#190 - Global Leadership Summit

Vol.# 190

I was about to write this update on my rooftop with the sounds of a wedding on my street below. A tent was constructed earlier on and the wedding or party was in full swing with the emcee and band sounds echoing out into the night, when suddenly the Wi-Fi went! So now I am in a cafe writing this because the power was also cut off, which meant no fan or A/C at my house!

However, just before I began to write, I got an unexpected video call from Pastor Wayne and Betty and Corrine C! What a wonderful surprise and how timely to be able to talk and see them, and then to have Pastor Wayne pray over me right here in the café.

Since my last update, we have had the Global Leadership Summit (GLS), and I was a part of the organizing committee. I am pleased that we had about 180, of which 140 were Khmer and the rest were expats.  Being part of this committee was reminiscent of the Christmas banquet events I was honoured to be a part of for so many years at RAC! There were early mornings and late nights of prep while still teaching at New Life Skills Centre, but we knew that this event was about inspiring and re-igniting passions for well established leaders and new leaders alike. 

Apart from Pastor Leah, I was one of 6 other expats helping to organize and run this event. What I loved about this committee was that the core organizers were all women! I was helping a Khmer, being her helper, as well as shadowing Pastor Leah and helping wherever I could.  We will be having a debrief meeting this weekend and a celebratory one for those of us who worked on it! I loved to see these young women rise to the occasion, for this was the first time they were part of organizing such a big event! 

 

Khmer Women Leaders At GLS

It was a learning curve for us all but I am most proud of my team, Minarath and Seanghort! My two younger brothers were my helpers at the Information IT desk, helping with the setup of translation from Khmer to English for the expats who attended the seminar. They not only came early but were also prepared and ready to serve, making sure they first had breakfast and time to pray together. I cannot wait to see the fruit from the seeds that were sown during this seminar!

My Team At GLS

On Site With My Team At GLS

Meanwhile my classes are going well and, in spite of being strict, the class numbers have grown! It is difficult to teach the evening classes and I smiled when I remembered last Monday. I was so tired and we got stuck in a bottlenecked traffic jam. I was inhaling fumes from not only the other tuk tuks but also the stench from the garbage truck ahead of me! My Jesus knew how tired I was and it could only have been His grace which provided me with a tuk tuk driver who looked at the situation and decided to take back roads (going off the main road), zigzagging right and left to get us out of the traffic! When we looked back we could see the traffic still bottlenecked at the back of us! That driver got the biggest tip ever that day! 

Praise: 

I had so many opportunities to pray with the younger Khmer teachers. I just walked into the office area and immediately I was asked to pray with them as I am their ‘bong srey’ or older sister.

Praise:  

I am able to use my Khmer language to teach English! When I am teaching English grammar, I use my Khmer to make sure the students understand the basic concepts before switching back to English!

Praise: 

I am continuing with my mentoring with Bopha this week at her request. I am able to meet with her at my house twice weekly. We are doing Psalms in Khmer and English plus a short story in English.

Prayer request: 

I am praying over moving from this house. There are repairs to be done here, plus there is also construction of a very tall condo building going on next door and the street below is very busy. I am asking for prayer for either peace to stay here, or to find a better place!

Prayer request: 

With so much writing now using my right hand, my tendonitis has flared up again. I am praying for relief and wisdom over how to deal with this.

On a personal note, I would like to acknowledge and celebrate the birthdays of my Dad who turned 92, and my nephew who turned 21, and my eldest brother who is in between those two ages! I am not there to celebrate those specific dates, but I do thank God that HE chose to have them come on this earth and for them to be part of His plan here on earth. I think of the prophets like Elijah and the chosen leaders of Israel like Moses who passed on their legacies onto the next generation. I am thankful for the lessons learned from my Dad and my brother, and I cannot wait to see His plan unfolding for my nephew! 

I am very grateful for all of your prayers. Please continue to send your stories and requests as we do life together and dance with Him!

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya