Vol. 68
As
I sit here trying to put my jumbled thoughts down on paper in the Welcome
Centre at RAC, I hear the sounds of Oceans by Hillsong and 10,000 Reasons being
sung by a group of kids, and my heart soars and I am humbled that God, Who
cares about every aspect of my soul knows that besides His Word, His music is
the next best way for me to hear His voice!
10,000
Reasons was my ‘anthem’ song for the first two years in Cambodia. I sung this
as I walked in and around Place of Rescue, I taught it as an English lesson in
my four classes, and even as I was in a tuk tuk going from the dusty city to
the even dustier village, that was His song to me!
Then as I was transitioning
from teaching at the orphanage there to here, one of His songs for me was
Oceans! ‘…You call me out upon the
waters, the great unknown, where feet may fail, And there I find You in the
mystery in Oceans deep….And I will call upon Your name…your sovereign hand will
be my guide.. I am yours and You are
mine…!
It
has been about six months since my return to Toronto, and I am happy to let you
know that God is directing me back to Cambodia, the land of my heart!
Why
so long here?
As
I prayed and asked God where HE would have me, there was no doubt it was
Cambodia, but in which area?
Then
as I prayed, I was led to consider Prison Fellowship Cambodia (http://www.pfcambodia.org) as I remembered someone
saying to me, “Vidya, have you ever
considered working with PF with your experience you have had in Canada?”
As
I began to fill out the forms in the Welcome Centre, who should come in but
Pastor Miles Valley! Is he not the epitome of radical renewal, radical
transformation? That to me was another sign towards working with this
agency. As Prison Fellowship Cambodia
did not have a Canadian office, I needed to find a partner organization in
Canada. This organization would need to provide me with administrative and
financial support and accountability. (Donations were sent before to Place of
Rescue and donors were receipted through them.)
I
am happy to say that The Great Commission Foundation (http://tgcfcanada.org) has agreed to partner
with me and become my sending agency! And
I have to say this, isn’t it sweet that I am being sent out to do His great
commission, to share the love of Jesus Christ by The Great Commission
Foundation? So cool!
How
and where am I going to do this?
In
order to share His heart language, I need to know the heart language of the
people, so I will be learning Khmer full time in school in Phnom Penh, the
capital city! I will be going to school in the mornings and in the
afternoon/evenings will be volunteering with Prison Fellowship, Cambodia! Prison Fellowship has readily said that they
are willing to work around my language studies schedule!
I
want to be able to communicate fully with those around me in my community, from
the moto or tuk tuk driver to the street vendors and supermarket workers!
Many of you have said to me, “Vidya, you are already able to establish
relationships, why do you need to learn the language?” I have felt
convicted over the last 6 months of the need to be more intentional in my
relationships, in discipleship and in mentoring!
Smiles,
giving of gifts (one of the main love languages in Khmer culture) can only do
so much! Before, I had translators, but now I am on my own! I want to be able
to listen in order to understand the hearts of those God will bring across my
path!
One of my aims is to be able to visit Place of Rescue and to not only hug
them but also to be able to have a conversation with the grannies! That would
be so cool, to listen to their stories and then …wait….to pray with them
without having to wait on a translator!
Many
of you have been praying with me and over me the past six months and I am grateful
that you are willing to continue to support me financially and prayerfully!
Prayer requests:
- I
would spend more time at His feet in preparation for His mission. Cambodia
needs His healing, His reconciliation. I need to know and soak myself in His
heart language so that I can be His heart, soul and mind to my Khmer brothers
and sisters.
- To
be fully funded financially and prayerfully.
- For
my own place in the city that is safe with a rooftop/balcony where I can pray
and dance to His music on behalf of my Khmer family.
Dancing with Jesus
Love, Sister Vidya
