The Tide is Turning
The Tonlé Sap River in Phnom Penh is the only (non-coastal) river in the world that flows in two directions. In the dry season it flows one way and in the rainy season it flows another.
The special new café that has opened right on the banks of this beautiful river is aptly named after this phenomenon. “Chomno” is the Khmer word for “Tide” and we are praying that the opening of the café signifies the turning of the tide in this area of Phnom Penh. The Café’s rooms were previously used as a strip club and bar with a stage surrounded by mirrors and a stripper’s pole. It has now been renovated and is being used for a greater purpose than before. The mirrors from the old bar have even been reshaped and repurposed for the new space. This new cafe is a beautiful picture of God’s restoration and redemption in our own lives. It is also a picture of God’s plans for the area surrounding the coffee shop, a location surrounded by a mix of legitimate businesses, bars, hostess bars and other interesting (and slightly suspect) establishments.
The Chomno Coffee Shop opened in March and before long we hope to be using it to host trainees in a new vocational training program, teaching young people skills and equipping them for a brighter future. We will also use the café as a meeting and discipleship space for the community of new believers that is slowly growing in this part of the city. We are so grateful for those of you who generously sowed into this cafe renovation project. The Lord has enabled you to help make a long held dream a reality. We continue to pray for the rain of the Holy Spirit and the “turning of the tide” in the lives of more precious people here.
In March we had the privilege of hosting a team from Bethel church in Redding, California. It was an impacting time full of special moments. The visit not only impacted our team but also the communities we work in and beyond.
On the first night the team partnered with us and some local churches in hosting a special worship evening with more than 300 people from multiple organizations and churches joining together for a powerful time of unity and worship. Many people received prophetic words, healing and personal encouragement.
We partnered with the Bethel Team and Nations Church Phnom Penh on a special weekend province outreach to a new location in the countryside. There were previously very few believers in this area but throughout the weekend many people encountered Jesus’ redeeming love and healing power and many started a new life of faith in Him. Nations Church aims to start a new church in that location and it was a great privilege to help in a small way in their efforts to plant a new community of believers.
During the same weekend we were able to share trafficking prevention training (and also the gospel) with over 500 children and hand out some useful school supplies to help them in their studies. We are always so thankful for visiting teams who come out to serve so faithfully and lovingly and bring a fresh wave of Holy Spirit blessing and encouragement.
Over the last few months our social work team has been doing incredible work continuing to minister to various families in need. One recent example of this was in an interaction with a young single mother. They found out that she wasn’t eating and she had fallen into a deep depression after her husband had left her for another woman. Her baby’s life was in danger as she didn’t have the capacity to care for him. Our team continued faithfully to visit and encourage her, pouring out love and support. It left a lasting impact and now she is doing so much better! She has hope again and is able to care for her precious child as the team continues to connect with her and point her to Jesus. There have also been 3 preventative trafficking rescues in this time of young children who were rescued from very unsafe situations.
The Red Light outreach team have been continuing to share the gospel in the hostess bars and the red light area. It has been hard work at times but there have been a few recent moments of encouragement. One lady who recently left a bar is now regularly going to church and she attends the discipleship group hosted by our team without fail. She was so impacted that she began sharing with others and brought another friend along to join the discipleship sessions. Jesus’ loving impact has continued and they were both recently baptised at the church they have been attending. It was a time of great joy and blessing and we are praying that many others from this area choose the freedom that is found only in Jesus.
Week by week our outreach teams faithfully serve the communities they work in. Discipleship groups are growing and deepening in faith. Through kids’ clubs, soccer club, family visits, special events and one-on-one meetings our teams continue to point people to our true hope Jesus, the only one who is truly able to turn our lives around for good.
We are so thankful for our whole team who continue to serve Jesus sacrificially and pour out love to those in need. Team care and mutual encouragement are essential and we are thankful for the blessed time volunteers and staff had together (with all our families joining too) during our team retreat at the end of January. It enabled us to enter the new calendar year encouraged and more unified than ever. We also recently celebrated baby showers for two of our amazing team whose babies are due very soon.
We are so thankful for the ongoing privilege we all have of serving and loving the people here and we are excited about the new things that are coming up. Thank you for joining alongside us through your prayers, love, encouragement and support.
From the Iris Phnom Penh Team
Impact Report from January, February and March
The Mission Worldwide / Iris Phnom Penh - Registered Company NI 066492.
Registered with The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC108385
Iris Global & their Stop for the One program is a registered 510(c)3 non-profit. Any gifts made to Iris Global or Stop for the One by US citizens are tax deductible.