Vol. #127
As I sit here wrapping tiny
Christmas presents for my students, who will be coming over on Christmas Day
after church to celebrate His birth, I am playing all of the old Christmas
songs and praising Him!
Why?
Why?
Last year at this time I was in the ICU at the hospital, the beginning of a very long month at the hospital!
Now, here I am stronger and more grateful for Jesus the Christ Who decided to make the longest journey from His kingdom to earth; a journey not only in distance, but oh to a different status!
From GOD the great I AM to a vulnerable babe and all that includes!
Reflecting on my journey here, from Trinidad and Tobago to Canada and now Cambodia, having to adjust to different cultural cues and now learning a whole new language, I get a tiny sample of what MY GOD did and I am more in AWE and humbled by HIM!
He chose to undergo all the stages of human life here (He really could have just snapped His fingers and become a grown up man but He went through the stages of being human!)
So when we pray to Him, we know we are praying to a GOD who understands every emotion we go through!
What a foundation to begin a relationship!
YES, I FOUND A PLACE!
Well actually, Channak found it on his ride around the area. Two real estate agents who were also looking were not able to find a place, but came so close each time!
One of my prayer mentors had specifically prayed that God would design a place for me that was reminiscent of how He had provided for a renovated home for her, and yes, He has gone before and answered your prayers!
Channak had seen it over a month ago, but the asking price was too much, and the design was a bit strange. Then last week the landlord called him, not once, but 3 times, and said, "Bring the foreigner over and we can discuss changes to the house!"
Well, when I got there it was just empty rooms, so I asked where the kitchen was. They said they were waiting to see how I wanted it so then they would build it!
So we talked about the countertop (concrete here and tiled on top) and where the sink would be.
Channak had to go on a retreat, so when I got the call to come back to talk with the owner who is Khmer, I thought, "Well, I will take pics with me and lots of prayer!"
The builder, who is Khmer and speaks no English, was the one who suggested extra lights in the kitchen! He said, "I think you would need a light to go over the stove, so when you cook at night time it would be better for you."
Then I asked for a water heater to be put in the kitchen. They were puzzled, and asked, "You mean you want a water heater for the bathroom?" (All of the rooms have a tiny bathroom: a toilet and shower head attached to each.)
But I wanted one in the kitchen so I can have hot water to wash the dishes etc.!
I will send pics later after I move in.
One picture sticks out in my mind. As I sat under the mango tree with the landlord, signing the downpayment receipt, each of us did it with thumbprint! Channak had the ink ready and had written everything in Khmer and we put our prints on it.
Well actually, Channak found it on his ride around the area. Two real estate agents who were also looking were not able to find a place, but came so close each time!
One of my prayer mentors had specifically prayed that God would design a place for me that was reminiscent of how He had provided for a renovated home for her, and yes, He has gone before and answered your prayers!
Channak had seen it over a month ago, but the asking price was too much, and the design was a bit strange. Then last week the landlord called him, not once, but 3 times, and said, "Bring the foreigner over and we can discuss changes to the house!"
Well, when I got there it was just empty rooms, so I asked where the kitchen was. They said they were waiting to see how I wanted it so then they would build it!
So we talked about the countertop (concrete here and tiled on top) and where the sink would be.
Channak had to go on a retreat, so when I got the call to come back to talk with the owner who is Khmer, I thought, "Well, I will take pics with me and lots of prayer!"
The builder, who is Khmer and speaks no English, was the one who suggested extra lights in the kitchen! He said, "I think you would need a light to go over the stove, so when you cook at night time it would be better for you."
Then I asked for a water heater to be put in the kitchen. They were puzzled, and asked, "You mean you want a water heater for the bathroom?" (All of the rooms have a tiny bathroom: a toilet and shower head attached to each.)
But I wanted one in the kitchen so I can have hot water to wash the dishes etc.!
I will send pics later after I move in.
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| Signing of lease under mango tree |
One picture sticks out in my mind. As I sat under the mango tree with the landlord, signing the downpayment receipt, each of us did it with thumbprint! Channak had the ink ready and had written everything in Khmer and we put our prints on it.
Prayer request:
Please pray that all of the changes to be done will be done by move-in date at the end of this month. I was told by landlord, "Well just in case not all will be finished when you move in, it will be finished within 2 days of your moving-in date!" I shook my head and said no, because I know 2 days means more like 2 weeks! So I told them that I would pray to Jesus the Christ that it will be all done and they would be surprised! So before leaving, I asked my friend Julia who had come with me if we could pray! So with the landlady there, I bowed and dedicated it all to God.
Please pray that all of the changes to be done will be done by move-in date at the end of this month. I was told by landlord, "Well just in case not all will be finished when you move in, it will be finished within 2 days of your moving-in date!" I shook my head and said no, because I know 2 days means more like 2 weeks! So I told them that I would pray to Jesus the Christ that it will be all done and they would be surprised! So before leaving, I asked my friend Julia who had come with me if we could pray! So with the landlady there, I bowed and dedicated it all to God.
I was blessed to be invited to one of my Khmer teacher's wedding last weekend! It was such a God-honouring wedding and the best I have been to! Teacher Meng and his beautiful wife Sroh wanted to reflect God's love to their parents, so at the ceremony in the morning, they first bowed down before Meng's parents, and then washed the feet of Meng's father and mother as a symbol of gratitude to the parents for what they sacrificed in raising them up. It is a symbol of honor of how they will continue as a unit to honor and serve their parents in a God-ordained way and they also wanted to show how Christ came to earth to serve!
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| Morning ceremony with classmate, Leigha |
Then each prayed a prayer of thanksgiving and blessing over both sets of parents! Well, we were all in tears as this was so unexpected, and it was the first time I had seen the bride and groom wash the feet of the parents of both parties!
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| Evening ceremony with classmates: Formal dress |
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| Evening ceremony with classmate |
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| Evening ceremony with classmates |
Then later in evening ceremony, Meng sang a song to his bride. With 53 expats attending the ceremony at night, all of us from G2K school, it was beautiful to see the unity and love amidst all of us!
Yes, I danced!
I think of all of you with snow
falling, reconnecting with your families, and celebrating His birth, and I want
to say thank you for continuing to partner with Him and consequently with me as
we do His will here in Cambodia!
Blessed Christmas!
Blessed Christmas!
Love, His Warrior and Disciple,
Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia,
Your sister, Vidya
Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia,
Your sister, Vidya
