Mak Sou’s name, “Soumountha”, is very unusual. We have never run into another one anywhere in the world. Mak Sou’s mother told the story of her birth in 1947. Back then names were given after the child was born. Her mother chose the names of beautiful flowers and jewels, but baby Sou just screamed. Finally, in desperation, Mak Sou’s mother tried a name from Catholic sources; a Hebrew name, Soumunthua, which is from the masculine name Samuel, one of the greatest Biblical prophets. Mak sou instantly became peaceful. Mak Sou is a prophet and back in the mid-1980’s she prophesied that, “One day I will preach at Yoido Full Gospel Church” (at that time the largest church in the world pastored by Paul Yungi Cho).

This past month, Dr. Ted Vail, Vice President of Global Operations of the Foursquare Church in America, invited Mak Sou to be a part of an interview panel at the World Missions Forum in conjunction with the World Pentecostal Conference held in Seoul, South Korea at Yoido Full Gospel Church. He offered to pay for Mak Sou plus one more Cambodian. The problem was there was not enough time for a Cambodian to get a visa and Pa Thom refused to leave Cambodia. His reason? “If the rats see the two ‘boss rats’ jumping ship, they will be convinced the ship is sinking and all leap overboard”. So, Shanon Hladek, in the USA for FCOP fundraising and medical treatments, flew to Korea and joined Mak.

This was a time for Pentecostal leaders from various denominations to gather and discuss world missions and how we can bring ‘The Gospel to Everyone, Everywhere’. It was a powerful time as Mak Sou was the only female leader amongst hundreds of leaders; it was mentioned that her interview, ‘kicked over the hornet’s nest’ as her presence illustrated how valuable a woman in leadership can be. She shared about the importance of moving in the power of the Holy Spirit. At the end of the service, a gentleman came forward and asked Mak Sou to speak a word for him. Mak did as God instructed, and when she finished the man asked her to please pray for him. Mak prayed and after she finished and the gentleman left. Ted Vail told her that the man was the head of one of the largest Pentecostal movements in the world. Prophets do hear from God.