Joy He Had Never Known Before
Bungthorn (pictured left) is one of six JFA Bible Workers serving in Cambodia under the Cambodia Adventist Mission. As part of his ministry, he visits people's homes, teaches English to children in the house of his friend, Mrs. Khearn, and helps conduct spiritual meetings in the community, teaching people about Jesus through the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy.
Despite many challenges from tradition and culture (Cambodia is a Buddhist country), the Holy Spirit is clearly at work. When people see and feel the difference Jesus can make in their lives, their hearts become open to following Him.
Two such people are Aunt Siem La (pictured right) and her husband. Bungthorn met Aunt Siem La and her husband through Mrs. Khearn, their mutual friend.
A few months before, God had healed Mrs. Khearn's husband from a serious illness, and Mrs. Khearn wanted to share with her friend the opportunity to learn about God's goodness.
Aunt Siem La and her husband live a simple life as farmers. They work hard in the rice fields, digging the ground, feeding the cows, and planting crops. Although Aunt Siem La had good friends and the blessing of living near her sisters, the challenges of their hard labor were evident in how they carried themselves. They rarely smiled, burdened by the exhaustion of their work.
When Bungthorn visited Aunt Siem La and her husband and learned about their struggles, he invited them to learn about Jesus–His life, teachings, death, and resurrection. At first, they were interested, but when they shared what they were learning, many of their friends and relatives questioned them. Some said, "Jesus is not our God. He is a foreign Lord." The words of those around them cast doubt upon their hearts.
But God works in mysterious ways.
One day, Aunt Siem La and her husband decided to come with her friends to one of the worships Bungthorn was leading. She and her husband witnessed the goodness of God through His followers, and the truth of the Bible spoke to them in a way they had never experienced before.
Her husband started researching Christianity and comparing it to Buddhism. As he studied the life of Christ, he found in Jesus a joy he had never known. Grateful for this revelation, they chose to follow Christ. With Christ as their Savior, their lives changed completely. They filled their days with smiles and a happiness that came from deep within their hearts.
As time passed, Aunt Siem La's sisters also turned to Christ. Whether they were sellers, farmers, or factory workers, they all found comfort in His Word. God saw their struggles and need for salvation, reaching out to them in moments of doubt and fear. They had once been lost, wandering in darkness, but now, with faith, they welcomed Jesus into their lives. They committed themselves to Him, trusting in His plan for each of them.
Today, they continue their journey in faith, embracing God's goodness and living with renewed purpose. Truly, God is good—all the time!
Please pray for Aunt Siem La and her family as they continue to grow in their faith.
We also appreciate your prayers for Bungthorn and his fellow Bible Workers as they serve the people of Cambodia.
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