The Living Field: 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. 5At this writing, the rains come less frequently, but the flooding continues. Although the level of flooded water decreased somewhat, with all the ponds and lakes completely filled up, there was no other place for drainage. 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 of many hardship and life challenges, no one was seriously armed…

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 about 7.5 hour drive each way) to the capital city for meetings, follow ups on medical & dental appointments, and 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 that despite ongoing border conflicts (between July and December'25) which forced many families to flee for their lives and schools were interrupted, 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 and devotion to study despite countless obstacles and their perseverance to move forward. However, despite this success, these kids dare not dream of going beyond 12th grade due to ongoing poverty, lack of means, and no outside help. Seeing the 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 experiences of what campus life looks like. 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 beginning 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 increase in the 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 who enjoy hanging out on the church grounds 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 officially observed holiday for Pchum Ben falls on October 10-12, 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 often endured spiritual warfare. Tracing back to any major sicknesses, accidents, team or personal conflicts we ever had in the past, most of these incidents often 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…

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…
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.
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…
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.
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.
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.
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.
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