#246 - New roles and SAFE!

Vol.# 246 

Safe! 

That is the one-word message that was being transmitted between all of us from the different ministries at New Life Church Foundation! Three of the staff who worked in one area in the office had tested positive for COVID-19. They all lived at the Girls’ Dorm (comprised of 99 percent of ex-students from Rescue Orphanage). 10 out of the 15 girls had contracted the Delta Variant and were transferred to the care facility especially for the COVID-19 cases in order to stop the transmission going any further. The city officials had already cordoned off their house with the yellow and black ‘do not cross’ tape. I had gone in to do the rapid COVID test along with others. The leadership here have bought the tests so we can go in to be tested. So I was ‘safe’ meaning I tested negative! I would have to do it again 12 days later! 

 

COVID19 TEST: SAFE!

As I write this, all of the girls are still at the care centre and the remaining 5 are in quarantine. They have to wait until the government officials go in and do the tests again. I just got a message that it is 21 days for the Delta variant here so one more week for the girls! Now it is the Phchum Bunh (Buddhist holiday for making offerings to the monks for the ancestors).

Prayer Request: 

Please pray against discouragement for these girls. I praise God that they were all vaccinated so the symptoms are mild to moderate. No one has had problems with breathing, only a high fever and tiredness for all! There are a couple who are HIV positive and have not been vaccinated, so I ask for prayer especially for them. Their immune systems are already compromised but they have been doing well on their HIV medicine from an early age at Rescue.

 
SO, I am in a new season here at New Life Fellowship. I have switched from the Skills Training Centre since they are online for 3 classes, and now I am part of what is called the 5P’s. This is made up of the soul care/prayer team, the worship team, the youth team, the School of Ministry team (teaching the Bible), and the Life Guideline (youth are being trained on evangelism and becoming disciples of God). Sounds like a mouthful, eh? 

My role: I have begun meeting one on two (as opposed to one on one) with the Worship team, one meaning myself, and two meaning with the Worship Leader and one other person. This came at their request. I meet to listen and then to pray, asking each about their personal vision statement and just waiting on the Lord as I pray with each one. Then the head of the 5P’s, who is Lokru Pheaktra, asked me if I could meet with the heads of the above ministries to get a summary of what they do so we can then put it in a booklet form. So after the holidays here (I am still doing some work at home), I will meet with Oun Sreylin from the HR department to work with her on a format. She will be doing the Khmer translation and I will work on the English translation.

 
Prayer Request: 

Wednesdays are the days when I meet to hear the heart and often when I get home I am very tired. I do pray a cleansing prayer but it is usually a long day since I am up by 5:15am and at work by 7:45am. I leave around 3:30pm, so I am home by 4:00pm! I will be meeting with more people now on a Wednesday and a Tuesday since I am onsite at the office, so pray for discernment and wisdom as I first listen to His heart and then to those I am meeting. One of my spiritual mentors sent me a message he had been listening to and the words comfort and refuge resonated with me, as those were the words God gave to me for those I meet! We are in a building up phase so I pray for His creativity as I approach each individual!

 
I also have the privilege to continue to do a Bible study with Oun Muylen. We just finished the book of Esther online together and I asked her what was her big ‘takeaway’ from our study together. I thought it would be how we saw the concept of beauty being changed from the outward appearance of Esther in chapter 2 (her beauty, her treatments, the best clothes being given to her) to the inner beauty of the process of her finding the courage to be brave and to advocate for her people in the later chapters! However, Oun Muylen said the main lesson for her was HOW Esther solved problems and how she became independent through the prayer and fasting and then waiting on God’s timing to solve the problems! In Khmer culture it is truly a man’s world in leadership. Therefore, to see how Esther wisely chose a banquet and the request for help to pray for the words and timing of her requests to those in authority over her were most helpful to Oun Muylen here and now! I love how God truly showed Himself to her as the I AM in this cultural context of her Cambodian experience! She had excitedly asked for us to still meet and I suggested the book of Ruth and she started to laugh! She said, “Bong Srey (older sister), I was just about to ask you if we can study Ruth’s life!” Don’t you just love how God fuses the same idea together in our minds? Truly I am excited to dive into the book of Esther with her on a Friday morning!

 
One of the things I am specifically doing with the Soul Care Team is to translate the testimonial story of individuals they reach out to. As I listened to the halting Khmer/English words of one of its leaders trying to communicate the story of one person receiving a blessing package, I was a bit frustrated because I was not capturing the essence of the story. So, sensing this, the leader said, “Bong Srey, I will show you a picture!” This picture is what I now show to you! It is one of a woman who has two kids, who worked cleaning and preparing the rooms for the KTV (Karaoke Television business). However, with COVID, the government has closed down all of the entertainment industry. The foreigners have ceased coming in with the travel restrictions, so there are no jobs. The plight of this woman was told to a cell group leader from the church who went to visit to give the package of food supplies, and was able to share a bit of Jesus’s heart with her and others living at the garbage dump! I just looked at the picture and was able to write out this story! 

