#149 - The joys of being home!

Vol.# 149

Yay! I am back in Toronto! 

Thank you to so many who have prayed for a great transition back to life here. 

I am already building God memories, from seeing my parents, siblings and nephews, to spending time with old friends (N and J), taking walks down on the Beaches, discovering a new bakery where they make scones of various kinds (thanks K and C and K!), dinner and great food at my 'second' Dutch family here, and so much more... watching T20 overs cricket on TV with a Trinidadian team called 'Knightriders' with my Dad and excited to see players from different countries (India, England, Sri Lanka, Jamaica ) play on our team, and so far, Knightriders are ahead in points! The sad thing is my Dad who is 91years has outwatched me in last game which ended at midnight. I fell asleep around 11:30!

Did I mention that I got a library card and Mom asked me if I had brought the library home after I carted over 9 books home to read? Oh the joy of walking and breathing in fresh air, drinking from the tap, and going to Shoppers' Drug Mart! I ate my first 'roti' two days ago and it was DELICIOUS! 

It is wonderful to be back in my home church, worshipping and being filled up. I am looking forward to spending time with you all and hearing your "God" stories.

Praise: 

I got my OHIP reinstalled yesterday. Thankful for your prayers and the 2 elders who prayed for me at church last Sunday (sweet to be able to be prayed over at church!). Now I can go to get a chest X-ray for a persistent cough!

I am still up at 4 in the morning (Cambodian time) and I feel ready to sleep at either 10 in the morning or by 8 at night! But I am praising God for my time here. I am still running around trying to make doctors’ appointments now but I feel so blessed to be back to spend time with blood family and you, my 'other' family. I cannot wait to build up more memories with you all. I am praying for those who are away on holidays to have a safe and laughter-filled time away! 

I am looking forward to see what God will do in the upcoming weeks here.

A shoutout to Damien, Darlene and the girls, and welcome back to Roupen, Lena and the boys!

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 
Your sister, Vidya 

#148 - First Half of Journey Home!

Vol.# 148

When I got to the airport I think that Channak organized with my former students to come say goodbye! I was truly touched because my flight was leaving at 11:20 at night, and they all came on their motos, and were there by 8 to see me off. 

I did not leave my house until 8:30! 

I was truly touched since now it is NOT only my former students who came, but their girlfriends as well! One of them whose girlfriend could not make it sent her wishes to me. I think Trinidad and Tobago's culture is the same as Cambodia in this way. I remember when we first began to go on trips, cousins would come from afar just to say goodbye!   

Answer to prayer:  

Yes, I did get on the right flight, but at first, I was standing in the wrong line at the airport in Phnom Penh! Then I realized, “No I am not going on Malaysia Air but rather Korean Air!” So for those who prayed that I would not get lost, I did not! 

Answer to prayer: 

I only coughed a little bit on this first leg and I slept a little. The space on this 'shorter' part of the flight (6 hours) on the plane was smaller, so there was no room to manoeuvre. So I am praying for more leg room on the second part of the journey! 

I am very grateful to the Lobergs who booked the flight for me since I only have a 3-hour lay over! Yay!!! 

I sat next to a Khmer woman who was travelling for the first time, so between me and my seat partner on the other side who was Khmer, we got to help her and I got to speak a little in Khmer.

Prayer Request for second part of journey: 

I find being in the plane over 5 hours very claustrophobic, so please pray that I would just be relaxed and sleep! 

Thank you for upholding me in prayer!

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, Your sister, Vidya 

#147 - Prayer requests as I travel

Vol.# 147

Last night some of the students with my housemate, Channak, brought food over and we had fun together. 

Sreyleak, who was one of my translators in the last 6 months at my time at Place of Rescue 3 years ago, came over earlier, and she had just been to a Women's Retreat with our church New Life and was bubbling over with excitement! So I asked her to tell me about the retreat in ...Khmer! She then started to talk at a rapid rate (but really normal pace for Khmer), and because I knew the context, I understood 70 percent of what she said! 

When the rest of them came over, however, they were all talking and eating, so the subjects varied, and I was 'lost' again! But the rhythm of the sounds are familiar and I am beginning to learn the 'slang' way of speaking Khmer.

Here is a picture of when I met with and prayed with Bong Sirivuth, head of Prison Fellowship Cambodia on Sunday. I was trying not to cough! Prayed half in Khmer and half in English! 

Meeting with head of Prison Fellowship Cambodia

Prayer Requests:

- That I would be disciplined enough to spend at least 2 hours a day on going over my Khmer when I am in Toronto.

 - Cough: I have been the recipient of breathing in the dust etc.  2 days ago when we were in a traffic jam BEHIND a large truck where the exhaust was just spewing out, even though I was wearing my mask, I did inhale some of it! So that has triggered a cough. I am using my puffers, but when the air is dry I go off into a coughing fit and am always amazed to see the Miracle of the Red Sea happening in front of my eyes with the parting of people around and in front of me, trying to not be in my space! Can you please pray that I would not have a coughing fit on the plane where the air is usually so dry?  

Thank you for standing in the gap with me.

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, Your sister, Vidya