Vol.# 162
BRR!
Where
are my ‘Stines’ when I need them? It is cold here in Cambodia!
Some
of you will know what I mean when I say ‘Stines’, others will not, but that is
okay.
You know it is cold when ...
…Your coconut oil is frozen.
…When you wait until the hot water kicks in, and there is steam arising, before jumping into the shower. However you also now dread going from the bathroom into the bedroom, because it is cold there (You previously welcomed the cold!).
...When you go hunting all over town for a woolen hat. There are lots of sports
caps but your girl here needs a wool hat for short hair.
…When you dress in track pants, 2 long-sleeve t-shirts, socks, and a blanket to
go up to the rooftop at night!
MY
ROOFTOP BALCONY CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Naturally
I get comments like, “But you are from
Canada, you still find it cold?”
Yes!
In Canada I would be dressed warmly when it is cold!
Now
I am singing ‘The weather outside is...”
When
you come right down to it, I really am an island girl, eh?
But
my thoughts turned to Mary as I am now shivering.
I
think of her on the donkey going towards Bethlehem, the cold nights, and then
when she got to the stable. How brave she was at such a young age!
How amazing
was her response to the angel Gabriel when she was told she was chosen to birth
the Saviour:
“I am the Lord’s servant”.
The
end.
I
would have had so many questions and reasons why I should not to chosen. Rereading
and reliving the advent time has renewed my passion and my love for Him. When I
see Mary’s faith in action, and then Joseph’s submission and his faith in action
in following the leading of God, it brings new life into my own walk and
relationship with Jesus the Christ.
Yesterday
I got a call from one of my teachers from G2K to invite me to her graduation
from university (B.A) that very afternoon. I called one of my tuk tuk drivers
and we got to the university at 2:30p.m. We were supposed to be there at 3:30p.m.
At 3:00, I decided to call my teacher’s husband to tell him where we were, and
apparently we were at the wrong university! So then we had to rush through
traffic and then got to the auditorium 5 minutes after they closed the door.
Well you may have thought it was a wasted journey, but, while I was waiting at the
first university, Mr. Chanta and I had a conversation in Khmer and English
about spirituality and life in general. He was trying to teach me how to say a
particular consonant that I have been having trouble pronouncing. So there was
a lot of laughter and facial expressions going on!
And
as I waited for 3 hours and watched the ceremony on the television in the hallway,
I saw so many parents and grandparents come in, waiting to celebrate that day
that they all sacrificed for.
It was humbling and joyous to see the balloons and
teddy bears and flowers that family and friends brought to celebrate the
occasion.
The best was that if I had been in the auditorium, I would have
missed greeting and meeting Teacher Vatey’s mother, sister and cousins.
They
came at 6:00 and they were laughing because I had all of these flowers and balloons
around me because it was windy when the big doors to university were opened.
Those
are moments I would not give up for the world! Teacher Vatey had only invited 2
people from our language school to come. My other friend could not go, so
I was delighted and honored to join.
So
sometimes plans go awry, but do not miss out on God-opportunities to deepen
relationships and make new connections!
I
pray that this season for those of you who have lost loved ones in the past
year, and for those who are ‘alone’, that the Holy Spirit will hover over you,
sheltering you in your grief and giving you a new intimacy with Him. May God
open the ‘eyes’ of others to welcome you into their homes as the stars beckoned
the wise men to go to the stable.
As
I play Michael Bublé’s Christmas album, my
fellow Canadian, I am beginning to feel a bit warmer.
Now to dance!
Love, His Warrior and Disciple,
Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia,
Your sister, Vidya
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