Vol. 17
Happy New Year!
It is Saturday morning and the older kids have already biked off to school. I am watching the younger kids standing in line with their cloth bags getting ready to do garbage duty! The kids are yelling out at me as I sit and watch, and my name is not Vidya, but again, ‘Cher’ and ‘Bopha’! Pastor just came by and it is not garbage they are going to pick up, but the cow mud pies or poo to some of you to be used as fertilizer in the garden! And the kids are still excited!
Thank you for praying for my main visible reason for being here.
Yesterday as I prayed, He gave me this picture: each class I enter, from the 8-year olds to the 21-year olds, He said, "you are teaching ‘Me’, Vidya! I want you to put in the same energy and ask for the same creativity that is needed as if you teaching 'Me' in one of your classes. I want you to picture ‘Me’ in the classes." My perspective changed.
On April 3rd, it will be one year since I have been here in Cambodia, at Place of Rescue. We are going into the hottest month of the year and it has been very exhausting getting ready for each class. But this gentle reminder from Him gave me that momentum to pray over each student and to walk and pray over each desk in the class.
Was I still strict? Oh yeah, but amazingly it was received well by the class.
We just finished writing the placement tests for our classes. The tests were administered, and students were either promoted or placed in a different level class if they needed additional help. From Monday the new term begins!
Praises: I had asked the students if they needed additional help to please come to the library and I would be there to help tutor. Two students from my 12 to 1(noon time) class, who I did not expect to attend, came and they did a little better in their tests. They were usually the first ones to race out of class when it was finished!
In the 7-8 p.m. time slot or the Grade 10 and 11, one of the assignments was to write a 300-line essay on why I am a Christian or how I know I am a follower of Jesus Christ. I had given them seven days to do it, with the caution that no one could help them.
I am moved to tears as I correct the papers. They spoke of their old life, the old circumstances, of having been so poor, with no opportunity to go to school, then Jesus Christ finding them through Marie Ens and the Cambodian committee at Place of Rescue, and how the ‘physical saving’ led to the 'spiritual saving'.
Quite humbling.
Standing outside for a fresh breath of air and watching the kids play volleyball, I feel someone come up behind me and hug me hard. It is one of the women who work in the garden. She is from the AIDS centre. She barely has sight in one eye. She says to me, “Vidya cute girl dot com!” I laugh and just hold on to her hands as she rests her head on my back. And I pray over those hands that tend to the vegetation. I absolutely have no idea why she feels so safe to come and hug me and then I can hear His whisper, You have a family at RAC, they have been praying for you, their prayers are not going unanswered.
So, thank you. In spite of myself I have found favour in the eyes of those here because of the prayers of the faithful!
Prayer requests:
1) Health: with the temperatures and humidity making it feel like 100 degrees at times, and no appetite to eat, you just want to drink liquids. Pray that I have the wisdom to set aside the time to cook and to eat. (My housemate is wonderful in that she keeps me on track for this).
2) His energy to finish my year here; to be more creative and have more passion to teach. I think of Jesus making the wine at the end of the party and it was the best tasting wine! I have new students especially in my 3 to 4 class (grade 1). Please pray as I learn about the learning styles of the new ones. I need His eyes on teaching methods.
My teaching schedule:
Mondays to Fridays: 12 to one (midday); 3 to 4 p.m.; 6 to 8 in the evenings.
Informal teaching: 4 to 4:30 p.m. in the library; 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. at house: ice coffee time with older kids.
3) Wisdom: in relationships and decisions on next steps. Waiting on Him before speaking which means to deliberately spend more time at His feet!
As I write the solar energy has gone for the fifth time this week. My battery fan has no power so it is going to be a hot night! And yes there is no water!
Praise: I had a visit with Paul and Nancy from our church. They were like a refreshing drink sent from Him. I cannot wait to meet up with Pastor Wayne and the team.
How can I pray for you?
Still Dancing with Him,
Love, Sister Vidya
