Run Ta Ek Village – Love-A-Village

Sep 2024: Abounding in Blessings

Leave a Comment / Food of Love, Kok Thmey Sunday School, Peam English School, Peam Sunday School, Run Ta Ek Village / Zhiliang Lin

One thing LAV is always thankful for are the multitude of blessings God and His people have given to the various ministries and villages LAV is supporting. Through those blessings, our people are able to abound in every good work to bless the villagers.

Peam English School

The students have been regular in their attendance though a number of the grade 3 students are getting sick with the rise in the number of mosquitoes in the village. The school has completed preparations for the end of year examinations and the start of the 2024/2025 academic year. Pray for the students as they prepare for the exams. Pray also for the new intake of students in November – that the Lord will prepare the hearts of the new registrants and their parents for the gospel of salvation. The admission of more students would mean more opportunities to bring the gospel to the families and villages.

photo_2024-08-19_10-11-58 — Teaching the students how to resolve conflicts peacefully

photo_2024-08-13_13-14-02 — Bible Story Time

One thanksgiving the teachers have is the blessings from Jenny, a staff from REECH Cambodia. Besides donating the school uniforms and study materials, she gave a new bicycle to one of the students to allow him to commute between school and home.

Peam Sunday School

Peam is seeing an increase in attendance as the students become more involved in the church activities such as the upcoming Christmas skit. They have been enjoying and will continue to enjoy the rehearsals for two skits: Sin Chair and Jesus is Born. Through their rehearsals, they learn to work together and be patient with each other.

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Kok Thmey Sunday School

In Kok Thmey, there is much joy to share. Children are eager to attend bible study to learn about God. More teenagers are attending the teen worship service. Families are coming together to pray and worship at night. People are donating clothes and shoes to help the elderly. With more involvement, there is joy amidst the challenges.

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Teacher Srey Phorn shares her heart in this newsletter:

“I have learned a lot from students as I taught them about God. I learned to serve patiently and not discriminate against any child. I read more about the word of God, became stronger in faith and more courageous and happier. However, sometimes, I also face some challenges. I need more teachers to help me and I need more teaching resources.”

Skun Sunday School

Children in Skun village have recently received playground equipment from various donors. Pray that the playground would be a place for the children to interact and that the faith of the little ones from Skun Sunday School will pass on to other children they play with.

Run Ta Ek Sunday School

Run Ta Ek Sunday School has been growing in size. The children brought their friends to come and join, increasing the attendance from 20 in July to 29 in August. One of their prayer requests is for a proper fix to the broken fences and gates to keep the church safe. Another prayer request is for a successful outreach on 29 September. Pray that they may be able to bring more people to hear the gospel.

Youth Discipleship Groups (YDG)

The YDGs are growing in their faith. Even with the exams coming in September, the YDGs are seeing the attendance stay regular. It encourages the YDG leaders to continue to build the faith of the youths.

Five students in the Skun YDG declared their faith in Jesus and recently got baptised by the river.

Even when the evil one places thoughts to cause fear, our youths are standing firm in the word and speaking out the truth against lies. Srey Neang from the Peam YDG shared her experience:

“One Sunday morning, I was preparing myself to go to church for youth service. I heard a voice whisper at my ears saying, “don’t believe God, you will get hurt, you will have nothing, people will hate you.” At first, I thought it was my thoughts, but it whispered again. Then I realized that it was an evil spirit, so I said, “As long as I have breath, I will trust and believe in God.” Then the voice ceased.”

What she shared in the group has helped other students to continue to pray and to stand strong in faith.

Faithful men Discipleship Groups (FDG)

After going through two books of the Abundant Life, many of the disciples are knowing God better and their lives are displaying the fruits of the Spirit. Sreisros and Soadern’s groups have two disciples each who have indicated their desire to start their own FDG to build the faith of other disciples. Praise God!

A new group was started by Hav Kouy, from the Food of Love FDGs. She was discipled by Om Phallery and she has stepped up to lead a group of 7 widows in their faith. She also recently graduated from the Bible School with Chantana on 27 August.

At Skun, the FDG came together to prepare land for the playground. In a day, many hands gathered together to clear the soil so that there would be a flat piece of land for the children to play safely.

Food of Love

As the ministry continues to distribute food packs, God has placed upon the hearts of the widows to pray for healing upon the villagers. As they share about God, they also pray for God to be their healer to remove their ailments. Many of the widows were encouraged by the prayers for healing and peace answered by God.

Their prayer request is for the skies to be clear from rain so that they can continue to share the gospel as they bring food and healing to the villagers.

May your heart be blessed by the stories shared. Continue to praise God for His mighty works in the lives of the people in Cambodia.

Sep 2024: Abounding in Blessings Read More »

Aug 2024: Transformed Lives Within and Without

Leave a Comment / Food of Love, Kok Thmey Sunday School, Peam English School, Peam Sunday School, Run Ta Ek Village, Skun Village / Zhiliang Lin

We are thrilled to share the latest updates of lives being transformed by the Gospel. Your unwavering support and prayers have been instrumental in our journey, and we hope this update encourages you in your faith and support for the villages.

Peam English School

The teachers recently held a parents’ meeting with an impressive 90% attendance. Parents were overjoyed to see the progress their children were making in school. This strong turnout allowed the teachers to build positive relationships with the families, and we pray that this would bring opportunities to share the gospel to the parents.

As the teachers prepare for the new school year starting in November 2024, they request for your prayers. The team is diligently reviewing lesson plans and materials to ensure the students are able to understand and learn well both the English language and Christian values. Please pray for wisdom and guidance as they make these preparations.

Peam Sunday School

One of the Sunday School children, Sok Puey, shared a testimony that inspired her class and strengthened their faith in God who answers prayers. Sok Puey’s grandfather was seriously ill and required surgery for hernia. Despite the initial surgery revealing a blood clot that required a second operation, Sok Puey remained steadfast in prayer.

After another checkup, the doctor found that the second surgery was no longer needed, and her grandfather was discharged with just medication! Praise be to God for His miraculous healing!

One prayer request from Peam is for the children who have been experiencing skin problems. The school is planning to educate the kids on proper hygiene and to provide medication to treat and clear the parasites from their skin. Your prayers for their healing and well-being are greatly appreciated.

Kok Thmey Sunday School

The church is currently undergoing renovation, and the children are worshipping under a tent in the meantime. This temporary setup has not dampened their spirits, and they look forward to the completion of the renovations.

One thanksgiving is the transformation of one of their students who previously disrupted Sunday School lessons. He had undergone a remarkable transformation and is now a cherished helper in the school. This change has been a great encouragement to our teachers, reaffirming their dedication to guiding children towards transformed lives through Christ.

Another thanksgiving is for the recent purchase of Holy Communion elements, which will be used for the church Holy Communion services. This practice serves as a powerful reminder of Christ’s sacrifice and the redemption and sanctification of believers.

Skun Sunday School

In Skun, many of the children were unable to attend school due to objections from parents or because they were needed to help out on the farm or at home. Please pray that God will watch over these children, keep their faith strong, and soften their parents’ hearts to allow them to attend Sunday School. For the remaining children, the team is thankful for the transformed lives of students who are now eager to serve each other in Sunday school.

Run Ta Ek Sunday School

God has touched the children to pray and worship boldly. Many have started to sing and pray out loud. Please pray that this outward display of their faith will continue to stem from the inward working of the Spirit in their lives.

Youth Discipleship Groups at Peam, Skun and Phnom Krom

The leaders were grateful for the youth revival camp, where youths from different churches and some non-believers attended a three-day camp. Thank God for the renewal of faith and the seeds of the gospel planted in the hearts of those who have yet to believe.

The groups are also thankful for answered prayers, with students achieving good results in their studies and gaining wisdom to live their lives right before God.

Please pray that they will grow more in their knowledge of who God is and that their love for Him will deepen. Pray also for the protection of their faith amidst persecution and attacks from the evil one.

Food of Love

From a recent outreach, the number of women attending the weekly bible study has grown from 15 to 26. Thank God that the message of the Gospel continues to spread and touch more lives.

We pray that this update has encouraged you in your prayers for the villagers. Whether through prayer, volunteering, or financial support, your involvement makes a difference. Thank you for being a part of our mission. May God bless you abundantly!

Aug 2024: Transformed Lives Within and Without Read More »

June 2024 – Disciples Bearing Fruits

Leave a Comment / Kok Thmey Village, Peam Village, Run Ta Ek Village / Zhiliang Lin

The LAV team is pleased to share updates of the fruits of our ministry. One common refrain from the staff updates is that of disciples rising up to bear fruit that pleases God. As you read, give thanks to the Lord for His work in the lives of the Cambodians.

Widows’ Ministry

Om Sipak has been leading the Widows’ Ministry faithfully and the ladies have been growing in their faith and service, meeting regularly to receive both spiritual and physical nourishment. One of the highlights from the ministry is the formation of a new discipleship group by one of Om Sipak’s disciples. This group is based in Phnom Krom and they have started on the Abundant Life book.

Peam English School

Students have been attending classes regularly with most having an attendance above 75%. However, 25 have dropped out due to the inconvenience of travelling long distances to school daily. These students have found schools nearer their homes. Out of the remaining 105 students, 102 had passed their mid-year examinations.

One key programme the school had was inviting Cambodia Education Forum (CEF) to share about children’s rights and how they can protect themselves from abuse.

Peam and Kok Thmey Sunday School

With the reopening of schools from the holidays, attendance at Peam and Kok Thmey has improved with 50 and 35 regular attendees respectively. The children have been enjoying the lessons and are actively participating by serving each other and playing together. For Mothers’ day, the children prepared paper flowers to show their appreciation to their mothers.

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At Peam, the Sunday School conducted an evangelistic event during Khmer New Year in which 30 parents attended. Pastor Kunthea shared how new life can be received through Jesus. Food and gifts were also shared with the parents.

At Kok Thmey, the Sunday School celebrated the Khmer New Year with worship, games and a communal lunch. The parents were also invited to join in the festivities and got closer together as a family.

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Youth Discipleship Groups (YDGs)

The YDGs in Peam and Kok Thmey are thankful to God for the growth He has been bringing to the groups. They have been learning the fundamentals of prayer and reading the word. Though both groups are small with 14 regular attendees, God has been working through them to do great things.

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One of the youths, Rosa, shared with the church how God had been answering her prayers and expressed her desire to be baptised and be identified as a follower of Jesus.

The youths have also banded together to form a worship service for teenagers. About 40 teens from 3 different villages have been attending the service every Sunday. The youths are looking forward to raising the 2nd generation of faithful YDG youths from this service.

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Pray with us

Give thanks to God for the growth in the ministry of raising of faithful disciples.

Pray for the roots of the disciples’ faith to go deep and that the disciples may continue to bear fruit in all they do.

Pray for the discipleship group leaders that they may be protected from evil.

June 2024 – Disciples Bearing Fruits Read More »

April 2024: Cambodian Mission Team Report from Hebron BP Church

Leave a Comment / Peam English School, Run Ta Ek Village, Uncategorized / Zhiliang Lin

Church members from Hebron BP Church went on a mission trip in March 2024 to Cambodia and visited the various ministries in Love-A-Village (LAV). Pastor Nathanael Tan shares his account of the experiences the team had.

The team from Hebron, with Janice Tay (carrying the orange bag) between Elder David and Pastor Nathanael.

Widows ministry at New Living Hope Centre (NLHC)

Our first ministry stop was at NLHC where we joined the widows for worship and fellowship. The term ‘widow’ is used quite loosely in Cambodia and can mean a woman whose husband had died, or is a divorcee. Sister Deborah shared a testimony about leading family worship and I shared about my mother who faithfully witnessed to my father till he went home to the Lord. Both testimonies were well received.

The widows enjoyed the butterfly craft session by Sister Christina and no-bake tarts session by Sister Grace. We also distributed shoes donated by a company in Singapore. It was also encouraging to witness the faithfulness of the Khmer sisters who oversaw this ministry.

Peam English School

At Peam English School, LAV supports School Principal Sreisros and 2 teaching staff who conduct English enrichment classes. The English classes are held through the week and are well taught. They also conduct Christian values lessons weekly. Some students also attend the Sunday school regularly. Through the craft session, we interacted with about 20 primary 5 and 6 children and I shared a message on the fruit of the Spirit.

Worship with Run Ta Ek Church

Run Ta Ek church serves the people relocated from areas near Angkor Wat. It is quite remote, and street signs haven’t been put up yet. Om Da had a burden for the people there and would hold a weekly service every Friday, on top of her weekend ministry in her home church. Elder David played the guitar and we presented the song “Jesus Strong and Kind” to the congregation. I preached on the prodigal son, and Pastor Vongsa who was visiting read scripture for me. I must admit that being from a Bible Presbyterian church, we were not used to the loud music, but we knew the worship came from hearts that were full of praise and reverence for God. At the end of the service, we distributed food packs sponsored by Hebron.

Reflections

We were impressed by the passion and drive of Janice, who had devoted 8 years to God’s work in Siem Reap. She has also built up a good partnership with local churches, which provided resources and church volunteers to support the Sunday Schools for students and youth fellowships.

I have also seen how Janice nurtured and trained the staff of LAV, empowering them to lead their ministries. At one meeting I attended, she challenged her staff and volunteers to plan for their first combined youth camp. She listened to feedback given, and was firm when needed. The result was that all involved owned the project, and were excited to carry it out.

I felt that LAV balanced the meeting of felt needs (education, food packs) with meeting deeper spiritual needs (Bible study, fellowship). They ministered to the whole person, in a sustainable way through gospel partnerships with local and foreign churches.

I was also encouraged by the sacrificial service of faithful servants of God like Pastor Bunnath, Om Da and Pastor Vongsa. Despite challenges like health and limited support, they continued to serve God and His people faithfully. It challenged me to remember Whom I was serving, and to be willing to serve sacrificially myself.

We were all blessed by this trip and look forward to future projects with LAV.

If you are keen to partner us for mission trips, we are organising one in November. Email us at contact@loveavillage.com to let us know your interest.

April 2024: Cambodian Mission Team Report from Hebron BP Church Read More »

April 2024 Updates – Run Ta Ek Crusade

Leave a Comment / Run Ta Ek Village / Zhiliang Lin

A large crowd of a thousand villagers from nearby towns and villages had gathered in Roun Ta Ek. This great gathering is for a crusade held by an American mission team who wanted to share about Jesus Christ and bring good news of salvation to all who were present.

People were worshipping God in one voice and were engaged with the message of the hope of Jesus Christ. There were people stepping forward to be prayed for and a few responded to the call to believe. After the crusade, 3 people joined the church services in Roun Ta Ek.

Pray that all who heard the message would begin to know Jesus with more clarity and certainty and would respond in faith when He touches their hearts. In their time of need, they would know who is the one who can protect and provide for them, and would shout out to Him for deliverance.

April 2024 Updates – Run Ta Ek Crusade Read More »

Introducing Run Ta Ek

Leave a Comment / Run Ta Ek Village / Zhiliang Lin

50 kilometers away from Kok Thmey is Run Ta Ek (pronounced as Roun Ta Ark), an eco-village set up by the Cambodian government. Many villagers have been relocated there to start a new life and a new community. This presents an opportunity for Love-A-Village to share the message of Christ’s love and reconciliation with God to a wider audience.

In Run Ta Ek, our dedicated brothers and sisters in Cambodia have been actively ministering to the villagers. About 24 children regularly participate in Sunday School, where they learn about God and His wondrous deeds under the guidance of three devoted teachers: Matha, Dalin, and Dalen. The teachers enjoy meeting the children to nurture their love for God and others.

A vibrant church has also been established there, led by Pastor Yin Olyda. The bright blue building stands out from the village and the community of 73 members are beacons that shine their light brightly for all in Run Ta Ek. The church welcomes all to worship and experience God’s love through the community.

It is our prayer that the Spirit will fall upon this village and immerse the people in the knowledge of Christ. Join us in prayer to support the labourers in the village.

Prayer pointers:

For Pastor Yin Olyda, Teacher Matha, Teacher Dalin, and Teacher Dalen:

To be empowered by the Spirit as they teach the word.
For God’s protection to be upon them.
For wisdom to guide their ministry in alignment with God’s will.

For the Sunday School children:

To know God and feel His love.
To internalize the teachings and allow the seeds of faith to take firm root, shaping them to be Christ-like.

For the Church adults:

To experience God’s grace and power daily.
To exemplify faithfulness and honesty, shining as beacons for all to see.

For the village:

For the church to have favour in the eyes of the authority as they continue to minister to the villagers.
For opportunities to share and demonstrate the love of the gospel.

Introducing Run Ta Ek Read More »