Why Are We Here?

 "Why are we here?" This question was asked by our BSOP International Director, Dr. D. Nordine during our worship time on our 16^th Cambodia Field Council meeting. It was a refreshing and timely reminder for us to ponder again why are we here in Cambodia. We have known that God’s calling in our life is the expression of His nature, not ours. So His glory will be seen in us through our obedience and service to the Lord Jesus. 

BSOP Team Cambodia Field Council Meeting 2023 at Angkor Wat, 6am.

 BSOP International Director, Dr. & Mrs. Nordine during our field worship.

Bible trivia, BSOP timeline, teamwork, and fun games.

Shine Intentional Discipleship

Mie Oun is struggling both in her business and family. She associates difficulties and struggles as punishment or “Karma.” Her baby's faith in God is dwindling because of her doubts and fear in life. Let’s continue to pray for Mie Oun’s faith in Jesus to grow. 

Mie Oun was smiling after we prayed and committed everything to God.

Mak Ya and Mak Chan are both growing in their relationship with Jesus. We continue to have our Bible study every Wednesday. Both are having their day off on weekends. But only Mak Ya can attend a church worship, nearby at her workplace.  Mak Chan’s home with her immediate family is a bit far from Battambang town. I encouraged the two of them to join our Shine Cell Group and our church Sunday service at Worship Assembly Battambang City (WABC, this was the church that we helped plant with a local pastor, Sophin Smith), and they are positive to this, however, both of them has only one day off from work as house mothers of26 young girls, and that’s the only time that they can go back home to spend time with their family.

Mak Ya and Mak Chan, after our Bible study and prayer at their workplace. 

Sreytoch is Mie Oun’s niece and another office staff of Leakhena. Sreytoch came to know the Lord recently this year and she wants to know the Lord deeper. Her desire to study the Bible is obvious. She wants me to disciple her in her walk with the Lord. I go to her office during her one-hour break and intentionally maximize the time by going through the basic Christian beliefs Bible study book and sharing life experiences and prayer. She is a beautiful person with a heart to know the Lord Jesus.

Sreytoch at her office after our Bible study.

Mak Thi is a house mother at the boys’ dorm of GIBTK, under Leakhena’s leadership. She is a mother of two children and her mom is looking after them in the village in their house.  She started her Discovery Bible Class with me last week. She is receptive to the Gospel though she is not ready yet to give her life to Jesus. I am excited about what the Lord has in store for Mak Thi’s life.

Mak Thi at her workplace. 

Vina and Singim are studying the Bible on Sunday afternoon. Both are followers of Jesus, and I challenged them to take part in God’s work wherever they are. This means that they have to apply what they are studying by making disciple at their respective workplace. Singim has been God’s instrument here at Shine’s cell group ministry. She is a team to me and she is currently working at Green Mango, working as an English and computer teacher for vulnerable girls. My heart’s prayer for Vina is to faithfully follow Jesus Christ. Now, she is also active in the village ministry of Freedom’s Promise Org. and my assistant in the kid's Sunday school at church. 

Vina in our Bible Study class, Singim was absent.

Shine’s new English classes are on Thursdays and Fridays from 5 to 7 pm in the evening. My landlady, and neighbor asked me to teach their children and because of that, we started this month in November. I have K2 three students (Bella, Kenna, & Ly Heng), and two grammar students (Leap & Em).  The parents are delighted to see the special care we do for their children. 

Shine's Kids English class: Kenna, Ly Heng, & Bella. Activities on their Fun Friday.

Shine's Intermediate English class, Leap & Em. 

Shine Cell Group Saturday fellowship

Shine Cell group Thanksgiving week!

Thanksgiving dinner without turkey, but I cooked "Manok na Pinaupo sa Asin." Cambodians like it! Our young people brought fruits to share also. We had a great Thanksgiving fellowship with Pisay and her children. 

Vannarath is a Director of Green Mango Cambodia Global Impact (CGI) Battambang.  She had asked for help in teaching the Bible to the whole staff on their Friday Worship. It’s a month now that I have been spending time with Vannarath through sharing and prayer. We created together a curriculum for Bible study.  She is the wife of our church pastor, Sophin Smith. Now, God opened this opportunity where we can share the Gospel with the vulnerable girls who are from poor families in different villages. A new batch of young girls came to be trained in the restaurant’s kitchen, and Green Mango provided them with other skills, like computer and English classes. Last week, Singim and I prayed for the Holy Spirit to move in the hearts of those who will be present at Friday’s worship. I have been teaching about the Attributes of God, Who is God, What is God like, and what kind of God is He. The Holy Spirit was at work in convicting four of these young girls that forwarded to the center to receive the Lord Jesus as their Savior and God. We prayed for each one of them, and we welcomed them into the family of God. Hallelujah! Glory and honor to our holy and gracious God.

Vannarath shared her recent experiences at Green Mango through this picture she was holding. 

Teaching God's Word at Green Mango's Friday Worship. The woman beside me was Vannarath. We have an altar call and the Holy Spirit was at work in our midst. Satan was not happy and that's for sure. Before teaching His Word, I couldn't open my laptop for more than 30 minutes and the PowerPoint and a video that I prepared were on my laptop. Singim and I were praying while the singing was starting. I told Singin not to worry, if my laptop did not work then God had prepared something also. God gave me peace and then exactly when I stood up to start, my laptop started to open again, so God displayed His power over any circumstances, even with little things. Glory to Him alone for saving these four young ladies. We can't show their faces for protection. 

God's victory over these young ladies' life. I felt that God snatched them from the darkness. I came prepared by His grace, and while singing worship songs some of these young girls were disturbed and annoyed and I heard their disturbing sound amid worship. So, I silently prayed to God for His holy presence to engulf the place. Then, this happened, and they surrendered their life to Jesus. Hallelujah!

Sophin Smith is our church, Pastor.  During my home assignment this year, I brought all our Shine disciples to WABC under Pastor Sophin’s leadership.  This was the first church that we helped plant and establish by the grace of God. And being back in Battambang, I am attending the church with our disciples.  So, my presence at WABC church as an elder is back. I don’t have regular responsibility on Sundays but, God is using me to be an encouragement to the church. I am training Vina to handle the kids' Sunday school at the church. We started last Sunday with 3 children and 2 older kids. Pastor Sophin and I are praying to have a Baptism soon in December. I am in charge of contacting a place where to conduct the baptism.  

Pastor Sophin and family, we honored him as our Pastor after the church service.

WABC church after our Sunday worship. 

Glory and honor to God alone. This answer to the question, “WHY AM I HERE?" Thank you so much for sending me here in Cambodia and for partnering with God’s work through your sacrificial giving throughout these years. I am grateful. Blessed Thanksgiving everyone!

Praises and Thanksgiving:

1. Successful BSOP team Cambodia’s annual field council.

2. Harvested souls at Green Mango Restaurant.

3. I am 100% fully supported, Hallelujah! Thank you so much! God is great and faithful.

 

Supplications:

1. Baptism next month

2. Christmas Evangelism in different places, Jesus’ time. (good health, wisdom, discernment). My December calendar is full already. 

3. Spiritual growth of Mie Oun, Sreytoch, Mak Ya, Mak Chan, Sopheak, Sreyleak, Lyna, Pisay, Daneth, Dara, with the 4 girls at Green Mango, and salvation of Mak Thi, Leap, and Em.

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In Christ,
Mary Jane G. Aragon
BSOP Cambodia missionary
https://mjaragonbsop.blogspot.com

Email Add: mjaragonbsop@gmail.com
P.O. 369 Box Battambang City, Kingdom of Cambodia

+855770305008