Nut Pich (pronounced “nut-pick”) was born into a tribe. Living in the tribal village, he was destined to work in the rice fields. However, his father wanted more for him. His father heard and grew to believe that education was needed to survive in this day and age. At a young age, while his friends would learn how to tend the fields, he would walk miles to school to learn how to read and write. As he grew older, he Nut Pich grew fond of one of the elders in his community. The old man was a Christian and would tell Nut Pich about Jesus. Nut Pich’s grandfather was a Buddhist monk for ten years, leaving him with a strong Buddhist heritage. However, God worked in his life, and soon Nut Pich came to know Jesus in his own life; he became joyous – living day in and day out for Christ and began to read stories in the Bible. When he began sharing his faith, his father would send him away. He remembers many nights sleeping in a banana tree, because he was unable to return home. When he finished school, he moved to Phnom Penh to work for a non-profit organization. God called him to become a pastor, so he attended Bible school; within the same time frame, he met his wife Ravy and was wed. He began as a pastor of Bethany Independent Baptist Church in Phnom Penh, where he is now. Nut Pich returned to his home village, where he found a woman dying of AIDS. She was lying on a bed – unable to speak and unable to move, except for a little strength in her hands. The pastor held out his finger, and she wrapped her hand around his finger. He began asking ‘yes’ and ‘no’ questions; when the Soon after, God led his wife to welcome three more orphaned children into their home. To this day, they have 23 orphans mixed in with their own 3 children, all-living in the church building. Ravy’s mom has moved in with them to cook for the children, leading to the growth of a true family. Ravy explained she couldn’t imagine ever losing one of them – they are truly her own. The love that boils up in this place can only come from the Lord. Day in and day out, they have learned to trust God to provide for the next meal. Nut Pich encourages his congregation to take ownership over orphans, for James recalls that “religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans … in their distress” (1:27). The people in the church bring food every week for his children. He also trusts God to provide money to educate his children. They look to God daily to care for the basics needs of life. As well as trusting God, they have imparted disciplines and routines in the lives of their children that shine so brightly. I had the privilege of teaching English three nights a week. When we arrived, the Nut Pich and Ravy are a couple in their early to mid-thirties, who have chosen to serve God daily (Joshua 24:15), as well as created a larger family, by caring for orphans who call them “Papa” and “Mama.”
became very popular in his village; his community would gather around him to hear him read stories, for he was the only one in his entire village who was literate.
answer was “yes”, she would gently squeeze his finger. He saw three children running around and found out they belonged to her. He asked her if she wanted him to take care of her children, for she was unable. She squeezed his finger; when he left, he brought the three children home with him.
children were finishing dinner. Before we began teaching, some children would wash dishes, some would wipe the table, and some would sweep the floor. I never once saw Ravy ask the children to complete their chores. As soon as everything was complete, they would run upstairs to get their notebook and pencil and sit quietly waiting to begin. What we would teach one night, they would practice and study to remember for the following night, many nights were taught without a translator. We would sing songs, practices phrases, play games, etc. The material we covered in such a short amount of time, would take many children over twice the amount of time to learn the same material with a translator. It was amazing! As we would leave to go home, the boys would bring their straw mats and blanket downstairs for the night, and the girls would lay theirs out on the floor upstairs. Every morning, the mats and blankets would be folded and put away to have church or a meeting in the room. With the daily chores divided up, the children would complete the task with no complaints – instead they would operate in pure love.
