#305 - Revised Roles

 Vol.# 305

Thank you all for your prayers as I am re-adjusting to a new schedule and yes, back to the humid conditions here in Phnom Penh!

It has been a very full 2 weeks and as I had noted in my last update. I looked to see what God was saying to me from my exit sermon in Toronto to my entrance sermon in Phnom Penh! The theme at my last sermon was on prayer preached by Pastor Cheryl, but curiously enough I was also asked by Pastor Solange to visit herSunday school class of Grade 7 upwards. Thus interacting with youth was part of the exit theme.

The teaching on my re-entry sermon was allowing God to use His primary gifts to serve where He has put me; my primary gifts being prayer and teaching. So after re-submitting to the spiritual leadership at New Life Church, and in the conversations with the senior leaders, these are areas where help is needed: spiritual guidance through prayer for specific leaders, and being part of the Weekend Service Events team where 90 percent of the team are in their early 20s to the oldest in their early 30s! The members of the interpretation group are part of this team and translate on site as the sermon is being preached in Khmer to English for our non-Khmer congregants via an App /earphones. This group consists of youth who are 19 years to 25 years old. I help to coach them in pronunciation, pacing/rhythm of their words, practical advice on reading the Bible and getting to know the particular Scripture that is being used on that day so that they could be more effective in communicating what the preacher is sharing in his messages.

So on Sunday, I am full on for the three services, joining one and serving at two with the rest of the church staff! Here is a pic of some of the staff I am serving with as we started to decorate for Christmas last Saturday!

At the new location where I was teaching, I will be going on to sit in on the evening classes this week to look at the areas of challenges for the teachers and then preparing to coach and work with the teachers at a later date, preferably on Sunday afternoon as it is a paid working day for all involved. I am excited to see what HE has been doing from last semester. I was just told that we have our first set of students from the English classes that have made a decision to follow Christ and are being discipled through the head of the Skills Training Centre there! Alpha has been introduced into the cell group curriculum and it has been exciting to see the content being translated into the Khmer language.

The past 2 Sundays I have gone to pray for one of our primary staff who got into an accident. As I walked into the hospital, we were met with another member whose uncle was sick, and we felt we should go to pray for him. This was overwhelming as we stepped into the large room, with about 15 hospital beds fully occupied, with some patients laying on the floor, and some of the relatives who came to lend aid to their family members also sleeping on the floor. As everyone looked on, we prayed for this uncle, but could not stop and pray for any more people. So, CAN you pray that those in the room would continue to feel His Presence and smell His fragrance as we represented Our Loving Saviour? Our own member had insurance, so he was able to be in a room with three beds and air conditioning! The first room had no privacy, no A/C, just fans.

Yesterday I went to pray for the young son of one of our elders who had contracted dengue at a different clinic. It seems that Sundays are literally for visiting the sick and praying for them. I request prayer for discernment as I go to visit and listen to pray for those in need.

Lastly I would like to CELEBRATE my sister Sita’s birthday! It is a milestone age and I just want to say how much I admire her creativity in her writings and art! Her passion to learn more about Him through her Bible studies and yes, her sense of humor! Thank you Seets for all the driving and time you sacrifice when I am back, for your love for us, your family, for Mike and Nate and Sarah and the granddaughters, and for the newly engaged Daniel and Cynthia. It is through you that we are re-connecting with so many from our past back in Trinidad! Thank you. I pray that your birthday is filled with some good Trini food and music. I love you and thank you for being the one who edits my updates and has been from the first update to now, sending them out for me! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Still dancing with my Jesus, 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vedya