May, 2025
Dear Prayer and Mission Co-Workers,
Greetings in the name of the precious Lord.
The weather is so hot this time of the year in Cambodia. When we sleep at the Gospel Church dormitory for three to four nights a week, we feel so tired. We spread a reed mat on the tile floors and turn on the fan, but it is so hot that it is just so hard to sleep. We get a prickly heat rash on our arms, causing us to scratch and scratch until it bleeds. We even wash the sweat off with water three or four times a day. It seems we feel hotter as we get older.
Starting this March, we started a monthly prayer meeting on the last Saturday of every month.
The prayer meeting is held every Wednesday at 7:30, but the monthly prayer meeting is held at 8:00 for the members who do not have time to attend. We decided to do this because we do not have much time to gather together to pray due to our daily schedules, schoolwork, and work. It is necessary to gather together at least once a month for praise and prayer and listen to the sermon to awaken our lazy faith.
Four college students and three workers who belong to our church commute to Phnom Penh by motorcycle every day, from Kandal province, a distance of over 30 kilometers. It takes over two hours to get there and back. It is very difficult when traffic is congested, when it rains, or when the motorcycle breaks down during rush hour. I (Stephen) also drive our motorcycle with my wife from Phnom Penh to the Gospel Church four times a week back and forth. We pray for the Lord’s guidance and always pray for safety. We don’t know how long we will be able to drive our motorcycles, but we pray for God’s leading. We pray for the safety of these seven brothers and sisters and the church members during prayer meetings and worship services.
From Korea, Lydia’s sister and husband, along with her younger sister and husband, will visit the Gospel Church from May 16 to 23. It is difficult for everyone to make time, but we are thankful and happy for this visit after praying and waiting for several years. They are all older, so we pray that they will stay healthy and be happy and peaceful here in Cambodia. In fact, these people are the ones that my wife and I should serve with all our heart. Whenever my wife and I visit Korea, we have no place to stay, but these dear ones always welcome us and serve us. They are the ones who spare no material or prayer for our mission. So this time, we will try our best to serve them. We pray that God will help us with good weather and schedule.
On the last Easter Sunday, Pastor Stephen baptized an 18 year-old girl named Kanhchna SORN. It is difficult to believe in Jesus in a non-Christian family, but she is currently serving as a Sunday school teacher.
Children’s worship is held every Sunday at the Living Water Church site, with five or six teachers leave the Gospel Church at 2 PM, the hottest time. After children’s worship they are taught basic English for those who attend. We are always thankful to God the Father that there are teachers who go to serve the children on hot and tiring Sunday afternoons. Of course we join in their ministry to encourage them. We still do not know when the Living Waters church will be established or who will lead this church, but we always pray in hope.
As the days go by, we are lacking in nothing. Thank you for always praying and serving us with love. We pray that the Lord will continue to give us all the strength to carry out our respective missions.
Thank you.
In Christ,
Stephen and Lydia CHOI