Meet Sila

Greetings, my name is Sila. I am 13 years old and in sixth grade. I live with my parents, who are both farmers, and four siblings. 

Before I participated in the Joy of Our Children (JOC) programs, I did not know much about health. I used to have a prejudice against very skinny people because I thought they had HIV. I frequently had stomachaches and diarrhea. I did not like staying home to help my parents. I often disobeyed them and went out with my friends instead.

After I joined JOC, I began to understand a lot about health, such as HIV, STDs, ways to prevent illness and other useful information. I got to participate in a special Buddy System program. I have learned so much: how to care for myself, and how to protect myself and others. The teachers also encouraged me to be obedient and helpful to my parents. I learned how to care for younger children in my community in many ways, including helping them in their studies and with cooking rice. These things have made my heart happy. When I finish school, I want to become a good teacher. 

At the moment, there are many people in my village who are addicted to alcohol and gambling. I want to see my villagers transform. And, especially, I want the children in my village to understand more about health and wellbeing.

Finally, I would like to say thank you to the JOC teachers for coming into my village to teach me. May all the teachers stay healthy and continue to teach in my village. 

Meet Srey Korng

Greetings, my name is Srey Korng. I am 16 years old and am the second child and have a brother and sister. Right now, I am studying in the seventh grade.

My family practices Buddhism. On every Buddhist holiday, we would burn incense and pray for happiness and good livelihood. I always observed how my mom practiced these rituals every time. I also witnessed things happen to my neighbors. I saw an evil spirit manifested in my neighbors many times. These evil spirits like Khmer traditional music and would go away only when the traditional music was played for them. Seeing these events over and over again made me very afraid. I lived in fear.

After I heard Bible teachings from Fountain of Hope, I began to understand the bondage that evil spirits put on people. I learned why the evil ones wanted to cause harm on my neighbors. Then, I learned about God, His creation, His salvation and forgiveness of sins, the freedom from bondage through His power, and about having faith in Jesus through His death and resurrection. I now believe that Jesus can save me from my sins and can free me from the bondage of the evil ones. 

I am very thankful to the teachers from Fountain of Hope that come to my village to teach me. I am thankful that because of this, the children in my village can know and believe in Jesus as well. I really want them to have salvation and hope. I want to see them free from sins and Satan’s bondage. Amen.