Receiving Hospitality at Eden Farm

Over the last few days we have smelled incense, heard firecrackers and seen chickens sacrificed to ancestors in honor of Chinese New Year. There is a significant population of people of Chinese descent living in Cambodia. The shrines were a very vivid reminder that few people here love Jesus and call him Lord..

Last weekend, we made an overnight trip to the countryside. We wanted to see and learn more about a project being started by Ly Chhay and his wife Navy Chan—Eden Farm and Eden School of Agriculture.


Navy worked for many years with CRWRC, the development branch of our denomination and it was she who laid the groundwork for our coming to Cambodia. They are starting a farm with the hopes of building it up into a self-sustaining training center—to teach farming and the business of farming.

We didn't realize that a lot of the wonderful produce and fruit that we eat is actually imported from neighboring countries. Over 80% of the population are farmers. Still, there is a need to teach farmers here to grow and sell produce in a commercially viable way.


The project is in its early stages and there are several facets to the dream, including a primary school as well as vocational school. We were given a tour as Ly shared his vision (Navy is currently studying in the Philippines). We realize that this kind of dream needs a lot of prayer on top of all the hard work that Ly and others are contributing.

Ly also took us to some nearby villages where we were able to greet a number of families. The closest village does not have any Christians. There are clearly many spiritual needs as well.



We left with many thoughts and impressions. The deepest impression was of Ly's passion to help the rural people. Also, we were so blessed by the gentle hospitality that Ly offered our family. The trip left us with a deeper desire to be able to communicate well in Khmer and of course to pray for this venture to flourish.

Suhs "New"s

It has been about 2 weeks since we arrived in Phnom Penh. As expected we are adjusting to a "new normal." David, Isaac and Mary are busy at their new school (Logos). There are different routines, different teaching methods and some different subject matter in their classes. There are new faces, new names, new activities. But we feel that the transition so far has been positive. They checked out a Saturday morning soccer league this morning and may make that part of the new normal. Logos School is holding a jog-a-thon for its new facility and it would be a great encouragement to our kids if they received some support from our friends in Canada and the States. Please consider making a modest donation via online giving: www.asianhope.com The deadline is January 16.



For Gil and Joyce, we are settling into a routine of studying Khmer. Unfortunately, we are not in class together as the time conflicts with the kids' schedule. Someone told Gil that Khmer is in the Guiness book of World Records as the most difficult language in the world (not sure he was joking or serious). There are many more consonants and vowels than in English. Also, the sounds are affected by the surrounding letters—the same letter makes different sounds in combination with different letters. It would take a mathematician to figure out just how many different sound and letter combinations we have to memorize. Did we mention that the script is Sanskrit? The good news: once you know the letters, you can read anything because it is phonetic. Of course, there is still vocabulary, syntax, idiom, oral comprehension and actual speaking to be mastered. We are hoping to find a good tutor to supplement our formal classes at the University and request prayers for us to find the right person to help us.

Ministry opportunities are already coming at us and we can see how we could be easily drawn away from our focus on learning Khmer. At the same time we realize that involvements could strengthen our Khmer as well as forge solid relationships. We are planning to begin office hours at the Evangelical Fellowship of Cambodia next week and begin learning about its commissions and ministries. We also hope to go back to the villages that we visited in August shortly to let the pastors know that we are back. Other things that are passing before us are serving an international church on an interim basis and teaching advanced English. We will observe some leadership training modules (Timothy Leadership Training) in early February. We request prayers for discerning what to do and not do and just how involved to be at this early stage.



Next Saturday we will move into our temporary housing/sublet. That will give us more stability but there are still many logistics to look after. Pray for that transition as well.

Please know that throughout our time, we have been assured of God's provision for us. He has already been letting us feel at a deeper level the burdens and struggles of the Cambodian people and shown his heart for them. At the same time we have been held in the palm of his hand and continue to trust in his guidance and care. ~ Joyce