CONNECTED CHURCH World Relief Cambodia

RESTORED FRIENDSHIPS Summer 2016

Srey is a teenager living in Vihea Village in Kandal Province Srey is a teenager living in Vihea Village in Kandal Province. Her life is not always easy but she is always full of joy. Teenagers are the same across the world with days full of giggling, mischief and silly arguments. These similarities serve as a reminder that we are not that different, but growing up in extreme poverty, the negative sides of teenagehood can feel a whole lot worse. Srey Lin is 13 years old and lives in Vihea Village in Kandal Province. Her father is a farmer and her mother works in a local factory. Both work long hours and so she often has to do housework or pick fruit and vegetables to feed her two younger siblings and earn money for her studies. Despite her difficult life, she has the most beautiful outlook. She tells us often how much she loves living in her village because she gets to spend so much time in nature, breathing fresh air. And she always talks about her friends and how much she loves them.

After a falling out with one of her friends, Srey came to WRC’s children’s programme where she learnt about the power of friendship and forgiveness. Recently though she has been having problems with one of the girls in her friendship group who insulted her in front of the rest of their friends. They had argued and were now ignoring each other which made it difficult for the group to get along. Whilst all this was going on Srey began coming to our children’s programme. With us she learned lessons from the bible, and some of these were about being a good friend and about forgiveness. She talked with us about the situation with her friend and realised she needed to talk to her. The next day she went to school and with great courage sat and spoke with her, and they made peace with each other.

‘I have learnt that if I love Jesus, I have to love the people around me too’ “I am happy we are friends,” said Srey, “I have learnt that if I love Jesus, I have to love the people around me too.” It is these small things that make a big difference. Healed relationships are a sign of the Kingdom and we are so privileged to have been a part of Srey’s story.

PRAYER Things to pray about here Font size 36 Praying is great