#146 - Rooftop party and I AM COMING! Are you ready?

Vol.# 146

Hello everyone!

The countdown is on for my RETURN to Toronto! 
So do not say I did not give you fair warning! 

Answers to prayer: 
In my last update, I mentioned that my Khmer teachers invited me, one of 3 expats, to go with them on an overnight trip. Only 2 of us could go. The other expat had ministry obligations. 
It was so much fun getting to know the teachers, and the fiancé of one of them came with us as well, and the other expat kept saying to him, "You have a puzzled look on your face everything time you look at Vidya. You must think she is crazy?" To which he would reply, "Oh no..." 
I was not all disturbed by this but excited that my friend could say all of that in KHMER! How cool is that? 

As to the fiancé of my teacher, he had never spent time with expats like this. For those of you who think I should be apologizing on behalf of all expats in the world by me being me, well guess what?! 
HE invited me to their wedding! 
Normally, it would be my teacher, but he initiated the invite! 

They got accustomed to me blurting out aloud a prayer before we started driving anywhere for safety on the roads, and a prayer before we ate. I also had one-on-one conversations in Khmer and English about 'life' and my perspective on it, which of course is inundated and saturated with Jesus the Christ. 

What I learned from the trip: 
Even though I struggled to understand all of them, and consequently then to reply to certain questions or statements, the teachers always made sure that if I did not understand the Khmer, they would try and use body language to explain or then use English phrases. 
It suddenly hit me then when most of my brothers and sisters here do not understand the 'christianese' language, even if I speak it in Khmer language, then it is truly how I live my life here which is the true reflection of my faith. They have asked me why I seem to have joy, or when I was struggling even more with Khmer, why I did not quit and why I was so transparent about my struggles. 
I thank God for the bridges HE built with my Khmer community here. I am humbled to be called their "Bong Srey" (older sister), even if it comes with the adjective of "crazy"! 



Last night I had the teachers plus my expat community, who have become my community and family here, over for dinner. I thought I was more like a "Mary" but realized that I was more like "Martha" when I began to worry about what food to get and about getting the place ready. Then as I prayed, I realized that with about 20 people I would not be able to cook, so I connected with one of the teachers at the school, and we ordered the food, and then had a tuk tuk driver pick it up, and then take the huge pot of Khmer curry up 45 steps up to roof top. 
Then my expat friends asked what they could contribute, so we had more than enough food, especially since 5 people could not make it. 
But my highlight was having my Khmer teacher on his guitar, my expat friend on his beat box, and the words on my Ipad to 10,000 reasons, and all of us singing it, even my Khmer teachers!

Then the games ensued. All Khmer parties must have games, so it was hilarious to see everyone involved, even if to encourage and urge each team on! 
I must say that 'musical chairs' is so delightful and innocent in its name, but is always the most dangerous and painful game! It is every man, woman or child for themselves! I think my foot is still sore from being stepped on! 
There was much laughter with all the moves we all made as we went around in a circle trying to anticipate when the music would stop, and then grabbing an empty chair! For those who wish to know, I did not win! 

One of my younger 'sisters' from Toronto, who is volunteering her summer hours in another country, was praying that the rain would stop, and it did. It restarted AFTER the party was finished. So another 'concern' was put to rest because I was wondering how I was going to get 20 people in my small living room and kitchen! The covered rooftop is ideal, but the rain still comes in at the sides especially when the wind is strong.


Prayer Request: 
On the 31st I have another meeting with Prison Fellowship, and this Sunday at church, hopefully, I will meet with the leader of English program at New Life church to discuss how I can be of assistance after my language studies are formally finished. Pray for wisdom and discernment for all of us.

Prayer Request: 
Pray that I would get all the last minute details done here; for good seating on the plane for the 2 legs of the travel; for my luggage to arrive intact; finally, for sleep for me on the plane. I do not enjoy long travel on planes! 

Thank you all and see you all soon!

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 
Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, Your sister, Vidya 

#145 - Salt, bites and splash!

Vol.# 145

As I listen to the rain falling and the wind howling (yes, it is!), I develop a craving for a nice hot cup of coffee. So I grind the beans, and as I smell the wonderful smell of the fresh coffee, I envisioned myself sipping coffee on my balcony as I watch and listen to the rain but then...

As I took a HUGE gulp of coffee, I realized that I had mistakenly put salt instead of sugar in my coffee! That wonderful dream so ended abruptly! I usually put brown sugar in my coffee but the white sugar was on the counter next to the salt and ... 
So I am trying to get the 'taste' out of my mouth now! 

Then I decide to have a warm shower because it is 'cold' here. So there I am with my soft towel until I begin to feel itchy and then bites! Ants somehow got on my towel and yes, I am still trying to put 'after bite' cream on.

Can my day get any worse you say? 
Well ... read on...

