Sep 22, 2021 Answered Prayer in Cambodia

“Dear Jesus, please, You have to show my family You are real! Thank You Jesus for your Bible promise to provide for all our needs…” Srey Mom wiped away her tears as she rose from her morning prayers. She did not want her sisters or niece seeing her tears, but she knew they would sometimes listen to her prayers outside her door.

Srey Mom had just been laid off from her job as a teacher at a private school because of cuts due to COVID. She was making about $250 a month, which is considered a good wage in Cambodia. Srey Mom felt like a single parent as she cared for her two sisters and her young niece who came to live with them. Their family had suffered the loss and abandonment, and Srey Mom was left alone to care for the girls.

As Srey Mom fixed their breakfast in the morning, she would sing gospel songs in Khmer to her family. She never wanted her younger sisters and little niece Rosa to feel any fear about their financial situation. As they would pray together for their food, Srey Mom encouraged her sisters and Rosa to pray to Preah Yesu, the Lord Jesus. She would tell them about Jesus’ miracles to provide food and healing to everyone who reached out to Him in faith.

“Srey Mom, do you think Jesus can multiply our rice just like He did back in the Bible times?” asked little Rosa as she stirred soy sauce into her watery rice porridge.

“God loves us, and yes, He will provide for our familyÑyou will see! Soon His answer will come!” said Srey Mom.

She then hurried out their door to go to her part time work as a baby sitter for a neighbor. This neighbor is an essential worker, and Srey Mom was grateful to God for the $120 a month it would provide. As Srey Mom walked down the dusty road, she lifted up her heart and prayers to God for her family.

Srey Mom became an Adventist Christian just a few years back, and how quickly was her faith tested! Little Rosa came to live with their family when she was about 7 years due to her parents’ inability to care for her. Srey Mom’s family took her in just as she was another sister. However, Srey Mom’s mother became sick and died suddenly, and her father struggled with her death. Overwhelmed by grief and depression, he left one day while the girls were away at the market. They came home and he was gone without a trace. Through this unimaginable hardship and loss, the Lord Jesus truly became their Provider.

Because they could not even afford to go to public school, Srey Mom encouraged her sisters and Rosa to attend the free-of-charge English and computer classes organized by Phnom Penh North district Pastor Horng Sophal. Little Rosa enjoyed learning with the other students and was happy to join the other activities with her classmates.

Over the next couple months, Pastor Sophal invited the children to church outreach activities like cycling together, playing soccer, and other fun activities. Rosa made lots of new Christian friends who encouraged her to sign up for a Bible classes. In the classes, Rosa learned more about the love of Jesus, and His teachings in the Bible. Little Rosa loved hearing the stories of miracles, and oh how she longed for God to work a miracle for her big sister Srey Mom! At the end of each Bible study, Pastor Sophal asked for a volunteer to pray. One day little Rosa finally felt brave enough to pray out loud and volunteered.

“Dear Jesus, please bless us all and our families. Jesus, I believe You are the God of miracles. Please help my big sister Srey Mom get a good teaching job again. In Your Name we pray, Amen.”

That very same evening when Srey Mom came home from her baby sitting, she was excited to announce she would no longer be babysitting! “Praise God! He has answered our prayers and I will be a new teacher at Pingus International School starting tomorrow!” Srey Mom cried with joy as she hugged her sisters and niece Rosa and they offered a prayer or praise and thanks to God together.

This huge answer to prayer, along with the Bible classes, inspired little Rosa to give her life to Jesus in baptism. She was baptized on July 10, 2021 by Pastor Horng Sophal. Srey Mom and their family praise God for this new life and hope through difficult times.

Will you please pray for families struggling in Cambodia like Srey Mom’s? Please pray that God would help all believers who are reaching out to their communities. Pray that the Holy Spirit would touch and soften hearts as they hear about Jesus’ love, salvation and soon coming!

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

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