Vol.# 208
”Grace is when the truth explodes, and the truth can be dark and ugly, but grace comes in to help heal...” This is how one of my Khmer pastor brothers defined grace to me as I was sharing that ‘grace’ was one of the words that God gave me at the beginning of this year. Sham Krishnan also reminded me that grace and truth often go together! And here was this Khmer pastor using both of these words in passing at the office! This week reflected that definition with the relationships around me, and I am very grateful that Jesus the Christ is my role model for grace and truth!
“God gave me a promise when I was young that I would study English and become a business woman. I would get an education. I did not know then that my family would become Christians. My father who was a monk would now turn our family home into a home church, but during those years, we lost money. I was not able to go to school but had to work. Yet that promise is now being fulfilled at age 27!” That was part of the story of one of the women in my class. She is the oldest student and was sharing how she heard about the free education at New Life Skills Centre. She is able to come and study and still work as an independent real estate worker. This particular class is in the morning and fits into her schedule.
My first class begins at 8 in the morning and lasts for one and a half hours. Previously our classes were for one hour, so I thought, wow, this might be more than I can handle! However, because of your prayers for creativity and grace, classes seem as if they are only one hour! I am able to use different methodologies to teach in one class session to suit the different needs of my students! The first class is a ‘closed’ class and has 8 students who will receive a certificate at the end of the semester. I have this wonderful opportunity to invest into their lives, and to connect them to the youth activities at the church.
My first class begins at 8 in the morning and lasts for one and a half hours. Previously our classes were for one hour, so I thought, wow, this might be more than I can handle! However, because of your prayers for creativity and grace, classes seem as if they are only one hour! I am able to use different methodologies to teach in one class session to suit the different needs of my students! The first class is a ‘closed’ class and has 8 students who will receive a certificate at the end of the semester. I have this wonderful opportunity to invest into their lives, and to connect them to the youth activities at the church.
My second class is an ‘open’ class which includes the student I mentioned above, which means students can flow in and out during the semester. Their English ability can range from beginner to pre-intermediate and the numbers in my class can go from 6 upwards! I am blessed that my morning classes have remained small because of the time. Yet, my Khmer teachers who teach in the afternoons and evenings have class sizes that range from 38 to 70 in one class with multi-level fluency in English!
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| Students in Class#2 |
I am grateful to the band of ‘tuk tuk drivers’ who see me and now call out my ‘address’ as my name to get my attention, with readiness to take me home! Usually I have to go on the APP on my phone and wait for a driver to be free which takes a longer time, but God has put these drivers where I have found favor (and also pay .50 cents more). So at the end of my teaching sessions when I am tired, I can just walk out and one of them will be there to take me home!
Praise: My housemate is away and my washing machine broke down. I prayed and asked God for help as I had about 8 loads to do. My housemate reminded me that just across the road is a new business that started while I was away, and they fixed machines! I prayed, and gathered up the courage to go and talk to them in Khmer, and they came over and fixed the machine for ...$3! I gave them more but I remembered His promise when I went walking at José and Lisa’s place, that He would be my protector and helper and I want to praise Him!
Prayer Request: Please pray for a house helper. The dust and ashes from a nearby factory seems to be blowing my way, so the rooftop which is exposed on the sides is filthy, and that is my place of solitude, as well as where I hang my clothes! It is too much for me to clean, so can you pray that I am able to get honest help, please.
Praise: My visa is being extended as I write this.
Prayer Request: Can you pray that I would get it sooner rather than later, please?
Prayer Request: The Global Leadership Summit of Cambodia: Can you pray that eyes will be opened here to see what a great opportunity it is to sow into the next generation of Khmer leaders and that many will come? We are praying for open doors at the government level, and for the business sector to come and see and participate in the 2-day video cast seminar on the 20/21st of this month. I am part of the organizing committee and I need His eyes to see where I can be of the most help, trouble shooting in areas where we need the most support.
Thank you! These past two weeks have been the most challenging spiritually and emotionally here, yet I have seen His Hand at work, and I have never felt more treasured and cared for by Our Saviour! Thank you for being my “Hurs and Aarons”. Please let me know how I can in turn be your Aaron and Hur. At His feet is the Most High Place!
Love, His Warrior and Disciple,
Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia,
Your sister, Vidya
