Vol. # 294
Good morning from my kitchen here in Phnom Penh!
It is MUCH TOO HOT to be up on the rooftop. We are just finishing up a 2-day holiday, Water Festival, and a full day at church on Sunday! Many activities have occurred since I last wrote to you.
- I was honored to be invited to the 70th anniversary of the Khmer Bible: 1954-2024. This picture depicts the current head of the Cambodian Bible Society, Lokru Pisit, who is also an elder from New Life Fellowship Church, Phnom Penh, as well as one of the worship leaders in voluntary capacity at the church. It was so humbling to see the evolution of the Bible from just one translation in scroll/paper form to digital form where the Khmer Bible is available to not only adults but also to children. There is a Khmer Bible geared to cell group study and interaction for kids. Just as for English translations where we have NIV, The Messenger etc., the Khmer Bible is being translated into other interpretations as well, moving from the old way language version to 6 versions! On my IPad I can have both the English version and the Khmer version on one page, which is helpful in my own Khmer Bible study!
70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE KHMER BIBLE
The artist painting in the background depicts the Bible as the light held by His hand! It was moving to see 4 separate artists draw different parts of this picture before bringing it together as one whole picture before us on the easel! We in the western world are so blessed to have so many translations of the Bible, His Voice. I pray that I do not become nonchalant to having that direct access to His Word while so many still do not have that privilege and freedom to read His Word!
DAVID & CHRIS MANFRED; BOARD CHAIR OF BIBLE SOCIETY IN CAMBODIA AND C&MA PRESIDENT
- Just after this ceremony on Sunday, I was invited to join the church planting team as they were going to support one of the provincial leaders whose wife had suddenly passed away one day prior. I did not personally know the leader or his wife and was at first hesitant to go since I was not confident in having the words in Khmer language to comfort them using the Scripture, but as I prayed that night I felt that I should go as I am not usually invited to go to the funerals. As I stepped out and walked to the daughters who were standing there, they greeted all those before me with the traditional raised palm gestures, and when I reached them, the daughters (each separately) came and hugged me, crying on my shoulder.
 |
| AT FUNERAL |
I was surprised at first, but immediately just stopped and held each one, hearing His whisper in my own ears saying, just be my Presence to those who are grieving, no words but my quiet solid Presence! It was a cremation ceremony on the Buddhist land. Christians are allowed to pay to do Christian burials there since the small country church has no land of its own to bury their dead. I got to hear the testimony of the husband. Many years ago he had prayed for this dearly departed wife who had gotten in a terrible accident and was told that she her brain would not function properly and she would have to be taken care of. However, this husband prayed each day over his wife, and asked his congregation to do the same and they exhorted God to have mercy and to heal the mind of his wife, and God, in His grace and mercy, heard their prayers and she was healed! For over 20 years since then she has been working alongside with him! I was so grateful that I heeded the voice of the Holy Spirit. The team and I were so blessed to be there.
- I was invited to attend the wedding of the son of our former leader of Women’s Ministry, Sister Malis. I got to know this precious woman of God and her husband when I was part of the welcome team for our 30th anniversary! She is a successful businesswoman along with her husband, yet so humble, and they both gave of themselves, serving so unselfishly. I got to see servant leadership at work, as well as the loving and respectful relationship between the 2 of them. I was invited to the morning ceremony that has all traditional Khmer components: begins very early, either at 6 or 7 and will go until lunchtime; then there is a break until the reception at 5 onwards with dinner and dance! My Khmer sister, Oun Sreyleak, who is a seamstress and has her own business, sewed both of my outfits, the Khmer traditional as well as the western dress.
 |
| WEDDING EVENING ATTIRE |
 |
| LOKRU VIRAK AND SISTER BORAMEY;:FUTURE LEADERS OF DANGKEO CHURCH PLANT |
We had a great time celebrating the covenant of marriage of this young couple as well as the Christian testimony of the parents who made sure Christ was at the Center of each part of the ceremony! I was glad to witness the passing of the Christian legacy from one generation to another (the parents are the first in their family to become Christians). It was a huge wedding and it was a blessing to celebrate it with many from our church!
- Lastly, I know many of you have been praying for the translation team of which I am a part. This is a pic of a small part of the Information Desk Ministry that also helps in the facilitation of the translation ministry. Last Sunday we had 4 big teams visiting from USA, Australia, Singapore, China and Canada, over 30 foreigners. So we had to get the translations set up for them so they could fully participate in the worship service!
I went to the WRONG wedding (in my defence it was not really my fault since it was the location given!) In the pic you can see people going up the stairs.
I also went up, thinking hmm, where are my people? I got up the stairs, even got a wedding souvenir, went to get a free coffee at the coffee bar, but thankfully did not sit with the other guests, as I kept looking for my friends! Thankfully, I got a call saying where are you? My reply: WHERE ARE YOU?Why are you not here and on time? It got all sorted out eventually. The location was further up the road at another wedding venue. Many also got lost but I was the only one to be part of the wrong ceremony. I was in the wedding video as well as the pics, so the poor bride and groom must be thinking who is that expatwhen they watch the video! LOL! I got a standing ovation from my own people when I eventually got to the correct location!
Prayer Request: please continue praying, as we plan on the new location at Dangkeo, on my role in helping with the English classes. I am still at the main campus but would be advising on the establishment of the English program.
Prayer Request: Please continue to pray for the healing and health of my brother Krish, and for my parents as well.
Thank youas you continue to labor alongside me, dancing with the best dance partner, our Lord Jesus Christ! Please continue to send your stories and requests so I too can go to Him on your behalf!
Love, His Warrior and Disciple,
Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia,
Your sister, Vedya
