'God is so good' - testimony of grace after abuse

One in four women in Cambodia is said to suffer some form of abuse.  Often radio is the nearest they get to help or counsel. At times, those who are strong and who listen to FEBC Cambodia’s Family FM station share their troubles with the broadcasters.  Recently, the FEBC staff had the joy of seeing God intervene in the life of a young girl who has suffered a lifetime of ill treatment. They share this story -

Somaly's story

Somaly (not her real name) is 19 years old and one of six children.  Her mother is a farmer and her father drinks, gambles, and behaves violently towards his wife and children.

At age 9, Somaly left her home to live with her aunt in Phnom Penh, because her parents couldn’t support her.  Her aunt promised to send her to school, but a year later her schooling ended.

Runs Away

Somaly was so unhappy that she ran away and returned to her parents.  Her aunt followed her, and Somaly’s father sold her to her aunt for $50.00. Since then, Somaly worked in her aunt’s home and was  treated like a servant.  She was very unhappy.

But God saw Somaly’s distress.  One day she met a girl who was a Christian.  This girl told Somaly to listen to Family FM.  Somaly began to listen – but in secret, so her aunt wouldn’t find out – and one day she called the station and shared some of her sad story.

Phary, the program host, phoned her back after the show.  Somaly told Phary how Family FM had encouraged her.  “I never smiled before, but Family FM can make me smile,” she said.

Jesus loves her

Somaly is rarely allowed to leave her aunt’s house but occasionally manages to slip out and visit Family FM.  She’s a gentle, simple girl and it’s easy to see how people might take advantage of her.  Tears ran down her face as we told her that Jesus loves her.  Somaly visited us again, and this time she prayed with a member of our staff to receive Jesus as her Lord and Savior!

Now Phary says she sees a real change in Somaly.  “She is trusting the Lord and experiencing peace.  She still gets angry about her family but she is learning to keep control.  She really wants to see her family come to know God.  She has a real love for others; if they are in trouble she wants to help them.”

Recently God moved dramatically in response to Somaly’s prayers.  One of her sisters got into serious debt, having borrowed money for a business that she could not pay back.  She came to Phnom Penh to try and find work but did not succeed.  Kind-hearted Somaly telephoned Phary in tears, deeply distressed for her sister.  Phary encouraged her to keep praying for her sister and to trust the Lord.

A new job

Imagine Somaly’s delight when her (non-Christian) sister reported that she had landed a job…with a Christian NGO!  Benefits included food and accommodation – and the opportunity to attend Bible studies.  “God is so good!” Somaly told Phary.