Vol.# 171
Wow, what a whirlwind in these past 3 weeks!
In the midst of the hottest temperatures here, my fridge broke down, so I was without a fridge for 5 days. Then the hunt for a fridge went on for 2 days.
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| My 'new' second-hand fridge. KUDOS to my housemate C for negotiating price and delivery! |
There are random holidays occurring here, so I was on my toes to remember when school and banks etc. would be closed. Yesterday, while I was cooking, the gas ran out, so now as I write this, I am waiting to get a call for delivery of a gas tank for the stove and also waiting for the internet guy to come by to make my Wi-Fi payments.
In the midst God has shown Himself to be my cloud by day and fire by night.
“Sister, can you pray for me? I am having problems with my boyfriend.”
This was the request asked of me before church on a Sunday as I was about to do my volunteer stint at the information desk. I was a bit surprised, because just 5 minutes prior I had the following encounter with this same younger sister: I was walking up to the info desk and could not believe my eyes to what I was seeing, so I looked around and asked this younger sister, "Hey, is this church or a club?"
She looked at me puzzled, thinking I had my Khmer words mixed up, and replied, "Bong Srey (older sister) you are in church!"
I said, "Really? Well, ah, because you are looking beautiful, but the top you are wearing is quite sexy for church!"
Some of you are probably ‘gasping’ right now because I said the word ‘sexy’ and ‘church’ in the same sentence or in my update, but here that is the word often used to describe the way a person dresses. You do not say ‘inappropriate‘, which is what may be used in western culture. I really was taken aback because the top she was wearing was off the shoulder and quite fitting, and she is a paid staff and has a leadership role here at my church in Phnom Penh. But as soon as I asked that question, I immediately thought, Oh Vidya did you just say that out loud? And as she had responded to my question I thought, Yup I did.
Anyway, I thought I would share how we need to represent Him if we are working at the front desk at the church. However I first praised her proficiency and efficiency in handling the questions from members and non-members of the congregation, and also how she fulfills the various tasks at the info desk. I am learning a lot from her on how to communicate in Khmer to others. So when she asked me for advice in her personal life, and then spontaneously gave me a big hug after, I was grateful for the training l got from YOU all when I volunteered at Rexdale Alliance Church!
But just in case I had overstepped my boundary as a volunteer, I confessed to the ‘head’ of my ministry as well to a female pastor at the church what had unfolded with the other volunteer. The head leader is a younger Khmer brother and he was grateful that I had said something, for he was too shy to say anything to her, and my pastor here just cracked up laughing saying, "Oh Vidya, that is why you are the best one here!"
She said, "Do you remember what you said when we issued a sheet of paper with instructions on how to set up our phones in order to hear the translation from Khmer to English for the church services?"
I shook my head, and she said, "Vidya, you asked if the instructions on the sheet of paper came with a magnifying glass!"
I sheepishly admitted I remembered because the print was so small, and usually the lights would be turned down in the church services, so it was very difficult to read! But they did reissue the info with a larger font so that it was easier to read.
Yet God is so gracious with me that, in spite of myself, I got invited to go with the info desk crew plus other members from various ministries to go fishing! I was the only non-Khmer there amidst over 20 younger Khmer paid and volunteer staff from church. ‘Fishing’ was putting money together and cooking food on a floating raft, and we did put fishhooks into the water but there were only small fishes. The group brought their guitars, and we sang and talked and had a brief respite from the heat before returning on moto back home.
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| Fishing and cook-up on a riverboat with crew from church |
Praise God:
I have been reading the Bible in Khmer with my tutor. Usually we would take a portion of Scripture which would be in my daily English reading so l knew the context, and then read in Khmer. Then I would choose phrases or words which I would then practise for that day in my conversations with others.
Prayer:
Please pray that I would not be shy to incorporate words and phrases I am learning when I pray with others. I usually start praying in Khmer but then once I forget one word, I would go blank on the whole phrase. SO, please pray that I would get creative ways to remember and l would not be self conscious.
Praise:
One of my former students whose wedding l attended 2 years ago and with whom I am definitely like an ‘older sister’ to both him and his wife, wrote to ask for prayer and advice on a non-personal problem. I did not have the resources to help him except to go on my knees and pray. I will keep you all updated on the resolution of this particular difficulty in his life.
Prayer:
As I move forward, I ask for His wisdom, grace and patience in relationships and work.
As I write this, my house helper runs down to tell me that the washing machine is broken! No no! I went up to help fix it, praying that God would be gracious and allow it to work. And it works!
As I cleaned and prepped the new fridge, I thought of how God cleans our lives, giving us the courage to throw off things that hinder our walk and dance with Him. I thought of you back home who experienced loss of power with that wind storm, and I prayed for recovery of services and safety for you, especially those living in Etobicoke!
Praise:
I have joined Women Praying for Cambodia and Other Asian Countries that occurs twice monthly here. I thank God for opening up my heart to different kinds of praying styles and workshops.
Praise:
I am thankful for my small group of two sisters, former classmates who have become my prayer partners, accountablity partners and ‘liming/chilling’ sisters. You all have been praying for me to have this for the past 3 years and I am blessed to have them here in my life.
Please keep sending pics and prayer requests and stories! We are dancing together with our Lord on this journey here on earth.
Before I sign off, I just want to give a shout out to my sister Pat Parrington who has moved into a care facility. When I worked with the youth at the Drop-In Centre way back in the day and the Evergreens supported us with ‘loonies’ and snacks, Pat always had a good word and smile of support for us. She was always gracious even when we were loud and over-enthusiastic!
Pat, I know you have angels looking after you there, the nurses, Bernice and Marlene and innumerable friends! Love and appreciation to you my sister!
Love, His Warrior and Disciple,
Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia,
Your sister, Vidya
