#223 - Qualified! We are His!

 Vol.# 223

 

It is early Sunday morning and the loud blowing of horns sends people in my neighbourhood scurrying out into the streets! It is a unique sound that we all recognize and may cause either a peace or anxiousness to prevail over us. Is it the sound of the ice cream man? Or is it another kind of vendor? No, it is the garbage truck! Then either we are peaceful because we know we have already put out the garbage or become anxious because now we have to run down quickly to put it out or else the garbage will remain for another 3 to 4 days before the truck comes back again! As I watched my neighbours from my rooftop gather outside to either instruct the garbage workers on how and where to go and get the garbage, and then interact with each other on the street, I ponder the scene before me. Here people are running towards something that literally ‘stinks’ with no hesitation. 

I wonder, Lord, am I doing the same thing, but in a spiritual way? Am I looking towards other things, ‘idols’ for my direction and purpose in life? Things that have an unholy stench in Your eyes? Or am I going to You to get rid of those things in my life that have come as an obstacle to my worship and my vision and mission which is centred on You and around You? It is so easy to get comfortable in things that are kind of spiritual but are not godly! 

Praise: 

In my Bible readings with Him, Jesus Christ has affirmed part of my purpose here through 1 Corinthians 14:3...to speak words which strengthens others, encourages them and comforts them. In Khmer translation it says to build up, to challenge or warn and to encourage others. My senior preaching pastor here in PP spoke on this verse last week and I knew that God was confirming what HE told me the week before! God again confirmed that I am supposed to be at New Life Fellowship during this season when I walked into the staff worship morning meeting and I just felt this overwhelming love and affection for those that God has given to me during this season. Yes, we are all different but together we will work to build up and challenge and strengthen each other! Then, just in case I did not get it, came a third confirmation from 2 Corinthians 11: 12...”And what I am doing I will continue to do...” During this time when roles change and therefore personal vision/mission may change, the one thing I do know is that HE will always confirm His purpose in His Word if we stop to spend time with Him because HE never changes! 

Praise: 

I am grateful to be here for the birth of a baby boy to Lokru (Pastor) Samdy and Nekru Navy. What I love about Khmer culture is that people just ‘drop in’ with food and snacks to hang out and celebrate! When I went to visit at their home with my Sister Liep, there were already 4 people there sitting on the floor with Lokru Samdy and his wife Navy and their new born baby Rithypong in their bedroom,  and then Liep and I joined them! 

At Lokru Samdy and Navy's House to Celebrate Baby Rithypong

Baby Rithypong

Then just a few days ago I got to go with my ‘girls’ from Rescue to visit our receptionist who also had her baby just a few days before Sister Navy! We brought food and just took it across during our lunchtime from the office! Again, to just spend time and just be with them! 

At Receptionist's Home with Former Rescue Students

Praise:

I had a follow up meeting with the new Executive Director of Prison Fellowship, Oun Muylen, to see how I can be of any help. It was good to go there and meet some of the staff. We got to pray together and listen to each other’s hearts. She is so passionate about her love for God and believes strongly in the restoration and healing that can only come through Jesus Christ! I will be writing more about my sister Muylen in later updates!

With Sister Muylen: Executive Director Of PFC

Praise: 

We continue to provide blessing packages for many outside of the city. We gather as a team to assemble the packages in one corner of the parking lot of the mall. It is a hot and dusty time but also fun filled. Then I got the utmost privilege to pray over these blessing packages that would go out to families who are suffering economically during COVID-19 and pray that these physical symbols of His love will lead to a stronger understanding of the Father’s love for His children. A physical act of fulfilling the words from 1 Cor.14:3 that the rice, oil, canned food, soya sauce, laundry detergent and much more will not only encourage and build up those who are weary and dispirited, but will also challenge them in their faith as we all walk together in this journey with Jesus! 

Preparing Blessing Packages

Thank you to ALL of you because as you give to me financially and spiritually, I then can give to others here! YOU are reaping the harvest here; YOU are being His heart by your giving not only financially but also with your prayers and words of encouragement! THANK YOU! HE sees and knows of your sacrifice of finance and time!

