Merry Christmas!

Reclaiming Her Life

Yourn's life was a harrowing tale of domestic violence, poverty, and despair. Her husband's alcoholism and abuse cast a dark shadow over her family. The weight of providing for her children, often working irregular hours and facing financial constraints, was a constant burden. But amidst the darkness, a beacon of hope emerged. 

Aunt Sopha, a compassionate soul, invited Yourn to join the Life with Value support group. This group became a sanctuary, where Yourn found solace, understanding, and strength. The members, like a family, listened to her troubles, offered comfort, and provided practical advice. Empowered by the support group, Yourn began to reclaim her life. She worked diligently, ensuring her children received a quality education. Her daughter's academic achievements became a source of immense pride. The group also played a crucial role in advocating for Yourn's rights, working with local authorities to address her situation. 

Yourn's transformation is a testament to the power of human connection and the impact of community-based initiatives. The Life with Value support group has not only provided a lifeline to vulnerable women like Yourn, but also empowers them to become agents of change in their lives and communities.

Helping Little Ones Dream

My name is Nita and I live in Tbong Khmum province. I am one of the Joy of Our Children’s teen club members. I always saw other club members serve the little vulnerable children as Buddy companions. The changes I noticed in the little ones motivated me to want to do the same. 

The Buddy System training truly molded my heart. I was willing to help bring transformation into the lives of vulnerable kids whose parents migrated for work and left them behind with their grandparents. Nary is an orphan girl whose father returns home to visit her only once a year. She ate two meals a day, breakfast at 7 a.m. and dinner at 4 p.m. She skipped lunch every day. Her meals are mostly rice with fish paste or fermented fish. Her grandmother is sick and as a result, Nary was often absent from school. I decided to choose Nary from my village as my buddy companion. It took Nary a while to trust my care for her. We slowly became friends. I took her to the kid’s club with me and invited her to the teenager’s club when we had a buddy meeting. She has a dream of being a teacher.  I taught her mathematics and guided her with reading until she became an outstanding student in her class. 

I am thankful that the Joy of Our Children program brought me a good buddy companion, who taught me to take every opportunity to help and care for the vulnerable children in my village. I love Nary with the love of Jesus and desire to see her dream come true. I hope Nary will bring a lot of inspiration from this Buddy System to many children around her in the future. 

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Refreshment from Our Friends in the Netherlands!

We had four friends visit our work in the Pursat and Battambang provinces. A group of Christians organized by the Dutch FOH foundation and a Dutch church “Doorbrekers” helped us host a Ministry Day, a heartwarming gathering for 137 children in the Joy of Our children program and 128 Life with Value support group members. The kids loved the fun and games! The support group members enjoyed performances, gifts, and even skincare treatments. One special moment came when a woman tearfully shared, “My hands worked very hard to earn a living to support my family. I never experienced a smooth soft hand. But Jesus knows I need that too.” Even the smallest gestures bring immense joy and comfort to those in need.

Healing an Unloving Heart and a Snake Bite

Chetra, a 42-year-old resident of Pursat province, shares a transformational journey of faith and service through the Joshua training program. Before joining the Life of Hope program, Chetra describes himself as narrow-minded and unloving, facing frequent family conflicts.

However, everything changed when he attended the 90-day Joshua training, completing four courses: Life of Hope, Joy of Our Children, Life With Value, and Our Strong Village. This experience provided him with a fresh start, fostering love within his family and empowering him to share the gospel with his community. Chetra’s life became a testament to the power of faith as many in his village found belief through his influence. He also recounts miraculous healings, both from a snake bite and his son's dengue fever, attributing these to divine intervention.  He said, “I was bitten by a snake, but God healed me at that moment because there was no nearby doctor and no cure. My son had dengue fever. I prayed; God healed my son.”

Chetra expresses deep gratitude to God and the FOH organization for the opportunity to transform his life and contribute positively to his community.  He acknowledges the invaluable support from the donors and the programs provided by FOH, which have helped him, and others find a true sense of belief and purpose.  Chetra’s story is a powerful example of how faith and community support can change lives. "Thank you so much, and may God bless you!" he says, acknowledging the donors who have made these life-changing programs possible.

Looking Forward to Christmas Celebrations!

Each year, Fountain of Hope invites communities to their Christmas Celebrations! Many people attend who are unfamiliar with the gospel. The program includes a gospel presentation, performances, singing and a meal! These events are exciting opportunities for new believers and the Joshua leaders to invite their neighbors, families and friends to hear about Jesus. Last year over 900 people received Jesus as their Savior!

Our staff are looking forward to these events:

“The community will be delighted to join Jesus' birthday!” Khav Saroem

“Joshua leaders will participate in Christmas by performing, decorating, and inviting their neighbors.” Anan and Naleng

“Many people will hear the gospel and receive salvation.” Ea Sovann

“The local authorities would join Christmas celebration.” Ham Saing

“The program would go well, and the people would be thrilled by the nativity hymns, the words of Jesus' birth, and the communal meal.” Sun Sarith

“Community will hear sounds of praising God in commemoration of the birth of Jesus. Bread, noodles and curry are the favorite foods of the community during the celebration of Christmas in the community.” Monophal

“Children are happy, together praising God during the Christmas ceremony.” Chum Prajn

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Please pray for these celebrations happening in many villages across Cambodia that people will experience the love of Jesus!

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Power in the Name of Jesus

My name is Rachny and I am 33 years old. I am a rubber plantation farmer in the Tbong Khmum province and have one son. My husband is a factory security guard in Phnom Penh. Most people in my village are farmers. When someone is sick, we first seek help from the fortune tellers who tell us what evil spirit to make an offering to. We always pray to those evil spirits for peace and happiness for our family because we don’t have a true god to rely on.

In 2020, I accidentally met a Fountain of Hope staff while he was preaching the good news of Jesus. He shared scripture from John 3:16 and John 1:12 about the love of Jesus, His power to forgive sinners, and how He accepted them to be His children. I felt personal conviction that those who practice witchcraft and magic, worship idols and evil spirits sinned against God. I am one of them. Only Jesus can redeem me and give me salvation. I accepted Jesus to be my Lord and Savior that day. The teacher introduced me to a cell church in my village.

After I accepted Jesus, I completed a new believer training and afterward was baptized. I no longer practice my previous beliefs. I stopped seeking help from fortune tellers or preparing offerings for evil spirits. When I face problems or illness, I first seek Jesus in my prayer for healing. When I face difficulty, I encourage myself to pray more to Jesus. He relieved my burdens, healed my sickness, and renewed my hope. I believe there is power in the name of Jesus. He always makes himself available, listens to my prayers, and sends timely help.

I thank Jesus for sending the Fountain of Hope teacher to preach the gospel. Without God sending him I would not have the chance to hear the gospel and become a child of God. Please remember me in your prayers and pray for salvation for the families in my village. They need Jesus to redeem them.

My Parents Appreciate My Transformation

My name is Dara, and I am 15 years old and live in the Takeo province. I am the second child in a family of two boys. My father works in a factory, and my mother is a housewife and weaver. In my free time, I help with housework and prepare the weaving machine for my mother.

In 2022, I joined the Joy of Our Children program after a teacher invited me and other kids in my village to watch puppet shows. I was excited to learn about the Kid’s Club, where I gained knowledge about self-prevention from dengue fever, diarrhea, dental hygiene, children’s rights, and personal health care.

Later that year, I attended the Buddy System training, which taught me how to identify and support vulnerable children. I chose to help a lonely boy in my village who often skips school and lacks care, and is often sick when his parents are away for work and his grandparents are busy with their business. I encourage him to study, practice hygiene, and join the Kid’s Club with me.

Through my faith in Jesus, I completed the new believer training and accepted water baptism. I am currently taking leadership training with my teacher, who has shown me God’s love and helped me grow. My parents appreciate my transformation.

I am really grateful to Jesus for loving me and transforming my attitude. I thank my teachers for loving me, teaching me, and helping many children in my village. Their good example influences my desire to live out Jesus’ love. Their teaching shaped my character to pick the right choices, especially making the decision to accept Jesus to be my Lord and Savior through seeing Jesus. I now volunteer to help gather children from my village to join the Kid’s Club and other events. I hope my volunteer service will help prevent kids from drugs.

Please pray that the Lord will bless my efforts to finish high school, get a good job and good health for everyone in my family.

Seeing Spiritual Needs

Vanny, an 18-year-old, shares her journey from following local traditions to becoming a dedicated Joshua Leader. Initially unaware of her spiritual needs, Vanny participated in traditional practices until Fountain of Hope staff introduced her to the gospel. Although her initial exposure was limited due to school commitments, she embraced the message in 2022 when Ms. Im Vanna taught teens about God's word. Realizing her need for salvation, Vanny accepted Jesus as her Savior and subsequently attended training courses.

In 2024, Vanny seized the opportunity to join the 90-day Joshua Training, which equipped her with a deeper understanding of God's word and health awareness. She is now committed to using this knowledge to improve her life and positively influence her community.

Vanny’s story underscores the transformative power of faith-based education and the crucial role of donor support in providing such opportunities. She expresses her gratitude to Fountain of Hope for the life-changing training, which has empowered her to make a difference in her village.

