#16 - Working Out With Jesus

Kick Boxing and Thank You

Just a quick update and prayer request for more creativity and a renewed passion to teach.

Here I am sitting outside my place; it is ten at night and there is a full moon. 
I can see the stars and it is beautiful. I have been here for seven months and this is the first time that I have taken the time to just sit outside and look at God’s creation. There is the sound of frogs and, yes, mosquitoes are buzzing, but it is cooler outside with a slight breeze and it is good to just sit and look up at the sky, with the stars sparkling.

Thank you for all of your suggestions. 
I have been using music and beats to help the kids learn grammar, and, yes, it works! 
It is fun to see the kids sing the beat in their heads as they try to figure out the answers (object pronouns, he/him) during their tests!
   

As I mentioned in the other update, I had gone to a couple of kickboxing classes. 
Yes, for those who know how ‘athletic’ I am, you can close your mouth in astonishment at my news and you can get off the floor from laughing so hard. 
I have been practicing the few moves I have learnt during the week much to the amusement of my students here. They are now imitating me and laughing and saying do not mess with “Bopha”, (yes, alas I have another nickname from the students and even though it means butterfly/beauty, there is another meaning (which I am in the process of investigating), which makes the students laugh and nod their heads at me. I ignore them!).

But He has given me some mental pictures during my practice. I picture fighting in the heavenlies against apathy and negative attitudes as I kick and punch; and that is just for me! 
It is my time with Jesus as I work out with Him. He gives me mental pictures of what I should be praying against for that day!

Unfortunately my instructor has left so I am now waiting for the new one!

Thank you all for your prayers.

Please continue to pray that I would persevere in learning Khmer. 
My heart’s desire is to pray in Khmer, not only for my students but for the house moms and grannies as well.

Pray that I would persist in setting aside time to be with Him.

Thank you. 
Please forgive me for taking so long to write to you. I’ve been very busy in preparing lessons, as well as the internet has been sporadic.

Love you all. 

Still Dancing with Him,

   Love, Sister Vidya

#15 - The Rat; The Gym; and To Market We Go!

And there was the …

RAT
So there I am sitting with Channak and hearing about his experiences out west in Canada (the dancers and chaperones had just come back from their tour of Calgary, Vancouver etc.), when all of he sudden he says, “There is a rat going into Annette’s bedroom!” 

I got up from my chair and say to Annette, “You may want to put your feet up on your bed and your skirt as well” (She was wearing a long skirt and it was trailing on the floor). She looks up at me and Channak quickly goes into the room and closes the door.

Now I have to admit since I had not seen the rat, and he closed the door so quickly, I thought he was playing a prank on me and wanted to get Annette to be his accomplice. SO, I went back to my emails (I can access it on my computer when he comes across and brings his IPhone. I do not ask how he can do that, I am just grateful). 
I can hear banging and scrambling going on but still do not think much of it until C comes out of the room holding the RAT by its tail! 
I am sorry for you rat lovers out there, but it was dead! 
He killed it with his hands! (Actually his right hand, so I am not going to be shaking his right hand any time soon!) 
Annette comes out, she had jumped on the bed but then the rat went on the bed, so she had gone to the washroom and closed the door and through a hole in the door was peeking out and yelling to Channak where she thought the rat was! 
We were laughing and being grossed out at the same time. Part of its tail was still in the room and we were trying to clean up the area. 

THE INTERNET
That was the icebreaker that was needed for us all. It had been an intense time of readjusting to new schedules in the English program; plus, trying to work without a photocopier on site; having to go into the village area every morning to photocopy; adjusting back to the new class time; plus, the usual, no internet, and maybe no water. 
(Curious thing: for the week Channak and team came back we had internet, now that he has gone to Philippines with Pastor for a conference, no internet once more! I am doing this on Word and waiting to transfer this to my email when I get into the city!) 

THE GYM
Someone has made it possible for me to join the gym here on weekends when I come into the city. Today was my first visit with a personal trainer who speaks a little English. I chose him because on my first time he was helpful with the breathing techniques. I prayed and asked God that he would be available! It so happens that it is a holiday today, which is Friday, and we came in and he just happened to change his shift today! 

Many of you have been praying for me to find a community on the weekend and I have made connections with the owner of the hotel in the city. Her name is Lim and not a Christian (yet!) but she was interested in going to the gym and asking for special rates for hotel guests. I told her I would pray that she would find favour when she meets with the manager on Monday. We have had spiritual discussions off and on since I have been coming here. 

TO MARKET WE GO!
I was discussing with my older students the possibility of going into Bek Chan, which is the market place outside of Rescue to get sports clothing for the gym. The boys said, “Cher, we are going to take you on our hours off.” 
However that morning, Tarkuean, who is Marie’s assistant and housekeeper and chef, called and said that she would take me on the moto. 
I went with her thinking the boys would forget. But they did not and came with their bikes! So there I was perched on the back of the bike and off we went. I was thinking I was going to be one of those kids who would be asking ‘are we there yet’, but I was pleasantly surprised! 
I did not know where to put my feet just in case it came into contact with the spokes on the wheel and it was so hot, but the guys had fun in bargaining and trying to get me t-shirts (nothing was over three dollars!). 

As we were riding back, Visal, one of my older students said to me, “I think it is cool that you went with us to the market!” 
And the other kids from Rescue who passed us by were laughing and cheering me on! 

PRAYER REQUESTS
This past week has been tough in some ways: teaching some parts of the lessons were a challenge. Eccl: 12:9-10 says …Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order...” 

Could you pray that I would not forget my primary visible role here: to teach; to be creative; that I would not just settle for following the curriculum; that I would have His imagination in teaching techniques; that I would have the passion and energy to seek out different ways of teaching? 

I have felt the restlessness of the students in the past 2 weeks, so can I ask you to pray for their attention and hunger to learn English? This has been difficult with no Internet at times, so I could not access certain educational sites. Thank you. 

Ezekiel 33:32: Indeed to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice…for they hear your voice but do not put into practice… I do not want to be spiritual fluff here. My invisible role is as an intercessory prayer warrior. I want to do some damage in the heavenlies. 
I need His discernment but also alone time with Him. 
Can you pray that I would be more deliberate in setting aside time? 

I pray for you all and I want to thank those of you who keep sending me your prayer requests. It keeps me connected to you! 

Still Dancing with Him (kick boxing actually!),

   Love, Sister Vidya

#14 - Six Months: Beyond the comfort zone

Vol.14

Six Months

Mark 4:35-41(NIV) 35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

At my six month mark here, this is the Scripture that spoke the loudest to me: 'He said… let us go over to the other side.'

God said to me, 'Vidya, let us go to Cambodia.'

He did not say, you go, but He used ‘us’.

Such a small word, two letters, yet so powerful and so comforting. I am not alone, the great I AM is with me.

And then it gets better in verse 36, it says …they took him along. 

I am here. You all are with me in my journey. I have this picture of you in boats coming alongside me, rowing with me. 

And, yes, the best part of this verse, … just as he was! 

God wanted me in my imperfect state to do His will. From conversations I have had with some of you, I got the impression that some people think 'Oh! God is using Vidya because she is super spiritual. Look! She was on the prayer team… she was working with Pastor Sam (!)… etc. She has her act together…(Wait one moment as I collect myself from laughing!)

I want to let you know that He uses people who are struggling and broken. He wants all of us to be on His team. He wanted me to move now, not wait until I was ‘perfect’ (for then I would be dead!).

When it is time to move, you have to move. God was and is calling me to a new level of faith. Am I willing to exercise that faith, to leave my comfort zone behind? God may not be calling all of us to physically move from one place, but I know He is calling all of us to exercise that new level of faith. He is ‘upping the ante’, so to speak. Am I going to leave my comfort level of faith and go for it? There are greater things on the other side.

There is an anointing when I allow my faith to be exercised. Learning to sing praises even BEFORE going through a trial. Singing or in my case, dancing, brings down the strongholds. I CAN be in the boat with Jesus and yet not go to that different level of faith. I can move physically to where He wants me but still stay at the same level of faith, still in my comfort zone of faith.

But I want to go to the other side, I do not want to stay in Ch. 4 but I want to move to Ch. 5:1 …they went across the lake..

Thank you all for going with me across the lake, praying, interceding in the battle with me; sending me cards, phone calls, emails….visiting. I miss the intimacy of praying with others onsite. I am very grateful to have had the experience of being able to pray with those who have come to visit, on Skype and on the phone. My prayer life comes alive when I, too, can intercede for you, the cord of His Holy Spirit bringing us together.

What keeps me going?

Mark 4:38: (Allow me to paraphrase this) I picture my students asking me this, “Cher (or vidya cute girl) , don’t you care if we drown? Why are you not giving your best to teach us, why are you NOT doing what He has told you to do?

HE has given me so much: His life; His unconditional love; He has asked me too as in verse 40: Why are you still afraid to venture out and do what I ask you to? HE just has to speak and the winds quieten down. What assurance and, yeah, what power.

...Some people have asked "What are you doing?", just as they did to the disciples when they were asked by God to untie the donkey and bring it to Him (Mark 11:5). All I know is that God does not need me to fully understand what I am called to do, He just calls me to fully obey, that is why I am crossing over to the other side of the lake with Him, in Him and with you. ....
I serve a God and a King who is alive.

Gems:

• Being able to Skype in and see Ken and Christine Kho get married. Highlight for me was seeing you all; and the highlight for Wayne Deering, who made it all possible by his expertise, was that he was finally able to mute me! Yes, you heard me! He has done what you all may have wanted to do at some time: press the mute button and I was silenced! (Not really! I was singing up a storm and yelling like crazy when I saw you all and Chris and Ken saying their vows!)
•   Getting to Skype and say Happy Thanksgiving to my sis, and nephews!
•     Phone calls and hearing your voices.

Weeping and gnashing of teeth:

Since Channak and Pastor are with the tour group in Canada, one of my unexpected duties is discipline. 
The other English teacher knew there was a possibility that the kids would be misbehaving in one class so I told her to dismiss the ‘good’ ones early and keep the unruly ones back and I would come into the class to talk to them. I forgot about this and I was passing by the class when I heard kids crying and was wondering what was wrong. There were 4 kids, three of whom were sobbing their hearts out and one was just sitting there! 
They were told I was coming and before I came the crying started! 
I, then, in my mind, resorted to my Trini mindset (or West Indian!), thinking seriously. I was exasperated, thinking “I will give you something to cry about!”…“Why are you crying?”… to another thought, “You are not crying about anything, SO, I will give you something to cry about!”

Yes, my mind worked that fast and I was about to smile when I remembered I was there to discipline! It was hard because these were the little ones, and the tears rolling down their faces, and the sobs shaking their bodies. (I know you are thinking ‘Oh Vidya, how could you!)

These are the same kids who refused to listen to their teacher and ignored her and, yes, they could do the tears like no other! 
Their punishment: no Thai movie on Sat. night!

I had asked you to pray for creativity when disciplining (also no work for me, correcting lines and essays is punishing ME!); and for one of my own students: he got to stay in his room with his English book as his only company! (He was reading a Khmer book in class and he is very social.)

It is late at night, and the internet connection is gone again and so my housemate Annette and I are going back out with our flashlights to check one of the rooms to see if the power is on. Yes, I am going back out even though a frog just jumped on my foot! And, nope, I did not scream. It is probably the same one that was in my bathroom this morning; not sure how that got in!

King-Father and the King of Kings

The Ex-King Norodom of Cambodia died two days ago in China. His body is being flown back here and for next 3 months will lie in state before the funeral. The older generation of Cambodians grieve for the loss of the king-father and one said, ‘He is loved because he did things for the country.’ He led to their independence and helped to build up the country.

I immediately think of our King, the Lord of all, and His death, and thankfully His resurrection, and the hope I have in Him, an ever-present, unshakeable, and enduring hope. He is the reason that I dare to go to the next level of faith, to go across to the other side of the lake, to not stay in Ch.4 but go to Ch.5!

Community
Shannon and Graham Erickson are here; an example of my community bringing in a care package from you, my community in Toronto. But having them here, in the flesh, talking and sharing, and praying together, is the most powerful gift. And we get to share that gift of ourselves with Pastor Sok and Savy. I have regretfully not been able to visit them since I have come here, so it is with great anticipation I look forward to seeing Tahas Institute and the kitchen which was just opened in 2009, and which you in Rexdale helped to establish (you see where my heart is!), and the library!

I am back in the city to finish this. I do apologize for not sending frequent updates, but with my laptop acting up and not having internet (but can Skype--go figure!) for the past 5 weeks since the group left to go on tour in Canada, it has been difficult to send things out!

I just came from breakfast, and as I was walking by, a group of tuk tuk drivers said to me, “thank you for honoring our King Father”. I was wearing the black ribbon pinned to my T-shirt and had forgotten about it. Wearing it has been a bridge with the hotel staff and the workers in the grocery, and now tuk tuk drivers. Prime Minister Hun Sen has declared seven days of mourning here, so everyone is wearing a black ribbon above the heart to show respect.

Last night I had an opportunity to take my 5 students who graduated to House of New Dreams in the city, (grade 11 and university) to see the Palace where the king’s body lies in state; to Night Market on the river side. I forgot that these kids, even though they are Khmer, have never been to the city, except to their house here or to go to New Life ( Khmer church) in a van from the centre. SO I was their tour guide!

Photo credit

You should have seen their faces, when they saw all the lights and water fountains in Independence Square, when they saw all the tall buildings, all the people out at night, all the cute girls (yes, they are all boys and kept saying, ‘Cher’ go make friends!'). They were quiet when they saw the hundreds of people sitting on the road in front of the palace, with the incense candles and hands in prayer formation, praying to the king. We talked about respect and honor but also we pray only to Jesus Christ. And I wanted them to look and see how many of their own people need Christ: we prayed that those who bend the knee there to the king would soon bend the knee to THE KING OF KINGS!

Then being boys and being me, we went to hunt for food! At Night Market, which is exactly what the name means, a market at night, with 2 exceptions tonight: it is usually quite noisy with the gambling calls and the entertainment on stage, but tonight, it is quiet due to the passing of the king. We walked and bought sugar cane juice, and sweet potato patties and sat on the mat, Khmer style, at the food area and just enjoyed being there.

I was thinking, “Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to be there with them for this first experience.” I was surprised by how excited they were when I got there with the tuk tuk from Rescue to take them out! They do not have the money to go into the city at night (they have bikes which they ride to school in the daytime) and it is about 20 minutes from their place to the city. So it was sweet to be there with them. They kept saying, “Thank you Cher, or vidya cute girl!”

I end this with a grateful heart that you, all my community, have sacrificed your time and your finances by rowing along with me. At times it has been very taxing, it takes a lot of energy to row, sweat pouring down our faces, yet how refreshing it is when the wind blows and He so sweetly speaks. I pray for the anointing of His Spirit on all of us.

I love you all.

Dancing with Him ever so much,

Love, Sister Vidya

#13 - Computer, Camp and Camouflage!

We are on our way to camp. 
I have been up since 4; could not sleep. Toi from the office was reconfiguring my computer; the note that the Windows program was counterfeit kept popping up on the screen. However in the process of trying to fix it I lost everything that was on the computer! Did not find that out until late last night; I have to tell you I was so disturbed(!) that I was on my knees. 
At 6:30 this morning Toi came to my door and asked about the computer and I asked him about all of the stuff that I had (the over 1000 songs from Itunes) and he said that we may be able to get it all back but it would take 4 to 5 hours. I felt my Lord saying, I knew about this my child, and I the Great I Am have already gone before you my child. You see, I brought Toi to your doorstep! 
Well little 'i' went on my knees to thank and praise Him. As soon as I got to the camp, I spoke to Channak who is the other resident computer specialist, and he said he heard about what happened from Toi and he would try and retrieve it if I was nice! 
(Hmm..., maybe I should not have taken his gym weights from his room!) 

I am with the older kids now. 
I just shared the story of my last major bus trip. It was when I worked for Youth For Christ and we had taken kids to Disney! My guys fell asleep and I had warned them if they slept they were 'fair game'. I put make-up on one of the guys (not easy on a moving bus!) while he slept and when we got off at one of the rest stops, he could not figure out why people were looking at him until he went to the washroom! All I heard was a yell of "Miss'! 
Ha! 

So now that I have planted the seed here, it would be interesting to see what will happen on this trip! One of the guys did fall asleep and, yes, I put on blue eyeliner and lip gloss on his cheek! However, he figured it out before we made our scheduled snack stop! But it was funny to see Bah Kim, who is on the committee, laughing as I put on the makeup and actually taking out his iPhone to take a pic!

The topics that were discussed were the names of the teams: Patience, Wisdom, Joy, Grace and Obedience. The games were fun and geared to working as a team and on the themes I mentioned above. Most of it was in Khmer, so I was lost a bit, but got the translation for the testimonies at the campfire on the Friday night. 

There were no fans there, and the beds were bunk beds but with a difference: there was a plank of wood, and on it a thin blanket and that was it! 
No mattress! 
But I was touched that the girls there shared what they had with me, and they had doubled up to sleep on their 'beds' so that Teacher Shannon and I could have our space! 

On the Friday we went down to the river, and each team had to put on tribal makeup and make clothing out of the grass, and 5 of us were appointed judges on the skits they had to perform in the water! Not as easy as it sounds, it was slippery with the stones so half the fun was trying to stay upright! And after the judging, the other fun part was attacking and splashing each other! 

Of course I was a target and it was "get vidya sugar cute girl.ca!" I was laughing so hard that I could NOT get up and fight back as I was splashed from all sides! Also the pants I was wearing was falling down (too much info eh?). I had borrowed one of the guy's shorts since I did not have one (three quarter style) and the waist was too big! But I did stand up in victory and yelled with arms upraised! 

Man, was it ever hot! I was told by one of my students that there would be no fans and that I would die! On the Sat. night I changed houses to be with the older girls. Three of us slept on the floor! It was actually cooler sleeping there. I was given cotton wool to put in my ears which served 2 purposes: prevented anything from crawling into my ears and I did not hear the mosquitoes buzzing! Well, one of the cotton wool fell out of my ear so I did hear one buzzing around! 

The girls (10 of them in one house) were so excited that they would be up at 4:30 in the morning! Did I mention on the first morning there, I looked up and two of my students were standing right by my bed, and I heard 'good morning teacher' and they were already showered and changed! Plus, the little orphaned girls who lived at Place of Rescue 3, Pailin, where we camped would be up and just staring at us. They stared more at Shannon, she was the only white person here except for Marie Ens who came on Friday. 
And even though it was camp, and we did not have to be up until 6 for exercise (ran and walked about a mile the first morning, still feeling those after effects let me tell you!). The little girls were up at 5 (as the norm here at POR 1) as well as the older kids! 

It has been a while since I wrote the above; did not have access to my laptop and thought the above was lost. I did lose all of my other updates however and all of the music plus all of the photos I had taken and copied on my laptop! 
I am learning through this to give it all to Him and do the best that I can with what I have! 
Channak is not here to help me with getting the photos and sending it off to my sister who puts it all together. Prayerfully two of my ‘boys’ will help since they take pics with my camera and then put it on their Facebook!

I am glad I went to this camp. It reminded me of how much fun I had when I went to camp growing up in Trinidad and I prayed that the kids here would have the same wonderful memories as well. I had them write about their feelings and experience as an assignment, (yes I am ever the teacher!) and they did not complain but just wrote about how much they miss their friends they made and the games they played. 

 Thank you all for praying for me: every time I walk into my bedroom I touch the laminated sheets of your signatures showing that you will pray for me and I pray for you! Please send me your prayer requests, I want to be able to pray into your life, to know what is going on. 
You, my partners, are important to me! 

Dancing Khmer style with a bit of Trini dance mixed in!
Sister V

#12 - It's All in the Name

Vol.12

Wow! It is ten at night and it has been a day filled with His wonders!

At the International church the pastor talked about seeking the counsel of God. He was referring to 2 Chronicles 18:1 when Jehosaphat sought God's will rather than listen to the prophets of Ahab! ...AS surely as the Lord lives I can tell him only what my God says. I will never compromise what God has told me. I pray that I never compromise on what HE has taught me in spite of the desert time I knew I would be experiencing.

God has many Names which we call on in specific situations: The Judge, Shepherd, Abba Father, Saviour, Redeemer, Lord, and the list goes on. I am humbled to serve such a great God who is the great I AM and Who encompasses so many names.I have one name, no middle name AND MY legal name which as you know is Vidya. 

Teaching

Teacher Peoun and Channak in the middle

Mealtime at Vidya's

I was given a Biblical name by one of my team mates from the 2009 mission trip to Cambodia. She actually gave it to me one month prior to coming here in March of this year! She could not think of one and when she was praying God said to her, Vidya's Biblical name is Esther! 

I am here for such a time.... there will be a time/times when HE commands me to speak and to intercede for His people here! Well the boys in my 7 o'clock to  8 o'clock class have given me 2 new names! Vidya ( V-D-YA) Sugar! and the latest one, Vidya cute girl ( yes they say the whole ting!). Tonight they changed it to Vidya cute girl!

With Grannie

With Marie

With Halina and Stacey on houseboat

Tonight we had a town meeting about the sickness that has been so deadly to Cambodians. They discussed the symptoms, ways that we can help each other and the medicine to be taken etc.. Right now as we speak, it is a little after 9 and  two of the house moms are here to meet with Channak. My place is the most neutral, so there is a lot of Khmer talk happening and a lot of nodding and smiling by me! They are opening the cupboards and counting how many plates I have, and once in a while I am asked how to say something in English! 

Shannon

A kid stops by and says to me Vidya sugar! I look at him and am surprised. Apparently they are doing 'nicknames' in his English class and teacher Shannon used me as an example. So NOW they are all calling me Vidya sugar!  I am cracking up as I write this.

One of my students is sick; fever, headache. He was playing in the rain and caught a cold, but with this virus hanging over our heads, it is easy to get scared. I went to pray over him this morning and anointed him with oil. He has such a servant's heart and the gift of helps. He misses being in school! I went to give him my 'nano' so that he can listen to worship music and then I remembered I had Vicks Vaporub so I went back to tell his house mom to  put that on him. [Yes you Trinis out there, I brought that with me, our cure-all for our sicknesses.)

Prayer request: for me to find a community outside of Rescue when I come into the city.

I pray that the many facets of His Name will be made real to you. HE knows your desires, He knows your heart. I pray that you will feel His love intimately and dance with Him!

Halina's farewell party

Dancing with Him, 

Love, Sister Vidya

#11 - Solina: The Seed and the Flowers

Vol.11

Solina…

Pretty name; 3 and a half years old; had a high fever, had a seizure, went into the hospital for 3 days.

Everyone gathered to pray for her.

Friday night: special prayer went out as all of the kids prayed and asked God to heal her. 

It is early Sunday morning.

Just got the news that Solina is with Jesus. He called her home.

There is sadness and shock all around. She is the first orphan to die from POR. Grannies have passed away and also babies, but Solina is the first orphan.

I hurry into POR from the city. I walk into House 11, and they are in mourning.

Everyone is sitting on the floor, singing and praying in Khmer. It is then I noticed Solina on the floor covered by a purple towel. 

Her 'sisters' from her house surround her. I go and kneel down, touch her face and pray. 

He shows me a picture of her dancing and whirling around with Him in heaven all healed.

One of the house moms is praying and then she starts to cry. The cries come from deep within her being. No one goes to her. I get up and go and put my arm around her in a side hug and she collapses against me. I wipe her tears; we stay like that for a while. 

I notice a little boy (my buddy who climbs up and stays on my back!) crying, silently…tears rolling down his face. I motion to him to come to me, and he gets up and sits next to me. I wipe his tears.

I look for the older boys but they are not here. I walk out and I hear hammering and voices.  I soon find out the reason for those particular sounds. The older boys are outside building the coffin for her and then they go to dig her grave in the back of the compound.

I did not know that there was a cemetery in the back of POR.

 

The ceremony is moving. 

Marie translates for me. Sekhon, one of the committee members is giving the eulogy. She focuses on no guilt to be put on the house mom; that it was not her fault; and everyone listens. Then Pastor says a few words. They praise God for His goodness and then dedicate Solina to Him. The girls who live in the house, House 11, are the ones who carry the coffin which has yellow flowers on it and we walk slowly behind the coffin to the cemetery. Two of the girls who live in House 11 are my students. I open my arms and they run into them and cry their hearts out. 

It is so hot out there. Sweat pours down my back as the pastor says a few words and everyone gets a chance to look at Solina again. The top of the coffin is in the form of a cross, and then it is finished. Her body is put into the ground; very, very hard on everyone and even now as I write this, tears are coming to my eyes. She was so young yet she affected many. The older boys would go to the baby house to visit and play with her when she first came to POR as a baby orphan.

It is around 5, and the guys, my students who are 17 and 18 troop to my door. I have a picture of Solina up on a string in the middle of the room and they come in and touch it and ask, “Where is Solina?” 

Then, being boys, ask, “So ‘Cher’, do you have any cookies?” ‘Cher’, by the way, is not the French word for ‘dear’, but rather the ending of tea–‘cher’! I had cookies and boxes of juice, so they were happy and we just hung out together.

Boys and girls grieve so differently. They just wanted time to hang out with someone and they did ask about death and dying. They also made scary noises to tell me that Solina was going to come back as a ghost. That gave an opportunity to talk about heaven and the picture God gave me of her.

Solina is with Him, dancing and twirling around. I see her smiling and healed, yet that does not negate missing her smiles and hugs.

In Canada we would have grief counsellors come in to talk to the kids, but the fact that the kids participated in the funeral, from the building of the coffin to being the bearers of the coffin, helped in the grieving process. 

The house mom for House no.11 is the one who is having the hardest time right now. The house moms here are like the 'blood moms' of the kids in their houses and I admire them for their dedication.

One 'seed' has died (Solina); other flowers will and are beginning to bloom.

Flowers that are blooming:

#1 Flower - The boys now come to the house just to hang out. On Friday we had to pick up 3 bbq chickens with bread and they devoured it. There were 5 of them, yet they were the ones who washed up and cleaned up afterwards. Then they asked me to pray for them, for their studies and for their prospective 'honeys'! ‘Honey’ here refers to girlfriends!

Yes, just like Canada with the Drop-In kids! My only strict rule is that they have to speak English when they come! NO Khmer is allowed but they do sneak it in.  It is cool to see the boys come in when I am cooking to give me advice on how to cook something! I will be having a cooking class in the future with them. The only two girls in my class will be coming for dinner this week. It will be interesting to see the dynamics since their grasp of English is at a lower level than the boys.

#2 Flower - The house moms stop me and call me 'sister' and one of them asked for prayer for one of the babies. Fear of dying is the fear that if the other kids get sick that they, too, will die. I was asked to pray over one of the babies. Then one of the girls stopped me on my way to the library and said, “Teacher I am not well, can you pray for me?” SO I pray.

My prayer is that they know that it is not me but it is the GOD that I pray to Who heals and hears and loves them.

 #3 Flower - I am beginning to get a core group of guys and girls who want to come over and just 'lime'!  They started to come right after the funeral that day. Yes, for some of you I am using that word! For those who do not know the meaning: it is 'hang out' in Trini lingo!

Three of the guys came over to put up a tapestry that I bought at the market. They remembered and came over to put it up today. Then they looked at their handiwork and were pleased. I just looked at the process of how they did things and had to smile! They were measuring by hand, and discussing how many nails, and how to centre the material on the wall. 

Very touched by it all. 

At the end they said, “Cher, your room is like a hotel room, worth $200.00!” NOT exactly, but it makes them feel good to transform my home into a place they dream of!

 

 

  

Already they are talking about how to decorate the place for Christmas! 

So I will ask if anyone is coming or sending care packages, Christmas decorations would be great! I am still trying to figure out how to light up the place on battery power! I cannot use the solar energy so battery operated lights is a bonus. I was checking out Christmas wreaths etc. The kids have seen the red bows and ribbons etc. in pictures but never had a chance to see and feel them in their hands! 

  

#4 Flower - Teacher Peoun has asked if I would pray with him and his wife on Wednesday nights after class. I feel that they are so tired that they cannot pray specifically. 

Another student, (one who lives off POR but still comes to classes), has asked if I can pray with her and another girl on Friday nights (probably once a month, fasting and praying) for specific situations in their lives! 

And during the Friday night youth meeting, one of my core guys said, “Cher, can you pray for a very big exam in August!” So I put it on my phone to remember!

My invisible role that He had ordained for me is becoming more visible now. I leave this to go and pray with House Mom from #11 House. It has been a week since Solina has died.

Thank you all for your prayers, phone calls, emails and actual letters which I love to open and read and reread! I savor when I can open up the letters and cards: delicious moments when I picture you and feel His love.

Got to go dance with Him now. Dancing with Him is in the form of creative teaching for my midday class! 

Love, Sister Vidya

#10 - Ask and it shall be given unto you...

“Ask and it shall be given unto you.”

Well, you know your faith is not as great as you think when you make an offhand remark to one person not expecting that anything would be done about it. I was talking to Channak, Marie's assistant, about getting a key to the office area. Yes, I am going there because I needed to use the washroom there! Oh yes, I am going there! Have been having problems with my stomach and the squat toilet was not helping me at all! 

Squat toilet in Cambodia

The first time I used it when I had stomach trouble, let us just say no one told me about NOT using toilet paper etc., (yes, too much info for some of you), and let us just say it was NOT good! Anyway, not wanting to go to the bathroom is not good for my system so all I wanted was a key so that if I wanted to go at 3 in the morning or whatever, I could just go instead of waiting until 8 in the morning when the office opened! Well, MY LORD went beyond that and this morning as I was in Khmer class, they came into my room and removed the squat toilet and put in a regular toilet! Serious! I still am in a bit of a shock but then I started to laugh; HE knew exactly what I needed, so there you are!

If you think that GOD is not aware of what you need, He does and He will sometimes surprise you!

I wanted to see the EURO World Cup game but did not have access to it but still mentioned it to Channak, the same person who connected me for the toilet. He said he talked to Pastor about it because it would be for the older boys to see as well, but it started at 11 and would go on for two hours and we would have to get a TV etc.. Anyway I met the Pastor and we decided that it was a school day so perhaps it was not advisable for the guys to be up etc.. 

Well, next ting I know, Pastor said he would lend me his TV and I am up watching the Greece/Czech game as I am writing to you, about 11:33 at night! It was hilarious trying to set up the TV with the antennae, trying to find the right angle and twisting the antennae to find the best reception. The whole of POR is asleep except for me in this room. Of course the whole ting is in Khmer and a bit fuzzy, but, hey, all good!

 I am watching the guys play their daily volleyball game with a couple of the staff and I’m praying and hoping that the ball does not come my way. 

And hit me on the head. 

Of course, the kids are out and they want to touch and press the keyboard, so this might take longer to do than usual. I went to watch kids play football because watching the Euro game at nighttime and not going to see them play in the daytime just seemed wrong. 

Speaking of that, whoa! the ball just came over my head! Seriously! 

Wait... while I give them one of my famous looks! Ah, it still works because they are calling out ‘sorry teacher!’ 

Ah, now at soccer field, one of my students just scored two goals! And some child just jumped on my back and is now perched on my shoulders! He just snuggles in and is holding on so we stand together and watch the game and I walk back with him still on my back to my place and have to let him down. I do not know him, he is not one of my students but he gives me a wave and runs off.

Teaching was tough today, I had to discipline one of my brightest students, who came in late and then was not listening to my instructions. I am not sure if they grasped the lesson today. They know how to do the tests, write the words down but cannot transfer that knowledge to orals. Need prayer for this class at midday each day. Thank you all for continuing to stand in the gap and storm the heavens for me and for the kids.

One of the highlights of teaching is praying with Teacher Poeun before our six o’clock class. We have made it a priority to meet and pray for the kids and to thank God for the opportunity to teach the next generation of leaders of Cambodia.

God is so amazing, the same kid whom I had to discipline just happened(?) to be in the library when I stepped in to show Teacher Poeun and Teacher Kayar that I had bought a local cake (finally!), and was eating to show them how delicious I found it. Then I saw ‘M’ and gave him a piece of cake, which he took and gave me a smile together with his 100 lines of ‘I must obey the obey the teacher’! 

Food is the peacemaker here.

I am grateful and thankful to you all for storming the heavens on behalf of our kids here, on behalf of the grannies and the house moms. 

I can feel the burden being lifted off my shoulders and I know it is because you are praying.

With a grateful heart to you all, and to our King.

I came on dancing with my Saviour,

Love, Sister Vidya