Vol.# 141
It is election fever here in Cambodia.
This is the first time I have seen the opposition party allowed to be out en masse on the streets, wearing their caps and shirts.
For the past 2 weeks, my mornings began with the sounds of the two political parties advertising their specific political party on loud speakers attached to tuk tuks! This is reminiscent of when announcements are made back in Trinidad, political or otherwise, with loudspeakers attached to cars or trucks.
Then today everyone at church were proudly displaying their fingers with the ink on it after they went to vote!
I was asked to volunteer at the info desk today so that my co-members could go back to their birth province to vote, or to have time to go and vote in Phnom Penh if PP is their 'home town'.
I have been intrigued by the elections, listening to others express why they choose to vote for a certain party or not, getting to learn more words in the context of voting. My tuk tuk driver who picked me up this morning, was a friend of my usual tuk tuk driver and he proudly displayed his finger with the ink on it showing me that he already went to vote with his family.
We are now awaiting the count to see who won the election!
Update: And yes, the ruling party won again!
Thank you all for your prayers for a house helper.
I did find one. Her name is Srey An and she speaks Khmer most of the time. She is fast in her work, but does not clean things well and she is a bit wary of the iron!
But together for the past two weeks I have been with her learning words in the context of cleaning etc. and showing her how to get things done.
This reminds me of when I worked with my guys in the Community Service programme at RAC! She asked me questions about why I pray etc. So it has been good for me to think and try to speak in Khmer about my faith!
One morning when I was praying, the name of the Student Coordinator from G2K popped into my mind so I sent an email to invite her out to lunch. Usually the students go out with the teachers but the admin. staff can be overlooked. She was so happy to get an invite and I was a bit nervous knowing that our convo would be all in Khmer! She has a cute daughter and lives with her mother here, and is curious as to why most of the expats she knows who have come to volunteer here follow Jesus Christ! We had fun eating Khmer food and just sharing with each other.
Then after our usual football match last Saturday as I was talking to one of my Khmer teachers, I noticed that he was yawning a lot so I asked him why he was so sleepy. He said it was so hot in his room he could not sleep. I remembered that I had a standing fan I was not using, so he came home and I gave him the fan and the old ironing board which he took on his moto! I wish I had taken a pic of that to share with you!
But what I did not know was that, during the game, that same teacher was talking to my friend Julia and was telling her that he noticed how we foreigners not only help each other but we help the Khmer as well! And she was sharing about Jesus with him. So she was sharing the words and ,I unaware of this, was doing the action to the words!
So cool when God works like this!
Answer to prayer re: tutor:
AND... COMING SOON TO A CHURCH NEAR YOU...
It is the VIDYA!
Yes, I will be home on August 2nd. I leave here on the 1st and should be home for around 2 months!
I cannot wait to see you all and hear your stories in person!
Love, His Warrior and Disciple, submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia,
This is the first time I have seen the opposition party allowed to be out en masse on the streets, wearing their caps and shirts.
For the past 2 weeks, my mornings began with the sounds of the two political parties advertising their specific political party on loud speakers attached to tuk tuks! This is reminiscent of when announcements are made back in Trinidad, political or otherwise, with loudspeakers attached to cars or trucks.
Then today everyone at church were proudly displaying their fingers with the ink on it after they went to vote!
 |
| Channak's Voting Finger! |
I have been intrigued by the elections, listening to others express why they choose to vote for a certain party or not, getting to learn more words in the context of voting. My tuk tuk driver who picked me up this morning, was a friend of my usual tuk tuk driver and he proudly displayed his finger with the ink on it showing me that he already went to vote with his family.
We are now awaiting the count to see who won the election!
Update: And yes, the ruling party won again!
Thank you all for your prayers for a house helper.
I did find one. Her name is Srey An and she speaks Khmer most of the time. She is fast in her work, but does not clean things well and she is a bit wary of the iron!
But together for the past two weeks I have been with her learning words in the context of cleaning etc. and showing her how to get things done.
This reminds me of when I worked with my guys in the Community Service programme at RAC! She asked me questions about why I pray etc. So it has been good for me to think and try to speak in Khmer about my faith!
One morning when I was praying, the name of the Student Coordinator from G2K popped into my mind so I sent an email to invite her out to lunch. Usually the students go out with the teachers but the admin. staff can be overlooked. She was so happy to get an invite and I was a bit nervous knowing that our convo would be all in Khmer! She has a cute daughter and lives with her mother here, and is curious as to why most of the expats she knows who have come to volunteer here follow Jesus Christ! We had fun eating Khmer food and just sharing with each other.
Then after our usual football match last Saturday as I was talking to one of my Khmer teachers, I noticed that he was yawning a lot so I asked him why he was so sleepy. He said it was so hot in his room he could not sleep. I remembered that I had a standing fan I was not using, so he came home and I gave him the fan and the old ironing board which he took on his moto! I wish I had taken a pic of that to share with you!
But what I did not know was that, during the game, that same teacher was talking to my friend Julia and was telling her that he noticed how we foreigners not only help each other but we help the Khmer as well! And she was sharing about Jesus with him. So she was sharing the words and ,I unaware of this, was doing the action to the words!
So cool when God works like this!
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| G2K Teachers and y friend, Julia |
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| G2K Teachers and Students Football Team |
Answer to prayer re: tutor:
I have two with whom I meet on alternate mornings; both have different styles, but I speak in Khmer for at least 2 hours each day and then read in Khmer.
Prayer request:
I need to get out of my comfort zone and initiate more time with native Khmer speakers.
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| Info Desk Members on boat (1) |
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| Info Desk Members on boat (2) |
Two nights ago all of us from the Info Desk at New Life church went on a boat ride together. Our leader is very good at communicating with all of us and making sure we operate as one team, so the info team from my church and one of the other church plants got together. I was surprised that most of them did not go out much, so they were very happy to be out on the boat!
I have an idea to get them out to my home for a meal one night! While we were on the boat we could hear the call to end the fasting for Ramadan. I had never heard it before here. I am accustomed to the Buddhist chants etc. So it was different hearing the call over the water as we were on the boat singing worship songs! The other info members did not know what they were hearing so I tried to explain!!! AND... COMING SOON TO A CHURCH NEAR YOU...
It is the VIDYA!
Yes, I will be home on August 2nd. I leave here on the 1st and should be home for around 2 months!
I cannot wait to see you all and hear your stories in person!
Love, His Warrior and Disciple, submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia,
Your sister, Vidya
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