When God's Love Touches Your Heart

Meet Kem Mom

My name is Kem Mom. I live in the Kandal province. I am a cell church leader in the Life of Hope program through Fountain of Hope. I have 5 children, 2 sons and 3 daughters.

I took full responsibility for raising my children after my husband died. I labored to cut grass and did whatever available work to earn money to support my family. I lived a helpless and hopeless life. I often sat in a quiet place and cried alone. Sometimes, I felt chest pain. I spoke less and less. I felt like I couldn't breathe sometimes because of my hopeless situation and the people around me couldn’t help. I could only cry to release the pain from my heart.

One day, I learned about God’s word from a teacher in the Life of Hope program. I heard him mention that Jesus is the only God who can help you, healer of your pain and brokenness, and the comforter to a weak widow like me. If you accept Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, He will renew your hope. He will be with you and always be there to be your good friend. He will never leave you, nor forsake you, especially a widow like you. He cares for your suffering and understands your problems. After I heard this, I felt very encouraged. I realized that Jesus is full of love and forgiveness for all people. I felt that something was touching my heart. It gave me joy and strength. Then, I decided to give my life to Jesus. That teacher led me to pray the sinner’s prayer. In that prayer, I heard that my name is registered in God's book of life in heaven and God is in me and my life since that moment. I now have a new life, full of joy and hope from Jesus. He is a miraculous God to a widow like me who found hope in him alone. He filled my heart with joy, wiped away my tears, and comforted me with His love and mercy.

Finally, I would like to thank Fountain of Hope for coming to my village to preach the gospel of Jesus, visit me at my home, and teach me how to experience God’s love and tell others about Jesus.

Finding Peace and Purpose

Meet Phan

Hello, my name is Phan. I am 51 years old and live in the Pursat province, where I work as a farmer. I have four children, and while one is married, the other three are still under my care. My education is limited, as I only finished grade three.

Life was incredibly tough for us before I joined the Our Strong Village program by Fountain of Hope. We lived in constant hardship, facing food insecurity due to floods destroying our rice plantations almost every year. Despite my limited resources, I had to make the heartbreaking decision to stop my youngest daughter’s education due to safety concerns. This decision weighed heavily on my heart.

In 2019, I encountered the FOH activities in my village and was drawn to the Joy of Our Children program, which not only taught children about health and hygiene but also introduced me to the teachings of Jesus. I accepted Jesus through the program and became involved in a cell church in my village. Through training and guidance, I learned about a family vegetable garden, which helped supplement our food supply.

During a particularly difficult time when our area was flooded, the FOH staff visited me, shared the love of Jesus, and prayed for God’s provision. Their support and prayers gave me strength and reassurance during those challenging times.

In 2022, I participated in the Cow Bank training, which provided opportunities for a better livelihood. Despite facing persecution and challenges from neighbors and relatives due to my newfound faith, I found peace and purpose in serving the Lord. My family and I became active in church activities, and I even started a literacy class for illiterate members of our community.

Through hard work and God’s blessings, our livelihood improved. We now raise goats and chickens alongside rice cultivation. I also save money from selling animals and contribute to a Savings group. I am grateful for the prosperity we have experienced and pray that others in my village will come to believe in Jesus and experience similar blessings.

I am thankful for the journey the Lord has led me on and the opportunity to serve Him and my community. It has strengthened my faith and given me confidence in His plans.

Goat banks are organized by an established local committee to address the needs of impoverished families or widows within a community. Widows learn how to raise and care for a goat, eventually receiving offspring from the goat. They are able to support themselves and raise their status in the community by raising the goats and the offspring the goats produce.

18 Families have received a goat!

An Unexpected Gift

I was unsure what to expect since this was my first visit to Southeast Asia. But I arrived with our small team from Walnut Hill Community Church full of expectation of what God could do. Our introduction to the Fountain of Hope ministry was visiting their work in the provinces. We observed the staff working with adults attending the rice bank, women being supported who had experienced violence from their husbands, and children watching a puppet show to learn about flu symptoms. The next day our team would minister to the staff at their retreat, and I wondered what on earth I had to offer these amazing staff members. But Jesus knew what was needed and as we leaned into him, we connected with the staff team and had a powerful time. Fountain of Hope is impacting lives in such incredible and meaningful ways. This trip was an unexpected gift, a time of being blessed when the expectation was to solely go and bless the team.

Lucy Houghton, Director of Care Ministries, Walnut Hill Community Church

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Thank you to Lucy and all our partners for your prayers and support in God’s work here in Cambodia!

