#183 - A Happy Reunion and a Butterfly!

Vol.# 183

After travelling over one thousand miles by car so far, I have been so blessed to be able to reunite and reconnect with my childhood friends from my birth/home country of Trinidad and Tobago! What an amazing time to sit and listen, to recount our memories together over delicious food and music! Yes, I had to listen and dance to my Trini music!

I was humbled by the fact that even though my childhood friends did not completely know about His mission for me in Cambodia, they were already sacrificing finances and time to pray for me! 

I was able to share how I became involved with the country of Cambodia through Lisa Cheong and Ratanak International. From that point I went on my first mission trip in 2009 which cemented His plan for me to return and work at the orphanage, Place of Rescue, teaching English and work skills to the kids there for 2 years. Then I returned over two years ago to learn the Khmer language so that I can not only share His heart, but also be able to teach English more effectively to my Khmer students. 

I showed them pictures of the students I had from the orphanage who were my translators then; and now as they live in the city, are part of my discipling group that He has given to me here, along with their wives and girlfriends. God allowed our relationships from back then to grow deeper. I showed them present day photos of my students who come from very poor backgrounds to live in the church dorms and attend free English classes at the church. Education is seen as one of the main ways to get out of poverty. Learning English leads to better jobs here in Phnom Penh. Teaching English is one of the skills being taught as well as life skills and leadership skills at the free classes at New Life church. The students always ask me, “Bong Srey (older sister), why would you come all the way here to help us?” Then I get a chance to share how our God came all the way down to earth to help me! Very cool!

At the church service I attended, the visiting pastor spoke from Habakkuk 3:17-19. The theme was similar to what Pastor Sunder preached about weeks ago, “But if not I will praise God" from Daniel. The preacher’s theme was ‘the place of YET or EVEN THOUGH': 'yet' being a place not of denial of reality, but of decision and resting in His divine sovereignty. Sometimes we can get paralyzed by our circumstances yet we can make the decision to give it over to God and to praise Him in spite of visible reality! I was pumped because Habakkuk 3:19 was one of the first life verses given to me back in 2009: ‘The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights’. When I was overwhelmed by the heat, and cultural differences and language barrier, this verse was one of my lifelines to my faith in Jesus!


Then one morning I woke up early at one of my friend’s home in Georgia, and as I watched the mist lift, I saw the pond and the greenery before me, and Psalm 23 came to mind. 

I went to my Khmer Bible and began to read and learn it in Khmer. I love how God was combining my love for His Word with Khmer! I was able to spend at least one hour on this before the rest of the household woke up. Every morning I try to read a couple of verses in Khmer and to learn a couple of new phrases which I can then use in my prayer time. However, without my tutor here to listen to my pronunciation, I may be pronouncing it incorrectly! 

Praise: 

As I spoke of what He is doing in Cambodia and His plan for me for such a time as this, I am still excited about teaching English, being a mentor to a small group, but most of all humbled that HE can use me in spite of my weaknesses!

Just a note: The butterfly motif was given to me years ago and it first reflected the metamorphosis of what the survivor of human trafficking went through, from victim to being alive in Christ, a champion, strong in spirit. Now the butterfly shows the significance that education has on giving the poor a chance to go from struggling to making a living; from being ‘at risk’ to now becoming one that can fly in Him; to have a chance of a better life not only for themselves but for their families! 

But the butterfly symbol was also for me, my transformation in my relationship with Christ, my faith being resurrected and changed to becoming freer and yet deeper and stronger. When my eldest brother took me to the beach a couple of days ago (I did not go in the water because it was too cold!), guess what we saw? A BUTTERFLY! My bro commented that he has never seen a butterfly at the beach, but I felt it was God reminding me of the many blessings He has given to me, and cementing my purpose in life!

I cannot wait when to hear your stories and how I can pray with you, laugh and listen with you! 
 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya