Vol.# 196
Celebration is the acceptance of life in a constantly increasing awareness of its preciousness. ~ Henri Nouwen
A dear supporter of mine sent me that Nouwen quote. It made me think of not only the meaning, but also the relevance of this statement here in Cambodia. The context of this statement was in relation to the announcement of not only the graduation of Nathan G from medical school but also that he was the recipient of the award of excellence in bioethics from the University of Toronto! It had not been an easy road but he kept his stance for Jesus Christ, not wavering from his faith amongst the skeptics in the secular academic world. He had parents who prayed for him and who allowed others like me to be part of a prayer chain along the way. I, for one, am PUMPED that there is another soldier for Christ in the medical field!
This announcement made me think of my spiritual sons and daughters here, my ‘boys and ‘girls’ from Rescue with whom I am still connected, and the newer ‘sons’ and ‘daughters’ that He has given to me since then. I think of ‘Yeang’ who is in two of my classes. He recently gave his life to Christ at a ‘Friendship Camp’ conducted by a team from Water of Life Church, California. I think of ‘Viriem’ and ‘Yon’ who also went to the camp and decided to go deeper in their faith, posting about their faith on FB. I celebrate them!
This announcement made me think of my spiritual sons and daughters here, my ‘boys and ‘girls’ from Rescue with whom I am still connected, and the newer ‘sons’ and ‘daughters’ that He has given to me since then. I think of ‘Yeang’ who is in two of my classes. He recently gave his life to Christ at a ‘Friendship Camp’ conducted by a team from Water of Life Church, California. I think of ‘Viriem’ and ‘Yon’ who also went to the camp and decided to go deeper in their faith, posting about their faith on FB. I celebrate them!
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| STUDENTS FROM 2 CLASSES ON WAY TO CAMP |
All of these students come from disadvantaged backgrounds, but they have a richness of spirit and grace that humbles, and I pray as Nathan G had many who encouraged, prayed and advised him, that I would be one of those blessed to walk with them through this season. I am grateful as a community that there are others who are also helping by discipling through small groups.
Life here is not easy for these students with obstacles like lack of money and parental support without guidance in making the right choices as opposed to the easy choices. However, I celebrate their appetite to learn! I asked them yesterday, “So… on Fridays when I am not teaching at 8 in the morning, what do you all do?” And they said that they sleep in! And it dawned on me that 23 students do not have to wake up early to come to my class (it is free after all), but they get up and come to class at New Life Skills centre before going to work and then attend university evening classes! Two of my own (named above), go to work after my second class until 9 in the evening, and still do school work after that, but they make sure that they wake up early to come to my classes the next day!
How precious and sweet is that! That makes me work harder to be the ‘best’ teacher as possible for these students!
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| FRIENDSHIP CAMP WITH TEAM |
Praise: The coughing has mostly gone away. The pic below shows my new normal!
Praise: The discipline of getting up at 5:30 in the morning to spend time with Him is no longer a ‘discipline’ but an excitement as to what is Jesus going to share with me today kind of a feeling!
Praise: My friend Lauren and David are back in Cambodia with their new baby girl so my ‘community’ is back together again! Yay!
Prayer Request: Please pray for wisdom as I prepare exams for my classes, and as I prepare my presentation for the 11th August, at the Chinese church at RAC and the 18th at the English church at RAC!
Thank you all and see you soon!
Love, His Warrior and Disciple,
Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia,
Your sister, Vidya
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