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Meet Sareth

Hello, my name is Sareth, and I’m delighted to share my story with you. I’m 69 years old, married, and a farmer living in the Kandal province. I have nine children, three of whom have passed away, and the remaining six are with me.

My journey with Jesus began on December 19, 2023, during a Christmas celebration with a cell church in my village. The simplicity of Jesus’ birth in a humble stable touched my heart deeply. As I listened to the preacher share the gospel, I felt God’s word resonate within me. Despite being burdened with illness and worries, I had always strived to do good deeds, yet, I still felt uncertain about my eternal destination. Learning about Jesus’ promise of forgiveness and salvation ignited a desire in me to follow Him wholeheartedly.

After accepting Jesus into my life, I was warmly welcomed into the cell church by its leader and members. They embraced me like family, and I eagerly attended bible studies, fellowship gatherings, and prayer sessions with them. Their support and encouragement strengthened my faith as a new believer.

I am immensely grateful to Jesus for choosing me, loving me, and filling my life with joy and hope. He has become my guiding light and source of comfort. As I continue to walk in faith, I pray for my family and children to experience peace, happiness, good health, and prosperity. Thank you for keeping us in your prayers.

10,015 children...

….learned about health, hygiene and God's love for them, all while having a fun time through songs and puppet shows in 2023!

Meet Sophea

Hello, I’m Sophea*, and I want to share my story with you. I live in the Takeo province with my parents and three siblings. I had to stop going to school in grade 8 because my family was struggling financially, and I needed to take care of my niece while her parents went to work in Thailand to repay their debts. It was a tough decision, and I felt really sad that I couldn’t continue my education and pursue my dreams for the future.

But then, something amazing happened. I got the chance to join the Fountain of Hope program, and it changed everything for me. At first, I was shy and unsure if I could participate, but my friend and teacher encouraged me to give it a try. I felt like it was a sign from God that this was where I was meant to be.

I found my passion in the Buddy System training. Taking care of my niece had already taught me a lot about caring for children, and this training helped me learn even more about identifying and meeting the needs of vulnerable kids in my community.

After completing the training, I felt a stronger connection to my faith and a renewed sense of purpose. I decided to take on the 90 Days of Joshua training, which helped me grow as a leader and motivated me to serve others with the gifts I’ve been given.

Now, I have a little buddy named Sitha*, who is in a similar situation to what I experienced. Her parents are working in Thailand, and she’s living with her grandmother. I understand how she feels, and I want to make sure she doesn’t have to give up on her education like I did. I spend time with her, teach her, and share the love of Jesus
with her.

I pray that one day her parents will come back to be with her and that they’ll find warmth and strength in their faith, just like I have.

*Names changed.

There were 357 buddies through the Joy of Our Children mentoring program in 2023!

Testifying About Jesus

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

May the joy of the Lord always be with you. We thank the Lord for his great love and that you embrace us in your prayers.

We are grateful for the faithfulness of our cell church members who testified about Jesus during the Pchum Ben ceremony, a ghost month in which people bring tribute to the ancestor spirits and transfer merits to the spirits. Their faithfulness brought glory to our Lord Jesus Christ. 

This month, the Lord added 22 graduate volunteers from the Joshua training program. These volunteers and staff members brought 13 people to Jesus through home visits and sharing the gospel in public. We pray they grow stronger in faith and service to the Lord through our continued discipleship. 

The lifestyles of our cell church members continue to draw people to Jesus. We greeted 95 visitors in our cell churches. Praise the Lord that 51 visitors accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. We thank God for a new cell church!

We thank God for your love for the people of Cambodia! We ask that you continue to pray for the new believers, their freedom to worship God, and their commitment to their new faith. Please pray for protection, motivation, courage, and opportunities for our staff and volunteers to share the gospel of Jesus. Moreover, please pray for Fountain of Hope to continue to influence the community through word and deed, accomplishing our mission to bring hope and transformation to the communities we serve. Amen!

– The Fountain of Hope Team

Summer Collaborations Bring Hope

Your Impact in Our Work

Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Your presence in the work of the Fountain of Hope is very important. Your prayer and your words of encouragement inspire and motivate us to continue our service to the Lord and serve the vulnerable in our county.

Joy of Our Children

Joy of Our Children program celebrated International Children's Day with 1,314 children across Cambodia

We celebrated International Children's Day on June 1, the 22nd anniversary of the World Day Against Child Labor, and Cambodia Children's Day at a primary school in Tbonng Khum province under the theme "Together to Promote Children's Rights and Protect Children from Violence and Exploitation of Child Labor." Village chiefs, school principals, teachers, 211 students (1,314 across the country), parents, and FOH staff attended the events.

One of the goals of this collaboration was to build strong connections with the public schools where we operate. Another goal was to educate children of their Child's Rights in Cambodia and inspire courage, practice, protection, and preservation of these values in their daily lives. We worked together with the Cambodian government to prevent violence and child labor exploitation.

Joy of Our Children Programs Renew Hope for Youth

These programs seek to show children the love of God, through creating loving and safe environments where they can learn valuable lessons for their futures. We are grateful to God for this fruitful summer; the success of International Children's Day on June 1, the Dengue Fever Awareness and Abate to Kill Tiger Mosquito Campaign, we trained six youths to volunteer to serve in kid's clubs, and 11 teens accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

This month was challenging with weather, rain, and traveling on a slippery and muddy road on a moto into the remote villages, but this did not stop our commitment to serving the children and training youths. Please continue to pray for safety, good health, wisdom, and for the Lord to establish the work of our plans. Thanks for standing with the Joy of Our Children program team in your prayers. 

–Mr. Soknen Ven, Joy of Our Children Director

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Life With Value

God’s Grace Molds Collaboration

It is a semester of praise! The presence of the Lord moves very strongly in the land and the hearts of the people we serve.

The collaboration between FOH's Life with Values program and local authorities resulted in good fruit. Recently we organized a Dengue Fever Awareness Campaign, distributed Abate to target households, an Environmental Campaign across villages, and International Children's Day celebration with primary school children. We also trained 45 community leaders on positive parenting skills, budget planning, and financial management and organized meetings for 79 local authorities to bring back solutions to solve issues in their communities. We thank God for the commitment of our volunteers who join Life with Values programs to solve community issues, be role models and demonstrate God's love to people.

We celebrated another success with the appreciation of the Ministry of Health for the remarkable achievement of the excellent works of Fountain of Hope in increasing local authority's knowledge to solve community issues such as unsafe migration, human trafficking, drugs, and domestic violence problems. God's grace molds the Life with Values program and local authorities in one strong cooperation to bring positive change.

–Mr. Rotha Yun, Co-Executive Director and Life With Value Director

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Life of Hope

I Became Christ's Follower at Easter

A Christian neighbor invited me to attend the Easter celebration in her cell church. I took the invitation and went for it. While watching the drama, I whispered to myself, "Jesus is the only God who resurrected from the dead. The god I worship is a statue people worship in the pagoda and must offer sacrifices all the time. However, Jesus gave his life for sinners like me". Without realizing it tears filled my eyes, as I saw Jesus was mistreated though he had done nothing wrong. Then, I was overjoyed when a woman could not find his body at the tomb for he is alive.” When the teacher preached the Easter message, my heart was ready to receive Jesus to come into my life. Then, I decided to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior and prayed the sinner’s prayer with the preacher.

I thank God and the Life of Hope program staff, cell church leaders, and neighbors for helping me grow in my new faith and love for Jesus.

– Mrs. Som Onn

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Our Strong Village

Finding a Savings Bank and Savior

I would like to share with you my testimony. Before I became a Savings Bank member, I was hopeless, and had no confidence in others, especially with organizations, for I was cheated by those groups several times. I felt depressed, disappointed, and uncomfortable when I heard Christian believers had come to promote the Savings Bank project in my village. I had physical needs to improve my income and mental health yet, I did not associate with them.

When I became a Savings Bank member, I found trust in the love of the other members and it motivated my heart to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I joined a cell church near my home and learned God's word. The Lord slowly restored what I lost in the past and blessed my family. I love the Fountain of Hope staff and appreciate their patience in helping me grow my love for Jesus.

– Mrs. Touch

Accomplishing God's Work!

Fountain of Hope Accomplishes the Work God Prepared 

“For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

I believe God made all things possible for those who love and serve him according to his leadership. We aim to demonstrate God's love through programs addressing physical needs and restoring spiritual connection with the Heavenly Father.  

God's word renews our strength and captures our hearts to stay focused on our mission and vision. We are grateful to celebrate the testimonies of the individuals featured in this newsletter and the many others who now love Jesus.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read our newsletter. We are grateful for your love for us. 

– Nareth Peang, Co-Executive Director

Thank you for the Reading Glasses!

FOH staff handed me a pair of reading glasses saying, “Your sister in Christ loves you, prays for you, and knows that you need this pair of reading glasses to read your bible.” I thank God for answering my prayer. I am so grateful!

Mrs. Lina, Support group member

Joy of Our Children

Dengue Fever Awareness Campaign

FOH staff collaborated with the Ministry of Health’s National Dengue Fever Program and local authorities to launch the Dengue Fever Awareness Campaign in schools and communities. The campaign raised awareness of the high incidence of dengue fever in Cambodia and that it affects people of all ages. Community members learned prevention methods, how to eradicate mosquito shelters, Dengue Fever symptoms and treatment, and how to use Abate to kill worms in water ports. We were grateful to provide such important information to families.

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Our Strong Village

God's provision through chickens 

“I can afford three meals a day for my children,” says Nary. 

The Chicken Bank has given Nary the income she needed to provide for her family. Nary learned how to raise chickens and about business development through FOH. As she implemented these principles with the chickens she received from the Chicken Bank, her family experienced a better life.

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Life with value

Support Group Members Find Special Encouragement

We organized a retreat and time of reflection for 22 support group members, victims, and people living with HIV/AIDS. They had a great time, sharing experiences and encouraging one another with joy. Their smiling faces reflect the hope God has given them. 

We are grateful for the achievements of this month. We thank you for contributing your prayers and supporting our work. 

Mr. Rotha Yun, Co-Executive Direct and LWV Program Director

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Life of Hope

My Savior Saved Me from Demon Possession 

My husband and I visited a cell church hoping to receive their prayer so that the demon possession and sickness would leave us. The moment we arrived at that cell church, we felt the peace in our hearts. We were open to the gospel message when the Life of Hope staff shared with us about Jesus. That day, my husband and I accepted Jesus, and later on all my family members did as well. We decided to attend the new believer class. It helped me discover that God created me in his image. I am a child of God and I defeated my fear of evil possession with my prayers.

The Joy of Reading God's Word

Greetings from Cambodia!

My name is Neang Navy. I am 32 years old and live in the Tbong Khmum province. Until recently, I could not read or write. I had difficulty getting detailed information from signs, and had to depend on others often, especially to fill in my information on forms.  

When I became a Christian, I joined a cell church with many others who could not read or write. We depended on our cell church leader to read the Bible during our meetings. I always prayed to God for the ability to read His word. One day, I got the courage to ask the Fountain of Hope teacher to conduct a literacy class for my cell church members. He agreed to set aside time for us to learn reading and writing. For the first month, I struggled with memorizing the alphabet and vowels. When I put more effort toward my reading goal, I found myself full of courage to carry on my study. I learned to spell word by word until I could read it by myself. I told myself that “illiteracy cannot stop me from reading once I reach my goal.”

Now, I am a literacy trainer. I train members in my cell church to read and write. When someone struggles with laziness to learn, I share the difficulties I experienced before I knew how to read and write. I also explain that to experience a personal relationship with God, you must know how to read His word and share God’s love with others. 

I thank the FOH staff who are willing to help me with reading and writing. Your training brought an ever-lasting change in my life. And I can always share the knowledge you gave me with those around me. God bless you!

Your Prayers, God's Power

Thanks to God’s power and your prayers, we wrapped up 2022 with 1,006 adults and children coming to Christ through our Christmas programs! And more recently, we saw 547 children and adults start relationships with Jesus through our Easter celebrations!

And we believe God has even more in store for 2023! I recently went to Cambodia for our annual board meeting and was so inspired by each leader’s passion, faith and commitment to God’s work here! Another highlight was visiting the villages, seeing true change and people taking ownership of transforming their communities.

A few things we are particularly excited about:

• Recently children’s Bibles have been translated to Khmer. We are developing a plan to distribute these to thousands of children in our programs!

• We are investigating and planning to build an office headquarters in in Phnom Penh

• We are investing significant efforts into leadership development, training and sustainability. This includes the creation of a Bible training residency program.

I always feel so encouraged after my time in Cambodia, as God gives me more ideas, creativity and insight into His work there.

 Love and blessings,

 Joke van Opstal

Meet Thorn

My name is Thorn; I am from the Takeo province. I am married and with three children. My main job was PassApp driving (3-wheel motorbike taxi). But for the past five months, it has been difficult for me during the COVID-19 season. I had trouble finding customers and feared that I might get COVID-19 if I continued with this profession. So, I decided to stay home to take care of my wife and children for the time being. 

I am thankful that I learned about creatively using the resources around my house from Fountain of Hope. I applied the knowledge I learned through the Our Strong Village program about growing vegetables, making soap, raising livestock, and having proper financial management. I started to grow vegetables around my home that yielded great results because we utilized correct growing techniques. By getting this training, I provided food for my family that is safe and better than before, and even have extra to share and sell. We spend less on food now. Even though I cannot get out to do my regular job, I am earning some money to support my family through this simple work. I am truly grateful for all the training I received. 

I am so glad that growing my own vegetables provides such great benefits for my family and that we can become a good model for our community too. I want to see my community learn to grow food to support their family and stay healthy.

