#238 - Melodia

Vol.# 238

I had exactly 5 minutes to get ready to go for an appointment. I just received the call to go in, so I had called my usual tuk tuk driver who was free, and I ran downstairs making sure I had all the appropriate documents needed for the appointment! Three minutes into the ride, I felt something was ‘off’, and then realized I had put on my dress back to front! I started to laugh, thinking of what my Mom might say quoting Trini slang, ‘every fault is a fashion’. As I looked at the dress that I was wearing, I realized it was my one of my favourites sewn by my dear friend and sister, Melodia, who right now is with The Best Designer and Sewer of All Creation, Jesus the Christ! 

(Photo credit: Saved from Melodia's FB Profile)

 

I have been blessed to have run the gamut of layers of friendship with Mel, from acquaintances when we first met in the kitchen serving under Mrs. Norah B for Women’s Bible studies. Yet when we talked 2 weeks ago while I was in quarantine, we could not remember how we went from there to becoming friends and confidantes! I am smiling now because Melodia would be just shaking her head and laughing with me as I strove confidently into my meeting wearing the dress she sewed, but not the way it was meant to be worn!

 
But that was the beauty of our friendship. We are two different personalities, yet God brought us together, and I got to be part of her family, welcomed by Tony her husband, who graciously brought the rocking chair that Melodia had used to ‘rock her own babies’, to now become my Mom’s prayer rocking chair! I am indebted to you, Tony, for always welcoming me into your home and allowing me to sit at your table with your family over the years! Melodia was gifted by God to create and designed amazing clothes and décor. She also opened my mind into the Arts and Music, inviting me to Hannah’s dance recitals at her school, allowing me to share in Sarah’s and Isabella’s (Bella) individual sport activities. Most of all, I loved sitting in both the old and new kitchens sipping espresso coffee (I always added sugar to my own) talking about God, life, and laughing with each other! I know her three daughters, whom she always made sure called me “Miss Vidya”, were her heart and soul besides the Lord Jesus the Christ. So 2 weeks ago, when she asked for prayer for them, I wrote this and I was able to share this with her and now I share with you. 

Mel, my sweet sister, as I was praying over you and dancing with Jesus to Cece Winans’ Believe For It on my little balcony in my quarantine room, I was remembering your prayers for your precious daughters. God showed me this, Mel. First, Luke 1:30... ‘Do not be afraid, Mary (Melodia), for you have found favor with God...’ You may be thinking, how can this be in my current situation? Your favor is found in your precious daughters, Mel, they each have a bit of you.

 

Hannah, as an advocate, strong in voice and will always ask the questions just like you Mel! As you have advocated for others, but especially for Sarah, seeking the best for each one of your daughters, never taking the easy route or answers, but advocating for each of them. Hannah is who loves to dance and with whom I, one day, would love to free style dance to the above song!

 

Sarah: definer/clarifier: With Sarah’s unique language and understanding, you have had to look for ways to communicate and to teach her her worth and value. Sarah forces us to look at our emotions and words and to simplify and make clearer. She gives hugs and is uninhibited in her affection for those close to her. Mel, that is you. You have showed me in no nonsense language to be forthright and to look at my own words before I speak out. You give such big strong hugs, and with your eye for detail, you are able to look at the true source of emotions.

 

Isabella- Bella: companion: She has been with you to Mexico but has been with you to the doctors. Her presence and understanding is so much like our Lord. She is the youngest but she knows the importance of being there! 

 

Mel, you have been there for me so many times. When I had no confidence in what to wear, you made me feel as your ‘muse’ as you designed my outfits to wear here, not realizing you were giving me confidence needed as a woman. You understand that yes, it is good to have all the godly woman attributes in our inner being, but also we need some bling bing! SO, woman of God, no fears, your legacy is already instilled in your three daughters. You are loved. Thank you for thinking of my parents by sending them flowers because you know they might be missing me. The flowers came at the right time! 

My Mum got a chance to call you after receiving the flowers and prayed with you over the phone. I am glad you created that opportunity for her and my Dad to pray with and over you! So now you are in heaven before Your Saviour. Thank you for enriching my life my sister! 

Praise: 

I had asked for prayer for the co-hosting of a seminar with topics that included what it is to be a Christian and yet partake in Khmer cultural activities. As I was praying over this, I watched Session 3 of the conversation between Pastor Vijay and Pastor Sunder from this month’s series from The Well (the church which Pastor Vijay is pastoring). When Pastor Sunder was asked about things he had learned over the years, he said that he had learnt how to ask questions rather than to be ready with answers, to ask questions like Jesus did to get to the heart of the matter! So I asked the person who had invited me to cohost this seminar for expats, why was I asked? The material is really from a Khmer’s perspective with the cultural understanding of the struggles the Khmer may experience in drawing boundaries between living out Christ’s values and the Khmer cultural traditions. I sensed that the host was not confident in his ability to teach because it was to the expats, to educate us about our Khmer family so that we can better communicate about Christ. I was right to ask him that question. I am there to learn, but also to encourage and help! I would not be sensitive or true to God if I led this seminar! So we talked and prayed. I will help to co-lead in the sense of praying for all at the beginning, and discussing certain phrases and terms which may be difficult to translate, but my Khmer brother will be the lead teacher and I will help him in the preparations during the week. We will begin this Sunday so…

Prayer Request: 

Please pray that at 8:30 on Sunday morning, all participants including myself will come with a hunger to learn and to be taught by the Holy Spirit through my Khmer brother!

 
Prayer Request: 

The community transmission COVID-19 rate has been increasing. Pray that this fear is turned into faith, and that now since we are online, that more will be tuning in to learn more about this Jesus who is Our Rock and Our Hope in the midst of this pandemic. The loss of jobs and wages mean that the church has to be the ones to be the blessing to many, so I ask for wisdom and creativity on how to do this with His resources! 

Thank you all for continuing to sacrificially give of your own resources to help me here as well as your precious gift of time as you intercede on my behalf! Please continue to share your requests and stories as we ‘dance together! I am on my rooftop now, about to leave, as it is too hot here at 7:30 in the morning! 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya 

 

#237 - Home! Haircut! Blessings!

 Vol.# 237

As I sat and eagerly waited for the call to come to be released from quarantine, a prayer request I had requested in my previous update, I felt the Lord say to me, Why didn’t you ask for His grace and godly response if this request is not made in your timing? Have I not said to you as one of your life verses that if My cloud has not lifted you cannot move? So, as I thought about this I realized that God wanted to teach me a couple more lessons before I was released from my Selah time at the hotel!
I was bothered that I had packed everything up, my coffee and the French press, and all that I would need to prepare for my morning time with Him. I was frustrated and then I felt Jesus say, Why are you bothered? Is it the coffee that makes ‘our time’ more spiritual? And I realized I was relying on tradition and process to pave the way for my time with Him. Was I becoming ‘entitled’? Was a spirit of entitlement on me? I had to confess to Jesus that I was, and He said, Come to me with a spirit of learning, with a hunger to know more about me through My Word. Come with an expectation that I will be speaking to you even though the processes of coffee making and having your journal in your hand are not readily available! So I had to confess to Him about this feeling that because it was a ‘spiritual thing’ that I was about to do, I really had to surrender ‘rights’ about how God was going to meet with me. God said, You need to be reminded of this as you are going back out to minister. You need to truly be my servant first, Vidya, then their servant. You have to check yourself of any kind of ‘colonial attitude!”

 
So when I was not ‘let out’ at the appointed time, I was content to wait on Him. My attitude was adjusted by the fact that the COVID rate was increasing and that the medical labs were inundated with tests. Our results would have to wait. I would rather wait for the correct results to be given so that none of us on our flight would infect those who had no insurance or access to good medical care. As I waited I was able to talk to the hotel staff now with patience and understanding. It really was up to the medical personnel and not them on when we got to be released!

 

THE HOTEL STAFF AND I ON FINAL MORNING

MEDICAL PERSONNEL GETTING READY TO ADMINISTER FINAL COVID TEST

My friend’s husband David came to pick me up at 12:30 in the afternoon! Bless them they were waiting and ready to come and get me! Julia my other friend was going to be at the house filming me coming home. Besides the ‘hiccup’ of one of my suitcases breaking open as Julia was carrying it up the stairs (it is now in suitcase heaven), I was amazed at how much my ‘community’ here did to prepare my homecoming! 

ARRIVAL AT HOUSE; MY HELPERS

On my last morning at the hotel, I was invited by the New Life Fellowship staff to join in the staff meeting via ZOOM, timely, as I was asking God about the next steps. Oh what a joy to hear of the progress of discipleship seminars and small group connections still happening online! His kingdom is being advanced in spite of the lockdown here and the cancellation of onsite church services and staff meetings! 

A symbol of Him turning something old and repurposing my new season here was in my old water purifier. My friend Julia was creative. She took the clay jar and instead of throwing it away, put soil into it and planted it! As I even look at it now, I smile as I wait to hear of how He is going to replant me in this new season! 

OLD REFURBISHED WATER FILTER

NEW WATER FILTER

FLOWERS AND PICTURES

YES! SALONS were still open so I called and went in. You will see the before and after pics! The staff there surprised me with a birthday cake! Jheri, the owner, and I share the same birthdate and it has been our custom to celebrate with cake when I go in! I had delivered some meds he had wanted that I was able to get at the pharmacy in Toronto, and in return, except for paying the ‘tips’ to the girls, all that I had done was free! Haircut, hair color, pedicure, manicure, half hour of foot massage and accompanying hand massage! So yes, the tips I gave were good!

BEFORE HAIRCUT WITH SURPRISE CAKE

AFTER HAIRCUT WITH CAKE WITH CANDLES BLOWN OUT BY FAN!

AFTER HAIRCUT

The timing of blessing packages: My usual tuk tuk driver sounded a bit sleepy when I called him to go grocery shopping. He was in the hospital. His heart and blood pressure were the reasons why, and from his bed he arranged for his son to come and pick me up to take me on my grocery shopping errands. I felt compelled by God to give towards Mr. Paat as he has not only been His faithful servant but always helpful and kind towards me! His wife, who came to clean the outside of my place/rooftop while I have been away, had prayed for me the first time I met her when she found out I was leaving to go to Canada! 
Bro. Krong and my sister Liep came to see me (masks and all). They have been very careful to be at home and only to go into the church office when needed, avoiding crowds etc. We had our first dinner together and as we were eating, we got a call that the baby of one of our staff was still very sick, and our dear brother had already asked for advance on his salary. Again the Lord provided an opportunity to bless him so that medical care and payment of rent would be released from him. I am in awe of the timing of this. The dinner was an impromptu one arranged only 45 minutes before!

 
On a funny note, I was going to ask for prayer for my freezer to be fixed as the lower part where I thought the freezer was seemed warm. When the guy came to fix it, he sat on the floor facing the fridge, and then he put his hand to his heart and said, "BONG SREY (older sister), you nearly gave me a heart attack. The bottom part is for vegetables; it is not for the freezer! It is Japanese made! Good but different!" We just laughed, so now I know! God answers even before we ask others to pray!

Prayer Request: 

I have been asked to host a web seminar and I am looking over the curriculum now. This would be for expats within NLF. The Khmer have to do this particular seminar/lessons before becoming members. It is called Life Guidelines and it is for the newly converted Khmer showing them how to live His life without compromising on their cultural traditions, yet differentiating between Buddhist and other religious traditions and being a follower of Jesus Christ! It is good for the expat to know about this in order to be more sensitive and culturally aware of certain issues. Please pray to know whether this is from God for me to do as a host or a participant! (Hosting involves knowing how to do online stuff, ZOOM etc. and most of you know this is not my strong suit to say the least!)

 
Thank you for your perseverance in prayer and for your continued financial support here. I am on my rooftop dancing with Him now! 

ROOFTOP VIEW AS I DANCE WITH CECE WINANS WITH HIM!

His servant and yours,

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya 

#236 - Special Prayer Request and Thank You!

 Vol.# 236

Special Prayer Request: 

I have my second COVID-19 test on the 15^th, and prayerfully it is negative. The request is that my results will come back quickly so that I can leave either in the morning or early afternoon to go home on the 16th! Some of my friends who had been in quarantine only got permission to leave late in the evenings! During the day it is easier to get help to carry my suitcases up the 33 steps! 

Thank you! I am overwhelmed by all of your birthday greetings, messages, ecards, ZOOM calls, and FT calls! I got to see my parents on WhatsApp to hear my mom singing Happy Birthday, video calls and emails from my siblings, and then from my RAC family and friends! I think the most precious time is when I was up at 4 and my coffee time with Jesus seemed to be extra special, with His words of affirmation on my purpose in this new season serving Him here in my heart country! I then remembered when Sham prayed over me before I left and she specifically said she wanted me to feel His love flow over me, His unconditional love, and that is what I felt from everyone! My friends, David and Lauren and their kid Chloe came to sing Happy Birthday from across the street. Julia and Chetra came with a banner singing Happy Birthday, which I think was what signaled the hotel staff that it was my birthday! I got a knock on my door and there were 3 of the staff with a cake. They said they knew I was not with my family so they wanted to make sure I was happy!

(FYI, I did not eat the whole cake! I cut a slice for myself and then gave the rest back to the staff to enjoy.) 

Again, the blessing that Sham had prayed came back to me! 

David, Lauren and Chloe Singing Happy Birthday!

Julia and Chitra with Birthday Banner

Hotel Staff with Cake

This morning I thought I would take my IPad down with me when I went to have my temperature check and ask the girls there to help me with my Khmer reading! So with Psalm 23 on the screen, I began reading it and the main receptionist was helping me with the pronunciation and I prayed that the words that I had trouble pronouncing would be the words that would remain in her heart about Jesus! Those words were peaceand restful (still waters) and Shepherd! I had another conversation with Pina, one of the hostesses, she was asking me how the hotel service was and I said good but I thought they needed to be stricter on those not obeying the quarantine rules! I said that most of Khmer cannot afford medical insurance/hospital fees, and when we break the rules of our quarantine, it is the most selfish thing we can do, because we are putting our Khmer people at risk! Those who are in quarantine can afford that risk because usually they have access to medical insurance, especially as we had our FIRST KHMER COVID-19 death two days ago. After my venting half in Khmer and half in English, she just smiled (at least I think so, because we are both wearing masks!), and she said, Bong Srey, I agree with you! Yes, most of you know I would speak up if I saw that ‘injustice! 

I think what broke the ice with the front desk staff was when I went down yesterday. I stood in front of the temperature camera and it said my temp was 25.1C! I looked at the nurse and then at the girl next to me, and she said, ‘Let us do that again”. Again we did and it said 25.1! I assured them that I was alive and well and the nurse said, “Wait, did you just take a shower?” I said yes, so she said to let us take the forehead temp with the hand held thermometer and it said 36.5! I said to them, “I told you I was alive!” We all started to laugh, and of course they said that has never happened before! (Some of you are thinking, but yes, then there is Vidya!!)

I will share what the Lord has impressed upon me on another update, but for now I want to leave with you the song He gave me and which I was dancing to for most of the morning!

      

Why is this chair empty? It is because I am dancing with Jesus! Yay!

Thank you all again for your wonderful prayers and wishes! 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya 

#235 - A Selah Time

Vol.# 235

Day 7 of Quarantine or Selah as one of my mentors has described it: a pause to refocus on God; a time of renewal. That is my perspective on my ‘Selah’ time here at the hotel! 

I thought I would describe what the day looks like here. I am usually up by 4 in the morning, so I prepare my coffee. So this is what I love about my Jesus, for He knows what I would need and had prepared it for me. I had brought my milk frother to Toronto, but because it is a different wattage I could not use it, but God knew that I would be in ‘Selah’ time here so I have it here with me (not at my home in Phnom Penh). Plus, just before I left, Sarah my niece-in- love (married to nephew, Nathan) had brought me coffee that could only be packed in my carry-on since my suitcases were already at the limit. So I had that coffee, plus the French press that was given to me by others for my first quarantine time back in November at the duplex in my carry-on as well. So I was prepared for my coffee with Jesus time! 

 

Around 7:30am the doorbell would ring and my food would be delivered at the door in sealed container. At 10am I would get a call to go down to the lobby to have my temperature taken and recorded. My elevator card would only allow me to go from my room to the lobby. It is the hotel’s way of tracking where we are since we are supposed to stay in our room. On that note, on the first night when I was on the balcony, I was looking down and thought, hmmm, those people down there sitting and talking look familiar! Wait, they were with me on the plane from Seoul to Phnom Penh! How come they are not in quarantine? Well, another person may have let that go, but I took some pics and yes, called down to the lobby to ask about the quarantine control, and asked why are there people outside when they are supposed to be in their rooms! You see, these people were interacting with the street sellers and tuk tuk drivers, not keeping to themselves, and right now the community transmission has grown rapidly! The receptionist said that the people there were told to stay in the rooms but that they were bored! And it was only the first night of the quarantine! Let us say when I asked for a mug for my coffee right after that, it was delivered promptly to my room within 5 minutes! 

 

Between 11:30am and noon, lunch would be delivered at the door and also around 6 in the evening! I thought about it and the delivery packages are just like being on the plane! I have included pictures of the cleaners when they come every 2/3 days: looks like a scene from CSI TV show! I go to the balcony while they clean the room in their full gear, and then switch to sit on the bed as the balcony is cleaned while, of course, wearing my mask!

 

Praise: 

So thankful for a room with a balcony; for the hotel staff who are accommodating and allow me to practise my Khmer whenever I go down to the lobby for my temperature checks! 

Praise:

I want to give a shout out of thanks to former housemate Channak for negotiating the purchase and delivery of my new second hand fridge and washing machine! He was able to get this done plus the cleaning of the air conditioners before my quarantine is finished so that when I return home all I have to do is to fill up the fridge. Yes, by the end of this quarantine I definitely would need my washing machine for all the clothes I would need to wash! 

Praise: 

Thankful for Julia and Chetra, David and Lauren, and Liep and Krong for looking after His refuge home for me. The pictures taken of new fridge etc. are from Julia and Chetra who were there for the delivery of the appliances.

 

JULIA AND CHETRA

DAVID, LAUREN AND BABY CHLOE

Praise: 

As in Numbers 9:1..and the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai..”, so the Lord is speaking to Vidya in Room 1003 in the hotel. As I in Numbers 9:8 ...wait so that I may hear what the Lord will command concerning...”, I am humbled by His voice speaking to me in His Word. As I pray for others, He gives me insight based on His Word and I think how wonderful it is to serve a GOD who directly communicates with me, like He did with Moses! In Numbers 11:2 the people cried out to Moses and Moses prayed to God. I do not have to cry out to another human being to pray for me. HE has made it possible for me to go to Him, to sit at His feet and just pour out my heart. Thank you, My Saviour! 

Prayer: 

Please pray that I will get my passport back without complications (like it being lost etc.) at the end of the quarantine; that my second COVID-19 test (in reality my 3rd within a two week period!) will be easy and NEGATIVE! 

Prayer: 

Pray that God will give me words of blessings for the staff here when I leave! 

Thank you for sending in your prayer requests and stories of life back in Canada! Please keep on sending them and let us dance together for His glory! 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya 

#234 - Set Aside: Praise and Prayer

 Vol. #234 

 

The second leg of the journey was shorter in hours, but seemed longer as we waited for over 20 minutes for transit passengers to arrive as we sat on the tarmac. This time social distancing on the plane was different since it was a smaller plane with more people.

Praise: 

I had all my papers and info necessary, so I just had to wait patiently for my turn to be processed. No one told us about the order of where to go and what to do first, so I went to get my COVID-19 test done first following the arrows, only to go back to retrieve my luggage before retracing steps to go in line for the bus. 

Thank you for prayers about the test. It was okay with only one nostril being tested and I had a mouth swab. The ladies who were administering the tests were chatty and were talking in Khmer about the ‘Barang’ me so I answered back their questions in Khmer, which made them laugh!

Praise: 

I thought I had misplaced the important form that had my deposit of $2000 with the retrieving of the luggage, but I had put them in my knapsack rather than my purse, so your prayers of no confusion and being able to sort things out were answered. PLUS, I was able to get a trolley!

Prayer Request: 

I am now at the hotel and got the call to go down for the daily temperature check. However there was no social distancing at all in the elevator. I am one of the only 3 expats with Chinese nationals here. Everyone is friendly! Please pray for no COVID-19, as on the plane more than a few were sneezing and coughing, which could just be normal colds since our temperatures were checked before boarding.

Praise: 

As I slept for about 3 hours at the hotel, I was able to be up to have my coffee time with Jesus. Again I am in awe of Leviticus 13 talking about being set aside to avoid community transmission, and having my perspective on quarantine changed to one of being set aside to rest and be with Him before entering into ‘daily life’ here once again.

Praise: 

Many of you prayed for a good hotel. This one is average, but the bathroom is amazing with a rainforest type of shower and a huge bathtub!

Prayer: 

I am on the first floor so I can hear the traffic. Please pray that the traffic sounds will become like ‘white noise’ so that I can sleep.

 
Praise: 

The hotel staff are very helpful. I was talking to the receptionist and the attendants who brought up my luggage. I was able to communicate in Khmer, which was good, although one of them started to speak very fast, and I am like “Whoa!” But it is good to get back in the rhythm of hearing the sounds and speaking the heart language!

 
Prayer: 

The three meals that are served are already established by the hotel. No choice is available and no food deliveries allowed from the outside. Pray that I would enjoy all. 

Mark 10:49 is about the Jesus healing blind Bartimaeus and what struck me when Bartimaeus called out to Jesus, Jesus told his disciples to “Call him”. Jesus could have spoken the word Himself to call him, but he asked the disciples to get involved in the process of His healing, to get involved in His work. Just so, He has called me back here, and He is calling you, my dance partners, to get involved in your own areas of influence. When He healed him, Jesus said in verse 52, “Go your way”, but Bartimaeus ...followed Him on the way...”.  That made me stop. It was a confirmation of my call back here to follow Jesus on the way, to continue to dance with Him allowing Him to lead me! 

 

Please continue to send me your stories and prayer requests as I am being set aside for this special time with Him for the next 14 days! Loving the rhythm of His heart as I dance with Him today. 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya 

#233 - Enroute Praise and Prayer Requests

Vol. #233

Thank you for your prayers! I am writing this as I wait in Seoul for my second flight! 

Praise: the fact that I was in the air meant that your prayers for a NEGATIVE result from COVID-19 test was received, and the nose swab itself was painless and very fast! 

Praise: for the time I had with Mum and Dad, bittersweet, as we held hands and prayed together, as they not only released me back to my heart country, but I also released them into the heart of Our Loving Father!

MOM AND DAD AFTER PRAYER

Praise: for Ian and Ramona L. My brother Ian was able to come with me into the airport and he helped the other counter attendants to download my specific COVID-19 insurance for Cambodia which I did not know I had to purchase beforehand! I thank God for the ladies at the counter who informed me that I needed to have this special insurance for 20 days as stated by the Cambodian government. Anyone who did not have it on arrival at Phnom Penh would have been turned back! Ramona waited patiently in the car as this process took more than half hour since we had problems printing the receipt from my phone. So Ian did his troubleshooting and all was good!

 
Praise: maybe only 6 people were in my section, so I had the whole row to myself and the rows in front, to the back and to my side were empty!

 
I got to see the full moon which gave light into the section I was in, and I was marvelling at how God orchestrated this because having that light made the area feel ‘light’ and not claustrophobic! I did not sleep much yet it was a restful time!

 
Prayer: for my entry into Phnom Penh at the airport, with my 2 suitcases and carry-on and my knapsack, that I would be able to manoeuvre all of this getting into the bus and off to the designated hotel! Sometimes there are no trolleys available!

 
Prayer: that the second COVID-19 test at the airport would be just as easy as the first and NEGATIVE!

Prayer: for favour with the authorities/government officials when I get to the airport; and also with hotel staff at the designated government hotel.

With a grateful heart to all of you, my dance partners, as you definitely interceded for me on the praise points above!  I felt the lightness of steps and His strong hands as He led me through this first part of the journey! 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya