#300 - New Worship Video and It's Raining!

 Vol.# 300

The rain is falling heavily. There is even the sound of thunder and all of the other classes have been cancelled at the Skill Training Centre here at the new campus location of Dangkao. Yet I have decided to keep the class open even if there is only one student. As I wait I hear the sound of someone running up the stairs. It is one of the older students (in his early 30’s), who has ridden through the rain on his moto, his pants still rolled up to avoid the flooding on the streets, barefooted as his shoes were wet and he took them off. His clothes are slightly wet because his raincoat could not keep all of the rain out. He comes in, looks around and says, ‘Where is everyone? Don’t we have class?’ Yes, I replied, and at that moment another student appears, but she is a staff member from our new location and just walked up the stairs from her office.  Thus began I think, one of the best lessons that I have ever taught. I had to quickly change the set lesson (that lesson would be taught when everyone would be present so there would be no repetition of content), and the three of us enjoyed the new impromptu lesson with the sound of the rain as our backdrop. Our lesson contained vocabulary such as thunder, lightning, flood etc.! I thought, ‘Thank you, Jesus, for giving me the hindsight to stay to teach even if all of the other classes had been cancelled, and thank you for the honor of being here to teach someone who has the hunger to learn so that the heavy rain was not a deterrent!’ Then I prayed, ‘Lord, help me to be more like this student, to have this hunger to go after YOU, to want to learn more about you from Your Word and to always give of my best as YOU gave your best, Your life, for me.’

SOME STUDENTS FROM 530 CLASS

In my last update, I mentioned 6 students that my parents had sponsored to go to Bible camp. In a follow up, these same 6 students have now formed the first ever Skill Training Center cell group from Dangkeo! They meet at the home of the head of the STC, and they are now being discipled.

FIRST CELL GROUP OF THOSE 6 STUDENTS 

Prayer Request: Would you pray that this enthusiasm to meet will not dissipate but will grow stronger? Thank you!

 
I received a call from the new interim Worship Leader at the main campus of Steang Mean Chay asking if I would like to buy a t-shirt/hoodie to help support the official launching of a new song/video written by the outgoing worship leader. Some of the proceeds will go to the building fund and back into buying equipment etc. for the worship band. I said yes and was invited to preview the video with our weekend 
debrief team. As I sat and listened, knowing that this song was written by a Khmer so that other Khmer, not only in Cambodia but also elsewhere, can have access to this worship song, brought me to tears. The images that accompanied the song meant something to us, to me, as it came from when we worshipped on Sundays. So I knew the people and I was there to experience His spirit flowing in us and bringing us to a place where all our earthly concerns were forgotten and we focused on HIM, our Lord Jesus Christ! The song has also been translated into English, and when we sing it in church, both languages are on the power point slides. As yet, however, in the official launching on YouTube, there are no English subtitles. The name of the song is Yahweh, by Life Band Cambodia (you can Google it!).  It has been an honor to support this young group by providing much needed snacks/coffee/tea, and more importantly, the time where I can listen and pray over and with them. They produced this video in a little room here at the church spending many hours poring over each note. I pray His anointing over this song as it goes out to YOU on YOUTUBE!

https://youtu.be/Uekwa2OmFH4?si=F4dMs8c447O0tivu

 

Prayer Request: As we have now entered the rainy season, can you pray for the safety of the students as they come to class, praying in faith that it would not rain heavily from 3-7:30 in the evenings? Here all still go out and travel when it is raining lightly because it is part of life, but with heavy rains come flooding due to poor drainage and then heavy traffic. A 10-minute moto ride can turn into a 30-minute ride with the traffic congestion!

 
Thank you for your continued prayers for my parents. I appreciate your messages and prayers on their behalf. Thank you for your prayers as we move forward with our building plans for a permanent church location!

 

Please continue to send in your prayer requests as we dance together led by Our Lord Who always keeps me in step with His steps, my rhythm in tune with His rhythm. May you continue to feel His intimate presence over you today. May you know that you are of value. Your purpose may change with the seasons, but you do have a purpose, please continue to seek His guidance! 

 

 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vedya 

#299 - A Visitor, New Location and Prayer and Fasting!

Vol. #299

A Belated He is Risen Easter to all of you! 

The weather has gone from hot to extremely hot here with humidity and pollution being at an extreme level! My apologies for a long delayed update as we have had holidays for the Khmer New Year where everyone goes back to their hometown and the city is fairly quiet. Here is a pic of our formal Khmer New year pic with my co-teachers at the new location!

SO BLESSED to have our own Dorlisa from Rexdale Alliance Church come to visit on our Easter weekend! And, yes, the week she came was the beginning of the hottest month here in Cambodia! So happy that Dorlisa came to church and met my community here as well as at the new location at Dangkeo (DK) where I am teaching English classes.

But at church we are on the MOVE…. LITERALLY!! 
7 years ago we were gifted with a piece of land to build our new church and with COVID intervening, together with key partnerships falling away due to their own economic constraints, we could not start building. We, however, did have plans drawn up and talks with the ministry within the government on permits and any other legal steps we had to take to begin the building process done, and NOW is the time to begin!

We put on our construction vests/helmets as a physical symbol of moving into the construction phase. At the information desk with my 2 team members, we greeted people and were able to talk about why we were wearing the vests and to invite them to the next major step, which is fasting and praying for OUR new building! Pastor Samdy has been preaching on the book of Nehemiah to get us ready spiritually as we seek HIM at each step, because to us, it looks so IMPOSSIBLE to raise such BIG amounts of money. Please pray to receive favor from the landlord we are renting our current location from as they have raised the rent and we have downsized the space we have rented, giving up one floor so that we can save on the rental costs!

Fasting and Praying over Key Leaders

Spiritual preparation: We put aside one day for corporate fasting and prayer and it was amazing to do this on a corporate level as opposed to individual fasting and prayer. I believe this was the first corporate staff meeting that we have had in many years! We got to sit down and share and pray over each other! At the end of a very long day the pastoral leader in my group asked us to read of how Jesus fed so many with just 5 loaves and 2 fishes, the young boy offering all that he had, and when God takes that into His hands, the miracle of multiplication of resources! Well I was so hungry at this point, I looked at the leader and said, Really? Of all the parables in the Bible you chose the one with the food? In all honesty I said to him, This is the FIRST TIME I am thinking… hmmm… I wonder how they cooked the fish? Roasted over the coals? Was the bread still fresh? Seriously, those were my thoughts at the very end of the fast! Sounds unspiritual? My leader laughed and said, your brain does think differently, Vidya! BUT this was the first time many fasted.

 

My observation: Fasting means giving up something that we have a struggle to give up, a true sacrifice. Many Khmer know what it is to go without food, and yes, we were following the Biblical teaching of fasting over food. As I discussed with the leaders afterwards, giving up on social media/use of the phone may be the FAST we all need to do?

I was able to take about 11 key women leaders over the space of 3 days to get their hair washed and nails done at one of the local places at the mall where our church is located. We got to build relationships with the owner and ladies who work there. They know of our church and now they know our church by the conversations we began with them. Thank you to Dad and Mom for sponsoring this. These ladies have worked so hard and they got a chance to be pampered physically, and I got an opportunity to listen to their hearts and to pray with them! 

 

PRAYER REQUEST: Please pray for a persistent cough that I have had due to the high pollution/pollen/dust. The pollution is at the highest in our region and this has triggered my asthma! 

PRAISE: As we are working harder to raise needed finances, more of the key leaders are open to seeking HIM on a more intimate level, and I am honored to be the recipient of confidences that I can take to the LORD! 

PRAISE: My landlady came up with a workman to fix the 2 washrooms at my place and as we waited she shared how sick her husband was and how much weight he had lost. I was able to get a pastor from my church to pray in Khmer for him on the phone as he was in the hospital. This is the first time she has asked for prayer. Just yesterday I saw the husband. He was released from hospital and is recovering now at home. I told her I am praying in the Name of Jesus for him. They are strong Buddhists and I am grateful for this opportunity to pray for him.

 
Thank you for your ongoing sacrifice and steadfast love as you pray and dance with me in my heart country of Cambodia! Please continue to send in your prayer requests as we do life together! 

Dancing with Him as HE LEADS.

 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vedya 

#298 - Funerals and Classes!

Vol. #298 

Good morning to my fellow dancers/prayer warriors on this journey with and in Him. 

I previously sat down a few times in the past week to write this update, but then life intervened in the form of 3 unexpected funerals in the past 10 days! It started with Sister Hosana, who even in her wheel chair, lived life fully for and unto Him. She was a counsellor with the Addictions Ministry helping many to choose Jesus and life in Him by her own harrowing testimony. She was a member of our church and always came to the second service.  Then followed Uncle Lye, who with his wife were begging on the streets but Sister Sophea, wife of the Head of the Healing Home, started to build a relationship with them, offering medical services from the Home but also bringing them to church. They both became Christians and had been attending church for the past year and a half.  Sister Hosana and Uncle Lye both went into our Heavenly Father’s arms within 24 hours of each other. Lastly Sreymom, with whom I served at Global Leadership Summit Cambodia, also a member of our church and cell group leader/intercessory prayer warrior, also went to be with Her Saviour within 48 hours of them! So it has been a bittersweet time since they are not physically present with us yet we know they are rejoicing with Abba Father and we will see them in heaven!

At the funeral service of Sreymom, I met Pastor Theng Porly who is one of our provincial pastors from the countryside. 

I had mentioned him before in one of my updates but I never got the chance to get a pic of him but there he was ministering to us at the pagoda in Phnom Penh. Pastor Porly saw the need of having a Christian burial service for our Christian brothers and sisters. However, the only cremation services offered are located in the Buddhist worship sites, the pagodas! So on his own, he would conduct the service there, with his own speakers and microphones, so that not only the family and friends would hear of the gospel and the hope of heaven but those in the surrounding areas! He was met with opposition, but in spite of this, he knew what God had put in his heart and persevered. One recipient of his legacy is his nephew Pheakdey, who is now part of the church planting team at New Life Foundation and a translator for visiting teams to the provinces! Pheakdey recounted that it was his uncle who led most of his family to Christ. I had to go up to talk with him to thank him for his example of faith and passion for Our Lord. I also felt led to contribute to his ‘gas money’ for travelling to other provinces where he was called upon to give comfort to the family within the Buddhist temples. He is now mentoring other young men in this ministry! (I thought of my Mom and Dad who started churches and mentored so many in Trinidad usually without any compensation but choosing to invest into His kingdom).

Praise: We began our English classes at Dangkao New Life Foundation. My first class begins at 3:30 to 4:30. 

As I sat and prayed over this class not yet knowing the personalities of each individual, only knowing the test scores which showed very basic knowledge of English, the alphabet sounds and maybe some visual recognition of some of the letters, I began to pray over the empty class the words from Mark 7:34-35 where Jesus prayed over the deaf/mute man…”Be opened… his ears were opened, his tongue was released and he spoke plainly…! I started to touch each desk and prayed this and proclaimed it over each empty desk. Sreylin heads up the program and is my co-teacher for this class. As the Khmer language has to be spoken 95 percent of the time to clearly explain English grammar, she saw the change in the students that day, and began to cry at the end of the class because of the big changes that she saw from the previous day when she taught the same class on her own! She got to see the answer to that prayer in person as seen in the picture with me with that particular student in front of the board. He was speaking clearly and understanding the letters pointed out to him! 

This student is not supposed to be in class since he is under the age of 15 (13), but his mom came and pleaded to Sreylin on his behalf to come to class since in the public school they were going to ask him to leave because of a learning disability. So Sreylin accepted him into the program and in our class that has fewer students than in the 5:30 class that teaches the same curriculum. In our class he gets the attention needed and is not as intimidated by other students.

Prayer: Please pray for Lin and myself as we teach, that we would always prepare the class spiritually as well as physically for them, asking Him how to be creative in our teaching so that the students can really learn.

Prayer: Please pray for the advanced class as we have 11 enrolled. It is a closed class, meaning that no more will be accepted. The students have to attend the class and participate, do the assignments and at the end of the semester they will receive a certificate. Please pray that I would be able to identify the specific learning needs and adapt the curriculum accordingly to meet these needs as fluency in speaking English and comprehension differs widely in this class. This class is at 5:30 to 6:30 in the evenings on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Praise: We moved the advanced class from the first location showed in this pic where I am sitting. It was a small space we had hurriedly created for this specific class. However, the lighting and the heat plus the noise of the traffic and the proximity of another English class being taught at the same time, made it difficult to teach. Now we were able to move to a better space within the building where the air flowed a bit better with the fans and the space is better for movement for the students and myself!

You never know whom you might meet! 

I was at a bookstore looking for exercise books with lines so I can teach penmanship to my beginner class, when this young woman came up to me and said ‘…you may not remember me but...’. I looked up and said immediately, ‘Rescue, the orphanage!’’ She smiled and said, ‘I know your last name and it is Ramcharan’! She used to write her name Esther with my surname as her name since she never knew her surname when she was my student over 8 years ago! 

I looked at this young woman and I remember the prayer I had prayed over her using the attributes of leadership and servanthood from Esther from the Bible who came to know her true purpose to deliver her people the Jews. I asked her about her life and her friend who was with her said that Esther was independent, and feisty and a leader with a strong belief in Jesus! I thanked Esther for being bold to come up to say hello. I told her that on my first mission trip to Cambodia, we were asked to give a Biblical name to our team partner on the trip, and the Biblical name given to me back in 2011 was ‘Esther’! I was beaming as I left the bookstore knowing it was a God-encounter as I had decided at the last minute to make a quick stop to look for this material!

Lastly, here is a pic of my team at Dangkao! A young team, the tall male person is the one leading the team there, Lokru Virak (his wife is not in the pic.).  We are all under the leadership of Lokru Samdy and Navy who head up New Life Foundation Church.

Prayer Request: Please pray for unity and transparency within our team, as we want to be a strong foundation. At our first devotional meeting where the pic was taken, all the young women shared struggles that no one in leadership were aware of and as we cried and prayed together, I asked the Lord to remind me to check in on them individually as my role there is not only coaching /teaching but prayer partner and advisor to this new team!

Thank you so much for your continued support on behalf of His kingdom! Please continue to share your requests and stories as we dance together in His rhythm and holding onto His hands, as He guides us! 

 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vedya 

#297 - Wedding and Lunches and Poster Girl!

                                                                    Vol.# 297

                                                                            
My apologies for the delay in sending this out! 

 So much has been happening here. 

I talked about the wedding of my former students from Rescue. Many of you already know that I was working as an English teacher back in 2011 at Rescue Orphanage, my first job in Cambodia. Sreyleak was my student and then translator for my classes. She now works in HR at my church New Life Foundation SMC, and we still get together and connect every Tuesday morning over preparing the communion for our weekly staff meetings. It has been a joy to witness her marriage to a godly young man whose biggest concern was that his family, who are not Christians, might not approve of the non-traditional wedding ceremony. The wedding occurred the day after I arrived at a well-known restaurant. Only 150 people were invited (at another venue, over 200+ are usually invited) with 15 tables. I prayed with her now husband that the Holy Spirit would be over the ceremony and that his family would listen and not be restless. It was overwhelming to see the peace over his face and then to watch his family who came in from the province (countryside) witness the foot washing part of the ceremony. Sreyleak and Vitnam first washed her Mom’s feet and thanked her for her sacrifice and support over the years. Then each washed the feet of his Mom and Dad and then thanked them for their sacrifice and support. Most of us were in tears after this. The public thank-you is unusual in this culture, so his family were listening intently and taking pictures! Then came a moment when Lokru Samdy asked for the leaders and those important in both Sreyleak and Vitnam’s lives to come up to pray over them. We did, and as I turned to leave, Sreyleak just turned to me and opened up her arms so I could give her a hug! That was a special moment and so unexpected! I was glad I was still energized enough, no jet lag yet to enjoy the whole ceremony!

Sombath is another young person who is part of the worship team. He is teaching the youth to play the guitar, and also how to use and repair the many machines associated with the sound system, learning by YouTube how to do much of it! It was his birthday, so I took him out for pizza/pasta, and listened to his testimony. His Mom died when he was in fifth grade, and at 15 years old he came to the city by himself for school! He chose to believe in Jesus when he started to go church and then attended English classes being taught at the church. Currently he has just started his first year at university. He waited until he could save up his money and he works at the church. I have seen this young man grow in the Lord with a servant’s heart as he works tirelessly at 3 services helping out wherever he can. He is one in whom God has told me to invest! I urged him to read the Word for himself, not just a few verses, but to start the read the whole Bible, as Lokru Samdy had preached that Sunday in his sermon. We have so many ways now to read his Word through the Bible App! 

I have previously spoken of Oun Pisey. She was the Youth Leader and created many programs for the youth at the church. She then went on to the church planting team, helping to translate for many of the teams coming in. She has mentored many and now she has the opportunity to go to the School of Theology in Singapore for a year to further her Biblical education! It has been my joy to be a prayer partner and big sister to Pisey and I took her out for a celebratory lunch. She will be missed but I am so excited to see her step into this new opportunity that God has created for her.

One of my roles here is to meet with the leaders and listen and then pray with them. I had my meeting with the Worship Pastor, Bro. Veasna, who is transitioning into part-time at our church and stepping into a new role with a NGO as its leader! Veasna is a Psalmist. He writes music, and has produced with the Life Band (roots at New Life Church) many wonderful songs. He also has a shepherd’s heart as he has discipled and trained many even though he is so young! He is a new dad and is relishing being a ‘papa’! We will continue to have monthly meetings in his part-time role here at New Life Church!

 

SCHOOL! We have been physically preparing at the new location for the education classes. 

We had pictures taken back in December that they turned into flyers that were distributed to the new area. To my surprise and chagrin they turned part of it into a full-blown banner that they put on the wall of the new location! Chagrin, because up close the pic is not that good, it looks as if I am grimacing rather than smiling like the rest of the teachers! The ONLY good thing, for vanity’s sake, is that hopefully when the students meet me, they will say, I look better in person! And no, I was not asked if they could put me on this banner! LOL! You just go with the flow here! 

Prayer Requests: 

-   - Please pray that speed to get the classes started would not impede the level of professionalism and quality of education. The curriculum has NOT been approved of and the coaching of the teachers has not begun YET. Flyers etc. have already been distributed! 
- Please pray for patience for me as I begin the coaching with the teachers, all of whom have NO experience teaching in a classroom. They may have taught a Bible lesson but never an English class. 
- Please pray that as I spend time at the main campus and then at the new location, that God gives me wisdom on planning the new schedule and JOY as I enter into this new phase! 
- Please continue prayers for healing for my big brother in Florida and for extra care for my parents in Toronto.

Answer to personal prayer request: I had wanted to exercise more, but where I live, going for walks was not an option, and finding a gym that was good and affordable and nearby was also not an option. Then I looked at my Mom who does her exercises from YOUTUBE every single day in the afternoon! She does not have to go out anywhere, it is free, and she can choose which exercises she wants. So I have followed in my mom’s footsteps and am doing the same. Thanks Mom!

Thank you all for your continued sacrifice of time and resources for His plans here in my heart country of Cambodia! Let us continue to dance and allow our Saviour, Jesus the Christ, to be the leader in all that we do, for He does order each step we take as we put our hands into His Hands and allow Him to direct us! 

Please continue to share your stories and requests as we dance together in life! 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vedya 

#296 - Your Answered Prayers for Return Trip to PP!

Vol. #296

When I asked you to pray for my return to Phnom Penh, I did not know how God was going to answer beyond all that I had expected! 

 

The flight was full from Toronto to Hong Kong. There was not one empty seat. HOWEVER, on that 15-hour flight back, that seat 64C became one of comfort and sleep! I did not even look at movies/TV on the screen except to see the path of the flight. The 15 hours passed so quickly, and the 2 people sitting on my row only got up to go to the washroom twice during that long flight. I even made friends with a group of 29 that was travelling to go Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand! This same group of friends started to travel together over the years and go on a trip once a year. They are from…Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana! I wish I had started a conversation with them at the beginning as we were waiting together at the gate to board, but I had a mini-coughing fit and they had inquired if I was okay but I did not continue the conversation until we were ready to get off board in Hong Kong.

 
There was a family sitting in front of me with one child who had difficulties in expressing himself in a proper ways. As I listened to this kid shouting, my first thought was ‘oh no not for the next 15 hours!’, but then I had this rush of sympathy and began to pray for this child and thanked God that his family showed him such love combined with grace!Thank you for praying that I would be more like Jesus even if only in thought! 

 
When I was in HK, my friend Lauren, who had arrived in PP a day prior, sent a pic showing a confusing sign at the airport in PP directing where to go in queue if I already had an e-visa, and she mentioned that not all of her luggage had arrived with the family. I immediately began to pray for favor, already knowing all of you had been praying for me. Well, I got into the airport and GOD answered your prayers specifically. I was waiting to go up to one of the few Customs officers, when one suddenly appeared and waved for me to go over! In five minutes I was NOT only finished there, but also my 2 suitcases came on the luggage carousel and I was out of there! 

Lokru Virak’s wife, Sister Boramey came to pick me up at the airport. My friends Julia and Chetra messaged me to find out where I was, and they were waiting at my place to help me take the luggage up the stairs, and waited for me to change, to take me out for lunch!

 
I feel so blessed and I say THANK YOU. Sometimes we think asking God for the ‘little things’ means we are bothering HIM, because He has so much more serious things to focus on, forgetting HE IS GOD! HE also wants to have a relationship with US, which means trusting in HIM for the small things and initiating that communication which is a conversation that can be ongoing all day.

 
I am preparing for a wedding today for Oun Sreyleak. She was my student back in Rescue, and is now working at New Life Foundation church in HR. I am blessed to be a spiritual mentor to her and to be a witness at her wedding! What an honor!

 
Thank you again for your prayers.

 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vedya 

#295 - Christmas Preparations in Phnom Penh

 Vol. # 295

Blessed Christmas as we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ! 

I thought I would send you photos of how we prepared to celebrate the reason for the season!

At first sight, when you walked into the lobby area of the church, you would see this very tall Christmas tree and perhaps think, what is the difference between this tree in a church and one you would see in the big malls in Phnom Penh? 

On closer inspection, however, what you would note is that the Christmas tree’s most prominent decor is made up of photos: photos of each member of our congregation and families! We wanted to point out the importance of relationships and people by having our members send in photos, and then we use them as the primary decor on the tree. This was done leading up to the Christmas week, and then on the final Sunday, our lead Pastor Samdy talked about the primary and most important relationship in our lives, that of Jesus the Christ, and the reason HE chose to come on earth! It was so much fun to see the members come in to try and find their photos and then take photos of it! 

Also from the beginning of December, we did a fun shoot of pictures that we then put out on the church's social media highlighting different colours that the people can choose to wear to enter into the fun spirit of the season! See if you can find me in the photos on the poster! 

I was surprised that I was invited to be on it as the only expat. I was there at rehearsals where they were doing the Cambodian version of Joseph and Mary with the traditional Khmer dance and song intertwined within the story. It was so beautifully presented with the involvement of the little kids doing their parts as the animals in the stable. 

 

Like the rest of the world, the economy has been on a downward slide here in Cambodia, with finances being tight. So when the idea of having a booth and asking the members to donate towards gifts that would be won at the 3 Christmas services on the 22nd, I thought that we would not get much in way of donations. I was so proven wrong! From the youth to the older generations, we were blown away by the generosity of the people and I was told everyone was so excited to happy for each other when a gift was won! From those who had little, much was given, not only in resources but also in volunteer time to prepare for the programme as well as the physical preparations within the church.

 
As we enter 2025, I can look back and thank God for the lessons learned through the ups and downs. I cannot thank you enough for being my dance partners in His incredible time here in Phnom Penh! I know that this can be a bittersweet time. Many have lost loved ones this year; many have received unexpected negative health news, loss of jobs/income. I want to pray with you as Our Comforter and Prince of Peace comes in to literally ‘be with you’, His intimate Presence surrounding you in those moments when you are alone. May you know that HE came for YOU, that you are the ornament on our Father’s heart, the most precious gift. As the new year unfolds, and we step into 2025, I pray that you step in step with the Father, allowing Him to be the ONLY dance partner and leader, following His steps through the reading of His Word and spending time in prayer at His feet.

 
Prayer request: Please continue to pray for my aging parents and my big bro in Florida as we seek His miracle of healing and wisdom in next step of care.

Prayer request: As we launch our new church plant in Dangkeo in Phnom Penh, please pray for unity amongst the launching team of which I am a small part as I help in the establishment of a Skills Training programme in the new location.

 
Please send in your prayer requests as we continue together in this journey! 

 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vedya 

#294 - Celebrations and Sorrow and I did a Vidya!

Vol. # 294 

Good morning from my kitchen here in Phnom Penh! 

It is MUCH TOO HOT to be up on the rooftop. We are just finishing up a 2-day holiday, Water Festival, and a full day at church on Sunday! Many activities have occurred since I last wrote to you.

- I was honored to be invited to the 70th anniversary of the Khmer Bible: 1954-2024. This picture depicts the current head of the Cambodian Bible Society, Lokru Pisit, who is also an elder from New Life Fellowship Church, Phnom Penh, as well as one of the worship leaders in voluntary capacity at the church. It was so humbling to see the evolution of the Bible from just one translation in scroll/paper form to digital form where the Khmer Bible is available to not only adults but also to children. There is a Khmer Bible geared to cell group study and interaction for kids. Just as for English translations where we have NIV, The Messenger etc., the Khmer Bible is being translated into other interpretations as well, moving from the old way language version to 6 versions! On my IPad I can have both the English version and the Khmer version on one page, which is helpful in my own Khmer Bible study! 

 

70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE KHMER BIBLE

The artist painting in the background depicts the Bible as the light held by His hand! It was moving to see 4 separate artists draw different parts of this picture before bringing it together as one whole picture before us on the easel! We in the western world are so blessed to have so many translations of the Bible, His Voice. I pray that I do not become nonchalant to having that direct access to His Word while so many still do not have that privilege and freedom to read His Word!

DAVID & CHRIS MANFRED; BOARD CHAIR OF BIBLE SOCIETY IN CAMBODIA AND C&MA PRESIDENT 

- Just after this ceremony on Sunday, I was invited to join the church planting team as they were going to support one of the provincial leaders whose wife had suddenly passed away one day prior. I did not personally know the leader or his wife and was at first hesitant to go since I was not confident in having the words in Khmer language to comfort them using the Scripture, but as I prayed that night I felt that I should go as I am not usually invited to go to the funerals. As I stepped out and walked to the daughters who were standing there, they greeted all those before me with the traditional raised palm gestures, and when I reached them, the daughters (each separately) came and hugged me, crying on my shoulder. 

AT FUNERAL

I was surprised at first, but immediately just stopped and held each one, hearing His whisper in my own ears saying, just be my Presence to those who are grieving, no words but my quiet solid Presence! It was a cremation ceremony on the Buddhist land. Christians are allowed to pay to do Christian burials there since the small country church has no land of its own to bury their dead. I got to hear the testimony of the husband. Many years ago he had prayed for this dearly departed wife who had gotten in a terrible accident and was told that she her brain would not function properly and she would have to be taken care of. However, this husband prayed each day over his wife, and asked his congregation to do the same and they exhorted God to have mercy and to heal the mind of his wife, and God, in His grace and mercy, heard their prayers and she was healed!  For over 20 years since then she has been working alongside with him! I was so grateful that I heeded the voice of the Holy Spirit. The team and I were so blessed to be there.

- I was invited to attend the wedding of the son of our former leader of Women’s Ministry, Sister Malis. I got to know this precious woman of God and her husband when I was part of the welcome team for our 30th anniversary! She is a successful businesswoman along with her husband, yet so humble, and they both gave of themselves, serving so unselfishly. I got to see servant leadership at work, as well as the loving and respectful relationship between the 2 of them. I was invited to the morning ceremony that has all traditional Khmer components: begins very early, either at 6 or 7 and will go until lunchtime; then there is a break until the reception at 5 onwards with dinner and dance! My Khmer sister, Oun Sreyleak, who is a seamstress and has her own business, sewed both of my outfits, the Khmer traditional as well as the western dress. 

WEDDING EVENING ATTIRE

LOKRU VIRAK AND SISTER BORAMEY;:FUTURE LEADERS OF DANGKEO CHURCH PLANT

We had a great time celebrating the covenant of marriage of this young couple as well as the Christian testimony of the parents who made sure Christ was at the Center of each part of the ceremony! I was glad to witness the passing of the Christian legacy from one generation to another (the parents are the first in their family to become Christians). It was a huge wedding and it was a blessing to celebrate it with many from our church!

 
- Lastly, I know many of you have been praying for the translation team of which I am a part. This is a pic of a small part of the Information Desk Ministry that also helps in the facilitation of the translation ministry. Last Sunday we had 4 big teams visiting from USA, Australia, Singapore, China and Canada, over 30 foreigners. So we had to get the translations set up for them so they could fully participate in the worship service!

 

- A final note to give you all a bit of a chuckle. I did a ‘Vidya’. 

I went to the WRONG wedding (in my defence it was not really my fault since it was the location given!) In the pic you can see people going up the stairs. 

I also went up, thinking hmm, where are my people? I got up the stairs, even got a wedding souvenir, went to get a free coffee at the coffee bar, but thankfully did not sit with the other guests, as I kept looking for my friends! Thankfully, I got a call saying where are you? My reply: WHERE ARE YOU?Why are you not here and on time? It got all sorted out eventually. The location was further up the road at another wedding venue. Many also got lost but I was the only one to be part of the wrong ceremony. I was in the wedding video as well as the pics, so the poor bride and groom must be thinking who is that expatwhen they watch the video! LOL! I got a standing ovation from my own people when I eventually got to the correct location!

 
Prayer Request: please continue praying, as we plan on the new location at Dangkeo, on my role in helping with the English classes. I am still at the main campus but would be advising on the establishment of the English program.

Prayer Request: Please continue to pray for the healing and health of my brother Krish, and for my parents as well. 

 

Thank youas you continue to labor alongside me, dancing with the best dance partner, our Lord Jesus Christ! Please continue to send your stories and requests so I too can go to Him on your behalf! 

 

 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vedya