First my football team from G2K school had a pool party at one of the expats houses, and most of the staff from my language school came, and it was wonderful connecting with the kids and spouses of the staff. Of course I was the only woman in the pool.

Actually, I was really standing in the kids' side of the pool as the other teachers were on the other side. I was the kids' play mate in the pool! But that did not stop me from having a water fight with the teachers on the other side. The water was COLD and it was not sunny but it was a fun time! 

The coach, who is from America, together with his wife shared their life stories about why they came to Cambodia and how God is working in their lives and how much the football team has become part of their family now! Very sweet! 

Praises: 
My tutor #2 asked me to pray again for her family situation and as I am learning more words, I am humbled that now she has called me twice to give me updates on her court situation. 
Tutor #1, who is a pastor's wife, had asked me to pray with her for a missing 4-year-old boy from one of her congregants; he had gone missing and the police would not help unless they got some money, and even the community was not helping. Praise God that 2 days ago he was found in the province and has been brought back home! Our concern was that he was taken for his kidneys or to be sold as a slave. It turned out that a relative was the one who had taken him from the family home. The young mother now knows about a God who cares for her family through others like my tutor and her husband, and strangers like me who will pray for her.

Prayer Requests: 
My Khmer teachers have invited me to go on overnight trip with them along with two other expats. However, one expat cannot now go and she is the one who is most conversant in Khmer and has built up really close friendships with them. I was really counting on her to help me bridge the language barrier! The Khmer teachers, fiancées and singles (9 in all) initially thought that I would pull out after hearing that my friend was not coming, but I knew that they were pretty excited about going. So please pray for 'good soil' that Pastor Wade was talking about here, 


Awaken (3): Seeing Jesus in the stories of life and scripture from Rexdale 

as we have conversations about life; pray for me to be a good listener so that I am able to pray with discernment and wisdom. Pray for safety as we travel 5/6 hours to and from our destination, and for fun times when we spend the day and night there! 

SO, did my week get better? 
Well, my housemate installed a new attachment to the sink in the kitchen and also bought and set up the hose so that we would not have to carry a bucket of water up and down 30 steps! 

YES, it is the small things in life that can make you sing!

Now I am going to pray with my house helper as her sister is sick in her first 2 months of pregnancy. 

I cannot wait to see you all and to drink water out of the tap! 
Please keep sending me your pics and requests! 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 
Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya

#144 - Happy Canada Day!

Vol. #144

Happy Canada Day to all! 

I just came from having a Canada birthday 150-year celebration dinner! Makyeay, or Marie Ens as you know her, sent me a message inviting me to join her son David and his wife Pattie, Mike and his wife Cindy (they are Alliance missionaries; Mike was my classmate at my language school), Charlotte, who is visiting from Canada, and her Khmer son, Samuel (he left Cambodia when he was 1 and now 11 years later has returned for a visit with his mom), and the new English teacher at Rescue and intern from the Alliance church working with Mike and his wife. 
It was wonderful reconnecting and just chatting away about where we all live back in Canada! 

And here is a bonus photo: Vidya the scorekeeper!

I am so proud to be able to say I am a Canadian-Trinidadian, because Canada allows me to keep my Trini identity and I am so humble to be part of this amazing mixture of cultures and even prouder to be from Toronto, which I think is the most cosmopolitan city in the world! 
I thank God we have freedom of religion in Canada, and that I can worship and not be arrested because I serve Jesus Christ. I love the mixture of music, the sounds of different languages (which is music to me), and the many traditions and customs which are woven into the fabric of "Canadian!" 

Answers to your prayers:

Tutor #2

Four days ago as I was talking to tutor #2, she told me that she had to leave on time because she had to go to court. Her father had died 3 years ago, and her brother was contesting the will and wanted all the land and money that the father had given to both of his children, my tutor and her brother. I asked her if I could pray for her and she said yes, so I did in Khmer. 
Then just two days ago, my tuk tuk driver told me his wife was sick, so I said I will pray for her and so I did, and I know he was listening because he filled in the pause when I was trying to think of the correct word to say! Health is 'sokaphiep' and safety is 'sowataphiep" ! So he said sokaphiep when I was praying for health for his wife. I was also praying for safety as I always do before leaving, so that was pretty sweet that God gave me those 2 opportunities! 

Request: 
I would like to 'borrow' 1.25kg free weights if anyone has one lying around in their basement for the time I am at home please. I want to continue with my workout routine while I am back home. I think I should be able to buy an exercise mat when I return to Canada, and I will probably be able to bring it back with me but not the weights.
Thanks! 

Please continue to send your prayer requests and your pics of your life back in Toronto. It keeps me connected and I love hearing about your life! I have to go as the mosquitoes are loving on me right now! 

Dancing.....to the beat of Trini music now. 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 
Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya