#251 - Praise: Safely Home in Canada!

 Vol.# 251

Vol.# 251

Thank you for all of your prayers! 

I got my PCR negative test results exactly at 11 p.m. on the 22^nd, and I left Orlando early in the morning on the 23rd!

 
Praise: I got through the long lines at Orlando airport. We were all wearing masks but definitely no social distancing! I had no problems there with my paperwork. We were delayed by one hour but the flight was smooth into Toronto. I was praying I would not catch the cold from a guy who was sneezing and coughing in the seat directly behind me!

 
Praise: As I look at TV from my comfy chair at my parents’ place, I see the pictures of the long lines at the airport for Customs and then the mandatory COVID testing. I am in awe that on my arrival at Pearson, when I went up to Customs, they looked at my paperwork, asked where I was coming from (Orlando), asked if I was fully vaccinated (my answer, am I ever with 2 Sinovac and J and J!), we exchanged greetings and that was it! I kept thinking someone would ask me to step to the side to be tested, but no! All in all it took 10 minutes from my getting off the plane to picking up my luggage that was already unloaded! I am so humbled that God would give wisdom to get the PCR test within 24 hours (and not the 72 hours guideline), and give my big bro the wisdom also to book my flight on the 23rd to be home for Christmas! If I had left a day later, my flight would probably be cancelled, and the wait at the airport would have been within the 1-2 hours that others were experiencing as I looked at the chaotic scene on TV! 

Praise: I am humbled as I look back on how our Lord has paved a clear path to come home for Christmas. Thank you so much for lifting me up in prayer! 

 

I pray that all of you had an amazing Christmas even though it may not have been with family for many of you with COVID restrictions. I pray as you remembered the real reason we stop to celebrate Christmas, His birthday, and the decision by our Saviour to come to earth, that it gave pause to say ‘thank you’ and to be grateful for His sacrificial gift of His life and unconditional love for each of us!

 

Happy New Year as we look forward to see what God will be doing in 2022! 

Thank you for partnering with me in this amazing dance with Jesus in my heart country of Cambodia! 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya 

#250 - His Presence, the best Gift : A Blessed Christmas

 Vol.# 250

 

I wanted to bless all of you with a peace that passes all understanding for this Christmas season!

 

Amidst the anxieties of lockdowns, potential lockdowns, the weariness of soul from COVID-19 this past year, I pray that His words of promises that He has whispered to you in your quiet times with Him, will give you that holy peace!

 
Just before leaving Phnom Penh, I was asked to pray and say words over the church planting team, and I fasted and prayed over the names given before I met with each of the team members, asking God for His words over each person. Sometimes we may not have the resources to give financially or the time, but we can give words of affirmation and encouragement to someone. So may I encourage you to pray and ask God to whom you can give such words to during this time of unease? His gift of His Presence is the best present of all!

 
Prayer Request: Tomorrow morning I will go to get the PCR test. Pray for not only a negative response, but also that the results will be given timely in order to travel on Thursday morning.

Prayer Request: Pray that the info needed to input into the Arrive Can App will be done. Some people have been having trouble with this. Pray for His favor as I go though customs!

Praise: Grateful for my big brother here for helping me to bridge that gap of getting vaccinated and just loving me up! I am so blessed to have been able to see my cousins from Trinidad who are here visiting and ‘liming’ with them! What timing by God!

 
Thank you all, and again, Blessed Christmas!

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya 

#249 - Answered Prayers!

 Vol.# 249

DINNER WITH LOKRU SAMDY AND SISTER NAVY AT MY HOUSE

As I prayed with the senior pastor and his wife as they ate at my table just a few days ago, he said he sensed the word 'love' over me. That has been reflected through your response for my travel COVID-19 tests and journey from Phnom Penh to Orlando. Here is what ensued:

- I got negative results on the COVID-19 tests and got all of the paperwork needed in time for my flight out.

- Even though the plane was late by an hour in Phnom Penh, I was surprised by the warm words spoken over me by the head of the team I have been working with from New Life church. Lokru Pheaktra had made sure we celebrated Christmas early when he found out that I was leaving on the 2nd. So on the 1st, there we were, eating together and exchanging presents on the rooftop of a hotel!

CHRISTMAS PARTY WITH GROUP

BRO. PHEAKTRA, HEAD OF GROUP, SAYING BLESSING OVER ME

- I got a call from Oun Pov (formerly the head of the Skills Training Centre where I worked but now the principal of New Life Foundation school) and his wife who not only offered to take me to the airport, but also to have dinner together before I left. Since I was leaving on a Thursday night, everyone I knew had classes or an event that night so I was going to go by tuk tuk to the airport.

OUN POV AND WIFE SREYLEAK AT MY HOME TO TAKE ME TO AIRPORT

- I received an unexpected video call prayer of safety by Pastor Pisit and his wife.

 

- I received an unexpected video call by Oun Pheareak for travel and protection.

 

- I had a row to myself on two of the three flights so that I could sleep.

 

- I had a smooth transition into Atlanta. I did not get lost but had 'angels' showing me the way in the form of helpful airport personnel.

- After a combined 22 hours of flying and being in transit, I am thankful for His safety and protection.

- My big bro had made 2 different appointments to either getting J & J or Pfizer vaccine. We opted for J & J so that I can be home in Toronto for Christmas with my parents.

- I booked a ticket, so on the 23rd I fly to Toronto!

 

- At 5 on the evening when I was supposed to fly out, my landlady came up as I was paying the rent. She was so moved that I had had a Christmas cake delivered to her house. She was asking the tuk tuk driver's wife who was at my house, Sister Savy, how to say 'go in peace and with blessings' in the Christian way for me! (In Khmer of course!). I had sensed that God was telling me to have a cake delivered to her and to one other person before I left!

 

- Thank God for my sister Mel who offered to help for any thing that would be needed to be done while I was away. Just knowing that I have someone I can trust to do something in a timely and effective way if needed just relieves any anxiety!

Thank you all again for your prayers!

 Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya 

#248 - Prayer Requests!

 Vol.# 248

Prayer Needed!

 

As Daniel and his friends sought the counsel of the Lord and prayed for heavenly wisdom and guidance, I am humbly requesting prayer:

 

- for protection against COVID and the variants as I take the pre-COVID test (PCR) on Dec.1st for travel. Please pray that it will be negative. Just yesterday one of my co-workers tested positive!

 

- against a sinus cold which affects the ears as I travel. I do have a slight ear infection now.

 

- for His discernment as I have been asked to pray specifically over the church planting ministry group. I have been in prayer over each of the names given. I want to say only His words, not one word less or more! Thank you! 

 

- for protection over this place of refuge that God has given to me while I am away.

 

- for favor in the eyes of customs in Phnom Penh, in my transit stops at Seoul and especially when I get to Atlanta! It is my first time at this airport so I am not familiar on how to get around to go to the departure gate for Florida!

 

I was supposed to leave here on the 21st for Toronto, but the Canadian government had not yet approved of the Sinovac vaccine that I have and that would have meant a costly stay in quarantine OVER the Christmas holidays! So as I prayed, God chose for me to go and visit my big brother, niece and nephew FIRST, get the approved vaccines there, and then go to Toronto! My parents approved of this change in plans so the date was changed (thank you to I and R Loberg!). So I am departing here on December 2^nd. I am staying away from big crowds now, and staying with ‘my bubble!’ But I do have many things to do here before I depart, so I ask that I will remember them all before I leave! 

 

Thank you so much for partnering with me in prayer! 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya 

#247 - The Re-opening and a Dress with a Train!

 Vol.# 247

Good morning from sunny Phnom Penh! 

It is a holiday today celebrating Cambodia’s independence from France and it is lovely to be at home without rushing out to go to work! As I sit here and think over the past 3 weeks, the pace of life has definitely picked up with Cambodia officially being reopened with schools, churches and businesses back on track! Our leadership at New Life Foundation decided to do a ‘soft’ opening 2 weeks ago for all of our volunteers! So we set up the chairs with the required social distancing and had 3 services, each service time honouring different ministries within the church. It was beautiful to see all of the volunteers, being prayed over, and worshipping God so freely, happy to be back together, reconnecting with each other on site as opposed to social media and then at the end of each session, eating together! The theme of giving thanks and celebrating GOD’s hand over us, during the difficult time of the pandemic, acknowledging the new normal within COVID-19, praising God for His guidance over all and the land of Cambodia!

PREPARING THE CHURCH FOR REOPENING

NAME TAGS FOR VOLUNTEERS

CELEBRATING VOLUNTEERS

VOLUNTEERS EATING TOGETHER

EACH MINISTRY MEETING TO PRAY FOR EACH OTHER

Let us switch over to the celebration of the wedding of Oun Pheareak and Oun Mey! Oun Pheareak led the Life Guideline classes for the native and non-native speakers and he is one of the younger brothers God has put into my life as one of my mentees! We celebrated his wedding at a BBQ restaurant because the government had not yet said yes to churches being opened to a large number. At the restaurant, with the booth type seating, we were able to have a small worship ceremony (no singing, no dancing!) but a time of communion and blessing by the pastors over this couple! 

I was chuckling because there I was at the bank right after the reception with my long dress with the train saying sorry to everyone when it got in their way, or when someone stepped on it by accident! I was wondering if I should go home to change before going back out to do my errands, but then I decided against it to be practical since the bank and grocery were on my way home, and I would save on tuk tuk costs! So my tuk tuk driver was helping me to get out of the tuk tuk with the train and as I stood in the line at the bank, I got many stares but I also was pulled out of the line and got VIP service! Then I went to the grocery, where I had to hold the train with one hand and push the shopping cart with the other! It had been about 2 years since I got that new dress. Melodia had taken me to a discount  dress store in Willowdale and had picked out that dress with her keen eye and then insisted on buying it for me. I know that she would be chuckling now if she could see me finally wearing it all over the city in a tuk tuk!

WITH BRIDE AND GROOM AND OUN PISEY

DRESS WITH TRAIN

 
Project 5P’s: It began as an information gathering time for the booklet which introduced each of the ministries from New Life Foundation church to visitors, to one where I had to put my pen down and listen to the heart of each one sharing about their ministry with the highs and the lows. A supposedly 30-minute interview sometimes turned into a 2-hour heart sharing time. Oun Sreylin from HR is the one with whom I am editing and sharing information with. It is a joy to work with someone who not only loves her work but is also wise enough to wait on the leaders of each ministry to share their personal vision without writing something that is not from their hearts. It would be easier to just write down anything, especially as we have a time limit to get this booklet out, but we wanted to be true to each of the ministries’ leaders. The booklet will be in English and Khmer and hopefully I will be able to get one to show to all of you in person!

 
Opening of the church: Our day began at 7 in the morning, which meant that I had to leave my house by 6:40 to get to the church on time. When I got there exactly at 7, there were already many other people setting up their ministries. I quickly went to the back where I was helping with the preparation for communion, where we cut up the bread and put into small plastic bags, poured the grape juice into little containers with covers, a total of 500 for the first 2 services, then had to do an extra 150 for the evening service! I was able to join the first service at 8 then switched to the information desk at 10:30 for the second service, greeting many and making sure the non-native speakers had translation service set up on their phones! I left there around 6:30 in evening as the last service was going on, glad to be with the teams until the ‘end’ of the day. 

I did contemplate going home after the second service but after finding out that help was needed for the last service, I decided to stay and was in tears to hear one of the maintenance workers, the main cleaner at the church, say to Oun Aly who I was assisting that ‘Bong Srey Vidya’ has been your helper all day, she knows how to help even if she is a foreigner! I felt even more thankful when this same Khmer sister was able to correct the way I was doing something to be more efficient! This to me meant that I was accepted as ‘family’ since usually they would not say anything but keep quiet if a non-native was not doing something in the correct way and they would then do it again when the person went away! I was glad that the leadership learnt from the last time and kept the services to 2 in the morning and one in the evening as opposed to 3 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon to accommodate the numbers allowed by the government in the previous season! This meant we were able to rest for a longer time (we put the chairs together and slept in the a/c sanctuary!) and were refreshed for the third service!

PREPARING COMMUNION WITH OUN ALY

 

Thank you all for your prayers, continued financial support for His work here. Many blessings.

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya 

#246 - New roles and SAFE!

Vol.# 246 

Safe! 

That is the one-word message that was being transmitted between all of us from the different ministries at New Life Church Foundation! Three of the staff who worked in one area in the office had tested positive for COVID-19. They all lived at the Girls’ Dorm (comprised of 99 percent of ex-students from Rescue Orphanage). 10 out of the 15 girls had contracted the Delta Variant and were transferred to the care facility especially for the COVID-19 cases in order to stop the transmission going any further. The city officials had already cordoned off their house with the yellow and black ‘do not cross’ tape. I had gone in to do the rapid COVID test along with others. The leadership here have bought the tests so we can go in to be tested. So I was ‘safe’ meaning I tested negative! I would have to do it again 12 days later! 

 

COVID19 TEST: SAFE!

As I write this, all of the girls are still at the care centre and the remaining 5 are in quarantine. They have to wait until the government officials go in and do the tests again. I just got a message that it is 21 days for the Delta variant here so one more week for the girls! Now it is the Phchum Bunh (Buddhist holiday for making offerings to the monks for the ancestors).

Prayer Request: 

Please pray against discouragement for these girls. I praise God that they were all vaccinated so the symptoms are mild to moderate. No one has had problems with breathing, only a high fever and tiredness for all! There are a couple who are HIV positive and have not been vaccinated, so I ask for prayer especially for them. Their immune systems are already compromised but they have been doing well on their HIV medicine from an early age at Rescue.

 
SO, I am in a new season here at New Life Fellowship. I have switched from the Skills Training Centre since they are online for 3 classes, and now I am part of what is called the 5P’s. This is made up of the soul care/prayer team, the worship team, the youth team, the School of Ministry team (teaching the Bible), and the Life Guideline (youth are being trained on evangelism and becoming disciples of God). Sounds like a mouthful, eh? 

My role: I have begun meeting one on two (as opposed to one on one) with the Worship team, one meaning myself, and two meaning with the Worship Leader and one other person. This came at their request. I meet to listen and then to pray, asking each about their personal vision statement and just waiting on the Lord as I pray with each one. Then the head of the 5P’s, who is Lokru Pheaktra, asked me if I could meet with the heads of the above ministries to get a summary of what they do so we can then put it in a booklet form. So after the holidays here (I am still doing some work at home), I will meet with Oun Sreylin from the HR department to work with her on a format. She will be doing the Khmer translation and I will work on the English translation.

 
Prayer Request: 

Wednesdays are the days when I meet to hear the heart and often when I get home I am very tired. I do pray a cleansing prayer but it is usually a long day since I am up by 5:15am and at work by 7:45am. I leave around 3:30pm, so I am home by 4:00pm! I will be meeting with more people now on a Wednesday and a Tuesday since I am onsite at the office, so pray for discernment and wisdom as I first listen to His heart and then to those I am meeting. One of my spiritual mentors sent me a message he had been listening to and the words comfort and refuge resonated with me, as those were the words God gave to me for those I meet! We are in a building up phase so I pray for His creativity as I approach each individual!

 
I also have the privilege to continue to do a Bible study with Oun Muylen. We just finished the book of Esther online together and I asked her what was her big ‘takeaway’ from our study together. I thought it would be how we saw the concept of beauty being changed from the outward appearance of Esther in chapter 2 (her beauty, her treatments, the best clothes being given to her) to the inner beauty of the process of her finding the courage to be brave and to advocate for her people in the later chapters! However, Oun Muylen said the main lesson for her was HOW Esther solved problems and how she became independent through the prayer and fasting and then waiting on God’s timing to solve the problems! In Khmer culture it is truly a man’s world in leadership. Therefore, to see how Esther wisely chose a banquet and the request for help to pray for the words and timing of her requests to those in authority over her were most helpful to Oun Muylen here and now! I love how God truly showed Himself to her as the I AM in this cultural context of her Cambodian experience! She had excitedly asked for us to still meet and I suggested the book of Ruth and she started to laugh! She said, “Bong Srey (older sister), I was just about to ask you if we can study Ruth’s life!” Don’t you just love how God fuses the same idea together in our minds? Truly I am excited to dive into the book of Esther with her on a Friday morning!

 
One of the things I am specifically doing with the Soul Care Team is to translate the testimonial story of individuals they reach out to. As I listened to the halting Khmer/English words of one of its leaders trying to communicate the story of one person receiving a blessing package, I was a bit frustrated because I was not capturing the essence of the story. So, sensing this, the leader said, “Bong Srey, I will show you a picture!” This picture is what I now show to you! It is one of a woman who has two kids, who worked cleaning and preparing the rooms for the KTV (Karaoke Television business). However, with COVID, the government has closed down all of the entertainment industry. The foreigners have ceased coming in with the travel restrictions, so there are no jobs. The plight of this woman was told to a cell group leader from the church who went to visit to give the package of food supplies, and was able to share a bit of Jesus’s heart with her and others living at the garbage dump! I just looked at the picture and was able to write out this story! 

PICTURES SAY A THOUSAND WORDS: TRANSLATING THE STORY OF A WOMAN LIVING IN A GARBAGE DUMP.

Prayer Request: 

Please pray that I would be able to communicate each person’s story authentically, and not dramatically modified, so that those who are listening will be able to invest not only financially but spiritually and emotionally for these individuals!

 
As I continue to peel off the layers from the mission/vision statements of these teams, I will be able to write and let you know about each of the specific ministries at New Life Foundation Church!  I am excited about this new project, so I ask for prayer as I collaborate with Oun Sreylin and those that I meet. I pray that they get reenergized when they go back to the reason they joined each of these ministries, and that His fresh breath will be upon not only them but also myself! 

ONLINE SUNDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY WITH THE INFORMATION MINISTRY

Praise: 

I got the opportunity to go to pray over and with Oun Pov who used to be the director of the Skills Training Center where I was teaching. It was free and a supplementary form of education for those Grade 8 and up. Now he is the Principal of New Life School that is under the auspices of New Life Foundation. This school is for all ages from JK to Grade 12. It is a ‘paying’ school founded on Christian principles. All staff members are Christians here but the students come from various backgrounds. They just moved into a new building that was donated to them and just this past 2 weeks, it was one of only 13 private schools that was allowed to be opened by the government! The government officials went in to check for COVID-19 precautions and were pleased by all the safety protocol that had been established by the school. All the teachers were tested at a government facility (not the at-home rapid COVID testing kits), and the students themselves have been vaccinated, down to the youngest one! So there I was on the rooftop of the school praying with Oun Pov. Later on I was able to invite both him and his wife to dinner to celebrate the news of her pregnancy! We had not met for one year since COVID but had remained in contact through social media! What a blessed couple and I am honoured to be part of their prayer/mentoring team from the time I had started to teach at Skills Training Center over 2 years ago!

PRAYING ON SCHOOL ROOFTOP WITH OUN POV

DINNER WITH OUN POV AND HIS WIFE, OUN SREYLEAK

 

Thank you for your continued sacrifice of finances and prayer encouragement for His purpose here in my heart country of Cambodia!  Please continue to share your life journey with me so I can have the awesome honor of going to my Father on my knees for you and also to dance with you as well! 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya 

#245 - NEW ROLES: PRAYER AND PRESENCE

 Vol.# 245

The rains fell heavily yesterday, and as I sat in the tuk tuk on the way home, I was amazed that God in His mercy had allowed us to NOT have a traffic jam! Usually when it rains like that, the traffic is horrendous, but then I smiled as the tuk tuk that I was in went in and out of back streets as the Main Street was like a river. Then we hit a side street that was so flooded that I thought being in a canoe or a small boat would be better to travel in! I was praying the motor on the tuk tuk would not stall since that would mean getting out in thigh high murky waters with my IPad in my back pack! But again God in His mercies allowed us to get through to my street that had no flooding! 

 

I had just returned from an amazing day after being present for the taping of the church service. We had a full band, and a female worship leader who had not sung for nearly 2 years was leading the worship! Before COVID, anytime she would lead was a physical battle, because when she sang she brought you into His Presence so intimately that tears would fall from my face as she would sing from His heart through her heart and voice! So as we all had an early breakfast together and then went into rehearsals before the taping, I had the privilege of praying with her and hearing her say, “I know you have been praying for me, Bong, you are showing me the importance of serving God no matter the capacity, for when we serve our relationship with Him becomes so much closer because we HAVE to depend on Him.” 

BREAKFAST WITH WORSHIP TEAM

PREPARING FOR WORSHIP WITH SISTER LEADING AFTER 2-YEAR ABSENCE!

This conversation highlighted the transition from the Foundation ministry team of which I was a part because I was teaching at the Skills Teaching Centre (one of the branches of the Foundation Ministry) that for obvious reasons due to COVID-19 had to be closed down. I am now switched to Dynamic Worship Service where I help with the set-up for the services, prepare with the Information Desk Team for the welcoming of the congregants and the Worship Team Ministry itself. I will be meeting with the Worship pastor and his team leaders every Wednesday afternoon for a time of prayer and listening to the Lord; a time of listening to those on the band, the camera crew and the IT crew, to their concerns and to pray with them! We are also trying to designate a day and time for me to be in the office to edit English business outgoing mail and to help translate incoming correspondence as well. I said trying because here you have to be flexible. You may get a request to help edit at 8 at night or at other times! I am still part of the school program in the sense of praying for the Khmer teachers and helping with English content, BUT not teaching online! I would be a disaster online trying to figure out logistics of how to do it. (And yes, we have tried!) 

I have been thinking of the word presence and its impact on us here in everyday life by the very fact that we cannot be present at church or at school or in groups bigger than 15 people. I was thinking of this as I sat at a cafe with all of the COVID-19 precautions in place and looked on in amusement at a ‘social influencer’. She came in all dressed in the necessary brand clothing, with the latest IPhone detailing her time there at the coffee shop; making sure her make up was on properly and that her presence on camera was ‘perfect’! She drove a Mercedes Benz and seemingly had it all! But as I looked at her, she was there alone. No one was physically present with her, just her followers on social media, and I thought how exhausting it must be to be ‘on’ all the time, showcasing your presence by physical appearance and material possessions to make sure you maintain and increase your followers on social media! Then, wham! The next day at the staff meeting online, we were shown how our youth were on social media talking about the Bible challenge of reading 1 and 2 Timothy and interpreting what they read into real life, showcasing their life as Christians and challenging others to read and get involved in helping out their communities! I was seriously in tears as I watched the creativity of the youth led by Oun Pisey who I will introduce in my next update to you, a young Khmer woman who has a passion for the youth who unashamedly tell about their walk with Jesus Christ in the midst of COVID! Some of these youth are also part of the worship team here so I get a chance to interact with them as well!

THIS PHOTO OF A YOUNG MAN PREPARING DAILY FOOD OFFERING FOR STALLS AT MALL MADE ME THINK OF MY PREPARATION FOR JESUS; READYING MY HEART TO LISTEN AND LEARN AND LEARN FROM HS WORD

Praise: We finished up our study of James and I listened again as each person shared on the impact of what we learnt and how to apply it to our lives. This has been one of the gems coming out of COVID, the intimate study of the Bible in our small group and the heart stories and prayer time together.

Prayer: We will begin Hebrews this Sunday. Please pray for clear internet/Wi-Fi since 3 in our group are connecting from outside of the city back in their hometowns.

 
Praise: Bible study time with Oun Muylen on book of Esther is always exciting for me as I learn new themes through her eyes!

Prayer: Oun Muylen just received the booster shot and has been quite sick. Pray for her recovery as her body reacts to Johnson and Johnson booster vaccine.

Prayer: As I try to get the booster vaccine, Canada still does not recognize the Sinovac vaccine. So I am thinking if I can get the Johnson and Johnson as a booster vaccine, then it is acceptable, since you need only one shot of that vaccine as opposed to 2 shots of the Astra Zeneca. You need to be fully vaccinated to travel. Please pray for wisdom and favour. The Johnson and Johnson is the more difficult one to receive (you have to ‘know’ people!!). We know the Connector, Jesus the Christ! 

 

Before I end this, I would like to express my heart felt condolences to Ruby I. on the passing of her father into the arms of Jesus. He was a man of few words but always welcoming and kind to me. Prayers are with you, Ruby and your mom and your brother and sister-in-law.

 
Chand Persaud: Chand would pick up Sister Dipali and myself to go in and sous chef for Neighbourhood Connection, for Jerry and Maggie’s team, and so many more events. His jokes, his tasty recipes, his kindness to me and being part of his cooking team with others are so memorable. My love goes out to Marty and the family. Chand is now with Abba Father. That is our gift, knowing that both Ruby’s dad and Chand are in heaven now.

Prayer: As I help others here, pray for our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan, and to know how to share their plight to those here who are trying to survive amidst the COVID epidemic. Sometimes when we are in our own bubble of crises, it is difficult to come out of it to pray for others! I have been using Esther, chapter 9 as a reversal of circumstances where the Jews were saved from annihilation from Haman, but also using Acts chapter 7; 54-56 where Stephen in the midst of the stoning saw Jesus, and in his face his killers saw that peace and the glory of God and were convicted!

 
Please continue to send in your requests.

Thank you all for your continued dance with me here in my heart country of Cambodia. Thank you for your continued sacrifice of finances, and taking time to write and pray for me! 

Much love! 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya 

#244 - SLICE OF LIFE: Death, Engagement, Song Writing, Bible-Study, Food Cart and Sunset!

 Vol.# 244

The sounds of the hustle and bustle have begun here. Even on a Sunday there is no break from the sounds of construction and the tooting of horns as sellers go by on the street! We are in the midst of the rainy season when the rain does not come gently but as mini-storms where the gusts of winds sends everything flying if it is not nailed down! It is refreshing however! 

As a church we have been reeling from 3 deaths that have occurred in the space of 3 days. The first deaths were of a mother and daughter. The husband is a leader of one of the satellite churches not far from the main campus church. The mother and eldest daughter were on their way to the market to sell their produce and got into a traffic accident. Both died on the scene. The father is left with 5 children. 
Prayer: Please pray for Lokru Somien as he is now a single parent with one income coming in. Pray that as he moves through this grief journey that he knows the true comfort of Our Lord Jesus Christ as Job got to know the deep intimacy of our God. Pray that those around him will walk alongside the family as they all process this sudden death.

 
Sister Sreymom: I first came to know of her when there was an urgent call at the beginning of last year for blood donations for her. She had just given birth and they could not stop the bleeding. The second time I heard of her was when she and her husband were on stage at church giving thanks and sharing their testimony of God’s healing through the prayers and practical giving of blood at the crucial time. The other times I encountered her was to pray alongside her after church for others. She was always smiling and ready to pray for others! 

Sister Sreymom first began to have symptoms of COVID that started off mildly, but within 4 days she had succumbed to this virus. I found out later that she was the Co-director of Transform Cambodia, a NGO school here, and right up to before she was hospitalized, she was doing her volunteer teaching of Life Guidelines to the next generation! Sister Navy (wife to senior pastor Lokru Samdy) told me, “we thought we would grow old together with our families since we have known each other since childhood!” We had an online funeral service for her. Over 200 ‘attended’. My tuk tuk driver and his wife, who was a maintenance worker at Transform Cambodia, also attended the funeral, and were impacted by this sister. In tribute to her, she said that ‘Mom was best friends with Jesus and she had a praying heart for her people!’ 

SISTER SREYMOM'S HOME GOING TO JESUS: HER HUSBAND SPEAKING TO US

Prayer: Pray for those asking the question as to why God would save her from one near death experience to have her go home to Him now. Pray that they would treasure each moment that God has given to us, to live for Him and to share about His love for Him. These are the thoughts of her husband who spoke of her life and her strong faith in God!

 
Update: In my last update I introduced you to Oun Pheareak. Since then he has gotten engaged! Yay! I was invited but could not go since it out of the city and attendance is also limited. He had worked closely with Sister Sreymom, and I was moved by his comment to me that ‘the footprint that she left was one of faith and a true knowledge that God is real because she prayed all the time and spoke of His Word as HIS WORD to us!’ I loved that! His fiancée is Hoy Seakmey and a true purpose partner in the Lord! Oun Pheareak is in his second year of his Masters in Business Administration.

OUN PHEAREAK AND FIANCEE HOY SEAKMEY'S ENGAGEMENT

 
Oun Veasna: He had co-written a song called Child of God. Here is the link with English subtitles. This song has now been heard all over Cambodia and beyond! His team just finished S.W.O.T. Analysis to be better prepared for the upcoming years.  At first he was nervous, but now, after realizing the importance of order and organization within his team, matching the skills and abilities with each member, he has found it freeing!

 

Prayer: I am involved on Mondays with an online Bible study on Acts with Foundation group from 8-11. We have a devotion/worship time. Pray for a fresh anointing as I study and then listen as others share. As it is all in Khmer and a bit of English, it is sometimes very difficult to understand all that is being discussed as Wi-Fi/internet is not strong for others and therefore the reception is not clear.

MY INFO DESK GROUP STUDYING JAMES

On Tuesdays we have staff meetings also from 8-11. Pray for His discernment as I listen and watch faces to know how to pray and care for those He has given to me. This is when I get a sense of who needs a private message from me, either a verse or word from God, or just a simple ‘how are you’, so that that person knows he/she is being seen and thought of, or maybe financial aid may be needed, so if I am able to offer that I will pray and then give!

 
On Friday, I started a Bible study with Oun Muylen who previously was the Executive Director of Prison Fellowship but now is working with BRAVE. She said to me, “Bong Srey (older sister), can we do a study on a book instead of random verses from the Bible?” I actually was being led to ask her to do a study as well, so immediately I said, ‘let us do the book of Esther’! Well, the first chapter of Esther is a bit difficult with the names and the history, and Esther herself is not even introduced, but it gives a background to the evolving story to follow. I knew that but Oun Muylen did not know anything about Esther, so when we got together online, I said, ‘you are probably wondering why did I chose Esther, right’? And she said, ‘yes, it was so difficult and not as easy as Psalms or Proverbs’! And this was the Old Testament! Most of the time it is the New Testament that people study there! Then she thought, ‘okay, Bong Srey must have a reason so she re-read it and said, ‘nationalism’! I was taken aback by her one word summary because it is about nationalism, the existence of the Jews /culture. Then we discussed the Khmer similarities to the culture in Esther’s time, the paternalistic culture and emotions and feelings of Queen Vashti and King Xerxes, and consequences of acting impulsively and not waiting and seeking God’s guidance! I cannot wait to see what I will learn anew from Esther through the eyes of Oun Muylen! 

One of my ‘boys’, (ex -students from Rescue), started a new business: food cart. I was going to go on site to support him but could not, so I was able to send money to his account and buy dinner for about 10 of ‘my guys’, also former students from Rescue! A win-win!

FORMER RESCUE STUDENT'S FOOD CART

Finally, I started this talking about the rainy weather, but with that comes some spectacular sunsets! I took photos of three different views of the sky from my one standing position on my rooftop! I was astounded! To my right was this peaceful blue sky, to the back of me was the beginning of the sunset, and mercy, to my left was this amazing fire in the sky! As I looked I can hear Jesus saying to me, Vidya, are you going to be my servant who is neutral, lukewarm or on fire for ME? I just stood there in tears, as I had never seen these 3 views at the same time, just at different angles from my one standing position! Oh! My answer? ON FIRE! What is your answer to Jesus?

3 ROOFTOP VIEWS OF SUNSET

 
Thank you for your continued dance with me through your prayers and financial support! Oh yes, I GOT MY OWN POSTAL BOX and new address! Yay!

 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya