After two years In Vietnam, which is our second missionary journey as husband and wife, we came home to the Philippines on January 2018 to have forlough because we have been desiring to have our own child. Yet, we felt the need of the ministry in Cambodia. We then volunteered to fill the gaps in the ministry and missions of Pastor Perlito Gatmen and family in Poipet City.
May 2018 marked a journey that we will never forget. I (Louielyn) was very excited to come back after 12 years. As soon as we stepped in Siemreap airport the Lord spoke to me, “ Your labor in Cambodia was not in vain. I am giving you a greater responsibility.” So I kept asking Roggie if he wanted us to stay. He always said no because there are already a lot of missionaries in Cambodia. We planned to stay and help for 6 weeks which turned into 6 months. Within these months, we were able to help disciple the youths, tutor Roshan and Ashirah, minister to the Cambodian and International congregations, train the Cambodian teachers, teach English at the church’s center and train the music team.
On our last Sunday in Poipet, Roggie was about to preach when he started to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit putting so much love and burden in his heart for the Cambodians. So he announced before he preached that we will be coming back.
However, we were thinking to come back to Poipet to help train future church workers/leaders. But a day before we left Cambodia, we went to visit Kampong Thom, the first mission work of Pastor Perlito where I came to join in 2005. The church building is still there but not really in use. With the advice of Pastor Perlito and Mdme Rose, we started to pray and seek God for His guidance.
January 2019, we met Dr Paul Kim for our short report from the mission field. We shared our desire to go back to Cambodia and start anew in Kampong Thom to start a training center and a preschool. We were gladdened that through this talk, we were affirmed and God confirmed that we are heading to the right direction.
from Loui Salado, missionary