How OneX3 Began
From a River Cruise to a God-Given Mission
I'm Sherri Ko—a retired first-grade teacher, part-time travel advisor, and founder of OneX3.
My journey to Cambodia didn't begin with a mission trip. It began with a river cruise.
In 2015, God led me aboard the AmaDara, where I met two extraordinary people—Nop, a waiter, and Maria, the maître d'. They weren't like anyone I had met in my travels. A friendship began that continued long after the cruise ended through Facebook. During that time, I learned Maria was expecting her first child while still working aboard the ship.
Several years later, I returned to Cambodia, and Maria welcomed me into her home. During that visit, Nop placed their baby boy, Visal, into my arms.
In that moment, something happened that I cannot fully explain.
A soul tie was formed.
A God-ordained connection that forever changed the course of my life.
When Plans Change, God Moves
Cambodia is a country filled with incredible beauty, resilient people, and rich culture. Yet many families face overwhelming challenges because of poverty and limited access to quality education. I knew education was one of the most powerful ways to change a child's future, and my heart longed to give Visal opportunities he might not otherwise have.
At one point, I asked my husband if we could bring Visal to the United States, raise him, and send him to school.
His answer was, "Absolutely not."
Friends gently reminded me, "You'll never be able to retire."
Well... I retired!
But God had an entirely different plan.
When COVID brought international travel to a halt, my dream of returning to Cambodia was suddenly impossible. I was in the United States, while Maria and Visal remained in Cambodia.
Then God opened another door.
In 2022, while sailing across South America, I came across a Facebook post showing children dancing at New Life School in Phnom Penh.
My heart immediately leaped.
"New Life Church has a school?"
Right there, in the middle of the ocean, God answered a prayer I had nearly given up on.
I reached out to a trusted Khmer friend, asking if she could find out how much tuition cost. She did much more than that.
She called Maria herself and simply said,
"Take Visal and enroll him at New Life School."
That phone call became the first miracle of what would eventually become OneX3.
Later, I learned that New Life School had a waiting list.
Visal should never have been admitted.
But God made a way.
Because He always does.
One Sponsor, One Child, One Cambodian at a time.
Our Mission
Build Strong communities by educating children, supporting families, and teaching spiritual discipleship.
Our Vision
We are committed to building strong communities by educating children for a better future, keeping families together, nurturing lasting friendships, and teaching spiritual discipleship.
Our Goal
Sponsor a Child’s future
OneX3 partners with New Life School Cambodia to connect caring sponsors with children who need the opportunity to attend a Christian, non-government school. We walk alongside both the sponsor and the child, helping build meaningful, lifelong relationships through encouragement, communication, and shared experiences. Sponsorship arrangements and tuition payments are administered through New Life School Cambodia.
