One Step at a Time

While having a good conversation with Ah Vin at Shine center, her phone rang…God in His mercy and grace was at work mightily in our midst. She messaged and asked if she could spend some time with me. I have no idea that she took a day off from her work (She’s an NGO Social Worker), just to meet me because she missed the cell group fellowship last week. I almost did not accept her request and confirmed only later because of the changes in the discipleship class schedule I have at Marlene’s home.  After answering her phone, I saw a terrified expression on her face. So, I asked her what happened and she told me that her older sister had a motorcycle accident and it was her mother who has called her to come immediately. Thus, there was a God-given unique opportunity to pray for her and her sister. She’s a Buddhist and she doesn’t believe in Jesus yet. However, the Holy Spirit was working, after praying she became calm and went home.  Two hours later, she messaged me and thanking God for an answered prayer. Her sister has no major injuries though she hit her head and arm on the ground but only with minor bruises. Praise the Lord, now Ah Vin has decided to study Bible every Friday afternoon.  A journey that starts with a single step of prayer produced a wonderful God-given opportunity!

This was taken before Ah Vin received the call. We have a great time sharing life's experiences.

Sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ at Freedom’s Promise Christmas gathering was precious. Kanhchany, invited me to share God’s Word and she asked me to cooked “Pinoy Spaghetti” for the occasion also as they like that version of spaghetti and yes they really do as it was consumed immediately. However, before having physical nourishment, God has spoken to them through His Word in Luke 2. The Holy Spirit was moving into the hearts of the young women who were present especially those who are not believers yet.  One of them was my student several years ago; she is Sreyleak, the sister of Leakhena.  Sreyleak is a strong Buddhist, as I remembered her class diary. I always asked the students to write a journal to practice their English skills. That day, she professed her faith in Jesus by believing Him. Praise God!  Later, she was happy to join Shine’s Christmas celebration. We sent her off on January 12 anticipating working in the southern part of Cambodia at Sihanoukville's Casino. While praying for Sreyleak, I asked the Lord to guide her and lead steps, so the newfound relationship with Jesus will be guarded.  Now, she’s back to Battambang because the job that she thought was hers was not really meant for her. Thus, I and Leakhena are excited about what the Lord has in store for Sreyleak. May she grow in her newfound faith, step by step as the Lord Jesus is her Master. I pray to spend time with her every week also.  

Sending Off Sreyleak for Sihanoukville.

The siblings, Leakhena & Sreyleak at Shine center during the Christmas celebration.

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Using some visual aid while sharing the true message of Christmas at Freedom's Promise.

Another opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ at Shine’s Cell Group Christmas celebration on December 26. Both believers and unbelievers have heard the true message of Christmas. Everyone was having fun in the different activities. Above all, glory to God for Singim’s leadership. She works alongside me throughout these past 8 months here at the center. By the grace of God, Singim is doing one step at a time in her walk with her Master, Jesus Christ. She even asked her mother to cook chicken curry in our cell group fellowship last week. Her mother came over and we have a great time in the kitchen. We celebrated the university graduation of Mari Ya that day. During the life group sharing, we divided everyone into two life groups. Singim was leading the other one while Mari Ya was with my group. We have three questions to ponder after hearing the message from Joshua 3.  Mari Ya had shared that the plan of God is much better than human’s plans and that she rather believes in the God of Joshua in the Bible than herself. I was taken aback because I did not anticipate that she would verbally confess those words about God. Mari Ya was my English student and now working in a Japanese company here in Cambodia and a breadwinner to her family. She shared also that she was encouraged with the testimony I shared a few years ago, how the Lord took me from a fisherwoman and fish vendor into a daughter of God, and the opportunities that God has blessed me with. Now, Mari Ya expressed her joy and excitement to join our cell group fellowship and to learn more about God. Praise God!

Singim, leading the game, follow what I say but don't follow what I do as we shared about the great leader, using Joshua's story. 

Singim's mother, cooking delicious Khmer chicken curry for the Cell group fellowship.

Mari Ya was so happy to receive a bouquet of fresh flowers from Shine. 

Start a year with a step of purpose.  I was invited by Pastor Sophin to share the Word of God on one Sunday morning lately. Encouraging the church to value the essentiality of reading His Word and making a goal to finish reading the Scripture in one year was a beautiful thing to start this year especially with the threat of the pandemic crisis around the globe. His Word is a Shield and protection to our daily living. Psalm 119:1-11, 105; 89:18. As a token, each one received a cloth mask and a one-year-daily Bible reading guide. Glory is all His.

Illustration and tokens for WABC church. The message was about, the Real Shield of Protection.

Praise and Supplications

Looking Back in 2020:  Praise the Lord for…

1. My smooth returned to Cambodia on February 21 before the country’s lockdown

2. Providing a strategic place for ministry at the same time my home before the lockdown.

3. The Shine Cell Group ministry that started last June 2020 with Discovery, Intentional Discipleship, & Mentoring ministry (DIDM).

4. The salvation of Mr. & Mrs. Alex Maghanoy (sister & bro.-in-law in Manila)and healing from COVID 19, Mak Ya, Mak Chan, Lyna, & Sreyleaks' salvation.

5. Discipling and mentoring time with Kanhchany, Leakhena, Singim, Dara, Daneth, & Sreymom.

Looking forward: Pray for…

1. Shine Cell group: New contacts to join and more opportunities to share the Gospel.

·         Discovery Bible Class: (Sopheak, Sreylen, Sreylis, Ah Vin)

·         Intentional Discipleship Time: (Mak Ya, Mak Chan, Lyn, Sreyleak, & Daneth)

·         Mentoring Time: ( Kanhchany, Leakhena, Singim, Dara)

·         Intimacy with God, Good health, wisdom, and protection

2. Shine Cell Hearts Day Evangelism on February 13: Mr. & Mrs. Sanchez, speaker).

3. Cambodia Teachers Community (CTC), Zoom prayer meeting twice a month.

4. Evangelical Fellowship Cambodia (EFC) Battambang Leader’s meeting on February 6, 2020.

5. BSOP Field Director, Aide Rose annual visit to Battambang ladies on February 5-9.

“Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives, is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see. “ 

–Corrie Ten Boom

How can I pray for you? Please let me know as I love to pray with you and for you. Thank you for your faithful partnership in reaching more Cambodians for the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Precious moments caught-on-camera on Christmas celebration at Shine's Cell Group. 

Good pose after the fellowship. 

Group 2: Jenny, Mary (the girl from village Sunday school), Sreyleak, & Daneth.

Group 2: Myra, Ann, Danoch, & Sopheak.

Group 3: Kanhchany, Leakhena, Lyna, & Vina. 

Gift wrapping and Mary went to town contest.

Danoch (left), Mary (middle), Kanhchany (right) on human Christmas tree.

Myra was sharing God's Word and I encourage everyone to trust in Jesus Christ alone. Group sharing and praying were God's instruments for the Cambodians to experience the care of Jesus.

(Grateful to God for the presence of my BSOP team: Glenda, Jenny & Ann)

GLORY IS ALL HIS. 

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In Christ,
Mary Jane G. Aragon
BSOP Cambodia missionary
https://mjaragonbsop.blogspot.com
P.O. 369 Box Battambang City, Kingdom of Cambodia

+855770305008