#207 - The Angel List You 'Pray-sed' For!

Vol.# 207

Angel #1 was my sister picking me up and suggesting that I keep my light coat on for Tokyo trip. I was so glad because it was cold on the 17-hour layover at the airport.

Angel #2 was the lady at the airport who greeted us as we came out of the elevator and immediately directed us to where we should be going to check in. 

Angel #3 was the Air Canada counter check-in representative who changed my seat so that I can have a free row to sleep for the long journey ahead. It turned out that she gave me the aisle in the middle section, and the two seats in between were empty and my seat mate on the 4th was a quiet person who laughed when I said people were praying for good seats! 

Angel #4 was the customer rep in the first Tokyo layover who saw my facial expression after she was explaining about buying the ticket for the bus to the other airport rather than going by train. She came out from behind the kiosk, which had a long line of customers, to walk to the ticket machine to buy the ticket and did all the necessary things on the machine, because I had 10 minutes before catching the bus!

Angel #5 was the guy who helped me at the bus by putting my luggage in, getting the right bus with the correct ticket, telling me exactly which location to get off the bus (north-west end of the airport not south-west end!).

And the list goes on! 

Many people in my life usually say ‘it takes a village to help a Vidya’.Well, God sent many angels along the way to help me on my journey, and it is because YOU all prayed for me and praised God on my behalf for His going before me! 

Oh, I must mention the guy at the phone kiosk here in Phnom Penh who was able to put in the new SIM card with my old phone number! Apparently he was supposed to have left 5 minutes before I got to the kiosk and was gracious in helping me out! And yes, I told him he was an angel (tehwodain Khmer!). He smiled and said thank you.

SO, I did not sleep much on the first leg of the flight, and on the 17-hour layover I did not sleep much in the airport, but on the flight on Nippong airways to Phnom Penh, I slept for 2 hours. I experienced one of the best service I have ever received on an airline! The flight attendants, the food and the graciousness of the people were astounding! I sat next to a mom with an 8-month old baby and the baby was so cute and slept most of the way. I thought, why don’t I be an ‘angel’ for the mom and help her out?  I was being surrounded by so many angels helping me out that I needed now to return the favour. In addition, my driver who has known me since the days of Rescue was there to pick me up and help me carry the luggage up the 30 steps! Poor thing was panting afterwards but was happy with his pay!

So thank you! 

I left Toronto on a Wednesday, January 15th, and got here to Phnom Penh on Friday the 17th. Today is Saturday and I was invited by Annette (former teacher from Rescue and Canadian) who is visiting here for a couple of weeks to join her to meet up with one of our former students from Rescue with his wife and new baby! I jumped at the chance even though I knew that my jet lag might not make me the best conversationalist (Yes, I am blaming the jet lag!).  

I was up at 2:30 to clean the kitchen and unpacked 3/4 of suitcases before falling asleep for a couple of hours!

As always I look forward to hearing what God will say to me in my first service back at my home church here! 

I sign off with a grateful heart to all of you who are ‘dancing’ along with me in His journey.

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya 

#206 - Praise: I Am Always With You

Vol.# 206

As I sit here, I was about to write an SOS email asking for prayer for my journey back to my heart country. With airline ticket changes, I discovered that my second leg of the flight was NOT going to be from the same airport that I land in when I leave Toronto. In fact, the airport from which I would depart to go to Phnom Penh is about one hour and half away from the first airport, and I would have to check out luggage from the first airport, go on a train, and check into another airport with luggage intact! For most of you who know me, you know my sense of direction is not good (let’s face it, I can get lost in a mall!), so to have to travel this route was making me a bit anxious! Then Jesus reminded me that I had not met with Him, so l delayed sending this out. In my reading from Genesis 28:15...”Behold I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you...” 

Yes, this is the GOD I serve, the ONE who knows me and cares for all the details in my life! 

SO this update is not a prayer request but rather a praise update! So, will you praise Him with me?

- Praise: that Ramona L read the ticket which I had bought and noticed the discrepancy in the name and location of the airports!  God gave her ‘eyes to see’!

- Praise: that Ian L was able to take me to the airport to talk to the representative from Air Canada, and we met a rep who had been to both airports who was able to reassure me of what I needed to do, and also let me know the details of the trip there after I land!

- Praise: that earlier in the week when Jose and Lisa took me on a snowy hike near their place, that God would show me as I stepped into Lisa’s footprints, since she was leading the way, that He would always go before me; and Jose, who was bringing up the rear, that HE was also behind covering me! God had also reminded me of this when I was leaving in 2011. Charlene P. had organized a silent retreat in Muskoka, and we had gone hiking. I was not as fast climbing over the rocks as the others, so the person in front of me reached down to pull me up and one of the other girls was pushing me up from behind! God told me then that HE would always go before me and would always be behind me as I follow in His steps! HE has remained faithful in that promise to me! 

-Praise: for email sent from Maurita H. reminding me that God would take care of me as I return!

As my layover is about 17 hours, I cannot wait to see what God is going to do! The adventure continues...I will keep you apprised of my adventures! 

Thank you again for all of your gifts: financial, time, words of encouragement, prayer, and practical gifts (especially my ‘Stines’ which I am wearing now and I am inside the apartment!). 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya 

#205 - Final week in TO!

Vol.# 205

Blessed New Year to all from the cold shores of Georgian Bay!

A wintry walk on the shores of Georgian Bay

I wish to thank everyone for their words of encouragement and love showed to me in so many ways while home. It is with an expectant heart that I return to Cambodia to continue His work! I hope I get to see many of you this Sunday, my last Sunday here as I leave on the 15^{th of}January. 

My heart is overflowing with joy and tears as I leave. Through you I have learnt many things, not only from the Deeper Life Seminar (thank you, Pastor Cheryl for giving me the opportunity to attend, and also Pastor Kathy Klassen for your leadership in setting us free from strongholds so that we can live a life free in Christ!), but also through our talks and prayer time together! 

Thank you for your continued financial and prayer support which enables me to do His work in my heart country of Cambodia!

Praise: FOR ALL OF YOU.

Prayer: Please pray that my journey back would be one free and clear of all hassles, from my departure here, to my long layover and then back into Cambodia! I am already assigned to the info desk 2 days after getting in, and teaching 3 days after getting in!

Prayer: Please pray for a new helper at my house. The former one finished on Dec. 31^st.

Please send me your requests. Sorry if I missed connecting with some of you, but we can still connect via FaceTime, email, phone calls and letters! 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya