End of August Update 2020

Dear Praying Family and Friends,

So many AMAZING things happened recently related in the Anlong Veng church ministries that if we left them until next month, they would become old news or even forgotten. For the past few weeks, God has been stirring hearts of believers at an overwhelming rate! Every time we allowed for a “Share & Prayer” time during weekly classes, people jumped at the opportunity to share about what God was doing in their midst. Here are just a few of the highlights…

Tell Us More About Jesus…

Toward the end of July, feeling exhausted physically and emotionally, we made a quick decision to cancel all classes and went out of town for a few days to rest. Knowing that she needed rest as well, we invited along our teammate, Aide Rose fernandez, sent by Star Of Bethlehem organization.  We drove five hours each way to Pusat Province to visit a few interesting sites and had a grand time of rest and relaxation. As we were driving back home on August 3rd, Savy from Toul Prich village called, “You must come to my daughter’s house immediately! She and her husband are ready to receive Jesus tonight!” Weary from a long road trips but excited about the news, we accepted the invitation. Upon arrival at the house, Rottana, Savy’s oldest daughter, had already prepared a three-course meal for us! Having directed us on where to sit, Rottana excitedly exclaimed, “Let’s eat first before the food get cold. We can talk business later”." As we sat down to enjoy a meal, Rattana, with her husband (Kem)’s encouragement, explained their reasons for wanting Jesus in their lives. 

Soeuth leading Rattana and Kem to Jesus

“I have been observing the changes in my father’s life. Before believing in Jesus, a year ago, my father was known in the community as a drunken and quarrel troublesome man. He was not kind to my mother. But now, he is a changed man! And he has such tremendous inner peace and is gentle and so kind to my mother. We want to experience that peace and that love as well. Can you tell us more about Jesus? We want to know Him, too." After Soeuth explained the salvation plan, the couple willingly prayed to Jesus along with their two little girls. At their requests, we helped the young couple to remove three sack full of shrines and worship items while some of their neighbors watched the whole thing! 

Savy removing shrines and worship items at his daughter's house

Before leaving the house, Syna gave the couple New Testament Bibles with instructions on where to begin reading and how to pray. A few days later, Savy called with a report, “They are so in love with Jesus! And they are reading the Bible nonstop!” The couple not only received Jesus into their lives with joy, they are sharing the good news very boldly to many of their neighbors and relatives. Since their conversion, they attended the Toul Prich Firm Foundation Alliance church twice already… The spiritual field is ripe for the harvest. Wish we have more workers to join us soon. If we have an extra helper, we could easily start a Bible study group at their house this week.

Answered Prayers… 

A young married couple, R&K, who study in Soeuth’s weekly TEE class has been praying for a baby of their own. They already had three miscarriages this year. Recently visiting a doctor's office, they were told that K had 3 large cysts in her uterus. Aware of their dire situations, the class prayed earnestly for the couple with anointing oil. A week later, this couple visited the clinic again for more tests to be done. To the doctors’ utterly amazement, no sign of cysts remained! One of the doctors could not believe his eyes and shouted, “What had happened?” The young couple explained, “The Jesus people had prayed for us. And Preah yea-sue (the Lord Jesus) made the cysts go away, that's what happened!” Now, R & K are trusting God for another miracle, that K could conceive again. Please join them in this prayer request.

Pheap’s Conviction…

Recently, understanding the full meaning behind a discussion topic on “The Call of Levi” (a biblical story found in Mark 2:13-17) in the Firm Foundation class, Pheap from Toul Prich village was deeply convicted and remorseful of her sins.  Up until this time, one of the ways that Pheap and her husband (who is not yet a believer) had made a living was through giving out micro-loans to poor unsuspected ignorant villagers in the community while charging the villagers with high monthly interest rates! Realizing that what she and her husband did was wrong, Pheap repeatedly pleaded with her husband to stop this business but to look for other ways to generate their family incomes. Furious at Pheap’s sudden and firm decision, her husband threatened to beat up her and even to divorce her! But no matter the threat, Pheap was determined to honor God with her decision. After learning about Pheap’s dire situation, the entire class prayed earnestly for her. Now, her husband not only remains married to her, he seemed to have such high respect for her; he was heard boasting to his unbelieving friends about Pheap’s courageous faith in Jesus and about her integrity. Pheap is asking for prayer for salvation of her husband and her three teenage sons.

Pheap, in orange top with two daughters, praying at a Firm Foundation class.

An Abundant Season of Spiritual Harvest

Because of a strong desire to know God, most of our students who are from poor families have been faithfully taking a day off from their busy farming works in order to attend weekly discipleship classes. But when we called to cancel classes recently, some of them were quite disappointed and began to wonder what to do with their “spare” time. Instead of coming to class at the appointed time, many of them went out to visit and to encourage church families who live in remote villages where Alliance house church exist among the Anlong Veng ministries. Opportunities allowed for them to share the Good News, and collectively, they led 36 people to the Lord in less than two weeks! When we finally resumed classes the week after in Andong Chan and in Srae Nouy villages, attendants were doubled in all four classes! And even with Covid restrictions, Sunday church services in Srae Nouy and in other villagers were packed with new and old believers! 

Syna's Abundant Life class attendants doubled since Covid!

At this writing, 6 families, in another a new village church, prayed to receive Jesus through Pastor Dy and the Srae Nouy group! Although the number keeps changing as the week goes by, at a most recently ministry report that Pastor Dy shared: Between March 15 to August 19, 2020: 636 people (299 youth & adults, 327 kids) prayed to received Jesus, 8 new village house churches planted! All praises to KING JESUS!!! Now, we face another on-going problem—an URGENT NEED for Khmer speaking Bible teachers to come along side us to teach these new believers in the Word.

The 8th new Alliance house church birth on August 19, 2020. 6 families received Jesus!

Between March 15 to August 19, 327 kids prayed to receive Jesus!

Soeuth's TEE class at Andong Chan village

Disciples Are Making Disciples to the 4th and 5th Generation and Beyond...

It gives us a tremendous joy to see young believers (who have less than two years in their faith journeys—most of whom enrolled in our weekly discipleship classes) who are inspired by the Holy Spirit to share the Good News of Jesus Christ to their unbelieving relatives and friends. Many of these new converts are unstoppable! They are very bold and fearless when it comes to sharing Christ with others! Every week, they are leading new converts into the kingdom of God! We can hardly keep up with them! It is such a great privilege to witness disciples of Jesus Christ making more disciples to the 4th, 5th and 6th generations…  

Please pray for the following requests…

1. Please continue praying that Jonathan, our son, will be able to return to his school in Penang, Malaysia, soon. Following government required protocols related to Covid restrictions, Dalat International school had opened its campus to students since August 5th, but for the many students who were out of the country (like Jonathan) during the early Covid, they now have to study online from abroad, which is an extra challenge for us who are deal with poor internet accesses and constant power shortages.

2. Although there were few heavy rains since our last update, the water level is still not high enough for thousands of village people who live in floating villages along the Tonle Sap Lake. Their livelihood depends entirely on the abundance of fresh water for fishery. Some of our church families are severely affected because of this. Please continue praying for rain for the floating villagers.

3. But for us some of us who are on land, we do not need the extra water! Many of the roads to our weekly village ministries have been severely washed up or were damaged due too much rains waters.

One of the detoured roads to Rohaal village was completely flooded.

4. With abundant of and frequent rains, many people have been sick with mosquito transmitted diseases like dengue fever, malaria, and recently a strange viral sickness that plagued local people throughout the entire country. Please refer to this link. So far, at least 15 families from our areas had been hospitalized for this sickness. Please for healing.

5. Please continue praying for spiritual and physical protection for church leaders and praying against on-going spiritual attacks on many of church leaders and their families. Even with just simple and minor issues, suddenly, family members of some key church leaders were strangely at odds with one another causing needless tensions and family conflicts! Pastor Dy and Po and some other leaders have been busy helping to resolve family conflicts. Please for wisdom on these leaders.

6. Like the church leaders of our areas, we too have been experiencing significant attacks emotionally. Soeuth and I have elderly mothers (both of whom love Jesus dearly) who are in need minor nursing care. Recently, due to some family conflicts, Syna’s mother (aged 89 from Tacoma, WA) moved to live with Jenda (Syna’s younger sister). And this week (August 19-21), Soeuth went to Battambang province trying to work things out with his unbelieving siblings in their relationship with mom, aged 80. Pray for wisdom as Syna is trying to gap some family conflicts from a distance while Soeuth is helping his family in the country...  Clearly God is doing amazing works in the Anlong Veng ministries, but Satan is trying to rob our joy…

7. August 29: Some key church families will come together to pray over the Anlong Veng Ministry Center’s property in Toul Prich village, and to pray over the house where Heng’s family will be living.

Please share with us what God is doing in your midst. Thank you for partnering with us in the Anlong Veng Ministries through your prayers and financial support to the Alliance Mission.  We appreciate you!

The Joy of the Lord is still our strength…

Soeuth & Syna

August Update 2020

Dear Praying Friends and Family,

We trust that this note finds you well. With all that is going on around the world in addition to the on-

going issues related to Covid-19, everything around us may appear depressing and discouraging. But, in

the middle of uncertainty and of darkness and glooming season, God is still in control and still at work as

evidenced in the stories below…

A Biblical Story in A Cultural Context…

Recently, during a lively group discussion in the Firm Foundations class in Toul Prich village, Syna

engaged her students to compare a Biblical story found in John 3:1-20 to the Cambodian cultural context

of the local Buddhist followers from among the Khmer people to try to understand why some of

Buddhists seemed reluctant or resistant to the Christian faith. As the discussion went at length, a

conclusion was formed: some local Buddhists (even some from among the higher rank of Buddhist

priests or Buddhist monks) would reluctantly admit that Jesus is the one true God. Sadly, because of

shame highly placed by cultural expectations and because of the fear of “losing face” or the risk of being

abandoned from or rejected by family and the local community (if they were to choose Jesus over

Buddha) these Buddhist people would not willingly and publicly confess their true feelings about Jesus.

Aware of the cultural context, at the end of this class discussion, the seven villager-students were

challenged to seek creative ways to share the Gospel with their unbelieving friends and relatives. They

did...

Savy, aged 50 a devoted husband and a doting father of five adult children, along with his wife and

youngest daughter are members of the Toul Prich Firm Foundation Alliance church. Since this discussion,

Savy intentionally shared the good news of Jesus Christ with his other adult children. At this writing,

Savy excitedly called with a report, “My oldest daughter and her husband were asking many questions

about Jesus! I’ve been telling them what I learned from class. And I think they are about 90% closer to

become followers of Jesus!” Like Savy, other students also took this challenge seriously as they talked

boldly about the hope and true freedom found only in Jesus to their Buddhist neighbors and relatives

and even to elderly people serving at the local Buddhist temples…

One of our greatest joys and motivation for teaching weekly discipleship classes is seeing believers not

only applying God’s word to their daily practical lives, but that they felt burden and compelled to share

the good news with other people…

The Captives Set Free!

For generations, people of the entire village of Pume Thmey (translating meaning “New Village”) had

lived in under firm grips and heavy bondages of Satan’s control throughout their entire lives! When

upset with a neighbor, some offended people seek revenge by consulting and hiring local witch

doctors to cast spells on their opponents. And even local prominent leaders were often known for using

these evil practices of witchcrafts, sorceries, and black magic to keep local people spiritually

imprisoned. To “set free” or relieve them from evil ones, family members of the affected victims had to perform many rituals of food offerings or animal sacrifices in hope to please the upsetting evil spirits of the areas.

These practices were often done at the victim’s personal costly expense and at the recommended

choice of offerings which were usually advised by local witch doctors…

When walking through the streets/paths of Pume Thmey Village, one can easily feel in their skin or could

easily sense the presence of evil or a sense of darkness/oppressive spirits clouding the surrounding

areas. Local villagers were often suspicious of strangers, and “Fear was written on over their faces!” If

any visitor trying to ask some information about village, everyone ran away and hid; no one was willing

to talk especially to outsiders. But the few brave ones who were willing, when conversing with some

Christian visitors recently, they’d reluctantly and carefully whispered a confession, “Look around and see

for yourself. Go and ask other villagers. Every home and every family in the entire village had lost at

least one or more family member to witchcrafts”. These statements were eventually confirmed with

the fact that there were so many young widows and orphans in the entire village!

BUT, as of early March of this year and even during Covid restrictions, the Hope and the Good News of

Jesus Christ had reached this village! God has amazingly and effectively used a timid, reluctant, but

faithful humble servant, a 9-month old believer, Lang (Lang, one of the 17 students who studies in

Syna’s weekly Abundant Life course in Srae Nouy, is also from Pume Thmey Village; his story was shared in February and July’s updates) to carry the Light of Jesus into this dark place! Using the weekly lessons he learned and the vigorous notes he took from Abundant Life class, Lang courageously shared the Good News with anyone and everyone he met in his village. At first, the villagers were hesitant to accept

Lang’s persistent invitations. After witnessing a few people who were miraculously healed after being

prayed for, villagers began to flock into Lang’s small cramped house on Tuesdays and Fridays for evening

Bible studies! 

Lang, in light blue shirt, prayed for the needs for more workers

As more and more people kept on coming every week, and feeling overwhelmed for not

knowing what to do, Lang, with tears flowing down his cheeks shared in the class about the urgent

needs and asked for help. After sometime of earnest prayers, God answered and sent Po (Pastor Dy’s

oldest son—see Po’s story in July update) and his wife Sony, to help Lang. Since then, Po has been

leading a team of 5 emerging leaders to help teach Bible studies and lead prayer services in Pume

Thmey, twice a week. As the meetings continue, God is doing AMAZING works in this village every

week! Every time the meeting took place, “The place was always packed with at least 35-40 people,

children and adults included”, as reported by Po and then added, “After we finished with each meeting,

at least two or more villagers asked for prayer for healing. And when we come the next time, the same

people would be completely healthy and well!”

Po, in black shirt with lifted hand, excitedly shared about believers in Pume Thmey

Inspired by what Po shared, Lang found courage to join in, “Last week, a small child about two years old was brought to us for prayer for healing. This little guy was crying non-stop because the pains from the many boils and open infected wounds on his body! The boy had abscesses, sores, and wounds all

over his little body! We all counted and there were 24 wounds in all! At his mother’s requests, we

prayed for the boy's healing that Tuesday night. On Friday night when we returned, the same little

boy’s body was completely cleaned! We searched and searched, but not even one fresh or old wound

was found!" Those who saw the healing were impressed at the power of God.

Every Tuesday at Andong Chan village (morning) and at Srae Nouy (afternoon), Soeuth and I both teach leadership and discipleship classes: two classes in the morning, both are taught at same time in separate locations, and two other classes in the afternoon. We always had joined worship service along

with time for prayers and sharing before the groups split into two. Recently (July 28), Po and his

team reported, “At least 3 or more people prayed to receive Jesus at the end of each meeting. Last

Friday (July 24), 23 people prayed to receive Jesus! Lang and Po and other emerging leaders

unanimously and excitedly reported, “In almost every home in that village, at least 2 or 3 members from each family had prayed to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior!” And instead of looking gloomy and depressed and suspicious of visitors as they used to, “The villagers were always excited and full of joy and waiting anxiously for our arrival”, Po joyfully shared and then added, “Every time we approached the village, they always shouted, ‘Oh, look! the Jesus people are coming!’” Po concluded his observation, “These people were slaves to the evil spirit for many years. Satan had captured and put them in bondage for generations. But Preah Yea-sue (the Lord Jesus) has set them free! They are free at last!

