Vol.# 272
Good morning, but not from my rooftop because the temperatures have been soaring from 97F and upwards so far, too hot to be up there!
Today we have the day off from work. Lokru Samdy has given all of us time to recuperate and be restored after a hectic 4 days of all-day seminars followed by special services in the evening.
Thank you for your prayers as I have been joining the devotion times for the Church Planting Team on a Wednesday morning, and then the Support Team on a Friday morning, and sandwiched in between our 5Ps and all staff meetings! I have included a couple of pictures of the CPT and ST devotional meetings. It has truly been a blessing as different members of each of these teams would lead and share a specific scripture or theme that God has laid upon their heart for that particular week. With the Church Planting Team, we sit around the table and sing and pray and after the person chosen to lead shares, each one of us then will share how it affected us. It forces all of us to pay attention and be fully involved (no phones allowed) in the process and then we share a prayer request and pray for each other.
At last week’s meeting Sister Matha shared on ‘having God’s ears to hear and His eyes to see’ when she goes out to the provinces to meet with other church planting leaders to hear their hearts and discern their needs. I had just gone to buy bread and had to walk down 2 flights of stairs (escalators not working) and was near the office when one of the cleaners of the mall building called out to me and I waved and moved on. I felt that God was saying to stop and give her one of the loaves that I bought, but ignored it and moved on. Just as I got to the door of the office, I felt God saying, ’where are your ears, Vidya, and your eyes? Did I not tell you to stop and give the bread? Did you not see someone in need?‘ I went back to the ‘sister’ and bent down and gave her the bread and as we looked into each other’s eyes, she smiled and I felt God’s pleasure! I went to the Church Planting room to share what just happened, letting them know that yes, even Bong Srey Vidya is learning more to obey that still small voice from the Holy Spirit!
The Support Team, comprised of more people, meet in a different space, a bigger room where we always begin with an icebreaker game, separated into 3 different teams and we are ALL competitive! We have a worship time and a chosen speaker to give a short sharing on a particular theme. It is interesting as those who are not usually in the spotlight, for example, those who clean/repair at the church now will stand in front of the group and share what God has been doing in their lives. How has this changed my relationship with the different members? The shyer ones now say ‘Good morning Bong Srey Vidya’ when they come into the office and they have included me in their coffee times or informal conversations at the desks.
Conversations: I am in awe of His timing! I felt that I should eat quickly and return to my desk at the office during my lunch hour. Everyone was still at the table but I went back and sat in the darkened room (we usually turn off the lights so people can rest quietly at their desks if needed) thinking mmm I really did not want a rest timeand was just about to leave when Donnie, a fellow Canadian, entered the office and asked if I had time to talk! We talked and prayed and I shared with him that I was just about to leave when he came to the office but felt that I should stay at my desk.
Then I got a message right after asking if I could meet with one of the young worship team members for a chat. I said yesand the youth was going through his first heartbreak and was struggling, so I listened, and prayed and grateful that another leader and I were able to give the same words of advice to him!
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| KHMER WOMEN LEADERS AT SISTER SOPHA'S HOME (I was the only expat invited! Honoured!) |
Reconnecting: You all have already met Oun Muylen from previous updates. We had not met since before Christmas last year so when she reached out, we met up at a coffee shop. She has been out to her hometown province training and mentoring leaders there. We had what I thought was a random conversation about teaching and education, but then she said, ‘Bong, I have been talking to school teachers about class management and class preparation and you have been sharing on this, not only the practical prep but the spiritual prep before you go to teach!’ So this conversation is not random at all! I cannot wait to hear more about what she is doing through BRAVE NGO in the provinces!
Two weeks ago we had the baptism of 30 people! My role on that day was to pray with the other leaders and shout encouragement as each person got baptized! As I prayed over one woman, she said, ‘Bong after this service, I am leaving to go into the province and I am excited as a teacher to share what God is doing in my life!’ So I prayed for her physical and spiritual protection as she was leaving at night time and moved by her words of wanting to share with those in her hometown province about what she has learnt about Jesus and taking the step of obedience to be baptized!
Finally, I hosted a lunch with my former students from Rescue who now live at the dorm of New Life church and work/volunteer at the church. We are still connected from so many years ago. I am so proud of all of them as they now live in the city and are going to school and working at the church.
Thank you all as you continue to share His heart rhythm for the people of Cambodia with me, your sacrifice of finances and time as you pray with and for me. Please continue to share your life stories with me so I can join you and ‘dance’ with you in as we do life together!
Love, His Warrior and Disciple,
Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia,
Your sister, Vedya
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