Stories of Grace from Kratie to Today

Kratie Young Men 2008 (Tela Mart) Limeng on yellow shirt the smallest guy while Limeng the smartest seated on the right side 

Fifteen years ago, Vandy and I left behind our individual comfort and convenience of life to live and serve in Kratie (mission field), a quiet province in Cambodia nestled by the Mekong River. It was a big leap of faith one we took with hearts full of dreams, faith in God’s calling, and not much else. We met and worked together in the mission field. 

Initially, Vandy was sent to Kratie to plant a church. He soon rented a stilt house near the town and set up a humble English and computer center. As the only English teacher in that village, people respected him, and God opened that door for the gospel. The center grew and so as the church. He needed reinforcement to delegate the English school, so he could focus on shepherding the local church. Young people from the nearby villages also came and enrolled in the center. They came not just to learn skills but to find hope and belonging. Many came from poor families, working hard on weekends to help farm their land and studying during the week. Some were shy. Some were playful. All of them left footprints in our hearts.

Last week, two of those students Dula and Limeng surprised us by visiting our home here in Phnom Penh.

And just like that, God reminded me again: He restores what is dry, and He breathes life into what seems forgotten.

A Wonderful Visit

And so yesterday, we hurriedly got home from our worship service at PPC. We gladly hosted Dula and Limeng all grown up, wearing warm smiles, holding a big basket full of bird’s nests as a gift.

First time receiving an expensive gift - we feel honored!

We hadn’t seen them in years!

I still remember them as high school boys in Kratie cousins, both hard-working, eager to learn, yet quiet about their faith. On weekends, they would head home to help their families in the rice fields. During weekdays, they would stay in town, study Khmer school, and come to our center to learn English and computer skills.

They weren’t what you’d call “active” in church back then, their weekends were full of farming chores. But even so, we could see God planting seeds in their hearts.

And now here they were, years later, sharing stories of how those seeds have grown.

God at Work in Their Lives

The whole afternoon yesterday was full of laughter and memories. We sat in the living room, listening to them recount where life had taken them.

Both came from poor families, yet through determination, discipline, and grace, they had climbed out of poverty and built better lives not just for themselves, but for their families too.

Dula’s Journey

Dula shared how grateful he was for the time we spent in Kratie. He said, “Teacher, you don’t know how much it meant to us that you left your comfortable lives to come and live among us. You sacrificed so much to teach us not just English and computer skills, but also about life, about faith. You are my role models.”

That humbled me deeply. We never thought of ourselves as role models we were just doing what God asked us to do.

Dula was always disciplined and receptive. He stayed at a relative’s house near our school on weekdays, worked hard, and studied diligently. He applied for scholarships, finished his university degree in English, and even trained as a licensed tour guide in Angkor Wat. But he chose not to pursue that path because he wanted to live with integrity and avoid compromising situations.

Instead, he moved to Phnom Penh, started a family, and now works as an assistant to the director of a gold mining company. On top of that, he opened his own language center, teaching English and Chinese. He has two young children a boy and a girl and we look forward to meeting the whole family next time.

Limeng’s Story

Limeng’s journey was equally inspiring. He shared that one of his students in Japanese language class mentioned me by name apparently, I had taught that student at the university where I now lecture. They said I was “strict, pleasant, and kind” which made us all laugh.

Limeng was always playful and good at sports, yet he also loved learning. He became so proficient in Japanese that he worked in Japan for five years as a translator and trainer. Today, he works as an assistant to the Minister of Labor, freelances as a Japanese translator, and is considering returning to Japan next year if God wills.

He smiled as he reminisced about our simple gatherings in Kratie worship on Sundays followed by sliced baguette bread dipped in condensed milk, homemade omelets and pancakes with syrup, and cold Philippine iced tea. He even remembered our dog, Shrek!

These small details made me realize how deeply those moments had stayed with him. Sometimes what seems ordinary to us is extraordinary in someone else’s memory.

Seeds of Faith

As we talked, my husband Vandy reminded me this was another chance to plant seeds of faith.

Even though Dula and Limeng weren’t active in church before, they were always open and receptive to conversations about God. Sitting with them now, sharing stories of how God has been faithful in our lives since moving to Phnom Penh, felt like watering seeds planted long ago.

Before they left, we told them, “Bring your families next time. We’d love to have more fellowship together.”

We also hoped Pagna and Sivly two other students from Kratie could join next time too.

God Will Restore You

This morning, as I hopped in my Tuktuk and read my devotion for the day, I reflected on how God is restoring me on a daily basis. Have you ever felt like your life is a dry desert empty, weary, overwhelmed?

That’s what the people of Israel felt when they wandered the wilderness for years. They were tired. They felt abandoned.

Yet even in the desert, God spoke through the prophets, promising to refresh them, to restore them, to satisfy their weary souls.

I thought about how many times in my own life I’ve felt like I was walking through a dry land spiritually tired, emotionally drained, unsure of what fruit my labor would bring.

Kratie was like that sometimes. Some days, it felt like we were pouring ourselves out without seeing much return. The heat was punishing. The work was hard. The results seemed invisible.

But here we are, fifteen years later, seeing the fruit of those seeds grown, thriving, and now planting seeds of their own.

God restores. Always.

To the Young Professionals, Couples, and Young Parents

If you’re reading this today and you feel like you’re in a desert season exhausted from work, worn out from parenting, burdened by expectations remember this:

God sees you. He knows your weariness. He knows what you’ve sown, even when nobody else notices. And He promises to restore you.

So take heart. Keep walking. Keep planting those seeds at work, in your marriage, with your children, with your friends.

Sometimes it feels like nothing is happening. But in His perfect time, God makes all things grow.

A Message for the Curious Heart

And to those of you who may not know much about God but are reading this because you’re curious  welcome.

Maybe you feel like you’re also walking through a desert. Life feels dry. You’re thirsty for something more.

Let me tell you: The same God who refreshed the Israelites in the wilderness, who restored me when I was weary, who guided Dula and Limeng through their struggles He wants to walk with you too.

You can talk to Him today. Just as you are. You don’t need fancy words. Just tell Him what’s in your heart.

Ask Him to restore your soul and satisfy your thirst.

He promises in His Word:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

Our Story Is His Story

That afternoon with Dula and Limeng reminded me that the stories of our lives yours, mine, theirs, are really God’s story of grace and faithfulness.

Fifteen years ago, we didn’t know what impact our small center in Kratie would have. But God knew.

We praise Him for the privilege to make even a small difference in the lives of our students. We are humbled that they still remember us, still value what they learned, and still carry those memories in their hearts.

We didn’t expect their visit. We didn’t expect their costly gift. But that’s how grace works it surprises you when you least expect it.

Keep Planting Seeds

Whatever season you’re in, don’t stop planting seeds of faith, kindness, and love.

Your small acts a kind word, an open door, a meal shared, a prayer whispered can grow into something beautiful in someone else’s life.

You may not see the harvest right away, but God sees. And in His time, He restores what was sown in faith.

A Simple Prayer

Before you close this page, would you pray with me?

Lord, thank You for reminding me today that You are the God who restores. Thank You for walking with me through the dry deserts of life and refreshing my weary soul. Help me to keep planting seeds of faith, even when I don’t see immediate results. Use my life to bless others in my family, my work, my friendships, and beyond. And for those who don’t yet know You, I pray You meet them in their thirst and show them Your love. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s Stay Connected

If you’ve read this far, thank you. You are part of this story too.

If you’re one of our former students, we’d love to hear from you. If you’re someone curious about faith, we’d love to talk.

And if you just need encouragement, please know we’re praying for you.

God is still writing your story. And His grace is more than enough.

Key Takeaways

✅ God restores even in desert seasons.
✅ Keep planting seeds you never know how they’ll grow.
✅ Simple acts of faith and love can impact lives in ways you’ll only see later.
✅ If you feel weary, come to God and let Him refresh you.
✅ Your story matters and it can lead others to know God’s grace too.

Let’s Reflect

🌱 Where do you feel most weary in your life right now?
🌱 What seeds of faith can you plant today at work, in your family, among your friends?
🌱 Who in your life can you encourage or reconnect with this week?

Thank you for letting me share this story with you. May it remind you and me that God will restore us, in His perfect time.

If this encouraged you today, feel free to share it with someone who might need a reminder that they are not alone in their desert season.

And if you’d like to reach out, leave a comment or message I’d be happy to hear your story too.

Bonus Stories in our Mission to Kratie:

Our Unlikely Marriage Proposal 👈👫💕

How Do We Trust God’s Promises in the Mission Field? 👈

Do you have a missionary calling?

Blessings always. 🌸

Tess