Merry Christmas from IHSI

This year's Christmas Program in Saang was a beautiful display of God's love and the message of Christmas, highlighting the talent of local children and youth. After beginning our preparations several months ago, the drastic flooding through our region made us wonder whether we would be able to carry on with the program at all! Thankfully, our Center land dried up in time. All the performers threw themselves into daily practices as our staff hurried to finish final plans and cram what would usually have been two month’s work into one! We’re so glad that God made a way where there seemed to be none, so that the message of Jesus’ birth and salvation could be brought yet again to many who have not yet heard it.

 We at IHSI want to wish all of our supporters, suscribers, and partners in prayer a Merry Christmas. May your holiday be filled with joy as you celebrate Jesus' birth with your loved ones!

- IHSI

After the Flood

Yay Phait with Pastor PheaktraAt 86 years old, Yay Phait (“Grandmother Phait” in the Khmer language) is the oldest member of our church. She is a sweet and joyful person with one of the most beautiful smiles you’ll ever see. Yay has survived the Khmer Rouge genocide, poverty, and abuse at the hands of relatives, and yet there is not a trace of bitterness or victimhood in the way she presents herself.

At our weekly women’s group meetings, Yay is often the first to exhort others to trust God and pray when times are difficult. She has the credibility to say these things because she lives them out and never complains. Even her stories of hardship and family difficulties are interspersed with thanks to God for his faithfulness and examples of his answers to her prayers.

When our staff saw that Yay Phait's house was growing dilapidated and offered little protection from the recent bad weather and flooding, we decided to help her by building a brand new house. Once the floods had receded and her land was dry, we moved forward as quickly as possible to construct a Khmer-style stilted house for Yay. It’s one of two houses that we have been able to rebuild this past month. Below are some pictures of the construction process and Yay enjoying her new home!

Pray for Yay Phait and her family, as her grandson recently passed away due to struggles with alcohol addiction. And keep the other elderly members of Gospel Community Church Saang in your prayers too, that they would be blessed with health and provision for everything they need. 

- In His Steps

Working Together

As a ministry, we’re constantly on the lookout for ways to bless and mutually strengthen those in church leadership in Saang and neighboring regions. That often takes the form of training seminars and church visitation, as well as benevolent giving to meet needs in various congregations in Kandal province. By working together with other area churches, In His Steps can bless a much larger group of people than simply those in our own congregation!

We recently received a donation of 200 Khmer-language copies of the book “Bait of Satan” through Messenger International. Having already partnered with John and Lisa Bevere for other projects, we were excited to have an opportunity to bring this resource to Cambodians in their own language. After meeting with their Asia contact in Phnom Penh, we loaded up a tuk-tuk full of books and brought them out to Saang for distribution.

Even in Phnom Penh (Cambodia’s capital city), there are not a lot of quality Christian resources available in the Khmer-language. In rural areas like Kandal province, many pastors have little or no access to Christian books and teaching materials. When we arrived with “Bait of Satan” in hand, these pastors were quick to open their copy and begin reading, hungry to learn more.

As we made our rounds delivering the books, we heard many stories of how devastating flooding in the region has challenged pastors and their congregations dealing with the aftermath. Although things are getting better, many families still have a lot of work ahead repairing homes, cutting down waterlogged crops, and trying to resume life as normal. Eric and Pheaktra were able to offer some advice, but more importantly, listened as pastors shared their concerns and struggles.

The following week, we continued with our next initiative: giving away eyeglasses that had been donated from a family in New York. Re-visiting each pastor and again spending time to encourage and advise them, we also distributed glasses to them, their families, and congregation members with vision problems. It was perfect timing, since many of them had their books on hand to test out the new eyeglasses!

Whether visiting pastors in their homes or meeting with them each month at our pastors’ fellowship, we want each church leader in our area to know that we love and care about them. Being in ministry can be a lonely calling, which is why we emphasize listening to and encouraging each other, not just giving resources or dealing with ministry business. We want each pastor in Kandal province to know that their service to God is not for nothing, and they are not alone! Today, please join us in taking the time to pray for the Body of Christ in Cambodia. 

- In His Steps

Loving Our Neighbors

Since our last update, much has been happening in Saang. We are so blessed that the water on our own land has been receding, and that through the remaining muck and mud some patches of land are becoming visible again. But for so many (not just in Saang but in numerous provinces throughout the whole country), houses and crops are still partly submerged or have been swept away, their food and belongings ruined. Some family businesses have been forced to shut down for several weeks now.

Working with local village leaders, we learned of many neighboring families that need help and had not received any government aid. After investigating, we began buying supplies and coordinated an event to distribute them to those most in need. Below are some photos from this morning at the Saang commune center, where we gave bags of rice, noodles, tracts, and more to 54 local families.  

For now, we are focusing on the immediate problem: ensuring that those most affected by the flooding have their basic needs met. But we know that in the months ahead, more needs will arise, as floodwaters drain and reveal the true extent of damage to the area. Meanwhile, the cost of food and other staples is already increasing.

 Please keep Cambodia in your prayers, that God would show his compassion to those in need through In His Steps and others on the field. Also, pray for government leaders in this time, that corruption and lack of infrastructure would not hinder their designated relief funds from reaching people in crisis. If you would like to support our flood relief efforts, click here to learn more.

-In His Steps

Pressing On

As you may have seen on our Sak Saum blog recently, Cambodia has been going through a period of intense rains and flooding. Many families in rural areas have experienced severe damage to crops and property, and most terribly, the loss of human life. We are very thankful for God's hand of protection over each of our staff members and every person in our care, and despite flooding at our Foundation Center land we are pressing on with what we are called to do.  

As a ministry, we see God's faithfulness and compassion even in the midst of difficulty. Isaiah 43 has been speaking powerfully to us in this time, reminding us that the Creator who calls each of his children by name has promised that he will not let floods overwhelm them. 

Below is a video, but it is not a video about our flooding situation. Rather, it is a glimpse of what God has called us to do, regardless of any challenges that come our way. We trust God to work all things according to his purpose, and will do our part by continuing with the vision he has given us. Our focus cannot be on the "storms", but on him and his plan for Cambodia!

-In His Steps