 

I thank God for teaching me each day to walk in obedience. This past Monday I was thinking, Lord why am I here today since we had no taping of classes online or meetings about preparation of classes. However we were invited to join the taping of the church service, which usually would occur on a Wednesday, but because of the upcoming 10 days of holidays we were doing 2 tapings this week, so I went to the auditorium. There were many of us from the staff as well as 2 or 3 visitors, and as the worship began one of the women began crying softly, and she kept crying as she felt His Presence pervade the room. I went to stand next to her and put my arm around her and we swayed together to the worship music. As I began to look around for 2 of the women from the pastoral care team to maybe come over to talk/counsel her, I noticed they had their eyes closed in worship as well so I could not connect with them! Then suddenly the woman turned and went into a full hug with her head on my shoulder and began to sob loudly! In my spirit I was asking God to nudge the other pastoral team members to come over, but then I just heard His voice quietly say to stay and wait and to be His presence for her. So I just held her and waited until she was ready to let go. After the service the Khmer pastoral leaders came over to talk with her, as they already knew who she was. God reminded me that it is in the ‘small things’ He wants me to be obedient. I may think I am not qualified to be of use in certain times but sometimes He just wants me to be His quiet presence. 

All of us play a role in His plan, so for all of you reading this who think you need some special qualification to be worthy to be used, you are qualified! YOU are HIS, you have said yes to HIM, so be ready to move when He moves your spirit. Do not be shy or think others can do what He is asking you to do, which may be just to say hello to someone, or smile or make a phone call. HE has opened your heart to His heart, so be ready to open another person’s heart to His love by being obedient to His nudges! 

Prayer Request: 

I will be helping to facilitate a Global Leadership Summit Cambodia workshop with a local business on Sept 26, October 3rd and 10th (3 consecutive Saturdays). Please pray for wisdom and discernment as I help those who are leading the workshop, that I would be able to anticipate needs and to strategize on how to help organize the workshop so that it would be 100 percent led by God and conducted in a professional manner! 

Keep on sending me your prayer requests and life stories as we dance and do life together! 

 

**The coolest thing happened as I was sending this off. I received 2 messages. The first was from the Executive Director of Prison Fellowship Cambodia asking if I can officially be one of her mentors! I said yes! Then there was a video call from the missions team here as they go to the province asking if I would pray over them before they leave! Very cool but I had uncombed hair, no make-up, still in pajamas as it is very early in the morning here!

Thought I would share a cool pic that shows the creativity of Khmer: One Moto, Many People!

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya 

#222 - An Unexpected Passing Into Glory

Vol.# 222 

 

Was it one week ago when I got the flurry of messages on my phone at 4 in the morning? 

It all seems a blur now. After checking to ensure that the messages were not from my parents or siblings (no crisis, that is…), I turned over and was beginning to fall asleep when I could feel the vibrations of the phone going constantly! Usually I turn off the volume but keep the ‘vibrate’ on just in case of messages from my parents/siblings. As I looked at the phone the messages centered on the unexpected death of one of our pastors from my church here. He died of a heart attack at the age of 39! He had gone to one of the provinces on a ‘missions trip’ with 3 of our other pastors and had complained of a stomach ache. He subsequently passed away in his sleep. 

 

Bro. Lokru Vimien

Bro. Vimien was an ‘odd’ one (and I know ‘odd’ since I am often described as odd!). He did not care what others thought of the way he dressed. He often wore a wool scarf around his neck at church and sang off-key really really loudly! However, when he prayed he was NOT off key! I had the tremendous honor of being part of a lunchtime prayer group with him as we prayed for Cambodia! Many a time I listened as he would pray sometimes all in Khmer or half in English. He understood his Father’s heart and wanted to see one million kids reached for Jesus Christ in his homeland. He had co-written children’s curriculum and was in the process of handing this out to all the provinces. He cared for the poor children and wanted them to know of the value and dignity they had in Christ! 

 

His Children's Book

As we all hustled into the office, the atmosphere was somber as arrangements were being made to bring his body from the province back to the city. Officials were hastily investigating the reason for his sudden demise before releasing his body. His family, including his mother, grandmother, siblings and extended family released him to us for his burial. His family is Buddhist and said that since he chose to be a Christian, he should be buried as one, respecting his wishes! Back in the city we could not find a place for his funeral since we rented our church place. The landlord did not want a funeral to be performed at the church since he thought this would bring bad luck to the church premises and surrounding shops in the mall where our church is located! 

Then irony of ironies, the only place we could have the ceremony and the cremation was at one of the pagodas/woat/ in the Buddhist temple ground! Arrangements were quickly made. The funeral was slated to begin at 4, at which time Lokru Vimien’s body would be back in the city. I am still not sure how our leaders did it, but the tent was being erected on the grounds, the cooking team was ordered and assembled (since the funeral lasts 2 days, breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided for all who come), plus COVID precautions were being set up with temperature checks, hand sanitizer and masks! The funeral band (as I called them) that usually performed the Khmer traditional funeral music was hired. They were from the Buddhist temple and our own people getting ready to speak and sing on behalf of our brother Vimien! 

Buddhist Band at Funeral

Cover Precautions

Funeral Setup

Food Prep

His body was brought and laid on the mats prepared, wrapped only in cloths. Part of the ceremony is when with curtains held up around the area where the body laid, the family washes and changes his clothes (things that the funeral home would ordinarily do in Western culture). Then on the second day, the family would put on white clothes or wrap themselves in white cloths and put on white materials on their heads and escort the body to the cremation site. If any of you remembered our first few Christmas banquets, carrying the tables, setting up the chairs etc., then it was just like that. I had prayed and asked God what could I do to be of help. I heard Him say, just as you feel My Presence now, I want you to be My Presence for your Khmer family there. So I just stood and hugged and listened and cried as many were still absorbing the fact that he was no longer here. Many of us had just spoken with him on the Monday, and now it was 2 days later, and he was no longer here! Then I got into the ‘busyness’ with everyone as we served together and distributed the food and beverages to all who came! 

 

Prayer Requests:

- Even in the midst of this loss, I want to ask for prayer for those who did not know about Jesus, and got to hear about Him on the microphone as many spoke of Brother (Lokru) Vimien! When we were there, two other funerals were also taking place that were Buddhist and we had to wait our turn to conduct our own there. God’s Word will always bear fruit. Would you pray along that others who came to mourn their loss would have heard of the reason why we mourn, but are still not swept away by grief because we know we will meet our brother again in heaven!

- Pray for Lokru Vimien’s family as they would have seen his influence on us, and seen God’s love through us as we cared for him even in death by how we ‘sent’ him off. Pray that it would be another seed that would bear fruit of Christ’s glory! 

Lokru Viviem's Family

- We are now in Khmer New Year. The government had postponed this holiday from April to this week, so pray for safety for all, but also time for many to truly think about their feelings over this sudden death!

 
I cried as we sang Amazing Grace in Khmer at the beginning of each of the 4 sessions at the funeral, but as we all looked at each other we said, Lokru Vimien is now singing in front of His Saviour ON KEY, with all of his love!

 
Many approached me and remarked how much they appreciated the fact that I, along with one other foreigner, was with them working from early in the morning to late at night doing the menial tasks of setting up and cleaning up. I thought of the many hours of being trained to do this at RAC! Yes, nothing goes to waste. HE uses all of our ‘doings’ for His glory!

 
I thank God that through my friend Mel, who is the director of BRAVE ministry which reaches out to the poor and those in prisons, that I was connected with the new Executive Director of Prison Fellowship Cambodia, Oun Srey (sister) Muylen. I met her for coffee to hear her heart and we have made arrangements to meet and pray! She is the first woman director of Prison Fellowship, and even though she is small in stature, she has a big heart for God and for those in the prison system. I loved hearing her testimony and I will share this in a later update with her permission. Please pray that God will direct me how I can be of help to this precious sister in her new role! 

Meeting with PFC Executive Director and Reps from BRAVE Ministry

I know COVID-19 has restricted freedom of movement in Canada, and wearing masks hampers our daily way of doing things, but I pray for His Spirit to move freely over all of you as we grow in Him in this season, as we share His love to those who cannot venture out so that our relationship with Christ will grow deeper in spite of the pandemic! 

 

Thank you for your continued support of finances, prayer, words of encouragement and yes, your presence!

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya 

#221 - An Engagement and Spicy Noodles!

Vol.# 221

**(I apologize for the font differences. Blogger glitch that I cannot seem to fix!)

Thank you again for all those who prayed for the extension of my visa.

With the government changes to requirements for foreigners/ex-pats who are extending their visas, there was a scramble to get those things in place. A shout out to my ex-housemate who spoke with my landlady to get the ‘ball rolling’ on doing their part for the registration of foreigners, and also to the Administration Department at New Life Foundation who finished that process and then took the documents to the government agency. The extension of the visa that usually takes more than 2 weeks to process only took 9 days! Oun Chetra from Administration just smiled at me and shook his head when he gave me my passport back, because I had told him of all of you were praying over this process, and together we had also prayed before we sent it out! With COVID-19, the government is being especially cautious with expats and wanting to know exactly where we all are located here in Cambodia, thus the prerequisite requirement of registration with the local municipal body and documents to be signed and fingerprints to be done! 

Praise God and thank you!

If you read one of my last updates, I had referred to a young coworker who had made the comment of how I was ‘simple’! Well Oun (younger brother) Seanghort was getting engaged on August 8^th, but when he found out that I was leaving on July 26th (prior to the change of travelling plans), he asked his parents as well as his girlfriend’s parents if they could change the date to accommodate Bong Srey (older sister) Vidya! What is remarkable about this is that both sets of parents are Buddhists and had met with the village seer to get a date, but Oun Seanghort and his girlfriend are Christians and had prayed that: 1) both parents would allow them to have a Christian engagement ceremony; and 2), that the date would be changed! Well both sets of parents agreed to both requests, and it was my delight to drive up for 2 hours with my ‘bubble’ of coworkers to celebrate this event!

Engagement Group photo!

With co-workers at engagement

Going watermelon picking after engagement!

'Liming' with 2 former Rescue students at engagement!

  As we were sitting upstairs in the room, cross-legged on the floor, trying to get a bit of air from one of the three fans, I looked around and was struck by the background where Oun Seanghort, his girlfriend Sophea, both parents, 3 of their home pastors and grandparents sat on the floor. Directly behind them was a wall covering with their names and the date of the engagement and a big Cross! To the right of them was the shrine dedicated to Buddha! There were no offerings on it, which was unusual because this is the daily early morning ritual to put the fruit and liquid on the shrine. As the Khmer French Pastor asked if the parents on both sides agreed to this ‘union’, both said quite firmly and happily, YES! Wow! What an answer to prayer and to the obedience of this young couple to get engaged only if under Christian rites with their hometown pastors, and if not, they would wait because they both wanted to honor Jesus the Christ! As I said to both of them afterwards, because they trusted God, waited on Him first, and showed honor to their respective parents, by their lifestyle, their parents said yes! Afterwards, Oun Seanghort’s father invited us to go watermelon picking at his farm! That was fun and brought back memories of Trinidad and Tobago and our house on Ephraim Joseph Street where we had watermelons growing in our front yard! The soil was so good that we just threw the seeds and it grew! 

An idea popped up one morning as I finished my coffee time with Jesus on the rooftop, and that was to organize a ‘spicy noodle eating competition’ amongst the staff at the church office! When I shared it with my chief co-conspirator of fun (yes, my idea as well to this new endeavour!), she said, oh yes! We all are feeling burnt out and exhausted, and with no church gatherings there is a sense of disconnection. Also with roles changing, there is shifting of identity and purpose amongst the staff (my observations). So just before staff meeting last Wednesday, we set up the challenge! Each ministry within the church for example, church planting, pastoral care, Media, IT, worship ministry, to name a few, had a representative to enter into the challenge! There were 14 ministries in all, and after each rep ate the spicy noodle (had to eat ALL in order to win), then that person had to blow a balloon (got rid of the hot air from eating the noodles), and then run to give the balloon to a designated person! Our head pastor also took part in the proceedings (to get him involved I had to talk to his PA and HR to figure out his schedule but he was ‘game’). No one was exempted! 

Spicy Noodle Challenge!

Afterwards people kept talking about the fun, the burning of the stomach (cold milo was available for each participant) and the FUN! Sometimes in the midst of all this we lose the joy and the fun because of the tasks before us, and in this new season of trying to respond to a new reality, it has been energy draining. It has been a season filled with doubts on what is the next step and figuring out if it the right one for all! Oh, just in case you were wondering, the prize was chocolates!!! It was fun and hilarious especially at the staff meeting when one of the leaders would go up to give a report, and would say, “Wow! My stomach is still burning! Give me a minute before I do the report.” We would all be laughing! It was a different kind of staff meeting!

Saying Goodbye to Nathan who served 7 years here!

2 Chronicles 34 :14...”Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord given through Moses....v18 And Shaphan read it before the king...” I would like to change this to say ‘Vidya, His child, found the Nuggets of Encouragement from one of the King’s Daughters given through the Lord Jesus Christ!’ I am referring to a book which is a compilation of thoughts and encouragement by a prayer mentor, an encourager to those of us on the mission field, domestic or international, a woman in whom I was in awe and frankly, intimidated me when I first met, but whom I got to know and to respect, not only as a fierce intercessor but also as someone who listens and has an intimacy with the Lord Our God. She knows His voice because she knows His Word firsthand, and yet is so humble, that in this book she does not put her name as the author, but simply writes “From one of the King’s daughters”! Her name? Jennie Leslie! 

Jennie Leslie's Book

Looking back, I was tempted to call her Mrs. Leslie but funnily enough, it was simply Jennie! I got to listen and learn from her as she prayed and interceded on a Tuesday evening and on a Sunday evening before church. I was the humble recipient of her notes of encouragement on orange stationery, at first handwritten, and then typed but signed by her. To me it was one of my lifelines of encouragement. I got to peek into the soul of someone who truly loved to be at His feet, who had a running intimate conversation with Her Saviour. Now after so many years and in a different continent as I searched through my limited books that I packed to bring to Cambodia, I found her book just as Hilkiah did, and as I sat and re-read those nuggets, I was and am encouraged, challenged and brought to tears of joy as I look into the heart of Our Saviour through one of His daughters! For such a time as this, Jennie, when I needed this amidst COVID-19 and not being able to go home now, what a treasure to uncover! 

How blessed am I!

Prayer Requests: 

-      In Romans 16:17 Paul cautions us to ...watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles‘. Please pray that I WOULD NOT be one to cause divisions but rather be his peace and from v19, thatyour (my) obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise”. I want always to be obedient to God first (like Oun Seanghort and his fiancée), and not to man.

- Please pray for a house cleaner. I want a non-Christian Khmer speaking woman. Currently one person may work for 2 or 3 different households or business places, so you do not know the ‘bubble’, so I have to be wise. It is time consuming and difficult for me to clean the rooftop and the outside open spaces.

- On August 8/9, ten of us on the Global Leadership Summit Cambodia will be previewing speakers for our upcoming GLSCambodia online seminar. Pray for unity as we choose relevant speakers to the Cambodian culture, lessons they are teaching which can easily be translated into Khmer. For those 2 days we are watching all the speakers online, so pray for clarity and for His anointing on us all as we choose which speakers to highlight! (We all love TD Jakes but he is difficult to translate into Khmer!) 

Praises: 

For YOU! For my Mom and Dad. My Mom just celebrated being 84 years YOUNG. For my siblings who are taking care of my parents on site and also from afar through their online visits and help, to phone calls and video calls with Daddy and Mommy!

Thank you all for your continued partnership as you dance with me here in my heart country of Cambodia! 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya 

#220 - A Delayed Return and a House Blessing!

Vol.# 220

A quick update on my expected return WITH URGENT PRAYER REQUEST: 

I felt a need to pray and fast over my return to Toronto, and God gave me Phil.1:23-25. [23] I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ (my family and you, my ‘other family” which is better by far, [24] but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body (here in Cambodia). [25] Convinced of this, I know that I will remain…” After doing WhatsApp calls with my parents and with my spiritual mentors, and talking with my siblings, the decision was made to delay my departure from here. God has confirmed this many times over, allowing me to know that it is wisdom, and not the fear of contracting COVID-19 that is the determining reason for being here! Thank you all for your prayers and words of support as well!

“Hello Holy Spirit Sister, do you have a picture of Jesus?” 

I quickly responded with, “No, but I can get a Cross for you!” 

I had been invited to a house warming by three brothers who were once at the orphanage at Rescue. Two of them had been my students and translators when I had taught there, ‘my boys’ as I call them now! As is the custom here, a picture of the Prime Minister, a picture of the King and of the King’s mother are usually on the wall for all to see, and a shrine dedicated to Buddha placed either just outside or as you enter the main room of a house or business. Visal, along with his brothers, were now proud co-owners (with the bank) of a town house. I was invited to go and bless and pray over the house, and to stay and eat together with the rest of my former students from Rescue! I, however, had to be wise and not join them for eating since they were not part of my ‘bubble group’.

