Light in Darkness

Letter from Franklin Graham

Dear Friend,

I recently returned from Cambodia where I preached the Gospel to over 27,000 people and hundreds responded, many of them literally running forward to give their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise God! Most who attended had never been to a church or heard the Good News.

Cambodia is a beautiful country, but most people there are living in darkness. Each year thousands of migrants are smuggled in and out of Cambodia to meet the demand for cheap labor in growing urban communities. Migrants arrive in search of a better life, only to find themselves working long hours for low wages. Abuse, torture, and debt bondage are rampant. Children are also exploited with predators grooming them online. Tragically, boys and girls are often sold into bonded labor, a form of modern-day slavery, by their own parents, the very ones who should protect them.

Samaritan’s Purse Canada is raising awareness of the abuse and promoting safer labor and migration practices in high-risk urban slums in Phnom Penh through our Light on a Hill project. The program equips women with practical ways to support their families and trains them on how best to avoid the traps of trafficking and exploitation—all while sharing the hope found only in Jesus Christ.

Sokun is one mother we helped. She and her family were forced to sell their home and move to an urban slum where they were struggling and being preyed upon. But she cried out to God and clung to His Word: “For it is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness” (Psalm 18:28, ESV). Soon, God answered her prayer, and she was introduced to Light on a Hill. I encourage you to continue reading and see how the Lord blessed Sokun and her family.

Sincerely,

Franklin Graham

A Mother’s Journey from Despair to Hope

Sokun—a wife and mother of five—found her family facing the harsh realities of life in an impoverished community on the outskirts of Cambodia’s bustling capital.

Job loss left them facing massive debt and growing uncertainty. With no alternative, they sold their home and belongings and moved to the overcrowded urban slum of Phnom Penh. It was the only way for the family to stay together. Life there brought new challenges: poor sanitation, lack of access to clean water, and the risk of exploitation to make ends meet. Desperation made Sokun and her family vulnerable as they sought work wherever possible.

Too often, human traffickers or exploitive businesses prey on desperation like Sokun’s. They offer false promises of work that entrap men, women, and children in risky jobs that include physical or sexual exploitation with little or no pay. Some parents even sell their children into bonded labor, a form of modern-day slavery.

Despite Sokun’s struggle, she clung to her hope in Christ. “I prayed continuously for God to send someone who could help us. I heavily leaned into my faith,” said Sokun. God answered Sokun’s call. Through the prayers and support of friends like you, a Samaritan’s Purse staff member knocked on Sokun’s door and invited her to our Light on a Hill (LIGHT) project.

The LIGHT project shares the hope of the Gospel as it equips women and families to build livelihoods, avoid the traps of trafficking and exploitation, and look to the future with hope. Since the project began in 2020, God has transformed the lives of hundreds of women like Sokun.

Hosted at a Samaritan’s Purse community training center in Sokun’s area, the LIGHT project trains women on vital topics such as gender-based violence, safe migration, and improved hygiene practices. It also empowers them to start a small business in cricket raising.

Crickets are a delicacy in Cambodia. They are in high demand and a valuable source of income through local sales or export. Sokun received a cricket-raising pen, an initial batch of cricket eggs, feed, and training on how to raise them well using simple local materials. She also participated in financial management education.

Each month, Sokun harvests 16 kilograms of crickets, which allows her to feed her family and support them financially while steadily paying off debt. “It has been such a huge blessing to my family,” Sokun reflected with tears in her eyes.

The LIGHT project also provides a safe space for vulnerable children and youth while their parents work. Since the start of 2025, over 150 children and youth have attended community events. Through games, crafts, and plays, children learn about safe migration, trafficking prevention, and identifying safe adults in their lives. Our teams also share the Good News of Jesus Christ, the ultimate source of safety and hope.

In 2026, Samaritan’s Purse is opening a new protection and livelihood project in another slum community to help even more families break the cycle of poverty and exploitation.

When Sokun isn’t working, she volunteers with Samaritan’s Purse to help others. “I will continue to do whatever I can for my community, just as Samaritan’s Purse did for me. I can help others rise out of their struggles and disappointments,” she said.