Light in the Rice Fields
Names, locations, and images have been changed to protect the identity of individuals in sensitive regions.
In a village where water buffalo roam dusty paths and incense smoke curls through the air during spirit rituals, Dara found hope—not in altars or offerings, but in the living power of Jesus Christ.
A Widow’s Pain and a Village’s Shadows
Dara lives in the heart of Cambodia’s rice belt—a village, where wide fields stretch toward the horizon and houses rest on stilts above dry-season dust. Chickens dart between vegetable plots, and children chase each other along narrow dirt lanes. But behind the village’s beauty, there is also pain—especially for a 54-year-old widow raising three children on her own.
“My ex-husband was violent,” Dara shares. “He drank constantly, hit my children, and shouted at them in anger. After I left him, I thought the worst was over. But then my daughter, Lina, became sick.”
Her daughter’s health deteriorated—first physically, then mentally. Her legs became numb. She heard voices. Dara began to fear that something far darker was at work.
Neighbors urged her to seek help from fortune tellers, spiritual healers, and ancestor ceremonies. She did—paying more than she could afford. Incense filled her home. Offerings were made. But her daughter only worsened.
“I felt hopeless. I wanted to die. Nothing helped. I was losing my daughter, and I had nothing left to give.”
A Different Kind of Visitor
One hot afternoon, as dragonflies hovered over the flooded paddies, a few Christians entered the village. Among them was Pastor Sokha, a local believer trained through Compel International’s global network. He and others came with Bibles in hand—but also with something deeper: time, listening ears, and practical help.
At first, Dara was curious, but cautious. Pastor Sokha offered to pray for her daughter and invited her family to small-group gatherings. Week by week, they returned—bringing lessons on health, animal care, vegetable gardening, and disease prevention. But most importantly, they brought the Word of God.
Dara watched. Listened. Prayed. Still unsure, she did not reject Christ—but quietly waited to see if Jesus would answer.
“They didn’t pressure me. They just loved us, prayed with us, and came back again and again.”
A Breakthrough of Healing
One night, Dara received a phone call from Pastor Sokha. “We’re praying for Lina,” he said. “God can set her free.” With his elder, Daraun, they continued their intercession.
Over time, something changed. Her daughter’s eyes grew clearer. The numbness in her legs faded. The torment that had gripped her mind began to lift.
On October 15, 2023, Dara and her daughter were baptized—publicly declaring Jesus as Lord. Today, Lina is healed in body and mind. The spirits that once haunted their home are gone.
““Jesus healed my daughter,” Dara says. “He also healed me.””
A New Life Rooted in Truth
Today, Dara applies the wholistic lessons she’s learned—planting vegetables behind her home, raising chickens, and sharing what she’s discovered with neighbors. Her home, once filled with fear, now rings with prayer.
Through the ministry of Pastor Sokha and the tools taught by Compel International, entire households are being transformed in this village. What began with a widow’s cry for help has become a testimony of God’s power—both practical and spiritual.
“Now I live in peace,” Dara says. “I see the truth. I am not alone anymore.”