#167 - It is Finished! Grateful!

Vol.# 167

As I climb up the stairs to the rooftop, I can hear the sounds of the birds and the walking group as they talk and go for their early exercise walk. 
It is 5:30 in the morning and I woke up with the idea that I wanted to see the sun rise with Jesus this morning: a new day!

There are 2 songs playing from my phone: “What A Beautiful Name” by Hillsong; and ‘Still’ by Hillsong. So with the headphones on my ears so as NOT to wake up the neighbourhood, I am just rejoicing and yes, dancing (really, how can you sit when you hear ‘what can separate us ... Jesus brought heaven down...nothing compares to the name of Jesus ...”. Yes, even though the song is ‘Still’, I cannot help but move to the words and raise my hand and dance with Him! 

Thank you so much for your prayers and timely words of encouragement, calls and messages via WhatsApp, email, FaceTime and FB Messenger. I am so blessed to have access to all of these.

Yesterday was exam day (excuse me as I jump and shout ‘You have no rival no equal...(words from “What a Beautiful Name). I was up at 5 yesterday morning to review my ‘talk’ and grammar. I got into school one hour early and proceeded to have ‘butterflies’ in my stomach! One classmate, who not only speaks Khmer fluently, but is also contemplating teaching a Nursing class at university level here in KHMER,  was ‘nervous’. I said to her that I was so glad to hear that even she was nervous! Yes, I know I missed an opportunity to encourage her, but I was just so glad to hear that she was nervous! Then another classmate walked in and said that she could not have any coffee in case she threw up! Who knew that these ‘gifted’ mates would be so nervous as well? 

OH the sun is rising! 

Coincidentally, "Behold" is playing through my headphones and the words “Then sings my soul, behold the Lord our God’’ play just as His masterpiece of colours just lights up the sky! 

It is now time to enter the class after an unusually long wait, and as I enter the classroom with three teachers waiting there, I get a flashback to the first exam from Level One, and it is the same two teachers who were there from the start who were my examining teachers now. I asked for the ‘speaking part’ to be done first (I have to speak on a prepared topic and answer questions from the teacher), and then ‘listen’ to a story and answer questions which are written in Khmer afterwards. I know my ‘weaker’ skill is listening and responding, so I like to do that last. 

Praise:
In the feedback after, the teacher said that I answered all the questions correctly and when the teacher asked me questions, I was able to answer his questions. Pronunciation is what I need to work on, but my fluency and understanding got good and very good! There were no ‘poor’ or ‘okay’ ticks in the teachers assessment. In tears I thank you all for your prayers! 

Then I walked into the exam room where my other classmates had already been for the hour and half of writing. There was complete silence as pens and pencils were busy answering questions. At first I was blank, but then I got into a ‘groove’ and started to write and answer questions. I know for certain that 3 grammatical questions out of 25 were probably wrong. Then there was only me writing the exam since everyone else’s time was up. 
Then...FINISHED!
 

I walked to the local restaurant, and when I walked in the door my classmates were already there and they started to clap as I walked up to the table! What a wonderful way to end the formal part of my education there! 

Final Lunch With Classmates

As I think back, God ‘chose’ these classmates for me to end the formal part of my education there. For ‘such a time as this’ (book of Esther), HE wanted me to be part of such a wonderful group, and if my former classmates David and Lauren had been there with me, then I would say that would have been my ‘Olympic team'!  

I am humbled by Him and by your prayers for me. I will know my grades next week, so I will let you know. 

Today is Valentine’s Day and so it is my ‘drive-by-and-give-gifts’ in His Name! I have talked about the salon I go to and last week the girls showed me a pic from last year when I got them a ‘Valentine’s Day’ cake, the first cake or gift given to most of them on Valentine’s Day. So I will go and drop a gift for them, and then to the school to give them a cake I had ordered yesterday from the local bakery here. I had them write ‘Dance’ and ‘Love from Auntie Vidya’ in Khmer! 

Coincidentally as l end this,10 000 Reasons and Rooftops are playing! My 2 songs from when I first came to Cambodia! 

SWEET! 

So I have to end this so I can sing and dance to my song, ‘I AM YOURS, HERE I AM STANDING WITH ARMS WIDE OPEN TO THE ONE, THE SON, THE EVERLASTING GOD...'!

Oh, now to pray for a ‘retreat' place!  

Grateful.

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya