November Updates

 

Dear Friends,

Thanks so much for praying for the flood situation in Poipet.  After three full days of heavy rains, and while most parts of the Poipet town were covered with flood, we left Poipet to vist Justin for a week, knowing full well that the damage would be very severe once we'd come back.  When we got back from Malaysia, a week later, the roads in Poipet were still muddy and filled with puddles.  And as predicted, all vegetations and thousands of hectares of rice fields (in the northwest regions) were destroyed!  Normally, the rice farmers started to prepare fields for transplanting at the beginning of the rainy season (June to August); once the fields are prepared and the rice is transplanted, the farmers would wait, with much anticipation, hoping and praying for the good crops at the harvest time (November and December).  But this year, however, the recent flood had brought nothing but devastating and despair. 

In some areas, in respond to the needs, rice donations from local Red Cross have been (supposedly equally) distributed to the villagers affected by the flood.  But because of a corrupted system, already, some village leaders and local town officials are fearful for their lives.  (This requires some explanations).  Often, in respond emergency needs, local NGOs (non-government organizations) or local Red Cross would send out donations (mostly rice) to the affected victims.  There should be a set amount of rations to be given out, equally, to each needy family, according with the numbers of family members.  Yet, in reality, this method only appears in paper/ record.  Local community leaders are supposed to sent list of family names and request for certain amount of donation.  Once this request is agreed, donors would send out truck loads of rice bags to designated areas.  But, as we've seen and heard of repeatedly, however, that once the trucks left the towns or villages, those same bags of rice are immediately sold in local markets.  To get the much needed rice, the poor will still have to buy it, at a cheaper price (than regular price for rice), from the market!  This unjust practice took place so often enough, especially at remote villages, that the angry villagers are driven to take laws into their own hands!  And if the donation is actually given out at all, it often took place at the local Buddhist temples or at the villager leaders' houses where Christians are often neglected or not included at all. 

This past Sunday, we had a privilege to visit the Ang Salaa house church where the church families came together for a joyous celebration with a potluck meal following the church service.  During the service there were many opportunities for people to offer their prayer requests and praises.  One lady was very thankful to God, that last week flood, during the time of need when she and her family had no money left to buys food for the next meal, God allowed her son to find a few extra fat frogs so she could prepare a tasty meal for her hungry family! 

Immediately following the service, while the ladies we busy getting the meal ready, we were invited to lead a couple, Ang and Chin, to Thmai Kloun - (give their lives to Jesus).  This couple had heard about Jesus through beleivers in Ang Salaa (like Pholly and Moul- owners of the house where the church meets) and had been wanted to come to Christ for a long time, but were hesitant due to fear.  Finally, on Sunday (Oct. 31-- Halloween’s Day) they'd decided to give their lives completely to Jesus allowing Him to be their Lord and Savior!  With their permission, we cut off two spirit strings from around their waists, helped the couple removed fetishes, shrines, and other worship articles from high places, and had those worshipped articles were burned to the ground-- in front of their friends and neighbors!  It was a joyous moment for the couple, as the wife, Naat, had stated in her own words that, "I feel like a huge burden has been lifted off my shoulders!"  Please pray for this couple as they would soon face persecutions (because of the decision), no doubts, from their unbelieving relatives and neighbors.

Back at the house church, everyone was busy spreading plastic tarps and mats on the ground and putting food on dishes.  A number of families had brought many different kinds of desserts and dishes of simple yet very delicious home cooked food including curry stuffing grilled frogs!   It is a great and humble experience for us to dine with local villagers, a great reminder for us to appreciate and be thankful for the many blessings that God has generously given us, daily.  The true is, we were sad by the devastating results of the recent flood.  Without warning, the flood came and did much damage, but our home was spared!  And yet, hundreds of families out there did not share the same blessing as we.  This is a very hard and testing time for all of us, and we may not have all the answers, but we can only trust in the ONE who knows the plans He has for us...  As you are celebrating Thanksgiving at the end of this month, please take a moment to count many blessing He has done in you life.  What are you thankful for this year?

As mentioned earlier, we did go and visit Justin for a week (Oct. 18-25) at Dalat School where Justin had a 4-day break from school.  We had a good time catching up with Justin, had opportunities to talk with some of his teachers, and heard good reports about him which made our hearts glad.  As there were some flu bugs were spreading around the campus before we got there, during our visit, Jonathan got really sick with high fever for a few days where he had to stay in bed during that time.  And even when we got back to Poipet, a week after, all three of us got the flu bugs as well, one after another.  While at Penang, we had the chance to join the dorm family overnight trip to Highland Genting.  It was good experience for us to get to know each dorm family, watching how dorm kids and dorm parents interacted with one another.  Our observations only increases the need to pray, even more, for each of these gifted, devoted, and committed dorm parents, who willingly answered the call to serve God in caring for and loving each of the dorm children, and our son- Justin is included.  As you think of our family in prayers, will you also say a prayer for Lilian and Harold Chan as well along with their two small sons, Elim and Reuben?  Thanks.

Please pray also for the house churches along the roads to Malay areas.  Due to bad road conditions, the regular discipleship classes that meet there weekly had been postponed, one week after another.  Though the flood water is no more, the damages to most roads are great.  Pray that the new believers there would remain firm in their faith.

As always, we appreciate your prayers and support, and you partnering with us in bringing the Gospel to this part of the world.  Your faithful giving to the GCF allows us to continue serving here in Poipet.  Please share with us what God is doing in your life.

Serving Him together,

Soeuth, Syna, Justin and Jonathan Loa