Better Together!
It’s been a year and four months when Chantou and his two boys experienced that painful plight inside their burning small house in July last year. Chantou survived inside the two hospitals for five months and thrived for another six months as an outpatient. He lives in Battambang for almost a year. Regardless of what had happened to him, it did not hinder Chantou to continue his studies at our Bible school. This is now his second year at Cambodia Schools for Missions (CSM). He is back to the village and comes back to Battambang every now and then for Bible School class. His two boys, Piseth and Visal are staying at LOHI’s dorm. They’re both doing great after they got adjusted to school and with new found friends. Visal, the youngest excels in public school, both are in grade one. He ranked 4th in class and first at LOHI English language center pre-level 1 class. It was delightful news to receive and of course, we celebrated over a cone of ice cream! Government schools are about to start next month and at LOHI this week. These two brothers are shining at school and a joy to be with here at LOHI center. Piseth is becoming a responsible kid. He always helps around and makes himself available to work at the dorm. Praise the Lord for His grace and mercy, a huge gain after the pain. Chantou is grateful to God and to everyone who helps him get up again. 
Piseth, Visal, & Chantou after church worship.
Inspiring teachers this month during the schools’ break was another opportunity to plant the seeds of love and hope especially to our new unbeliever teachers at LOHI. Eleven teachers came to join the short training and appreciation ceremony. I was inspired upon looking at the inspiration brought by God through the different activities I facilitated. Our theme in the seminar was Better Together. It was tough demanding work; nevertheless, it was all worth the effort. The teachers were so vocal and encouraged by the training and the appreciation that they have received. All glory to God for equipping more teachers to make a difference in the lives of many students.
Teachers were having fun on one of the activities in the training.
I was invited to join the International School Project (ISP) held here in Battambang last month and it was an invigorating seminar conducted by Mr. Kiven Grip, Asia representative. The goal is equipping educators, developing leaders, and shaping generation. The two-day seminar has fueled my heart to get involved and be part of this movement in reaching the whole country for the Lord Jesus. Five of us from different schools of ministry are now the core leaders here in Battambang: me from LOHI, Pastor Rady from YWAM, Sina from Young Life, Pastor Sophal from Hope School, and Erica from Pannassastra University. We met after the seminar and have decided to have a once a month meeting to pray, fellowship, plan and to bring more teachers. This is another good avenue to listen and learn from one another. A good support group among Christian teachers is now sprouting in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Battambang. Better Together indeed!
Christian teachers community in Battambang, ISP seminar.
Making disciple who makes disciples at the center is growing slowly but surely. Kimseng and Panha started our bible study class four months ago and as expected, questions and doubts will be manifested during the first two months but praise the Lord through the Holy Spirit as He convicts them to understand the lessons. Doubts turn to curiosity and eagerness to learn. During the first month of class, Kimseng stated that she doesn’t believe in God while Panha is not sure what and who to believe. It was my prayer that as the lessons progress; they will start to open their hearts to God’s message. After studying the attributes of God, how sin came into the world and the solution of God to man’s problems, the two of them were becoming more interested in the lesson and during the test in each chapter they have had perfect scores if not a mistake of one only. Their personal reflections in the lessons are encouraging. Moreover, the disciple students Singim and Vorleak are both amazing! These four, Panha, Kimseng, Singim, and Vorleak are our current teachers, who were once my students in English class. Thus, relationships were established already by the Lord. Singim and Vorleak are almost done with the Intentional Move book and both are shining in their faith. Furthermore, my mentoring class with Kanhchany and Dara are very helpful not only to them but to me also as we spend time in prayer and in His Word. I meet my bible study and discipleship class on weekdays from Monday to Friday from 11 to 12 noon and mentoring on Tuesday and Sundays. Praise God for the lives of these six individuals. 
Kimseng & Panha after our class.
Praise and Thanksgiving: Praise God for…
ü healing my left eye, it hurts inside and I had a blurred vision for three days. I went to see an ophthalmologist and I am under a 10-day medication for an inflammation. Nothing serious and I have to go back for follow-up check-up after ten days and probably upgrade my eyeglasses.
ü healing of Chantou as he is back to his normal life now at the village, though he can’t walk as before.
ü successful term last month and 99% of my level 7 students made it through to the next level after studying for six months.
ü an answered prayer to the lives of, Kimseng, Panha, Vorleak, Singim, Dara, and Kanhchany.
ü new volunteers at the school, Sreynut, Sopheak (who is now absorbed as one of our part-time teachers), Reaksmey, Bunhep, and Channa. They were my students in level 7 and it is our prayer and hope to train and hire teachers from LOHI alumni.
ü a coming Christmas vacation to my family in the Philippines. This will be the third time spending Christmas with my family after more than a decade in missions, this time around without my parents.
ü church project of speaker and mixer. God has answered our prayer! After a few months of praying and offering…60% of it was an offering from the church itself. Now we have it!
Supplication: Please pray for…
Ø comfort to Singim and her family, her grandmother passed away this week. She is close to her grandma who stayed in Pagoda for many years. We vigil for few hours at Pagoda for two consecutive nights until the cremation.
Ø new term, more students to register.
Ø wisdom, good health, and sensitivity from the Holy Spirit as I teach at our Bible School this next week. God be exalted as this is tough for me speaking in the Khmer language for long hours and several days using the Bible. The lesson is about Spiritual Warfare. I read two small books on prayer to add on to the material that I used last year. I covet your prayer on this. Thank you.
Ø new vision, a new place of ministry in 2020.
Ø BSOP annual field council meeting on November, 1 –3 here in Battambang. This is a time of reporting, evaluation, planning, fellowship, and short rest from our regular ministry. Better together!
Ø salvation, miracle healing, and provision to my brother-in-law, Alex for his kidney dialysis.
Ø four teenagers from our village ministry are now studying at LOHI language center. They were once kids whom I carried but now they are taller and bigger than me. Daneth, Danoch, (Dara’s siblings), Moses, & Mosem brothers (abandoned by parents). Helping them with their school fees as their families are struggling is God's gift.
Thank you so much for standing with me in prayer and your faithful partnership in reaching more Cambodians for the Lord Jesus. God be made known. How can I pray for you? God bless!
In Christ,
Mary Jane Aragon
BSOP, Cambodia missionary
Please if possible email me in this email: mjaragonbsop@gmail.com
P.O. 369 Box Battambang City, Kingdom of Cambodia
+855770305008
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