Meet the House Parents in Cambodia

SEAPC partners with like-minded ministries in four  countries to help provide parenting to over 700 children. In Cambodia, SEAPC partners with New Hope for Orphans to care for 443 children living in 15 homes throughout the country. These homes are run by 14 sets of house parents and one house father. We are excited to share a few of their stories with you today.

Meet Vandy Bunthet and Tavy Chay, the lovely Kampong Cham house parents. Vandy grew up Buddhist in a single-parent household. One of his classmates invited him to learn English at a nearby church. An avid learner, he agreed to attend. Though Vandy was initially uninterested in Jesus, he became enamored by how the pastor described God as a loving Father. Having grown up without a father, he was touched by this new understanding of God and decided to follow Jesus.

Similar to Vandy, Tavy also lived in a broken home. When her mother remarried, she married an abusive man. In time, Tavy’s mother split from this man and remarried a man that loved Tavy and treated her like she was his own daughter. Tavy first heard the Gospel from her mother’s friend during a family meal, and from that moment forward, the entire family came to know and love Jesus. Having experienced such lack and heartache in her formative years, Tavy developed a huge heart for the least of these.

Ever since he was 14, Vandy had a heart to start a children’s home and help other orphans. It was his desire to give these orphans a “good life.”  When Vandy and Tavy planned to marry, they were delighted to discover their shared vision and heart for orphan care. In response, they moved to the countryside to open an NHO children’s home. They have been houseparents for 10 years and currently have 45 children under their loving care. While they face challenges, their favorite aspect of parenting is when they see the children smile. They “feel happy to serve the kids” and it breaks their hearts when new children arrive and don’t know that they are loved. It is obvious that it is their deepest desire for these children to feel part of the family and know that they are accepted. Please pray for this precious couple and their growing family. Pray specifically for their life in the country to be filled with plenty of smiles.

Similar to Vandy, Seyha grew up in a single-parent household. Both Seyha and his mother came to know the Lord at the same time and desired to serve together. A few years later, they opened an NHO children’s home. They knew Pastor Sinai, because he taught Bible to Seyha’s mother in the early stages of her faith. After they opened the children’s home, Seyha simultaneously became a pastor and an older brother to several younger siblings. Needless to say, it was a quick learning curve for both mother and son. In 2004, they received funding for a new children’s home in Kampong Speu and started to take in more orphaned and abandoned children. Srey Sros, now Seyha’s wife, was one of the first children that came through.

While Seyha and Srey Sros have only officially been house parents since Seyha’s mother passed away in April of 2017, Seyha has been caring for orphaned and abandoned children for nearly two decades. His mother was the one who suggested that Seyha should marry Srey Sros, and even helped plan the wedding before her passing. It was a perfect match and this newly married couple are now house parents to 38 children (22 boys and 16 girls).

Life as a house parent is not easy. According to Seyha,  “working with the children can be hard, sometimes we mean good for them and they don’t realize it. This is the hardest part of parenting. Even though some of the children fall down, it is amazing to witness them getting back up. We love getting to see them go to university and get jobs of their own.” During Kid’s Camp, Seyha and Srey Sros were proud to share that three of their university aged children offered to come and help with the other children. They are deeply touched by their older children when they visit the children’s home and offer to help feed the new children with their own hard-earned money. Moments like these are refreshing to these incredible parents.

Sarouen Svay, a house father to 19 university students living in Phnom Phen, is as kind as he appears in pictures. He has been a house parent for fifteen years, four of those through NHO. Sarouen became a house parent at a later age, but that is because he also came to know Jesus later in life.

In 2000, one of Sarouen’s friends told him about Jesus and asked him to come and work with a local NGO. While he didn’t come to know Jesus at that time, seeds were planted. Sarouen didn’t have time to work with the organization, but he allocated some time to volunteer. As proof of God’s relentless and loving pursuit, one of the leaders was a Christian and talked to Sarouen about Jesus. Later, Sarouen discovered that everyone was a Christian at that NGO except for him. Slowly, Sarouen came to know Jesus by interacting with the other volunteers –– through their example.

After accepting Jesus in 2003, Sarouen decided to become a house parent. He loved the kids and wanted to “see them grow up happy with good teachers.” In 2014, Sarouen began working with NHO. Children that come to university, from NHO homes throughout the country, stay with him while they are studying. Saroeun loves university students and is happy to provide housing for them. Like most parents of teenagers or young adults, Sarouen mentioned how it is challenging to get the young adults to listen to him. When they come to mind, he slyly smiled and asked for people to please pray for his kids to listen. He would love your prayers for the students and for the peace of God to fill his home. This incredible 71-year-old man is an amazing reminder that it is never too late to serve God.

“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress…” ~ James 1:27

These incredible parents are the real deal. They selflessly care for the needs of others with the humility and love of Jesus. Please keep them in your prayers.