Hope Being Restored

As we look back over the first three months of 2026, we are struck by the theme of Hope Being Restored. From the dusty border camps to the neon lights of the city, we have watched the Holy Spirit move with such kindness.

The Miracle on the Border

We began the year with a deeply significant journey to the Pursat region near the Thai border. Our team ministered to families who have been internally displaced - living in makeshift tents after fleeing their homes. We were able to provide substantial food packages to 112 families, but the physical food was only the beginning.

The spiritual hunger was palpable. We spent time going tent-to-tent, praying for the sick and listening to stories of fear and hopelessness. As we prayed, we watched faces transform as a tangible sense of peace and "lightness" returned to them. One moment that we will never forget involved a young woman who was nine months and two days pregnant. She was terrified; a local doctor said she didn't have enough amniotic fluid, and there was no ultrasound equipment for many miles to double-check.

We agreed to take her with us to a provincial hospital hours away. After her ultrasound, the doctors admitted her immediately, classifying the baby as high-risk. Right there in the hospital, realizing that Jesus had heard her cry and saved both her and her baby, she gave her life to Him! By the end of the trip, 19 people had received Jesus, and we left 25 audio Bibles with a local pastor who visits these families often. We later heard that the mother had safely given birth to a healthy son.

Dignity in the Darkness: Valentine’s in the Red Light District

Valentine’s Day looks very different in the Red Light District. While the world celebrates romance, many of the women we love brace for longer nights and harsher treatment. This year, we decided to create a “table set with dignity, celebration, and love” at Chomno Coffee.

We hosted a special banquet to honor these women as the "treasures" they truly are. It was a holy evening. A male pastor from a visiting team shared a powerful message of apology on behalf of men who have treated them poorly. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room as forgiveness was spoken and hope was renewed. One young woman told us the message spoke directly to her situation, giving her fresh hope for a future outside the bars. We are also celebrating a huge breakthrough for G, who has officially started vocational training with Daughters of Cambodia. It is such a relief to see her taking this brave step toward a new life!

Joy as a Weapon

In March, we leaned heavily into one of our core values: the Joy of the Lord is our strength. In a ministry that often feels heavy and serious, we believe joy is a vital weapon for our team. We kicked off the month with a staff team-building day at a waterpark, laughing together and strengthening our unity before diving into a very busy season of outreach.

We were privileged to host a powerhouse team of 21 students from BSSM, led by some wonderful people and close friends. Their energy and prophetic hearts were a gift to everyone they touched. One of the major highlights was hosting a night of worship and ministry for over 100 local missionaries and ministers. It felt like a “well in the desert”—a space where weary workers from all over the city could come, be poured into, and encounter the Father’s love.

Throughout the week, the students joined our local projects with such enthusiasm. During our home visits, we saw miracle after miracle, from physical healings to people choosing to follow Jesus for the first time. In one of our communities, we hosted a special gospel event on our rooftop for 55 adults. Nearly a third of those who attended testified to receiving physical healing in their bodies! We are praying this is just the beginning of a massive expansion for the discipleship group in that area.

Kampong Speu Province Outreach

The team also headed out for a weekend province outreach in Kampong Speu province to support the Nations church plant there. They visited 60 homes, bringing food packages and prayer to every family.

The stories coming back were just incredible:

Peace for the Grieving: One mother, who had been carrying a heavy weight of grief after losing her sons, received prayer and testified to feeling a deep, supernatural peace and a renewed desire to live.
Sight Restored: During a house visit, a lady with near total blindness had her eyesight miraculously restored! She kept pointing out details about peoples appearance! She was filled with such a pure joy that moved us all.
A Harvest for the Future: We ended the weekend with a gospel event where many more received healing and gave their lives to Jesus. The team also visited three local schools, and over 400 children attended a follow-up program at the church. They learned about practical things like online safety but, most importantly, they heard the message of Jesus again. We truly believe these seeds will have a lasting impact on this entire community for years to come!

A Dream Realized: The Province Outreach Team

We have a huge testimony to share! After years of patiently waiting on the Lord, we felt the time was right to pioneer a dedicated province outreach team. The Lord has provided in powerful ways, bringing the perfect people to help pioneer, providing the connections with a network of churches in the country, and on top of that we recently received some miraculous provision to help make it happen!

This has been a dream for many of us for several years. Currently, 74% of the population of Cambodia still lives in the province. Our heart is to more regularly take the Gospel and practical aid even deeper into the rural heart of Cambodia, reaching those who are often the most forgotten.

Team Shifts

As with any season of growth, we have had some transitions within our family. We’ve had a couple of precious people feel called to move on to their next chapters, and we are so grateful for the legacy and love they left behind. At the same time, we have been blessed to welcome some amazing new people to our team as both long-term missionaries and short-term volunteers. It is such a joy to see how the Lord continues to hand-pick the right people for this specific season in Phnom Penh.

Thank you for journeying with us. With much love, The Iris Phnom Penh Team

Please Pray With Us:

For the new Province Outreach Team: Pray for wisdom and strategy as we begin this pioneering work.
For our local communities: Pray for the seeds planted in the children’s hearts to grow deep roots.
For our team as we navigate a season of transition. For continued unity and love.
For more Cambodian disciples to be raisedup that can impact their own nation and beyond.

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