Inspired by what happened in Pume Thmey, believers from the same Tuesday class also shared about

what God was doing in their designated locations. The common theme is that more and more people

are curious and they wanted to know just who these “Jesus people ” are. Pastor Dy reported, “28 people

prayed to received Jesus at Srae Nouy on Sunday (July 26)!” Similar stories (though with lesser amounts) took place at other Alliance church sites throughout the Anlong Veng church ministries. “Leaders are training new believers in God’s word preparing them for the next joined baptism. Pray that Covid be lifted soon, so we can have a baptism”, Dy reported with a request…

Weekly bible studies at Rohaal village

Soeuth led two boys to receive Christ at Rohaal Village

Classes/Church Attendants Doubled and Visiting Guests…

With the increasing numbers of those who came to Christ recently, even without invitation, new

believers joined in our already full classes! For the past three weeks, class attendants and Sunday church

attendants had been doubled in most places! People are crying out for new classes to start. BUT we are

maxed out with our time capacities…

Discipleship students prayed for visiting guests

This past week (July 28) during a lunch break, we had the privilege of receiving some honored guests

from National Alliance leaders in the country. Rev. Roum Chamroeun, Khmer Alliance President, along

with his wife, two members from the Northwest Regional Church Committees, in addition to 4 others of their traveling companions came to visit our classes in Srae Nouy. After a fellowship of meal, Pastor Dy was asked to give brief ministry reports including some highlights and challenges about the overall church ministries in Anlong Veng and in Srae Nouy areas. Among the highlights Dy included, “8 new church sites were planted since Covid. About 150 people total prayed to receive Jesus since Covid!" As for challenges and needs, Dy shared about the needs for (1) A worship place for each location, (2) The lack or short supplies of trained Bible teachers to disciple new believers, (3) The on-going needs as most church families are still without work or a means for re-generating incomes mostly because of Covid, and (4) The issues of sheep stealing from prosperity gospel Christian groups. Since early April, a few families who used to worship Srae Nouy left the Alliance fellowship to join other church groups. These families, not only left the Alliance themselves, they had secretly persuaded other families to join them. As a result, conflicts took place among the believers especially those who live in remote locations. Because of this, the Srae Kandal church came to a painful split where five families left…

Before parting companies, Rev. Chamroeun encouraged Dy and those who heard the reports to,

“Remain faithful to the tasks God has given you at hands. Whenever there are church growths there are

also oppositions. Those who are on the side of truth will stand firm no matter what. And God will carry

us through in times of difficulties”.

Class/ church attendants doubled in past three weeks

Dates & events needing your prayers…

1. We had hoped that our son, Jonathan, would be able to travel to Penang, Malaysia, on July 21 to give enough time for a 14- day required quarantine before school starts, August 5. That did not happen as borders are still closed for both Cambodia and Malaysia. Therefore, Jonathan will resume online school in 12th grade on August 5th. Please pray for a reliable electrical power and accessible internet, in addition to a willingness and motivation for Jonathan to stay focused and engaged in participating with school activities through online classes…

Jonathan will resume online school for his senior year

2. Although it rained on and off in some places during this supposedly “rainy season”, the people who live in floating villages across the Tonle Sap Lake are experiencing severe drought at an alarming rate. These floating villagers normally made a living from fishery through the abundant waters from the lake. With the on-going poverty and issues related to Covid 19 in addition to lack of rains, these people not just ran out of food supplies, they now are facing the lack of clean drinking water! On July 24, because we were busy elsewhere, Pastor Dy along with some church leaders from Srae Nouy went to Kampong Klang “floating” village to distribute rice and dried food supplies to 32 families of the Alliance churches from among 4 floating villages of the surrounding areas. This was the fourth food distribution among Alliance people in our areas since the Covid-19 crisis. Not sure how long the supplies will last. To those of you who are generously and financially supporting our Work Fund, on the behalf of Alliance Cambodian churches of the northwest region, Thank You!

Rice distribution at Kampong Klang floating village

3. Please continue to pray for key church leaders in a fervent way. The Enemy seemed to attack church leaders at an alarming rate! Pray for protection physically and spiritually for the leaders and their families. One key family unit with three small kids (ages 2, 6, 11) has been battling with a marriage crisis since early June with one spouse refused to work things out...

4. There have been some significant changes among the Alliance National youth committees since early July where we had to do multiple Zoom meetings while battling limited internet access. In August 8, in Phnom Penh, we will attempt an in-person meeting. Pray for wisdom and discernment for us (and for the remaining six committee members) we carry our roles as advisors to the committees.

Thank you for your partnership with the Anlong Veng Ministries. We appreciate your prayers and

financial support to the overall Alliance Mission in Cambodia and all over the world.

Blessings, 

Soeuth and Syna