#189 - A Tribute To My Sister, Polly Buchanan

Vol.# 189

My sister, Polly Buchanan:

As I sit on my rooftop this morning reflecting on Polly Buchanan, wife of Frank, mom, grandmom and spiritual mom to many like myself, there are two things that are occurring now. The sun is rising and it is a beautiful magnificent sunrise, and I can also see and hear the sounds of a funeral just below my house a couple of houses down my street. In the Khmer culture, it is normal for a tent to be erected outside the home of the one who has died, and depending on how much money can be allocated to the funeral, it may last 2 or more days. I can hear the sounds of the chants coming over the airwaves, I can see people going in to listen to the monks, and food to be served is being prepared. Traffic is usually diverted to another street by chairs situated in the middle of the same street to the left and right from the house of mourning. So one can be speeding down the street and then come upon this sign not to proceed any further. No one complains. They just find another path to their final destination.

My sister Polly knew where her final destination was and is now in heaven. When I first met Sister Polly over 15 years ago, it was at a prayer meeting at our church. It was a Tuesday evening and I sat and listened to the seasoned prayer warriors intercede for others all over the world: Pastor Sunder, Miles Valley, Jennie Leslie, Frank and Polly, just to name a few, who would meet every Tuesday and Sunday evening before the church service! Polly, to my knowledge, never prayed aloud at these meetings, but came in to sit and quietly support Frank and all of us with her presence. I learned from her that it was okay to sit and listen and learn from others. She never made me feel like an outsider coming in to a ‘clique’, but always made sure to ask how I was doing and to give me encouraging words! 

The qualities that surprised me about Polly as I got to know her over the years were her quick wit and her way of getting to the ‘crux’ of a situation, being able to sum up a situation and then give an assessment! I remember one time when I, along with other volunteers, were setting up a table for snacks and thinking that we would not have enough for all who had come to the meeting at RAC. Polly, knowing this, said to someone who was filling up his plate with the goodies, “You know this is a snack and not your dinner, right?” I remember bursting out laughing and the tension and worry I was feeling just fled! That was Polly coming up with the one-liners that would make me smile! 

When I got the news from the Kerrs that Polly had gone to be with her Heavenly Father, I called Ruby I., who is close to them, and we shed some tears over the phone! Even now as I am writing this, I can picture Polly. For some reason I felt I had to give her a sky-blue scarf when I visited the last time. I think of her now, not wrapped up in that scarf, but in the arms of Jesus! I think of her as I see the beautiful sunrise. It is a new day, and a new morning, and even though we will miss you, dear sister Polly, you are risen with your loving Saviour! My love and prayers to all of you who mourn and yet rejoice over the passing of Polly from this world into the wide-open arms of Jesus! 

As I finish this, I turned to go downstairs and looked across to the balcony of my neighbour’s house. I saw a young woman, a new mom with her baby, as she cradles and looks tenderly after her newborn! 

That is our Heavenly Father looking after Sister Polly now! Thank you Lord for this picture of your enduring love! 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya 

#188 - Global Leadership Summit

Vol.# 188

As I sit upstairs on my rooftop looking at the beautiful sunset, I am amazed once again by the creativity and beauty painted by Our Master. 

 

Sunset From My Rooftop

Amidst the slight breeze and the smell of mosquito repellent, I think back over the last 3 weeks since returning to Kampuchea. You have already heard about the wedding. Right after that I was at my first meeting for the Global Leadership Summit which will be held here on February 15/16^th. We met to plan and form a committee, and assign responsibilities led by Pastor Leah. It is wonderful to have a chance to be a part of leadership training for Khmer. 

The John Maxwell model that will be presented is a business model that has done well in secular and non-secular organizations. We are a year behind the western world since it takes a year to translate the curriculum and the sessions by the international panel of speakers. This year Gary Haugen will actually be on site while the other speakers will be on the screen. 

 

First Global Leadership Meeting

Then in my second week, I was a sub for one of the Khmer teachers and taught 10 times and loved it! In my updates, I have spoken about my two Khmer sisters with whom I started a mentoring/discipling relationship, Srey Luch and Bopha. Both have finished their contract with New Life Church, and Srey Luch with her fiancé, opened a ‘coffee cart’ business at her parents’ home so I went to visit, along with the head of the Information Desk, Chetra, and we were both able to pray and encourage her as we visited. I will continue to meet with her for as long as we can. 

 

Trey Luch At Coffee Cart With Chetra And Tuk Tuk Driver

Bopha and I will decide next week on the frequency of our meetings since she is at home looking after her son, but I was surprised to hear from another teacher that she was happy that Bopha’s English language skills had gotten stronger and Bopha said it was because of Bong Srey Vidya! (LOL! My talking had a good result!) 

The classes I taught were English grammar for beginners, and Newspaper class for mixed levels. In the Newspaper class I printed out 2 articles from CBC news, the first on Canadian air traffic controllers sending pizza over to their American counterparts, and the second was on Martin Luther King Jr.! It struck me as so weirdly wonderful to be talking about Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. here in Cambodia! 

 

Newspaper Class

SO I have been busy, and I am also back on the rotation schedule for the Information Desk here at the church! I was surprised by the welcome I received by my Khmer community here as well.


Today I went in to give in my passport and papers to get my visa renewed for one year. When you first enter the country you get a visa for one month, then after that you have to apply for a visa permit to stay and do volunteer work here in Cambodia, my heart country.  I asked Pastor Samdy and his wife Navy to pray over the invitation letter by New Life Skills Centre as we were about to send in the letter for the extension of the visa.

Prayer Request: Please pray as they did, that the letter would fall into the right hands, and that there would be no problem with obtaining the extended visa.

Prayer Request: Please pray that many organizations and individuals would come and be part of the Global Leadership seminar; that we as a team would gel and be able to use our individual giftings to encourage and help each other; that we would in fact be a model of John Maxwell’s teachings based on the Bible.

The video clip attached was made by Teacher Pov. The background info is this. He had messaged me to ask if I knew anyone in Toronto who had an extra guitar. I never seriously considered asking anyone because I knew how expensive it would be to travel with a guitar, so honestly I put it out of my mind! But 4 days later, I went to my friend Mary’s house and as we were leaving she casually asked if I knew anyone who needed a guitar! I just looked at her and kind of groaned in my spirit because I am thinking oh no, now I have to take the guitar! 

Buying The Guitar

So I took the guitar home but I thought I would get my nephew Daniel to check it out to see if it was in good condition to bring it back here.Yup it was! Now I am in a quandary! I would have to get a hard case to put the guitar in, plus I knew I was taking back an extra suitcase already and that is expensive! This is where Prem, my bro, came in! He suggested I sell the guitar here and with the sale proceeds I could buy a guitar in Cambodia! Oh so simple! SO after getting Mary’s permission, that is what he did for me. The video clip is from Teacher Pov expressing his gratitude! I just smile at how God orchestrated this whole thing! 

Prayer Request: Pray for creativity and energy as I teach.

Prayer Request:  I am praying into finding another home. I feel God saying to be still and this was confirmed when one of the congregants at church spoke on that verse in the Bible! Pastor Jesse also spoke on the season of growth within, of mentoring and discipleship, and that resonated within my spirit as I know that is why I am here at this time!

I know it is minus 30C there in Toronto now with the wind chill, so I am NOT going to talk about how hot it is here! I pray for His warmth to flow over you! I was so blessed to be able to live stream couple of days for Solemn Assembly with you. I am praying as move ahead together in 2019! MY word from God is ‘expectancy”! 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya 

#187 - Gratitude, Grieving and Celebration

Vol.# 187

The flight from Toronto to Hong Kong did not seem like almost 16 hours. I did not sleep much but I was able to be ‘quiet’. Amidst the tears of saying goodbye to my parents, siblings and friends , I know that I was blessed to have had the time to be with you all, for my soul to be refreshed and passion renewed for His plan for me here. I just want to say a special thanks for the blessing my parents gave me on my return here, and the special gift to be able to visit with not only my oldest brother in Florida and childhood friends in Georgia, but also my sister and brother in Toronto and high school friends in Trinidad and Tobago! To cap it off ,my neighbors from my hometown of Arima where I grew up were able to come and visit me at home here in Scarborough hours before I left!

Prayer: 

On a sad note, my housemate Channak, who was supposed to pick me up from the airport in PP and then drive the 3 hours or more to my former student’s wedding, had just found out that his aunt, who was like a second mom to him had passed away unexpectedly. He had to shift from celebrating for a wedding to grieving this unexpected loss. Please pray as his cousins and his family mourn this precious loss to their family. I had the privilege of meeting her many times when she had cooked our special order of seafood and prepared it for us when as a group we went to the beach. She always made this foreigner or as Khmer say ‘barang' feel welcome and included as we stopped at her place for refreshments!

But this did not take our God by surprise. 

I had received this sad news when I was at the airport in Hong Kong and was able by His design to have my former Tuk Tuk driver, who used to take me to Rescue orphanage when I worked there in 2011, to suddenly message me and I was able to arrange for him to not only pick me up from the airport in his taxi car, but he also helped to take my 3 large suitcases up 30 steps to my place (the poor man was breathing really hard!) and he also took me to the country where I presently am for the wedding! 

It is 3 in the morning and I am SO up! 

Reunited: The night before the wedding; 6 hours after landing in Cambodia and a 3.5 taxi ride!

Praise: 

God orchestrated all of this in the midst of the changes in plans. Tony De A (with support of wife M) had felt moved to give money towards transportation to the wedding not knowing of the changes in plans here, and I was able to sleep and relax after the frantic rushing around for the 2 hours I was back in PP! 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya 

#186 - Final weekend in Toronto!

Vol.#186 

I pray you had a Blessed Christmas and you are looking forward to see what God will do in the New Year! 

As I look back over the last 3 months back home here in Toronto, and Florida and Georgia and Trinidad and Tobago, I am humbled by the love shown to me through your words, gifts, shared confidences and prayers.

Thank you for not only being His dance partner in Cambodia but also my dance partner through your prayers and financial support . My ‘dance’ there continues to be one of joy and gratitude as He continues to set the rhythm and work amongst my Khmer community!

This will be my last weekend here in Toronto as I return to Cambodia on Jan.4th! 
**(If you would like to continue to support please message me for important information!) 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya 

#185 - From Morton House to Temple in the Sea to Heart Country of Cambodia

Vol.# 185

From Morton House to the Temple in the Sea to my Heart Country of Cambodia

Reverend John Morton was the first Canadian Missionary to the East Indians (1868) in Trinidad and Tobago. He came under the auspices of the Presbyterian denomination and initiated education for women when there was no opportunity for girls of East Indian descent to get an education. My parents remembered learning hymns in the Hindi language.

The Temple in the Sea is a Hindu pilgrimage site built by Siewdass Sadhu, an East Indian immigrant who came to Trinidad and Tobago from India. 
Mr. Sadhu had a vision and deep yearning to build this physical site which is seen as a testament of one man’s love of Hinduism. It is a story of human perseverance, personal sacrifice, and enduring efforts of Siewdass Sadhu. It was the creation of one man alone, unaided and ridiculed, his largest tool an ordinary bicycle. Mr Sadhu came over as an indentured labourer to work in the rice/sugar plantations here in Trinidad and Tobago. He used to make the pilgrimage to India each year to go to the temple there, but found that he could not afford it. So he decided to build a temple where others like himself could go to worship and pray. He used to take each tile of material on his bike to the site after work each day to build the Temple in the Sea.

As I muse over these two stories which I had never heard of, our caretaker here is ringing the church bell at Morton Guest House. The bell is manually rung at 6:30am on a Sunday morning preparing those to come and worship for 7:45am. I knew that our staying here was no coincidence. 

MORTON HOUSE ORIGINAL CROSS AND CHURCH BELL

A better chance at an higher education was one of the reasons why our parents migrated to Canada, thinking that going to a Canadian university would improve our chances at a better quality of life, a life easier than they had growing up. 
I thought of how God had planted that seed in my heart to go to Cambodia through the passion of one other person (Lisa Cheong) and an organization (Ratanak International), to teach English as one of the many skills which would give those from an impoverished background a better chance to find a job that would provide a better quality of life for them; a chance to not being at risk for predators by having a choice and opportunity for a better job; to be able to make a wise decision from so many unwise income-making opportunities. 

I am very grateful for the education I received, not only from the academic world in Canada, but also from the jobs (both paid and volunteer) that I had along the way, and the mentoring I received both formally and informally from RAC, Youth for Christ and other secular agencies in Canada. I think of Mr. Sadhu who had this single passionate goal to build this temple and I wonder, do I have this same passion, perseverance and tenacity to serve Jesus the Christ as this man? Visiting this site and listening to the story of Mr. Sadhu, I reflected on my own personal mission and purpose, recalling the first day I heard about the country of Cambodia through the passion of another, Lisa Cheong, and Ratanak International; visiting Cambodia in 2009; working at Place of Rescue from 2011 for two years; returning later and going to language school to learn the heart language of Khmer in order to share the Father’s heart of grace, redemption and love to my now heart country of Kampuchea (Cambodia). 
I became excited and challenged once again as I thought of the many opportunities I have had and how God is using me to pass on what I have learnt to the next generation of Khmer! Intertwined in these experiences is not only the academic teaching, but also the spiritual aspect of discipleship and mentoring; teaching work skills; building on spiritual relationships that goes beyond the border of academic skills, overlapping into how we live our lives; giving of our very best in every area of our lives as God gave the best for us, His Son Jesus Christ. 

As I sat at my last Sunday service at the church on the Morton compound, and watched the seniors and youth perform in their Christmas programme, I was re-energized by the wisdom and wit of the skit performed by both groups, but I was in tears as I watched the skit by the youth group there. They had written the script for the Christmas enactment with the usual nativity scene, Mary and Joseph, the wise men and shepherds. What was impactful was that where the Christmas story usually ends with the wise men going away thinking of the true gift of Christmas, the youth group added the other most important part: Jesus carrying the Cross for us and then dying for us. The youth leader talked about the ‘whole story of Jesus’ and ended with the youth bowing at the foot of the Cross where Jesus hung! 

I felt the real impact of the reason why we celebrate His birth, so that He would make the choice to die for you and for me, so that we can have eternal life with Him.
A story of redemption and grace and unconditional love!

Praise: 
Thank you for praying for our safety here. My Dad was able to visit his old hometown and walked through his childhood haunts. The driver that we hired just happened to have lived there, so he knew how to get to and around the old places. Even though most of the sites had been torn down and rebuilt, our driver was able to reintroduce Dad to the ‘new’ built up town. My parents then got a chance to pray for Alum, our driver. I also was able to meet with old high school friends!

 RECONNECTING WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Praise: 
My parents were able to bless the caretaker and his wife from Morton House, and to pray over and with them. Mr. Jimmy came over earlier, not only to help us move the suitcases down the flight of stairs but also to be prayed over by my Dad. My Mom got to reconnect with two special young women with whom she had been praying while she was here. My Mom had that honor of listening and praying over them again here.

Praise: 
I am thankful to have this opportunity to be here with Dad (92 years young) and Mom (82 years young) on behalf of my siblings! Now as we are in our sister island of Tobago, I got a chance to speak a prayer over one of the workers here. I was sitting looking at the butterflies and singing when this worker came by and said, "Enjoying the scenery eh? You talking to yourself?" I replied yes to the first, and no that I was praying. He responded that God woke him up early as he was thinking over a life-making decision he had to make! So I prayed for wisdom and faith for him.

Thank you all for continuing on this journey with me! I am returning to Canada on the 16th and will return to Cambodia on Jan. 4th. If you would like to meet up with me, I would love to hear your stories and to pray with you as well!

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya 

(P.S. **For those who have been sacrificing to help me financially, please refer to the page about 2018 tax receipts etc. in the prayer letter or email me.)

#184 - "Trust Me, I Got You!"

Vol.# 184

Update on colonoscopy: 

Two of my prayer mentors prayed that I would have a doctor who was funny, and that my appointment would be without stress. Well, I had just come in at midnight from Florida and immediately went into fasting for 24 hours prior to appointment at 11 the next day. I was having visions of roti, chicken, seafood, vegetables, and fruit until the time I entered the doctor’s office. The doctor who did the colonoscopy was so enthusiastic about POOP and about keeping a healthy colon, that I just had to smile! I told him that last week at church the pastor spoke about passions and I could tell he was passionate about his job! Results came back normal so thank you all for your prayers! 

Thank you to Edith Peters who spearheaded the Thursday morning meeting where I shared about what God is doing in Cambodia. I felt taken care of, plus my ‘sisters’ took me out for my fave meal at Golden Asia restaurant afterwards! Ian and Ramona L. plus Corrine Cadinouche, who herself will be going out to Kinshasa with MAF, helped me to gather my thoughts and do the power point slides (You all know that it is my sister Sita who actually puts this letter together right? I just write my heart and she puts it in a format that is easily read! Same for my IT helpers, without them I could not do the presentation!). 

Thank you to Pastor Solange who provided the pens and papers for the game, to Ruby I. who prayed over me as I was about to present, to Dipali and Bea for providing the coffee and treats, and my deep gratitude to those who ventured out on one of the coldest days. 

Thank you! 

When I go through Customs, I am usually pulled out to be searched and checked and questioned, so when I was heading out to Trinidad yesterday, I was surprised that it was my Mom and Dad, who were both in wheelchairs, who were searched by the Custom officers! I am so accustomed to being the one singled out that I was actually feeling left out from being searched and checked! Even when we got to Customs in Trinidad, I noticed that one particular agent was asking questions and really taking a long time with those in her line. I was just thinking 'yay' when the couple in front of me was about to go to her so that I would go to another free agent. Instead, they went to the other free agent and there I was in front of the ‘strict’ agent. However, we began chatting away and I was there for only 3 minutes, and she stamped the form I had and I was finished! 

I can feel God saying, "Oh child, trust me: I got you!" 

Then God provided another angel to take care of my parents and me. We were going to stay at the airport from 1 to 6 in the morning, because it would be too unsafe to travel at that time of the night. When we walked out of Arrivals, my parents’ former neighbour was there to pick us up and take us to her house! Seriously! I am so in awe of the protection and care of our Heavenly Father!

Memories : 

- Meeting with the small group at Bernie Boyd’s house, I felt so blessed to be invited. 

- Sitting in the Krishnans’ home, with Sham making soup in the kitchen; delicious smells wafting through of biscuits and scones; the sight of Pastor Sunder and Pieter Van der H. putting up Christmas decorations as the snow fell outside! It was my first snow day in over 5 years! 

Thank you Pastor Sunder and Sham for staying connected to me and being one of my spiritual accountability partners for so long!



Prayer Requests: 

Pray for safety as I am with my parents in Trinidad for the next 3 weeks, as we travel about here in my birth country. The mosquitoes are already loving me!
Pray that my heart would be opened to what He wants to teach me as I am here. I am a ‘Trini-to-de-bone’ even though Cambodia is my heart country!

As we all prepare to celebrate Advent and Christmas, I am aware that this time can be lonely for some, especially for those who have lost loved ones this year. I pray that His love would just flow over you, warming you and enveloping you in His grace and mercy! 

See you on Dec. 16th! 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya 

#183 - A Happy Reunion and a Butterfly!

Vol.# 183

After travelling over one thousand miles by car so far, I have been so blessed to be able to reunite and reconnect with my childhood friends from my birth/home country of Trinidad and Tobago! What an amazing time to sit and listen, to recount our memories together over delicious food and music! Yes, I had to listen and dance to my Trini music!

I was humbled by the fact that even though my childhood friends did not completely know about His mission for me in Cambodia, they were already sacrificing finances and time to pray for me! 

I was able to share how I became involved with the country of Cambodia through Lisa Cheong and Ratanak International. From that point I went on my first mission trip in 2009 which cemented His plan for me to return and work at the orphanage, Place of Rescue, teaching English and work skills to the kids there for 2 years. Then I returned over two years ago to learn the Khmer language so that I can not only share His heart, but also be able to teach English more effectively to my Khmer students. 

I showed them pictures of the students I had from the orphanage who were my translators then; and now as they live in the city, are part of my discipling group that He has given to me here, along with their wives and girlfriends. God allowed our relationships from back then to grow deeper. I showed them present day photos of my students who come from very poor backgrounds to live in the church dorms and attend free English classes at the church. Education is seen as one of the main ways to get out of poverty. Learning English leads to better jobs here in Phnom Penh. Teaching English is one of the skills being taught as well as life skills and leadership skills at the free classes at New Life church. The students always ask me, “Bong Srey (older sister), why would you come all the way here to help us?” Then I get a chance to share how our God came all the way down to earth to help me! Very cool!

At the church service I attended, the visiting pastor spoke from Habakkuk 3:17-19. The theme was similar to what Pastor Sunder preached about weeks ago, “But if not I will praise God" from Daniel. The preacher’s theme was ‘the place of YET or EVEN THOUGH': 'yet' being a place not of denial of reality, but of decision and resting in His divine sovereignty. Sometimes we can get paralyzed by our circumstances yet we can make the decision to give it over to God and to praise Him in spite of visible reality! I was pumped because Habakkuk 3:19 was one of the first life verses given to me back in 2009: ‘The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights’. When I was overwhelmed by the heat, and cultural differences and language barrier, this verse was one of my lifelines to my faith in Jesus!


Then one morning I woke up early at one of my friend’s home in Georgia, and as I watched the mist lift, I saw the pond and the greenery before me, and Psalm 23 came to mind. 

I went to my Khmer Bible and began to read and learn it in Khmer. I love how God was combining my love for His Word with Khmer! I was able to spend at least one hour on this before the rest of the household woke up. Every morning I try to read a couple of verses in Khmer and to learn a couple of new phrases which I can then use in my prayer time. However, without my tutor here to listen to my pronunciation, I may be pronouncing it incorrectly! 

Praise: 

As I spoke of what He is doing in Cambodia and His plan for me for such a time as this, I am still excited about teaching English, being a mentor to a small group, but most of all humbled that HE can use me in spite of my weaknesses!

Just a note: The butterfly motif was given to me years ago and it first reflected the metamorphosis of what the survivor of human trafficking went through, from victim to being alive in Christ, a champion, strong in spirit. Now the butterfly shows the significance that education has on giving the poor a chance to go from struggling to making a living; from being ‘at risk’ to now becoming one that can fly in Him; to have a chance of a better life not only for themselves but for their families! 

But the butterfly symbol was also for me, my transformation in my relationship with Christ, my faith being resurrected and changed to becoming freer and yet deeper and stronger. When my eldest brother took me to the beach a couple of days ago (I did not go in the water because it was too cold!), guess what we saw? A BUTTERFLY! My bro commented that he has never seen a butterfly at the beach, but I felt it was God reminding me of the many blessings He has given to me, and cementing my purpose in life!

I cannot wait when to hear your stories and how I can pray with you, laugh and listen with you! 
 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya