Dear Supporters
How are you doing? I hope you had a blessed and great year in 2023, and as the new year starts, I believe that God will grant more love, joy and prosperity in the year ahead for you and your family. I am really thankful for you as we partner to work in the kingdom of God. May God’s steadfast love go to you every morning and night. For me and my family, I am thankful that we had a good year. Even though we encountered some difficulties, we could find joy and peace in those situations.
Joyous and happy occasions in 2023 included my sister’s wedding and my daughter’s baptism, and Love-A-Village family outing. I was also especially happy that Bay City Church provided me support for my bible study course.
English School
It’s been a blessed year spending time with our students, and seeing them grow both in learning English and God’s word.
We enrolled 48 new students this year, and met their parents to inform them that their children will be studying in a Christian school that shares God’s love and his salvation to every student. The parents understood and gave consent to their children attending the English School.
We start 2024 with a total of 130 students. In the first week of school, we met with the Grade 5 and 6 students to make study plans. The students were also asked to share their experiences and self-reflection. Some of the students’ reflections and thoughts can be found at the end of this letter.
Peam Sunday School
We had a fun and joyful Christmas celebration together with our students and supporters. We were happy that LAV and Bay City Church sent teams to visit us in Siem Reap in November and December. I am thankful for your support for the Sunday School. I want you to know how much we love and appreciate you in our hearts. May the Lord Jesus bless you abundantly. This year, we will journey with our students to learn about Issac and his descendants, and how God protected and blessed them.
Peam and Kok Thmey Youth Discipleship Groups (YDG)
I am very glad that we were able to form a YDG, one in Peam and another in Kok Thmey, to help the youths understand God’s word. We use the Bible and Abundant Life book for their study. We hope to see them grow in faith and worship God with a humble heart, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Please keep them in your prayers!
Kok Thmey Church and Sunday School
The church is doing well. We are so grateful for God’s righteousness upon the church. Pastor Bunnath has health problems, but he has never given up on his ministry. Our students keep coming to church because they like singing praise, doing craft, and listening to God’s word. For Christmas, the students were able to perform traditional dancing, thanks to our teachers who helped and taught them patiently.
Student self-reflection (translated from Khmer to English by Sreisros, unedited)
Hello! My name is Leakana. When I study English, I know a lot about English language. I feel happy and very glad that I get to know God through Friday program. I know Bible verses and songs that describe about the Lord Jesus . I have changed, now I believe God.
Hi, my name is Bopha! I progressed a lot when I come to study English. I can read and write some words. I am happy and respectful to God like my father. What I learned from Friday program is that I learned to love my friends and that how I know God.
Hello, my name is Hunleng. I am 12 years old. I progressed a lot in English class. I have become a better student and I am so happy every time I come to English school. I am happy to learn about God. Through Friday program, I can sing English songs, memorize bible verses, and learn English language. I have learned that bully others is bad thing, so I changed it.
Hi, I am Kun Thea. When I come to English school, I progress a lot such as, can translate a little bit, can speak English a little bit and I love cleaning school. When I learned about God, I know God and I feel happy. Through Friday program, I know a lot of English God’s songs and I am happy every Friday. I learned to change my bad habit, not to hit others and don’t get lazy.
Hi, my name is Saraen. When I come to English class, I progressed a lot, I can read and understand English language. I feel glad and happy to learn more about God. Every Friday, I learn bible, sing songs to praise the Lord and his name. I changed some of my bad habits such as not to insult others, not saying bad words, and not to be biased.
Hello! My name is Vicheka. When I come to English school, I learn a lot. I learn to speak English and learn to listen. I feel very happy to learn about God. On Friday, I learn some lessons from bible, I also learn songs to praise the Lord. I have learned to change my bad habits; not to curse others and learned to love parents and friends. I can say the word I love you to my family with no fear or shame. I want to tell my parents that I love them so much.
Hello, my name is Pharim. When I come to study English, I have learned English a lot. I feel good about God. Through Friday program, I learn to sing God’s songs, I learn to pray to God and I learn to do crafts. I have change myself not to bully others, not to hit and not to gossip about others people.
Hi, my name is Cham Roeun. I know a lot when I come to English school, I learn to sing, learn Bible, learn to give offerings and learn to respect God. I feel happy because God created the world. I love God and respect him like other people do. He is the God of the world. Jesus is a good God. Without him, I will become a bad person, I really want to see him. I want him to stay near me forever. I want to give Jesus to everyone. I want to go to heaven with God and I want to pray to Jesus. I have learned to pray and learned to sing. I want to thank you teachers that taught me about all these things. I have learned to say sorry when I make mistakes.
Hello! I am Navy. When I study English, I know a lot about English language. I have tried my best to get a good score and learn to be disciplined student. I feel very happy about God . I want to be with him and worship him. I love God and want him to keep his eyes on me. Through Friday, I learned to pray and worship God. I can feel that God is with me every single day. I love God and I will come to church every Sunday.
Hi, my name is Solika. I can read and write some words when I come to English class. I can write some sentences and can speak some phrases. I feel love God because he blesses my family. God always teaches a lot of good things . He makes me understand that even though I did mistakes, he is always forgiving me. Through Friday program, I learned to do a lot of good things and learned to worship him.
Hi, my name is Sayon. I know English when I come to English school. I learned to read, to write and to speak English. I also learned when someone did wrong to us, we should forgive them. I feel happy when I encounter with God. When I learn on Friday, I know bible verses and songs. Oh God! Help me to be healthy and change me from my bad behavior.
Hi, my name is Chanthy. I have learned a lot of English words and phrases and I feel that I can do it when I study in this English school. I feel that I love God when I heard that he love all children. When I come on Friday, I think that I respect Jesus and I pray to him. I have learned to forgive other people.