#260 - Retreat Highlights!

Vol.# 260

It has been a while but I wanted to thank you for praying for our staff retreat, the first we have had in over 2 years. Three buses and 3 cars, and six hours later we were finally at the hotel! We got there safely and I am sending a couple of pics for you to see. We were divided into groups and we competed in different games and events. One of the challenges we did was to look at a group of pictures and to try to mimic their poses. 

And, guess what?

My team won that challenge and the pictures of us on the beach are our prize-winning photos! Let me tell you, it was not as easy as it looks to stand up on someone’s back that is greased with suntan lotion and then hold on to get the right pose and pic! Our team got knapsacks as our first place prizes!

 
I had asked for prayer as another ex-pat and I were asked to help organize the prayer part of the retreat. As we both prayed we came up with the idea of everyone writing down on cards anything that would block them from fully participating in worshipping our Lord. We made a cross with the help of LED lights, and with baskets at the bottom, we had people place their burdens. We had certain Bible verses printed in Khmer and in English surrounding the cross and candles lit along the way. We then stuck the cards on the cross, symbolically giving Jesus our burdens, and after prayer time, Brittani (the other expat) and I turned the cards over to the blank side, so that no one could see what was written (all confidential, no signatures) so that all could see that when they took their burdens to the Cross, to Jesus, HE took them, so that the written burdens on the cards were no longer visible, a symbol of all going to Jesus.  It was our first time leading this with the worship team and we were blessed that it helped many to enter His Presence more fully after surrendering their earthly worries to our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Another surprise was that Lokru Samdy, who is the head of our church, came and asked if I would share what I did to draw near to Jesus, for 5 minutes on the morning of the last day of the church. Even though I was not prepared to speak to over one hundred people who sat in a huge circle facing me, I just spoke with my translator about spending time with God, reading His Word and I showed them by using His Word in a practical way how I approached my time with Him. This sharing time was totally unexpected but I am glad I was able to share about my love for His Word and for His Voice!

 
When I returned to the office, the ‘sharing’ continued but in the form of my Canadian sweatshirt! The air conditioner can be so cold at times, especially where I sit, that I have had to leave a sweatshirt that has become now communal in that anyone who is cold will go and put it on! So I prayed that anyone who puts it on would feel His Presence and comfort wrapped around them and that His love would just embrace them for however long they are wearing it! It is so much fun to see that the younger ones feel so comfortable to come and ask to borrow or to just borrow it if I am not there! 

One of my blessed times is when I get to spend time with 2 younger Oun Sreys (younger sisters) who were my students when I was at Rescue and are now interning at the church with a young man who is now running the cafe at the church.  We all met for breakfast, my treat for them, and just spent time laughing and eating, building up our relationships. I am so proud of these two young ladies as they are also not only a part of the Information Desk/Welcome Committee of which I am a volunteer member, but also the Co-Leaders of the Team!

The last pic I took was from my balcony and I just loved how in the midst of the darkness of the clouds the moonlight was coming through. I just had to capture it as for me, it represented when things look bleak to us, God is in the midst and His light will always shine through, that the breakthrough will come in the form of His light! Grateful that I was able to sit and spent time with Him as I gazed up at the sky!

Lastly, I had a bad allergy/cold and I got a call to go down to the gate of my place, and there on the gate were apples and oranges from my Sisters Liep and Seyha! They had come over on their motos to bring the fruit for me. I thank God for this gift of caring!

 

 

Can I ask your prayers for:

- wisdom and discernment as I meet with 3 leaders for prayer as well as to listen and be a bridge for them and one other leader!

 
- upcoming domestic missions to the countryside where we have church plants: to choose wisely which ones to participate in to give spiritual and practical support.

 

Thank you for all your prayers and continued sacrificial giving! 

 
Please continue to send in your stories and prayer requests as we dance together for His glory and honour!

 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vedya