Vol. #132
How blessed I was to have not one group, but two groups from Canada visit on the same weekend!
The first group was of course from RAC, and I got to meet Pastor Wade for the first time, and reconnected with Dennis and Marcia Bergman, Mr. Muir, Tony de Almeida and Paul Stringer! PLUS, Betty George flew in earlier from the States, so I got special one-on-one time with her!
It was short and sweet as I had the group over to my place so that they could meet my community here.
They got to meet Channak, and Tony and Paul got to lift weights on Channak's exercise bench. They also met my students who came over earlier to prep the BBQ food and help set up the rooftop area.
They also met one of my G2K teachers, Meng, who came with the purpose of not only to meet the group, but also to take a look at the rooftop area to see if it would be appropriate for a once-a-month worship time for students from G2K and teachers alike.
And in case you were wondering, he said it was awesome!
So I will keep you all updated on when we will be holding that worship time. One of the couples from my church was also able to come, Krong and Liep; he is the pastor of missions; planting churches. He had just come from the province and was very tired, but they still came up!
I had also invited the couple who owned the coffee business in front of G2K, and they were able to connect with Pastor Wade and share their stories. The landlady and her husband came up, but had to go back to be with her Mom, but I am glad they at least came up.
Channak's parents and siblings were also there as we all ate, and then had the opportunity to not only pray over the RAC group Khmer style, but to have the RAC group pray over us all!
My brothers from RAC are also representatives from the Alliance Men and I had asked my students if we could sing the first song I taught them back in 2011, and one which God gave me when I first started to work at Rescue! Can you guess the name?
Yes ...10,000 Reasons!
Praise God:
One of my students came up to me before the dinner began and said, "Cher (he is the one who calls me Sir!), I hope you do not mind," but one of his friends was feeling very lonely so he invited him to come over to dinner. I said that is why God has given us this place! I am humbled that he felt comfortable enough to invite this student over to God's place.
Praise God:
As we sang 10,000 Reasons on the rooftop, I looked up and saw this stranger come up to the rooftop and I wondered, "Who is this man?" He was an expat and the only expats present were those from RAC. Apparently he heard us singing, and was walking about trying to find the 'church', and met one of the students who was coming later to eat with us. So he came up the stairs with the student. He lived across the way from us and works with YWAM and wanted to come and join us! Channak gave him his card and he spoke a bit with the guys from RAC. I see God using this place as His meeting place!
Valentine's Day:
As many of you may have already seen the link that Lisa Cheong posted on her FB: https://www.facebook.com/safecitiesforwomencambodia/videos/1848216512123085/
For many Khmer women and girls, Valentine's Day is one where they are more vulnerable to be raped or coerced into doing something with their boyfriends! The government posted warnings, and famous female Khmer personalities produced a short video to say that forcing anyone to do anything against their will was unacceptable!
Knowing this, I thought of my 'girls' at the salon. They so want to be that special Valentine. So I wondered how I could get them to watch this little video made by these celebrities. I know they would listen to these women, so I went to get my hair done on Valentine's Day. I bought them a cake and I showed them the video!
It was a good conversation starter, and I discovered who had a boyfriend, and I was able to ask if the boyfriend treated them with respect (Yes, I conversed in Khmer! ).
But I thank God that in the morning I was able to say Happy Valentine's to my Jesus, and I am humbled by His unconditional love for me!
Oh, when I went to the bakery to get the cake, I got a free rose, so I prayed and asked God to whom I should give it. I gave it to the young girl who works at the coffee cart in front of my school, and who is seeking the truth about God. She gave me the biggest hug. It was her first rose she had ever received!
Finally:
On the 18th of February, my Dad turns 90!
I will miss celebrating his 90th birthday in person, but of course, I will call to talk to him. I just want to say that I am grateful to my earthly dad for teaching me grace and discernment; when not to speak, and when to speak!
My 'Popsicle' as I call him (never 'Dad' but 'Popsicle'!) has a quiet sense of humour, (yeah, I know the quiet part was NOT passed down to me!) and when I am at home, he gets up early in the morning and makes coffee for me, because he knows I have my coffee time with Jesus; even before he makes coffee for himself!
I love to watch cricket with him (Yes, the game), and love the fact that he would eat anything I cook no matter what it tastes like!
And yes, believe it or not, we can sit in silence together comfortably without feeling the need to speak!
Thank you, Popsicle, for your legacy of being a pastor back in Trinidad and Tobago and for being my earthly father!
SO if anyone of you wants to call my Dad for his birthday since I am not there, please do!
I am hoping he gets 90 calls ! LOL!
The first group was of course from RAC, and I got to meet Pastor Wade for the first time, and reconnected with Dennis and Marcia Bergman, Mr. Muir, Tony de Almeida and Paul Stringer! PLUS, Betty George flew in earlier from the States, so I got special one-on-one time with her!
It was short and sweet as I had the group over to my place so that they could meet my community here.
They got to meet Channak, and Tony and Paul got to lift weights on Channak's exercise bench. They also met my students who came over earlier to prep the BBQ food and help set up the rooftop area.
 |
| Vidya and 7 chairs in a tuk tuk |
And in case you were wondering, he said it was awesome!
So I will keep you all updated on when we will be holding that worship time. One of the couples from my church was also able to come, Krong and Liep; he is the pastor of missions; planting churches. He had just come from the province and was very tired, but they still came up!
I had also invited the couple who owned the coffee business in front of G2K, and they were able to connect with Pastor Wade and share their stories. The landlady and her husband came up, but had to go back to be with her Mom, but I am glad they at least came up.
 |
| RAC Prayer team |
Channak's parents and siblings were also there as we all ate, and then had the opportunity to not only pray over the RAC group Khmer style, but to have the RAC group pray over us all!
My brothers from RAC are also representatives from the Alliance Men and I had asked my students if we could sing the first song I taught them back in 2011, and one which God gave me when I first started to work at Rescue! Can you guess the name?
Yes ...10,000 Reasons!
Praise God:
One of my students came up to me before the dinner began and said, "Cher (he is the one who calls me Sir!), I hope you do not mind," but one of his friends was feeling very lonely so he invited him to come over to dinner. I said that is why God has given us this place! I am humbled that he felt comfortable enough to invite this student over to God's place.
Praise God:
As we sang 10,000 Reasons on the rooftop, I looked up and saw this stranger come up to the rooftop and I wondered, "Who is this man?" He was an expat and the only expats present were those from RAC. Apparently he heard us singing, and was walking about trying to find the 'church', and met one of the students who was coming later to eat with us. So he came up the stairs with the student. He lived across the way from us and works with YWAM and wanted to come and join us! Channak gave him his card and he spoke a bit with the guys from RAC. I see God using this place as His meeting place!
Valentine's Day:
As many of you may have already seen the link that Lisa Cheong posted on her FB: https://www.facebook.com/safecitiesforwomencambodia/videos/1848216512123085/
For many Khmer women and girls, Valentine's Day is one where they are more vulnerable to be raped or coerced into doing something with their boyfriends! The government posted warnings, and famous female Khmer personalities produced a short video to say that forcing anyone to do anything against their will was unacceptable!
Knowing this, I thought of my 'girls' at the salon. They so want to be that special Valentine. So I wondered how I could get them to watch this little video made by these celebrities. I know they would listen to these women, so I went to get my hair done on Valentine's Day. I bought them a cake and I showed them the video!
 |
| Valentines Day at the hair salon |
It was a good conversation starter, and I discovered who had a boyfriend, and I was able to ask if the boyfriend treated them with respect (Yes, I conversed in Khmer! ).
But I thank God that in the morning I was able to say Happy Valentine's to my Jesus, and I am humbled by His unconditional love for me!
Oh, when I went to the bakery to get the cake, I got a free rose, so I prayed and asked God to whom I should give it. I gave it to the young girl who works at the coffee cart in front of my school, and who is seeking the truth about God. She gave me the biggest hug. It was her first rose she had ever received!
Finally:
 |
| My Dad and I in Tobago |
I will miss celebrating his 90th birthday in person, but of course, I will call to talk to him. I just want to say that I am grateful to my earthly dad for teaching me grace and discernment; when not to speak, and when to speak!
My 'Popsicle' as I call him (never 'Dad' but 'Popsicle'!) has a quiet sense of humour, (yeah, I know the quiet part was NOT passed down to me!) and when I am at home, he gets up early in the morning and makes coffee for me, because he knows I have my coffee time with Jesus; even before he makes coffee for himself!
I love to watch cricket with him (Yes, the game), and love the fact that he would eat anything I cook no matter what it tastes like!
And yes, believe it or not, we can sit in silence together comfortably without feeling the need to speak!
Thank you, Popsicle, for your legacy of being a pastor back in Trinidad and Tobago and for being my earthly father!
SO if anyone of you wants to call my Dad for his birthday since I am not there, please do!
I am hoping he gets 90 calls ! LOL!
Love, His Warrior
and Disciple, submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia,
Your sister, Vidya
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