#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 

#182 - Need to curb that happy-tude!

Vol.# 182

Hey Miss, can you step over here please and open your bag? 

That was my first greeting as I stepped into the Canadian/American Customs line as I headed out here to Florida to visit with my eldest brother and family. The Customs guy asked how I was and commented on how happy I was looking. It dawned on me that maybe he thought I took something to be happy, hence the search?  

(Note to me: Do not be SO happy next time, be somber!)

We were delayed for 25 minutes on the tarmac. The plane had started to move away then stopped, and we returned to the original location. They thought they had detected a problem with the engine, so we had to wait to check on that. In the end all went well, so thank you ALL for your prayers!

Praise: 

The mammogram only hurt a tiny bit; the results will be given later. I had an ultrasound as well.

Update: 

I will be here in Toronto until after Christmas. It will be the first Christmas with my parents and family in over 5 years, so I still have time to get together with you all!

Prayer Request:

My brother and I are driving down to Georgia from Orlando. Please pray for safety as we travel to and fro and for great connections as we reconnect with childhood friends from Trinidad and Tobago!

Blessings all! 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya 

#181 - A New Scent in the Air in Toronto!

Vol.# 181

There I am enjoying my morning walk, the crisp air swirling around me, until I realized there was something else in the air. 
For a minute I did not know what the aroma was... Ah yes, ganja! 
Really?? 
Then I remembered it is now legal here to possess if you are 19 years! Gone are the days when the youth I worked with got arrested for possession/selling of marijuana. 
I tried to walk faster to outpace the smell but alas, it followed me because there was a couple walking behind me openly smoking the stuff! 
Ah, to be back in Toronto! 

Thank you for the warm welcome, the hugs and coffee/dinner times together! It is so wonderful to be back worshipping with you at RAC, and yes, I know I still have to meet with so many of you over the upcoming weeks. I cannot wait to sit with you face to face to hear what has been going on in your lives. You have heard from me, so now please allow me the honor of sitting and listening and hearing from you! 

Prayer Requests:
- I have a mammogram on the 22nd that is usually quite painful, so I ask that God would give me the grace while I am having this test done. 

- On the 23rd, please pray for smooth travel through US Customs as I go to visit my brother, niece and nephew plus other family members and friends in Florida. I will be there until Nov. 3rd. Pray for safe and good connections while I am there. 

Praise:
I am thankful to be here, to sit and worship and learn at your feet! When Pastor Sunder spoke about Josiah and his commitment to take care of the succeeding generations, it was my ‘marching orders’ as well to pray for and to mentor the next generation of leaders back in Cambodia. 
I am also proud to see that the next generation in my own family are following Him; so pumped to see my nephew Daniel lead and co-lead in rhythmic worship at church! 

I am thankful for the message preached from Jesus’ heart through the mouth of Pastor Sunder. Please check it out online “But If Not”: Sunday 13th October, 2018. 

Please let me know how I can pray and I am looking forward to sitting down and meeting with you all! 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya 

#180 - Toronto: The V Has Landed!

Vol.# 180

The V has landed in Toronto! I came in last night and want to say thank you for prayers for safe travels. 

It is now 4:30am. I have been up since 4am and I did some exercises in my room, had my devotions and chose a couple of verses that I read in my Khmer Bible to send to my sister Bopha back in Phnom Penh. 

All is quiet. I love it! 

Praise: 

My housemate helped me to weigh my suitcases and each one was 3kg over! I had just spoken to one of the pastors from New Life church in Phnom Penh, who with her family had just returned from the U.S.A.  They had been charged for each kilo that they were over the weight allowance given to them. So with that warning in mind as I went to the Cathay Pacific airlines, I was worried about the charges I might incur! However, the lady there was so nice, chatting with me and did not even blink an eye at the weight! It was then I noticed that I was at the Business/First class counter, not the Economy where I should have been! I had just walked to the first counter I saw where there was no line. For those of you who are wondering, I still sat in Economy class.  

Thank you to my housemate for helping to carry my 2 heavy suitcases down the stairs and staying with me until it was time to board. 

Transition in Hong Kong was smooth though the ride was a bit bumpy at times on the 15-hour flight from Hong Kong to Toronto.

As expected, sleep did not come easy on the flight, and the two men I sat next to snored for the whole flight here! But 15 hours did not seem to be that long, so thank you for your prayers! 

On arrival here, when I got to the kiosk at Customs, I was praying that my electronic check-in into Pearson would go smoothly since the customs attendant who was directing us to each kiosk was a bit grumpy! Well, the computer could not ‘read’ my passport, and then when it was time to take the photo, it kept saying ‘cannot take photo’! Now I am having a picture in my mind of Customs hauling me off because nothing was working. So I eventually called the agent who somehow miraculously was not grumpy when she helped me! She said ‘no worries about the picture’ and then afterwards it was all smooth sailing!

Praise: 

I had asked you to pray for the Asean Christian Conference. I was wrong about the numbers. There were over 2500 people who attended the conference! They had to bring in more chairs and are already thinking of a bigger venue for next year. I was hesitant at first about the prayer time during and after each service. It was overwhelming with so many coming up for prayer, 99 percent all Khmer! I am still trying to debrief that experience in my quiet time with God! 

ACC Prayer Team 2018

Praise:

I love walking in the cool air, with no sounds of construction and busyness here this morning. God provided angels who helped me this morning. The first was the maintenance guy at my parents’ place. I was doing laundry but could not get the washing machine to work with the card. The guy noticed I was having trouble and came to help. The second one was at Walmart. I could not find the shampoo I needed, so I asked one of the workers and the next thing I knew I had 3 ladies there helping me look for it! Then I went to the library to renew my card, and naturally, I realized I did not have the old card with me, but the librarian there was so helpful. I got to hear her story about when she grew up in China and only read academic books when required for her studies, and now here she loves reading (I may have been too enthusiastic about being in a library and having access to so many books which initiated our conversation!). She renewed my card online and I was allowed to take out books. Today I will return with old card to give to her.

I am looking forward to seeing you all and hearing your stories as well! 

However, you know you are not ready to meet with people when…
- You hear the ‘ping’ that the microwave is finished but you go to open the fridge door instead and wonder where your food is…
- At Walmart when the ladies there were trying to decide which shampoo I needed to match the color of my hair, and there was no agreement: brown, ash grey, red? And I start to laugh and cannot stop…
- When you go to the sink and just want to drink the water from the tap…
- You stand in the middle of sidewalk just inhaling the fresh cool air and everyone has to walk around you! 

I am enjoying spending this week with my Dad and bonding over watching cricket as my mom is in Trinidad, even though I am falling asleep during the game! I am looking forward to spending time with my two brothers and my sis as well, and yes, eating some good Trini food!

I just have to say special congrats to my nephew, Nathan, on his engagement to Sarah!!!!!!! 

Yay!!!!!! Proud and so happy for you both!

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya 

#179 - Please Pray

Vol.# 179

Prayer Requests: 

Please pray as I am heading into a very hectic 4 days at our Asean Christian Conference in Phnom Penh. An estimated one thousand will attend the conference over the next few days, coming in from all corners of Cambodia as well as from neighbouring countries.  My day will begin from 5:45 a.m. The conference begins at 8, and those of us volunteering at the information desk have to be on site at 6:30. I do have breaks in between and the shift ends at 12:30 lunchtime. I am then on altar call prayer at the end of group worship time from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Please pray for a fresh outpouring of His Spirit over me.  Before I can pray and serve others here, I need to be refreshed and alert as I pray with and over others.

Some of team with access bands

Pray for the weather. It has been raining everyday around 4:30 onwards, but sometimes it rains early in the morning as well. I am praying that the clouds part and the sun shines so that all who are coming will be able to get here safely and will come and not be deterred by the rain!

Some of my students from English class I have been teaching will attend, so please pray for eyes to see, ears to hear and hearts to be opened for those who do not yet know about Jesus the Christ! 

Pray for good conversations amongst my team, and that my Khmer will be good enough to understand all the different ‘sounds’ from those coming in from the province areas. Pray that HE will give me discernment as I meet and talk and help those who are coming to the conference! 

The conference finishes on the Sunday night and then I have Monday to wash clothes, pack and get things ready here at the house before I head out to you in Toronto on Tuesday morning! 

Thank you so much for your prayers! 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya 

#178 - Esther, a Wedding, and a Countdown!

Vol.# 178

“Bong, I was thinking of you as I wiped my baby’s bottom!” 

That was the beginning of a conversation with Bopha, my Khmer sister here, with whom I have been helping with English using our daily reading from the Bible. So I was not sure how that sentence was going to finish! 

So wisely, not guessing her meaning, I asked, “Ahh, why were you thinking of me, Oune Srey (younger sister)?” 

She responded, “I was thinking of how you said that reading the Bible can be fun, and it is the voice of God, and I found out that I can ‘hear’ the Bible through my Ipad! I can do my work and listen to the Bible at the same time!” 

So I said to her, “My skin is not as soft as the baby’s bum?” 

She said, “What?” 

Yes, sometimes jokes cannot be explained, so we moved on to more spiritual talk! 

But oh, how happy I was to hear her say this. We had just finished reading Esther and she was so excited that we read the whole story in one sitting. I had picked through some verses to give her the background. Esther, like her, had lost her parents and she came from a disadvantaged background but she was not lost to God. God had a plan for Esther but she had to obey her uncle Mordecai’s instructions. Bopha was so happy to read the story in Khmer first and then in English. She noted that Esther had to prepare for ONE year before she even went in to see the king! So Bopha said to me, “Esther was young yet she was brave. and even if we are young God can still use us, use me, and guess what, Bong Srey? In Timothy God also talks about not despising the youth!”  

Wow! I had ‘goose bumps’ all over my arm! 

And to think I might have said yes to teaching one other class from 5:30 to 6:30 in the evenings (my other class finishes at 5) because there was a need, but I knew that teaching that particular class was not in my gifts, and I would have been just ‘filling’ in and not teaching it with joy and worship to Our God! 

Yesterday, one of the other workers from the coffee bar at the church (Yes, I used bar and church together!) came and sat and listened to us as he pretended to play on his phone! This particular young man does not speak much. Something is wrong with his vocal chords so his voice is high and soft at the same time, but as I shared some food with him two days ago, he seems to have ‘warmed’ up to me! OR, it could be because I was dancing at a wedding to Khmer songs last weekend! 

Wedding Prep With Bopha and Srey Luch

Bopha and I at Wedding

 Meychen, a beautiful woman leader got married to her Sokheang, an amazing Christian leader as well. It has been my honor to get to know Meychen as I volunteered at the church, and later when I began to teach English classes, I got to know Sokheang! Last weekend we celebrated their wedding and I had tears of joy as I witnessed how they washed each other’s feet as a sign of serving and humbling themselves with each other, and then consecutively washing his parents’ feet and then her parents’ feet, saying thank you to both for their sacrifices on their behalf. The wedding was in Khmer so I am sure I missed out a lot in the vows but my pastor’s wife was in tears and laughter as well as her husband, Pastor Jesse! Since the wedding a lot of the staff have come up to me randomly to say, “’Bong’, we enjoyed you dancing with us and having fun with us at the wedding!” People who had never talked to me before have been approaching me just to say, “Bong, so glad you came to the wedding and dressed up too!” 

Prayer Requests:

- Pray that all of the little details will get done before I leave.

     - We have the upcoming ASEAN Christian Conference from 13-16th of September. The theme is ‘Unshakeable”, so I ask for prayer for safe travels for all of the pastors and congregation coming in from all parts of Cambodia and also the speakers who will be travelling to Cambodia; and for the Word to sink in and to grow the faith of all of us there!

     - Pray for energy and wisdom as I am on the Info/Welcome team. My shift is from 6:30 to 12 noon with breaks in between. Then I am on the English-speaking prayer team for altar call/ prayer needs in the evening when the third session ends. Pray for discernment and wisdom as I wait to hear the Holy Spirit’s leading before praying with someone.

Two days ago, David and Janice Haskell came here, and I had the privilege of having Janice as my ‘guest’ teacher in my class. Janice responded to one of my student’s questions on life advice and talked about negative and positive influences. I asked each student to stand and say one positive thing about themselves, and as each stood and spoke I wrote the attribute on the board and I was touched to hear why they thought they had that particular attribute. For example, one said back in her village her community there told her mother that she should stop her daughter (my student) from going to school, that she would not do well, but her mother encouraged her to pursue her studies, and now this student not only goes to university in the evenings, but she also has a day job! So perseverancewas one of her attributes! 

SO blessed to spend time with my sister Janice and bro David! It was a short time as they returned two days after! 

Janice in Class - Freestyle :)

Janice in Class - Normal!

SO LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN TO TOUCHDOWN TO TORONTO on September 18th, NOT the 14th as I had previously stated. I pray that I will get a chance to meet all of you! We can set up ‘date’ times together, and I want to hear ALL about you and how I can rejoice, pray and just ‘be’ with you all!  

As I leave you I am playing …not your typical worship songs, but the one and the only Miss Aretha Franklin in the background, ‘I Say A Little Prayer For You’ followed up by ‘RESPECT’. I am playing all her songs and dancing as I remember Miss Aretha and the wonderful memories dating back to my childhood in Trinidad! I miss not having those familiar with her music here, so I cannot wait to sing and dance some AF songs when I return with you all! YES, YOU! 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya