Hello, my name is Sen Sophal. I am from the northern part of Cambodia and was born in 1991. I live in Samraong Town, Otdar Meanchey Province, Cambodia. Since I was young, I have lived with my adopted mother. My biological father passed away when I was very small, and my biological mother was too poor to take care of me, so she entrusted me to my adopted mother.
My adopted mother also adopted another son and daughter, so I have one brother and one sister, and I am the youngest among them. My favorite foods and snacks include Cambodian noodles, peanuts, apples, corn, and durian. I enjoy, reading books, videos editing, playing tennis and going jogging in my free time.
When I was a child, I was very helpful to my adopted mother. I would wake up early in the morning to help her bake cakes. In the afternoon, I would take care of the cows in the fields. My life was very busy, and because of that, I did not have time to go to school like other children in my village. I only started elementary school when I was ten years old.
In 2008, one of my English teachers, Mr. Mom Sok, asked me to help him teach English. This happened at an Adventist school. It was during this time that I got to know God, and I was baptized in 2009. Since then, my life has changed and been blessed.
After graduating from high school in 2012, I felt God's call to serve Him. I started working as a church planter, giving Bible studies, visiting homes, and leading care group activities. In 2013, I was chosen as the Union Representative to be trained as a missionary in the "One Year In Mission" program in Manila, under the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD).
From 2014 to 2015, I served as the coordinator of the "One Year In Mission" program in both Malaysia and Cambodia, under the Southeast Asia Union Mission (SAUM). In 2015, I was greatly blessed — after completing the project in Cambodia, I got married to my beloved wife, Soeuy Rany. We were also blessed to study together at Mountain View College. Currently, I am studying AB Theology, and my wife is studying BSN Nursing.
Looking back, I can clearly see God's blessings and goodness in my life and in my family. I was once an orphan, but God became my loving and faithful Father. I was a cowherd, but He chose me to be a shepherd of His church. I was a sickly young boy, but now I am healthy by God’s grace. I was poor, but now I am spiritually rich in God’s family. I had no friends, but God became my best friend. I once had no opportunity for education, but now I am blessed to study at Mountain View College—together with my wife. I had no home, but God is preparing a better home for me in the future, at the end of time.
Above all, I want to thank God for everything in my life. I believe it is better to be poor and learn from God step by step, than to be rich without knowing Him. Through my life experiences, I have learned endurance and gained a powerful testimony to share with others about God’s love and His plan of redemption for all humanity.
