Looking Back on an Amazing Year – 2024 We look back with gratitude and joy on an absolutely exciting and extraordinary year! We are truly overwhelmed by the growth and development our team has experienced over the past months.
At the beginning of the year, we had just selected the communities where we are now working. All we knew was that these places were deeply affected by exploitation, human trafficking, and the many root causes behind them.
Today, things look so different: our relationships with the people have grown strong, the children love our team, many adults have begun to place deep trust in us, and even some village leaders tell us they would rather not see us leave.
For all of this, we are deeply thankful to God. None of these developments can be taken for granted—we know that He has prepared this path for us.
We were able to conclude this incredible year with Christmas celebrations in all of these communities. Each of these was our very first public gathering in the villages with a message of hope and faith.
In our work, it is very important to us that we support every person in need as best as we can—regardless of what they believe or what background they come from. Our deepest desire is that people may experience true freedom in body, mind, and soul.
As Christians, we believe in Jesus, who has given us new life and true freedom. Each member of our team has personally experienced this freedom. That is why it is our deep desire that the people of Cambodia may also come to know this freedom.
At first, it was not clear whether the village chiefs and teachers in a Buddhist country would allow us to celebrate a Christian holiday in their villages and schools. But our idea was joyfully welcomed, and we were able to prepare songs, dances, and a nativity play together with the children.
For most people in these villages, it was the very first time they had ever celebrated Christmas. The children were so excited and full of joy. In their schools, they performed songs, dances, and a play about the birth of Jesus, and we had the opportunity to share with the community the true meaning behind the Christmas story.
Afterwards, everyone enjoyed a special snack (hot dogs, cake, and fruit), so that nobody had to go home hungry. Because of our financial limitations, we could only invite a certain number of people. But again and again, the children kept asking if they could bring even more friends and relatives.
In the end, we celebrated Christmas in five different places with more than 2,500 people!
We were especially grateful that we were also welcomed into two brick factories, where families live and work under very difficult conditions. There we were able to celebrate Christmas together, and we even had the chance to distribute clothing to families, many of whom do not even have enough clothes to wear.
In some of the places where we serve, people have very little hope for change or have already endured great suffering. That’s why we long and pray for God’s love to bring true transformation in these villages.
Our desire is to serve the people in practical ways—walking with them step by step as they work to improve their situation, and simply being present for them.
But we cannot do this on our own. That’s why we are so deeply grateful for all the support and prayers we received over the past year. Without your financial generosity, our work here would not be possible. Thank you for standing with us.
Your prayers have given us protection and continue to bring about the very miracles that the people in these villages so desperately need. Thank you for your faithfulness.
We sincerely wish you
MERRY CHRISTMAS & A BLESSED NEW YEAR!
