#160 - Sharing my journey in faith in Khmer!

Vol.# 160

WOW! The past two weeks have been very busy and yes, a bit stressful, as I had to prepare my testimony to share in Khmer. 

Praise!

Thank you for your prayers. When it was time for me to share, I naturally forgot half of it, but I felt His Spirit rest upon me, and when I got home that night, the first thing I did was to fall on my knees to thank Him and through your prayers for His help.

Even though I have a long way to go, He reminded me that because I needed to practise my testimony, there were two people who got to hear about why I chose Him and about the difference He made in my life. These two particular staff members are of a different faith, and the first one listened and, of course, corrected my pronunciation, but he said, “Bong (older sister), now I know why you always happy and make me happy when I see you!”

The other staff member is usually shy with me, and our conversations are usually short because of my Khmer and his English. But that afternoon, he stopped and asked how I was, and I said, “Not good, teacher!” And he asked why. Then I started to ask him if I was pronouncing certain phrases correctly. It was really good. He was going to school that evening (he is a teacher during the day and working on a degree at university at night), and is very academic and logical in his thinking (yes, so talking to me is quite a challenge on many different levels to him!).  He wants to learn more and is interested in the world and history, so he was listening to phrases like ‘my heart is filled to overflowing with the joy of the Lord”, and “I had studied many different religions (apologetics), and I had thought that my relationship with Jesus was one way because I did not know if HE listened, but after asking God to show me Himself, I realized that, hey, Jesus does not only listen, but that HE hears and responds! Sweet! “

The teacher smiled and said he did not know about that, but that he knew that I truly felt that way, and to be encouraged as I shared because it is coming from my heart! 

In the feedback from the teacher in the class after my presentation, I had expected her to discuss grammatical mistakes and mispronunciation, which she did, but she said softly to me, “Bong, I was touched by your testimony.” For many of you who know me, I did tear up when I spoke of how precious it is to know that Jesus sits with me when I am reading His Word. HE allows me to feel His presence and I am still in awe of that fact, because really, who am I that He should allow me that sweet privilege?

Then last night as I went with one of my former students from Rescue to a musical fundraiser at another church plant organized by fellow Canadian Matthew McCullough and his wife Nary for their ministry. It was a joy to see and hear everyone praising God in Khmer and singing their hearts out. When a ‘famous’ fellow Khmer Christian began singing his ‘signature’ song, my heart was just bursting with joy! I had taken a tuk tuk half way up to the church, and then went on moto with my student (all in all 45 minutes), and as we got there early (or rather it was supposed to start at 6 but started at 7), I shared my testimony in Khmer with her and she said “Char (short for teacher), I understood.” This was the first time she heard part of my life story. But then 5 people started to speak all at once in Khmer and I was ‘lost’ again! LOL! 

CHRISTMAS TREE WITH RAC DECORATIONS

But as I began my Advent readings, and my friends from church came over to help me and my housemate put up the Christmas tree, I began rejoicing again over the fact that the KING choose to come down as a babe on earth.

Prayer Requests:

Please pray for the holiday season that I would not be ‘lonely’. I think this Christmas is the toughest one yet. Most of the expats have families here, or are married, so experiencing the season here is a bit different for them.

Pray that my housemate and I would open this house up to welcome others for a meal and fun time so that our little gift of hospitality would lead to conversations of the BIGGEST gift ever given by anyone, Jesus coming to earth and the reasons why He came! 

Prayer Request:

Pray that even though my class and tutoring sessions would take a break until Jan. 8th that I would continue to read and have conversations in Khmer.

Prayer Request:

Pray for wisdom on whether to switch from volunteering on info desk at church to a new ministry of ‘welcome and connecting’ that may be starting at my church here. One of the pastors at New Life along with 2 other elders have asked if I would train someone else for my current position so that I could move into this next one. I did talk to my current leader at the info desk and he said, “Oh no, Vidya, we need you.” 

Praise:

The pastor asked that I finish one thing before moving onto something else. Too many times we are asked to do more than one thing, and then we do not have time to go into the church service and wholeheartedly enter worship to feed our souls!

 
Prayer Request:

Pray that this Christmas break would truly be one of rest. From Jan.8th my schedule changes from Monday to Friday from 1:30 to 5. I will be doing the last level of official studies. In the mornings from 8 to 10:30 I will have my tutoring sessions, and on Monday night an additional class on Christian studies, teaching us how to share more about the Bible in Khmer.

Oh, as I sit here now at 7 in the morning looking at my Christmas tree with the lights on (yes, it is morning but I need to have the lights on), and the stuffed toys that the “Evergreen ladies’ made for me over 4 years ago when I was still teaching at Place of Rescue, I remember the love and hard work that went into making those decorations for me. I am overwhelmed by your continued generosity of sacrifice of finances and time spent in prayer for me here.

So how can I pray with you? Please continue to send me pics of your Christmas time get-togethers! Dancing with Him as I listen to Joy to the World! 
 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya