, now minister to refugees of another generation, sharing the message of hope in Jesus to those who are without hope…

A family trying to repair their tent from the rain

Dates & Events needing your prayers…

1. July 19: A commission Sunday service for a young couple, Chamroeun and Kim Houn, along with their two daughters, who are answering the Call to serve as a pastoring couple among the church families in Koakspean village. Please pray for their adjustment to life, especially for Kim Houn and their two little girls… 

   

   42 school-aged children joined in the Sunday worship service at Koakspean village

   
   

   

   Chamroeun and Kimhoun along with two daughters answering the call to serve at Koakspean village

   
   
2. July 20-25: We will travel 14 hours from Anlong Veng to join the rest of our International Worker teammates for an annual field forum. Pray for a time of refreshment and renewal in spirit as we receive messages from God. This is also a time when new members of Field Leadership Teams (FLT) will be voted in for a one-year term.
3. August 10-12: Trauma-healing workshop among 30-plus church leaders at Living Water Alliance church in Poipet, northwest Cambodia.
4. August 14-15: Trauma-healing workshop among local police, school teachers, and village leaders at Firm Foundation Alliance church in Anlong Veng, northern Cambodia.
5. August 28: Pastors/leaders and wives seminar among church leaders from northern Cambodia at Popel village.
6. Sept 2: Trauma-healing workshop among school-aged children at Koakspean village, Sorong province, northern Cambodia. 

   

   School-aged children participating in prayer service at Koakspean village

   
   
7. July 5th: We resumed monthly village kids fellowship at our house, where 42 kids participated in relay games, food, fun, and fellowship… 
    42 village children participate in a monthly kids fellowship
8. Please continue to pray for daily discernment as we continue making rounds to visit families in need, especially those who were affected by the border tensions... 

   

   A KEC leader with his wife inside their makeshift tent

   
   

Thank you so much for your prayers and support. Your generous and sacrificial giving to support the Alliance Great Commission Funds enables us to continue serving among the Khmer people, sharing the message of hope in Jesus with those without hope. We appreciate your partnership in Anlong Veng ministries and beyond. Please share with us what God is doing in your life; we want to pray for you as well. 

Blessings,

Soeuth & Syna