#194 - Rainy Season Giggles, Teaching Time, And Thank You to Annette!

Vol.# 194

The rainy season has begun and the power has been on now all day, everyday, for the past week and a half. New challenges and giggles have come with the rainy season! 

So there I was wearing my raincoat in the tuk tuk because the rain was still coming in from the driver’s side. In addition, the seat was wet before the driver put down the side panels/curtains. Then, whoosh! A big truck passed by and it was like a wave of water flying by us! 

(Photo Credit: Sotha Tourism Cambodia)

There is no scheduled time when it rains, so you have to be ready at all times, which means your clothes may never be dried if you have to hang them out on the rooftop. My housemate came up with a solution and put the clothes line in the room and hung all the clothes there. If I did that, I would probably forget it was there and get up in the middle of the night and walk right into it with a boomerang effect of me flying backwards! I am grateful however for the rain and the water refilling the ponds and reservoirs around Cambodia.

It has been a combination of hectic and restful times. Semester 2 has begun. I had tried to reason with Jesus and told Him that since I have to be up early to go in to teach, then ‘our times’ together would have to change so I could accommodate all the things I needed to do. 

Yeah, that did not work! 

I have learnt that I cannot do without my Bible time and prayer time BEFORE my day begins. So my day begins at 5:30 in the morning. I sit and we read His Word together, then it is prayer time! I have found that Jesus releases time when I have spent time with HIM. 

The time that I thought would be spent in traffic is lessened, and I have been getting to my work by 7:15. I have time to arrange the desks in the classroom, get my attendance sheets and pray over the students and the room before class begins at 8.  I have time to even change my lesson/prep before class begins. I usually have 30 minutes between classes that decreases to about 20 minutes after meeting with students after class before dashing up to the office area to say hello to fellow teachers and staff at New Life Skills Training Centre. 

 

Coffee Time With Fellow Teachers

A couple of days ago I was stopped by one of the interns who said slowly in English and then rapidly in Khmer that he was asking around the office for people who would want to pray at lunchtime for the Centre and the church and that he was told go to Bong Srey (Older Sister),Vidya. She loves to pray! Seriously, I thought he was going to say I was the most animated one in the office area (translation: the loudest!), or the one with the original ideas for classes (translation: the craziest!), so I was taken aback! Then one day later I was asked if I would lead the teachers’ group on the topic of Discipleship: Relationship Building with Students in the June staff meeting.

This past week we have had 3-day holidays and next week we will have Monday and Wednesday off.  It is a bit frustrating as we just began our new term so, these ‘little’ breaks make planning and then implementing the curriculum that needs to be taught to a certain level by the end of the semester a bit difficult. So may I please ask for your prayers?

Prayer Request: 

Please pray for wisdom and discernment as I choose which parts of the lessons are practical and crucial to their learning. My two classes are Conversational English and Office Skills. The first class has 15-18 students at 8 in the morning, whilst at 9:30 we have just 5 for now. The level of English required for the second class is higher and the textbook that is being used has an Intermediate Level of English. The students I have are at a Low Intermediate Level, so I have to plan my lessons in Khmer and English and have to be creative in writing our role plays for this class in Khmer. This class is challenging as it is has become the more rewarding when I hear of the students’ dreams of learning how to be professional in the business world and what they want to accomplish in this field. Their presence makes me ‘up my game’ and I have to do my homework! My laptop, IPad and phone become necessary tools to accomplish this. One has the curriculum on it, the other has the Khmer keyboard, so I write my lessons on it and the other device I use as my translating dictionary. When I return to Toronto I have to make sure I get them all ‘cleaned’ up and fixed and ready for my next semester of work.

Praise: 

I had asked for prayer during a difficult transition time here at my church. An answer has been the call to prayer at lunch time by the staff that I previously mentioned. I have seen certain individuals step up to take part in leadership roles and a bonding between others. Thank you for your prayers!

Prayer Request:

“Everyone wants to be an influencer, but are they making an impact, a positive impact on others?” I heard this in a talk show and it struck a chord within me. I want to not only BE an influence but also HAVE an impact on my heart country, on my Khmer brothers and sisters. I ask for your prayers for wisdom as I intentionally seek to do this for His kingdom.

On a personal note, I want to say thank you to a friend, a former teacher and fellow Canadian whom I met while working at Place of Rescue. Annette has served God faithfully teaching at other organizations and is a true connector of hearts. She has been serving here for the past 5 years and God is leading her back to Vancouver where He has new plans for her. We had an opportunity to spend time together this past week with Channak, the ‘three Musketeers’, reminiscing of our times at Rescue and life here in Cambodia.

Annette and Channak

Annette and Vedya

Well done, Annette! You have been a faithful servant here and I know your family is looking forward to having you back there full-time! Thank you for your care, laughter and friendship where we can be ‘real’ with each other!

See you all in August when I come for my nephew Nathan’s wedding to Sarah! The countdown is ON...! 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya