Katie

My introduction to Cambodia started when I was just 11 years old. I had prayed for God to give me a little sister, and he answered my prayers when my parents adopted a baby girl from Cambodia. So at a young age my eyes and heart were opened to God’s heart for the nations and to Cambodia in particular.

In high school, God worked in my life through mission trips that I took to Cambodia in 2005 and 2006. I was struck by the overwhelming physical and spiritual needs that I saw. At the same time, I felt deeply drawn to the Khmer people and culture. I remember one of the adult leaders, seeing the impact the experience was having on me, said, “You are going to come back here one day.” I shrugged that off at the time, but God had impressed Cambodia more deeply on my heart that I realized until years later.

After college, I did go back to live there and I became a teacher at a university in the capital city, Phnom Penh. Over the three years I lived there, I developed friendships with Cambodians and learned a lot of language and culture.

During that time, I met Sokion at a local Cambodian church where I had been attending. We both worked with students and got to know each other through  ministry experiences. The Lord gave us a shared heart for each other and for reaching the Khmer people, and in 2014, we got married in Cambodia.

After getting married, we moved to the States, started our family, and pursued a pathway to U.S. citizenship for Sokion. While I’ve been in the States, I’ve been blessed with opportunities to use my God-given gifts and passion for helping young people, from teaching in a public school to helping lead the ministry of Crossroads Kids Club. Now, I’m excited to see how the Lord works in this next step of my journey as a cross-cultural teacher, neighbor, and friend to those I meet in Cambodia.

Sokion

I was born in Cambodia and raised in a Buddhist family in a village outside the capital city. I heard the gospel for the first time when I was around 10 years old and that was the time I accepted the Lord as my Savior. It was through a church that was built near my house by a Cambodian Christian woman. She had come to the U.S. as a refugee after the Khmer Rouge and she sacrificed to bring the gospel to her village, and to me. It was the very first church in my village. Before that no one I knew in my village or my family was a Christian. It wasn’t easy to follow Jesus at that time, but by God’s grace I always had encouragement from the pastor and church members who poured into my life and helped me grow in my faith.

Because of these faithful people who shaped my walk with God, he put in my heart to give my life to full time ministry for him. After high school, I had the chance to go to Bible college in Phnom Penh and studied to become a pastor.

In 2011, I graduated and worked for one church in Phnom Penh as an associate and youth pastor. We started a dorm ministry for students and I taught Bible studies, preached, mentored and discipled students. I saw many students come to know God for the first time!

In 2014, after Katie and I got married, I came to the U.S. It was my first time on a plane and my first time ever outside Cambodia! In my time in the U.S., I’ve had a lot of good experiences: learning English at school, getting to know Katie’s family and culture, volunteering at church, becoming a stay-at-home dad, and getting involved with Khmer-American communities. I also became a U.S. citizen in 2018.

When I look back on my life, I can see God work in many ways and he is always faithful. I’ve been especially grateful to see God’s fruit in the lives of many students I used to work with, and my heart is excited to be back in Cambodia to reach more young people.

Our Children

The Lord has blessed us with 3 beautiful children – Evelyn, Josiah, and Kalianne (Kalli). Our kids play an important role in our mission in Cambodia. There is something incredibly unique and powerful about living out faith as whole a family in a cross-cultural setting that draws people’s attention in a positive way. Our children are opening doors of opportunity to build relationships and minister to families in our school and our neighborhood.

Fall 2022

Spring 2022

Fall 2020

2019 Family Photos