However, I did go earlier, and the journey, which took about an hour with the traffic, felt as if I was going to the orphanage back in 2011 before they fixed the roads! It was one bumpy dusty ride and I was laughing with Mr. Paat, my tuk tuk driver, because the 25 kg bag of rice and case of Coca Cola were bumping and moving all over the tuk tuk as we drove along! It was my honour to pray for and then to anoint the window and doors as Viseth, the younger brother, whose education is in house design, was already putting up the Cross on the wall! This is their first home that they can call their own. I was proud to see them move forward and I prayed that they would be able to meet their rent payments as well as fill the house with praises to God! I prayed as the Cross was being nailed to the wall, that it would be a physical symbol as to how they would live their lives. It is so easy to put up a Cross, but a different story to take up the Cross and to live out His values.   

                 

AT HOUSE BLESSING WITH VISAL AND THE CROSS

FROM HAMMOCKS TO HOUSES: 8 YEARS AGO AT MY HOUSE AT RESCUE.
THESE 2 NOW HAVE THEIR OWN HOUSES!

Just prior to that day, I received a call from one of the former house moms from Rescue, who is Mom to another ex-student, asking if it was possible to receive a blessing package of groceries from the church. Usually we give on a one time basis to families (each case is different but we follow that rule since so many are in need), and I had already given to that particular ex-student, but he and his wife and new baby had opened their one room place to his sister and brother with their Mom to live with them. So with a combined family of six, and the fact that they are saving to make a down payment on a town house close to Visal’s home, all considered, they certainly could use all the help they are able to get now in cutting down expenses. Both the former student and his wife are still gainfully employed, but at a lower pay at this time. So after prayer with the pastoral team, I was given the green light to give the groceries! I was happy to see the former house mom and grateful that she felt that she could ask for help since she is usually shy!  

FORMER HOUSE MOM AND I

               

The following day I received a call from another former student, but this time it was to ask for prayer for healing as he had to have an operation on his nose for a breathing difficulty. So I was able to pray over the phone with him, and God answered by providing alternate treatment other than the operation for him, so he knew that it was to Whom we prayed other than who prayed that answered his prayer! 

Prior to the call for the house blessing, one other former student’s face kept popping up in my prayer time. I discovered that he had returned to his home town, was no longer living here in the city, had no job, and his spiritual walk had grown cold over the past 6 months. I felt disappointed within my heart when I could not go to ‘lime’ (chilling and eating time) with the guys and their girlfriends at the house blessing because I found out that A was coming into town just for this event. I prayed and asked God for time with him, so I sent a message asking if he could come to the church office, knowing that the precautions of temperature check and hand sanitizing there would give me an opportunity to sit with him. I was so happy that he agreed to come back on his way to his hometown, and I love how God put together His timing for one specific pastor to be free to come and pray with us. This pastor had information to a church plant right in the same village as A (who thought there was none), and who not only prayed and gave him contact info, but also immediately called the church leaders there to connect A with the church there! I know it is up to A to follow up, but I marvel at God’s connecting to show A that he was being loved and cared for by GOD, even though he is far away not only in physical distance but spiritually as well. GOD cares for him where he is NOW. 
How sweet is that?  

PASTOR, A AND I

                                                   

As I celebrated Canada Day and sang our national anthem out loud with a fellow Canadian in nearly empty office, I was so grateful for my adopted country which has allowed me to grow and gave the opportunity to meet all of you, to call you my family even though we come from many different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds! I was wearing my red shirt and red and white scarf in honour of Canadian colours of red and white. Then it struck me that, with my black pants, I also was wearing my birth/Trini to de bone (Trinidad and Tobago) colours of red, white and black, and also my heart country of Cambodia with the red and white and the blue in my hair! (Yes, I got blue highlights!) All three countries rolled into one! Love it! 

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST: 

 On Monday we are going to extend my visa. Please pray for favour with the relevant authorities and wisdom on the process as the government has been changing the requirements here for foreigners on extension of visa! Thank you! 

Until we meet face to face, please keep sending in your stories and prayer requests! Thank you for your continued financial and prayer support!

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya