Sophie in Cambodia

 

Newsletter September 2025

Here I am Lord, Send me

Continued call to Cambodia

As many of you will know, I will be getting married to Sarun in just a few months time and that in itself is an amazing answer to my prayers.  Sarun loves God and has a heart and desire to see the people of his country know about their saviour.  He has been on such a journey with the Lord, since he got saved.  He has gone from a life steeped in Buddhism and worldly pursuits and desires, to wanting to use his life to help others and serve God.  Sarun currently lives in Siem Reap (which is 6 hours away from me by bus).  Siem Reap is in North West Cambodia and borders with provinces and people groups who live in more rural settings.

Ever since I first met Sarun and we both knew we had something special, I began asking God, if I were to marry Sarun, where would we live? Between us, we have 2 places that feel Iike home - Northern Ireland and Cambodia.  Phnom Penh has always been my Cambodian home and I have been here for nearly 4 years now. However, even before I met Sarun, I felt God stirring my heart again.  If you have followed my newsletter updates, you will know that I have had opportunities to visit provinces in the North part of Cambodia over the last few years.  Every time I have been in those areas I have seen the need for more workers and the Gospel to be shared.  I didn’t know if I would be the one to go and serve there or not but I felt such a burden for these places and people every time I went. 

So I have been praying often myself and with Sarun about where we would live and serve when we get married. I’ve been on a journey with God the last few months and remembering back to when my life in Asia began back in 2015 when I first moved to China. My heart and prayer as a missionary since that time has always been from the scripture in Isaiah 6 when God asks who shall be sent and who shall go, and from I was a little girl, I often felt that I would be one of the ones to go and serve the Lord beyond my home country. Answering and saying to the Lord often, “Here I am Lord, send me”.

I have had a wonderful 4 years in Phnom Penh working with Elim Cambodia.  I have learnt so much here. I have been able to study Khmer language and culture, teach, serve and be part of our leadership team at church and the variety of ministries we have.  It has been a joy and a privilege that God has allowed me to be here.  Elim Cambodia have been so gracious to me and have loved and supported me the whole way. Throughout this time, I have greatly fallen in love with Cambodia and its people.  I also have realized that there is still great need in Cambodia.  I am pleased that the work in Elim Cambodia is going well and I believe it is time for me, alongside Sarun, to step into a new season and a new place. To bring the skills and things I have learnt to more people who are still in need of hearing about the gospel.  Currently in Cambodia, around 2% of the population are professing to be Christian with the majority of churches and missionaries based in Phnom Penh. There are still many places in Cambodia that need to be reached.   

Some of my many many happy memories in Phnom Penh working with Elim Cambodia

Exciting expansion of ministry in Siem Reap and beyond

So after much prayer and discussions with Elim Missions  and Elim Cambodia, I have decided that when I get married I will be moving up North to where Sarun currently is in Siem Reap. That is where we are going to start married life together, begin ministry and we will continue to explore what God has next for us.  I will continue to carry out the call of God being a missionary in Cambodia.  It is an exciting time and will also be a big change for me.  But I know God is calling me to go, and I need to be obedient.  Both Sarun and I see this as God’s devine way of extending His work and kingdom in Cambodia.  Sarun is the best addition to my life and also to ministry here. He has cultural understanding, language and life experience in Cambodia that I would never fully understand on my own, and I trust and believe that together God is making us a stronger team to serve Him here. 

We are both passionate about serving God and the Cambodian people.  I have my background in teaching and Sarun has previously worked in IT jobs and with different businesses using his skills in media. He also completed a degree in agriculture so has ideas about how to practically help people in villages and provinces as this is his family background and something he cares a lot about. We both value education and we have seen how it can be a great bridge into communities in Cambodia.  Young people are keen to learn Khmer, English, Computer and life skills. I have seen how providing education can also be used to pave the way for relationships and gospel conversations. Sarun’s church in Siem Reap have lots of connections into local villages and we are praying and exploring about what this next season will look like for us.  We have been asked already to get involved with different ministries and locations but we are still surrendering it all to God and waiting for His guidance about the fine details of what our lives and ministry will look like. Please pray for us as we navigate and embrace all of this change and as we prepare for our wedding coming soon.

This map shows clearly Cambodia and the location of Phnom Penh where I have been living and then Siem Reap, where I will be moving to.

I can gladly share that I will still be an Elim Missionary, sent out through my home church Coastlands Elim, with Elim Missions.  This is really important to me to keep these connections as I have benefited greatly from being part of the wider Elim Missions family over the last few years and I want this to continue.  Their support and wisdom about all things Missions has helped me in many ways.  I also am committed to keeping good personal and working relationships with my Elim Cambodia family in Phnom Penh. We have already been in discussions about how we can continue to support each other in ministry.  Elim Cambodia also have a vision for the work of God beyond Phnom Penh, so we believe there will opportunities to serve together still, in a new setting. There are many relationships that I have in Phnom Penh that I will be working hard to maintain and I plan to still support some of the younger people I have been working with the last few years.  Sarun and I plan to still visit Phnom Penh and we also will have some of our Elim Cambodia team come to see Sarun and I in Siem Reap.  Elim Cambodia’s national leader, Chamnap and his wife Nita have not only been great ministry partners over the years, but they and their family have become like my family too. These are the relationships that I will keep and hold dear to me as I move into this new season of life.  So, even though Sarun and I will be in a new location, we know that we all still have the same heart for others and for the Kingdom.  In Cambodia we say, we are all part of one big family, God’s family. 

Finally, the call of God for me remains the same, nothing has changed. My heart for Cambodia is possibly even greater now.  My vision is still to bring Jesus to those who have not heard about Him yet and ‘For such a time as This’ God is calling me and Sarun to continue to be in Cambodia and to help carry out His purposes here. I thank God for all He has done in my life in the last years in Phnom Penh and I am excited about this new season, to get married, and to start life and ministry together with my husband.  I truly believe that Sarun coming into my life was all part of God’s beautiful plan and together we will be a great team to be used by God here for His glory.  

If you would like to connect more, in prayer or find out other ways that you can support us here in Cambodia, please do get in touch. I am grateful for all of the people who have partnered with me so far and I’m excited and expectant for what is ahead.

Deuteronomy 31 v 8
‘The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Prayer Points

• Please pray for Sarun and I as we look for a house to rent in Siem reap for us to live.
• Pray for God’s comfort and presence in all the big changes that are taking place.
• Pray for us as we continue to seek God for His purposes and plans for our lives.
• Pray for Cambodia - this amazing place that we get to call home, and for Northern Ireland the other place that our heart belongs. Loving people in more than one place brings so much joy and also heartache too, as it means you are always far away from one of those ‘homes’.

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