Finally, I want to thank all the FOH and Partners International teachers for coming to share and provide various technical classes that we can apply.

Together a Team

It has been an exciting summer!

In the last month we hosted training sessions for soap-making, small business entrepreneurship, the seed bank/community garden, Buddy system, and social issue advocacy! Last week we hosted a new believer class and at the end of the class 3 of 12 people decided to get baptized! Praise God for these brothers and sisters in Christ! 

Buddy System Training Session

Dengue Fever Awareness Parade

Small Business Entrepreneurship Training Session

Students from the Joy of Our Children program participated in a parade to raise awareness and fight against Dengue fever in two provinces. Students collected garbage along the road during the parade. Staff and teachers gave informational pamphlets and Larvicide to families.

Our executive leadership team participated in a DiSC Personality Training class through YWAM. The team was encouraged and excited to utilize one another’s strengths!

“The DiSC Personality Training Session helped me discover the amazing plan and the person God (the Father) made me to be. God planned and organized every single one of us in a special way to build up one another. By His will we need to stay connected and support each other to fulfill His mission, we can't go alone."

–Ratha Yun, Co-Director

Joke van Opstal is finishing up her trip to the U.S. She has been thrilled to spend time with partners and dear friends! We are grateful for the team God has established in Cambodia and for our partners across the world!

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Please pray for:

• Eighteen children recently gave their lives to Jesus! May the Lord continue to speak and work in their lives. Pray for the youth leaders as they continue to connect with them!

• Pray for the Buddy System training sessions in each province that older students will become equipped to support younger children and show them the love of Christ!

• Pray for the cell church members to be filled with great faith. Pray the Holy Spirit will continue to move in powerful ways among our brethren. May they feel His presence and continue to be encouraged and strengthened during difficult times.

• Pray for the cow and goat bank projects; that the cows and goats will be healthy.

• For the advocacy training classes; that volunteers will be empowered to address their communities' needs.

Meet Kann

My name is Kann and I am 46 years old. My wife is named Mao and we have two children. Both of us are poor farmers. We sell sugarcane (liquid) throughout the villages. Sometimes, we build pieces of drains and toilets, so that we could sell them. We also grow vegetables as a way to support our daily needs and for some income. Even with all these odd jobs, my family was still struggling. We still did not have enough. Yet strange things began to happen; my family was restless. We were troubled by constant quarrels and fights. Because of the fights and misery, I grew tired and did not care so much [for the family]. I did not think about my family anymore. I started to become a wicked person who drank and caused even more trouble toward my wife. My wife was tired and could not bear my selfish behaviors anymore. She went away and left me for over a month, because of my crazy drinking habit.

One day in July of 2020, I heard the good news of Christ, the Savior, through Brother Sok, who lived close by. I repented and decided to believe in the Lord after hearing about the hope and good news of transformation. Afterward, I started to learn God’s word with a FOH staff member. My drinking habit subsided bit by bit. I began to feel better. Yet, my marriage was hanging by a thread. My wife had already filed a complaint to get a divorce at the local authority. She was fed up. 

On August 14th of 2020, I met again with Teacher Sing, and I asked him to pray for me, that the divorce process would go smoothly. I was going to go to the commune the next day. But, the teacher said, “No! The Lord does not want you to live separately from your wife!” Yet, I was stubborn and determined to get a divorce. Then, the teacher told me to stop for a second and listen to the words of the Lord. 

We began to study God’s forgiveness and His love for us. I discovered God’s plan for marriage. As we walked through God’s message, I realized my divorce would leave my children like orphans and without warmth. I received much encouragement that day. Afterward, he prayed for me. Then, my heart was filled with God’s forgiveness and love. I learned to forgive my wife. My heart became open once again. Suddenly, the teacher proclaimed, “Kann, you and your wife will be reconciled and be with peace”. 

From that day on my heart grew restless, I wanted to meet with my wife so that I could ask for her forgiveness, and for her to return and reunite with me once again. When I met with my wife, I confessed and promised to be good to her. My relatives and friends were witnesses of my desires and promises. I told my wife that I didn’t want to see her tears and suffering any longer. I just wanted her to be my wife once again.

I am so thankful to the Lord for giving me “shalom” within my family. My wife and I started praying before we would get ready for bed. Though we did not understand fully, this practice has helped us. On September 1, 2020, Teacher Sing and Sok visited my home and shared God’s good news with my wife. My wife had a change of heart. She repented and became a believer as well! I am so grateful to the Lord. I am speechless. May this joy become my hope always. I pray that my whole family, friends, and relatives will find God’s salvation like my family has.

I would like to ask the teachers from FOH to continue praying for my family so that we will continue to abide in the Lord. My family and I will draw close to the Lord, and we will be God’s servants to bring salvation to many others. Amen.

Meet Phearak

My name is Phearak and I am 27 years old. I am not married. Before I came to know the Lord Jesus, I lived for temporary things. I didn’t think about what matters in life and enjoyed the pleasures of this world. I cared little about what was going on around me. Growing up, there were little events that I enjoyed. But, one day, there were this commotion and a loudspeaker that was playing in my village. I was curious so I went to find out. There was some program hosted by the blue shirt people (JOC staff). They had these puppets and fun activities for children. It was entertaining and different from what I was used to seeing. It caught my attention, and I observed from a distance. It was all fun until they told us about a man named Jesus. They told us about His love and how He gave His life for each one of us. I was not sure what that meant, and I did not know what to think of it. 

I approached the staff and was introduced to another staff from the Life of Hope program. It was a great connection. Soon, I began to better understand Jesus and decided to accept Him as my Lord and Savior. I believed in the Lord, but as I walked with Him there were stumbling blocks that I encountered. I had doubts at certain times of my life. Though I knew God’s love, I was still childish in my thinking, and processing what faith could do for me. As a result, I returned to my old ways of life. I was disobedient and faced many problems.  

I faced many difficulties in my life. My mom was often quite sick. I did not know what to do because we were not a well-to-do family. Her illness took a toll on her until she passed away leaving me with nothing. My father left with another woman. I was deep in sorrow and regrets. Though I knew the Lord, I was still clinging to what I used to know. I sought fortune-tellers when I was faced with difficult situations and remorse. I met with fortune-tellers often until I could do what they do. I can make ceremonies and chant blessings and various other forms of witchcraft. I know all the big witchcraft. So, to be honest, I had feet in two different boats, one in my previous belief and one in Jesus. 

I experienced utter heartbreak when I found a sense of earthly love. I was betrayed, and I did not know how to cure it. It seemed like there was nothing in the world that could solve it. I tried all that I knew which I thought may help. I tried “showers of blessing”, chanting, and you name it. Nothing helped. I was out of my mind. Then, I realized something. I had forgotten about Jesus. I forgot the truth about God. I went back to my journey with Him remembering what I had learned while I was in Phnom Penh. I remembered that God is love and salvation is sure. He alone can save me. As I reflected on the goodness of God, God showered me with His grace and love. I was once again whole. The deep hurt inside my heart began to subside. The grace of the Lord was indeed sure. I am thankful to the Lord for His faithfulness, even when I was unfaithful. My life turned over completely. I love the good news, and I love sharing his love with others. I began to see changes in my own life. I have the courage to tell others about Christ.

I feel that I cannot live without the Lord. Nothing seems to fill that emptiness in my heart except the Lord. I will try hard to live my life for God. I prayed earnestly for my family and others as I believe that He is the only true God. I want to give thanks to the Lord that He has indeed answered my prayers. Now I am truly happy that my nieces and nephews became believers in the Lord. We often lie to God, but God is faithful. He never lies to us. I pray that we will continue to have firm faith in the Lord. Thank you, God.

Meet Joot Red

My name is Joot Red and I am 68 years old. I am part of the Community Leaders Base (CLB) in the Life with Value program. I started participating in this program in 2016. I love being involved in this group because this program supports my community. It is helping my community improve in the health sector. 

While in this program, I received great, valuable lessons. I was trained in the practice of “starting a fire,” where we as a community learn to initiate practical activities to support the community. We received information regarding matters of migration, women and children’s trafficking, drug and substance abuse, domestic violence, dengue fever, and measures of protection for COVID-19 and dengue fever. Through this vital information, I began to pay more attention to the needs of my family and community.

During the pandemic, I have worked hard to protect my community alongside FOH by sharing information and safety measures. As a vice-village chief, I am worried and tried all that I could to support my community so that we can learn how to fight against this new disease. I am grateful for the work and the cooperation from FOH. I am happy that the villagers heed the information and try to protect themselves as well.

I am grateful and feel proud to have programs from FOH. I see that it is very beneficial to my community. It has given me great aspirations I had not thought of before. I began to understand and reflect more about the problems at hand in my community. I am glad too that my community is healthier and learning new things through this program.

I ask that this program will continue to support us so that we can learn new things. The local authority alone is inadequate to support the community. FOH gives a better voice and support for the needs within this community. 

Finally, I hope that FOH’s program will continue to run in this village and continue to support us here. And, as a request, I hope that in the future when we do a campaign like for dengue fever, there will be other practical materials to support the communities as well. Thank you.