Dec 15, 2021 Forsaken Wife Finds New Joy

Why isn’t he answering my calls? Why isn’t he texting me back? Jewel asked herself after several days of not hearing anything from her husband who was working in Thailand. Jewel was beginning to run out of ideas of what to tell their two young children when they asked to call daddy. She shielded her children from what his disappearance might mean, but at night Jewel would cry and pray silently. God, where are You? Please help us.

Jewel’s husband had been working in Thailand since their youngest son was a baby. The rest of their family stayed in Cambodia, hoping his work as a manual laborer would get them through their difficult financial situation, and that it would only be temporary. The first year was tough, but they kept in touch, and Jewel’s husband sent them funds regularly. But now their son was 3 years old, and their daughter was 6.

Months went by that felt like years. Finally, Jewel heard the news that her husband had taken another woman to be his wife in Thailand. Jewel was just devastated. She decided to come down to Phnom Penh with her children, for work and to have a new start.

In Phnom Penh, Jewel had to balance working and having care for her children. After a couple jobs, she found work in a laundry shop where she could have her children with her all the time. Neighbors would take pity on her situation, and suggested she remarry. But Jewel didn’t want to, fearing the painful experience she had with her previous husband. 

One day, a Christian woman visited her and asked her to go to church on Sunday. Jewel went to the Evangelical church for about six months, but she had a hard time understand what was being taught.

Jewel later met In Phally, an Adventist Bible worker. Phally became friends with Jewel and got to know her story. Jewel lives in a very poor area where there are drug addicts and prostitution. Jewel was drawn to the love of Jesus through the love and care of Phally and the Adventist small group members.

Hope sprang up in Jewel’s heart and she started a series of Bible studies on the plan of salvation, Sabbath, state of the dead, stewardship, and the second coming of Jesus. She was so excited to learn about God’s love for her, and she continued meeting with Phally’s small group to worship on Sabbath.

During a small group evangelistic meeting in the district, Jewel brought a quite a few of her friends to the meetings. Local authorities allowed the meeting with only 25 people due to Covid safety measures, otherwise there could be more people attending. The meetings were held for three afternoons.  At the conclusion of the meeting, Jewel gave her life to Jesus and was baptized with five other precious souls. 

Jewel is on fire for Jesus and active in ministry. She is part of a group that goes from house to house being a friend and sharing about Jesus during their free time. Her Evangelical church friends were very surprised that she joined the Adventist church, and they asked her why.

When I was attending the Evangelical church on Sundays, said Jewel, I didn’t really learn anything about God, His love, and His plan of salvation. But studying with the Adventists, I’ve learned a lot about God, all from His word, and that’s why I decided to be baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist church. Truly knowing God and His great love for her, Jewel has joy and loves to share Jesus with anyone she meets.

For your Maker is your husbandÑ the LORD Almighty is His nameÑ the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth. Isaiah 54:5

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Praise God! the gospel is spreading in Cambodia! The Cambodian evangelistic teams spent much time praying, planning, and working within pandemic restrictions. We praise the Lord for the church members and gospel workers who have the courage to go out into neighborhoods to make friends and build relationships. They worked hard to get new interests and invite people to attend the three-day evangelistic meetings. Gatherings have been limited to only 30 people, but praise God, He is more than able to empower His people, just as He did in the early church!

Will you continue to pray for others like Jewel who are searching for truth around the world?

To provide for those who grieve in ZionÑ to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.  Isaiah 61:3

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