Changing Seasons

John 13:34-35
“34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

As we step into September, we are reminded that life comes with changing seasons. In Canada, the already cooler days signal the approach of autumn. In Cambodia, the rainy season is setting in—rivers are already high, and soon some areas will experience flooding. While the calendar marks September 21 as the “official” changing of the season, life also brings with it many changes that bring about new seasons.  
 
For our family, August marked a new season with one less person in Cambodia. David returned to Cambodia first with Elisabeth and Josiah so they could begin school, while Joyce remained in Vancouver to help Jadon settle into life in Canada as he starts post-secondary studies. Joyce returned to Cambodia on September 5. Now our home feels different—there is now a sense of emptiness in the house. Aside from the empty bedroom that has remnants of Jadon scattered about, our family puzzle just feels not quite complete.
Yet we take comfort in the God who promises to walk with us through every season of life. As He told Israel in the wilderness:
“¹³ So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul— ¹⁴ then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil. ¹⁵ I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.” (Deuteronomy 28:13-15)
 
What a comfort that we serve a God who brings refreshing rains in the right seasons of our lives!

This summer also marked the midway point of our current 4-year term in Cambodia. As we look ahead to the next two years, we are entering a new ministry season. Our focus is increasingly on raising up leaders within the Vietnamese Christian community, so that they can reach both Vietnamese and non-Vietnamese in Cambodia. We are anticipating that God will help us to make some needed changes that will allow us to better focus on these areas.
 
Please pray for us as this requires close partnership with local believers. We long to share the same vision, discern God’s leading together, and be willing to embrace new ways of thinking that stretch us beyond familiar patterns of ministry, particularly in the churches. Our desire is not to be led by our own ideas, but by the Spirit of God—for His glory and for the growth of His kingdom among the Vietnamese diaspora in Cambodia.

A special area of prayer we want to lift up are 2 churches, Saigon 1 and Tai Chi, that are presently without a lead pastor.  Though deacons and young leaders are stepping up, they are still growing in faith and maturity.  They have a desire to be used by God and to see his Church grow but they need a lot of support, encouragement and guidance. May they grow in their dependence on the Holy Spirit and trust that God is faithful as it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:24, “The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”
 
Finally, please keep our family in your prayers.  Pray for our children in this new school year as they are all heading into new school curriculum that will be a step up from last year. Josiah is starting IGCSE, Elisbeth IB and Jadon in college. Pray that they can remain God-focused and can sense His presence with them at all times.
 
Thank you for your partnership in the work that God is doing across the world. May the Lord bless you richly for your faithfulness.
 
With love and gratitude,
 
David, Joyce, Jadon, Elisabeth and Josiah

Joshua Project – Vietnamese in Cambodia: https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/12700/CB 
Nguyens in Cambodia Facebook: www.facebook.com/djnguyen.ca
The Alliance Canada Global Ministries page: https://thealliancecanada.ca/global-ministries
The Alliance Canada Bio Page: https://thealliancecanada.ca/gift/david-and-joyce-nguyen