#158 - A refuge in the midst.

Vol.# 158

Here I am on my rooftop. 
The breeze is blowing.
I have my mosquito spray already covering my arms and legs. 
Then God shows me His masterpiece! 
The sunset.

I sit in awe looking at the colours of the sun as it sets. Then I start to sing and sway, then dance as I celebrate His artistry! And yes, even though it is still very hot and dusty, I think of how blessed I am to have this piece of refuge in the midst of a place awash with loud noises, and people chattering, motos passing by, and yes, the never ending sounds of construction!  

I am excited because the theme of leadership, which affects impact and influence, has been resonating in my life for the past three months. I did not intend to attend the John Maxwell 2-day seminar on leadership this past week here at my church, New Life Fellowship, but the wife of one of the pastors had suggested that I go since I was already signed up to help with the upcoming Global Leadership Seminar next month. So I thought, what could I lose? 

Again I was humbled by what I learnt, and again God reminded me that as a leader I can either have a negative impact and corresponding influence on others, or a positive one based on HIM! 

This past week we studied the Prodigal Son parable in Khmer, and as of next week we all will be sharing our testimonies and praying at the beginning of our classes in Khmer! 

I am pumped to be able to read in my heart language here, even though I am still the slowest in the class! I am not exaggerating when I say this; proof in point, we had an assignment which everyone did within the allotted time in class. However I was struggling with it! I felt that ‘despair’ but when I returned home, my housemate had kindly cooked dinner, so I ate and then came up on this very rooftop, and redid the assignment and focused and was able to do it in 5 minutes! 

I rejoiced but still cannot figure out why I could not get it finished in class!

Here are a couple of pics of me enjoying a football game with a former student from Place of Rescue with his fiancee:

 

Praise: 

My visa has been renewed for one more year! The requirements had been changed for the usual kind of visa I have been getting since I have been in Cambodia. With your prayers and sage advice, God has answered so graciously! 

Praise: 

My two tutors I had before were able to resume teaching me as I await to finish Level 8, the last level of formal language learning. I thought they might have been too busy but was relieved to know that they were available for me!

 

Praise: 

I reconnected with fellow Khmer volunteers at church. It was good to be missed by them and I also missed them!

Praise:

I reconnected with my former Khmer teachers who are truly becoming like family.

Prayer: 

In the midst of the business, please pray that I would remember that learning Khmer is important, but not to put too much pressure on being perfect, because the most important thing is communication. Having said that, that I would be bolder in speaking and initiating conversations in Khmer!

 

Prayer: 

We have new tenants moving in the downstairs apartment. Please pray that we would have a good relationship and that I would be able to model His fruit of the Spirit!

 

But before I close, I would like to say a special thank you to Pastor Wayne and Betty Kerr. 

I watched on livestream as they shared on their next step in their journey with God. There are a couple of pics in my mind when I think of them. 

Pastor Wayne: I have this pic of Pastor Wayne on his knees cleaning the steps and he still had his jacket on. He had seen a need and immediately attended to it. Another pic is of the two of us having a discussion in his office over a miscommunication and he was so humble as he offered his apologies over an incident with my crew from the Drop-In Centre. Pastor Wayne was the first leader who had the honor of having his car ‘creamed’ by my kids. The kids were in awe of him but also wanted to ‘prank’ him because they liked him!

Betty: I have a pic of Betty serving me breakfast at their home, making me feel so at home and welcome. Then there is Betty here in Cambodia, intent on serving others in spite of the heat and not feeling one hundred percent healthy, but still ready to pour out her love on others! And then Betty being gracious and praying over me, giving me the freedom to be ‘real’ and therefore cared for and loved! That is a very special gift she gave to this international worker! 

Thank you to you both and I cannot wait for your special Facetime calls! 

With a heart of gratitude to you both: you both will always be my pastors for life! And that is a promise! I love you both so very much! 

Please keep sending me your stories and prayer requests!

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya  

#157 - Happy Canadian Thanksgiving in Cambodia!

Vol.#157

We were all at our brother Matt's and sister Nary’s home. They bravely did an open invitation to all Canadians in Phnom Penh to come and celebrate Thanksgiving.

Folks from all of the different provinces were there, bringing pumpkin pies, to turkey stuffing, to turkey! That same day the power went out in Matt and Nary’s neighbourhood, and with the help of a generator they were able to get the lights and fans going but no A/C!

Everyone just kept coming and putting their contributions to our meal on the table until there was no room! And then Matt with Nary at his side began to sing our Canadian National Anthem. One by one we all joined in proudly singing the words to our anthem that unites us as one, from province to province! I wish I had had the presence of mind to tape it but I was caught up by us singing the anthem out loudly!

Then I thought, "This is how we should be as His Body; singing out not only His praises but also in unity sharing His message." We were made up of different organizations, stemming from short-term workers, to workers who have been in Cambodia for over 30 years. Cambodia is our heart country with Canada being our roots and sending country. (I am blessed to have two sending countries, Canada and The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, but that is the best part of being Canadian: that I can hold on to my Trini-ness and still uniquely be Canadian!

I thank God for allowing us to be sent from a country where freedom of speech is a right, and where we would not be sent to prison or arrested because of our religious beliefs. I am grateful for being in my heart country, where we are allowed to share our beliefs and allowed to serve our brothers and sisters here!

To my own blood family, I am thankful for your blessing and release here to Cambodia. I miss you all very much but I know God has you in the palm of His hands!

To my ‘other’ family, you all, I thank you for your continued partnership in this dance with God here in Cambodia! 

I love you all!

 Please send me pics of your own celebrations and of course your prayer requests so that we can go to His feet together!

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya     

#156 - Back home in Phnom Penh

Vol.#156

I awoke at 3 in the morning thinking, "Where am I? "
And... "Why is the washroom not where it is supposed to be?" 
Then I realized I was not at my parents’ place, but here, back in my own home in Phnom Penh! 

The second leg of the journey went smoothly. 
All was quiet in Hong Kong when we got in around 4:50 in the morning. Nothing was open and we all looked like we needed sleep. I sat next to two gentlemen that I was suspicious of because of the shady reasons why they were in Cambodia! There were no reasons, just "the people are friendly!" 
So, you all know me. I began to pray ‘them’ down in my mind! 

As I was clearing though Customs the agent asked me if the bags going through the X-ray machine belonged to me, and since he was already wearing gloves, I resigned myself for my carry-on luggage to be searched! BUT, the poor man was just helping me to carry them to another place to make things easier for me! LOL! 
I have to admit I was just about to have ‘diva’ moments in my head but then I heard GOD saying, "I TOLD you I will take care of you, Vidya," but with my past history of being always ‘chosen’ to be searched, I forgot all about His promises! (There is a sermon there!) 

Today I went out in the tuk tuk to get groceries, and I enjoyed the feel of the rain gently blowing in the breeze into the tuk tuk; looking at familiar sights, and yes, being in a traffic jam! 
Then I came home to find the landlord in talks with Channak and who had two young men come in to put a mosquito door screen in, so I can have the living room door open for fresh air and not get invaded by mosquitoes! The irony is that they were putting in the screen around 6-ish when the mosquitoes are becoming active, but they had to have the door open to install the screen. So the mosquitoes were coming in whilst the screen was being put in, so I was swatting them with a mosquito tennis racket. 
They love my sweet blood! 

Mosquito Door Screen

I got a hug from the landlady who is nice, even though she thinks that I am a bit ‘crazy’ even for a ‘barong’ or foreigner! 

Thank you all for your prayers for transitioning back to ‘life’ here. At first it was a bit ‘lonely’ because I was just with my blood family and you, my friends, who I call my ‘other family’! My housemate Channak made sure I had my ginger chicken and rice for my first meal and now says the house is no longer going to be quiet! 
I have already invited my tuk tuk driver whom I have known since 2011 and whom I get to pick me up in his ‘taxi’ from and to airport for Christmas dinner with his wife. I was talking about Christmas with him and suddenly I thought he is within my sphere of influence, so I should invite him and his wife for dinner! Unexpected on my part! 

Prayer Request: 
Please pray that as I crave to spend ‘coffee’ time with Jesus, I would crave that time in my language studies. Tomorrow I will go to pick up the curriculum from the first class which I have missed at school, so please pray for continuing strong bonds with my teachers. 

Prayer Request: 
Please pray for wisdom as I balance life here.


What are your prayer requests? 
How can I help as we dance together with Jesus? Please do send in your stories and requests as it is an honor to go before our God on your behalf!

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya  

#155 - Farewell and Thank you!

Vol.# 155

Thank you everyone for your prayers, hugs, and words of encouragement as I was leaving Toronto.

As I was waiting to board the airplane, the line was so long that I decided to just sit and wait it out. One of the desk flight attendants was checking everyone's passes etc., and as I was about to stand and go to the back of the line, he says, “Come, let me check you in, you have been waiting a long time!”

I sat next to two gentlemen who helped me with getting the cover off my ice cream dessert, and who were very gentlemanly in manners! I did have 2 screaming kids in front of me, but after a while that became 'white noise'.

God was so good. My black scarf and one of my earrings had fallen and I could not find them and I prayed. Just as I was leaving the plane, I saw my earring at the back of my seat, and one of the flight attendants had found my scarf! I felt God saying, “Chile, these are just examples of ME taking care of you! I have you in the palm of my Hand. And just as I am taking care of you, I will look after your parents as well!”

You know, every time I leave, I keep thinking this is the 'hardest' time yet to leave my Dad and Mom, but truly this time because we spent so much time 'liming' together, it was and is really hard. Isn't it just like Jesus to show me that they would be taken care of even in the smallest details by showing me how HE cares for me on the plane?

 Liming with Mom and Dad

So I give my parents a 'shout-out’ for them blessing me and sending me off even though it may be difficult for them. They have released me back to the Great I AM, Jesus the Christ!


How amazing the timing for my last full weekend to have my sister Ramona lead the rhythmic part of the service, singing one of my 'life songs', Oceans, with Charlene, my other sister, playing on the team sending me off. 

Then I had Pastor Wade blessing me with new vision and new perspective on my journey here; Pastor Chris blessing me on Sunday with a tongue to speak Khmer (I know most of you were chuckling when he started to say 'loosen Vidya's tongue...’) ‘cause you all think 'that girl does not need more loosening of the tongue’! 
But Pastor Chris was referring to speaking Khmer! 

Thank you Ramona for my new song in this season of my journey here: 'Shadow’ by Hillsong". A new song to dance too! Yah! 

My body feels as if it needs to be pulled apart and put back together again! You know the various positions one goes in when trying to get comfy.

Ah, the coffee place just opened, I have to get in line!

Love and blessings to you all.

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya