Global Missions

Cambodia

HAGAR CAMBODIA

Hagar Cambodia is where it all began. In 1994, Hagar's first shelter opened its doors to exploited, abused and rejected women and their children. The country was still at war and suffering from decades of civil conflict and genocide. Women and children were often the victims.

While Cambodia is now at peace, extreme poverty, food insecurity, limited access to health and education services, low levels of literacy, lack of employment opportunities and entrenched cultural and societal norms continue to contribute to an environment where women and children can be trafficked, abused, exploited and abandoned.

Over the past 15 years, Hagar Cambodia has worked with these women and children - modern day Hagars and Ishmaels - often through innovative and creative programs, businesses and services.

Currently, Hagar operates recovery shelters, education and empowerment programs, reintegration services and a social business with the same focus always at the heart. Whatever it takes for as long as it takes to restore a broken life.

Our long term, individualized services restore women and children who have been victims of human rights abuse to life in all its fullness through quality, holistic social programs and social business.

Currently here at Great Exchange Covenant Church we have two long-term missionaries in Cambodia. You may click on the links below for regular updates and prayer requests.

October Update

Message from the Chan's in Cambodia:

Hello GrX Family! Your church is in our prayers and we are thankful that God has given us the opportunity to be a part of your church family and to have you cover us with much-needed prayer here in Cambodia. As some of you know, we are expecting our first baby very soon (around American Thanksgiving!)! We are very excited but need much guidance and wisdom from God in this time of preparation before our baby arrives. Most missionaries in Cambodia give birth in neighboring Thailand, but in our case, we will be going to Hong Kong because Priscilla has family there. We are still committed to staying in Cambodia so will return some time in January to continue what God has called us to do here. We would love for you to pray with us in the following areas:

God's continued protection over the growth and development of our baby. We are now in the final trimester and Priscilla will be traveling in 2 weeks' time to HK first because of airline traveling restrictions (Nathan will follow a few weeks later). Please pray for a safe flight - thankfully it's only 2.5 hours. We pray also that Baby Chan won't decide to come early so that Nathan misses out on the birth!

Please pray for Priscilla's ministry at Hagar. She will be taking 6 months maternity leave starting from next week. She has started getting tired and needs a lot of rest. Please pray for God's strength in tying up loose ends and handing over cases. Right now, she is working on a very challenging and dark case and is relying on God daily for every decision that needs to be made and for protection from harmful stress and pressure. Please pray for the victims in this case - that they will find protection, comfort and justice in God.

Please also pray for her team while she is away, especially the Cambodian lawyer she mentors. She is currently also trying to find an expatriate volunteer to stand-in for her while she is away. We trust that God will provide the right person for this role.

Please pray for Nathan in his ministry at World Relief. End of year is a crucial time in his ministry's calendar so please pray that God will provide him with the right support and help so that he can also finish what he needs to do and also get prepared for the important milestone of becoming a Dad!

Pray for the Christians in the community that we are discipling to, that they would not fall into temptation and be strong on what they believe in. This is the season of a national holiday to worship false gods and ancestors. Pressure from non-family members to participate in these worship will be strong.

Pray for the floods that are taking place in the provinces. Crops are being destroyed that the farmers depend upon for their

harvest and livelihood.

Pray for the poor that we serve, due to the increase cost of living some are barely surviving and earning much less than the national poverty line of $0.35 a day.

Pray for children, teenager and adults who are at high risk of dengue fever due to the rain.

Pray for safety of World Relief staff riding scooters into the villages in them most remote areas where rain and muddy roads put their lives in danger.

Pray for all the dozen Cambodians who have recently accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour.

Please pray for us as we prepare to be parents. We want to continue looking to God for how he wants us to be parents in loving and taking care of this son he has entrusted us.

Thanks for praying with us and please keep in touch over Facebook or email! We always love hearing from people back at home.

Blessings,

Nathan & Priscilla Chan

To check in and pray for Nathan and Priscilla, please click on the links below:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/5.minutes.to.5.years

Non-Facebook: http://chanlung.blogspot.com