PICTURES SAY A THOUSAND WORDS: TRANSLATING THE STORY OF A WOMAN LIVING IN A GARBAGE DUMP.

Prayer Request: 

Please pray that I would be able to communicate each person’s story authentically, and not dramatically modified, so that those who are listening will be able to invest not only financially but spiritually and emotionally for these individuals!

 
As I continue to peel off the layers from the mission/vision statements of these teams, I will be able to write and let you know about each of the specific ministries at New Life Foundation Church!  I am excited about this new project, so I ask for prayer as I collaborate with Oun Sreylin and those that I meet. I pray that they get reenergized when they go back to the reason they joined each of these ministries, and that His fresh breath will be upon not only them but also myself! 

ONLINE SUNDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY WITH THE INFORMATION MINISTRY

Praise: 

I got the opportunity to go to pray over and with Oun Pov who used to be the director of the Skills Training Center where I was teaching. It was free and a supplementary form of education for those Grade 8 and up. Now he is the Principal of New Life School that is under the auspices of New Life Foundation. This school is for all ages from JK to Grade 12. It is a ‘paying’ school founded on Christian principles. All staff members are Christians here but the students come from various backgrounds. They just moved into a new building that was donated to them and just this past 2 weeks, it was one of only 13 private schools that was allowed to be opened by the government! The government officials went in to check for COVID-19 precautions and were pleased by all the safety protocol that had been established by the school. All the teachers were tested at a government facility (not the at-home rapid COVID testing kits), and the students themselves have been vaccinated, down to the youngest one! So there I was on the rooftop of the school praying with Oun Pov. Later on I was able to invite both him and his wife to dinner to celebrate the news of her pregnancy! We had not met for one year since COVID but had remained in contact through social media! What a blessed couple and I am honoured to be part of their prayer/mentoring team from the time I had started to teach at Skills Training Center over 2 years ago!

PRAYING ON SCHOOL ROOFTOP WITH OUN POV

DINNER WITH OUN POV AND HIS WIFE, OUN SREYLEAK

 

Thank you for your continued sacrifice of finances and prayer encouragement for His purpose here in my heart country of Cambodia!  Please continue to share your life journey with me so I can have the awesome honor of going to my Father on my knees for you and also to dance with you as well! 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya 

#245 - NEW ROLES: PRAYER AND PRESENCE

 Vol.# 245

The rains fell heavily yesterday, and as I sat in the tuk tuk on the way home, I was amazed that God in His mercy had allowed us to NOT have a traffic jam! Usually when it rains like that, the traffic is horrendous, but then I smiled as the tuk tuk that I was in went in and out of back streets as the Main Street was like a river. Then we hit a side street that was so flooded that I thought being in a canoe or a small boat would be better to travel in! I was praying the motor on the tuk tuk would not stall since that would mean getting out in thigh high murky waters with my IPad in my back pack! But again God in His mercies allowed us to get through to my street that had no flooding! 

 

I had just returned from an amazing day after being present for the taping of the church service. We had a full band, and a female worship leader who had not sung for nearly 2 years was leading the worship! Before COVID, anytime she would lead was a physical battle, because when she sang she brought you into His Presence so intimately that tears would fall from my face as she would sing from His heart through her heart and voice! So as we all had an early breakfast together and then went into rehearsals before the taping, I had the privilege of praying with her and hearing her say, “I know you have been praying for me, Bong, you are showing me the importance of serving God no matter the capacity, for when we serve our relationship with Him becomes so much closer because we HAVE to depend on Him.” 

BREAKFAST WITH WORSHIP TEAM

PREPARING FOR WORSHIP WITH SISTER LEADING AFTER 2-YEAR ABSENCE!

This conversation highlighted the transition from the Foundation ministry team of which I was a part because I was teaching at the Skills Teaching Centre (one of the branches of the Foundation Ministry) that for obvious reasons due to COVID-19 had to be closed down. I am now switched to Dynamic Worship Service where I help with the set-up for the services, prepare with the Information Desk Team for the welcoming of the congregants and the Worship Team Ministry itself. I will be meeting with the Worship pastor and his team leaders every Wednesday afternoon for a time of prayer and listening to the Lord; a time of listening to those on the band, the camera crew and the IT crew, to their concerns and to pray with them! We are also trying to designate a day and time for me to be in the office to edit English business outgoing mail and to help translate incoming correspondence as well. I said trying because here you have to be flexible. You may get a request to help edit at 8 at night or at other times! I am still part of the school program in the sense of praying for the Khmer teachers and helping with English content, BUT not teaching online! I would be a disaster online trying to figure out logistics of how to do it. (And yes, we have tried!) 

I have been thinking of the word presence and its impact on us here in everyday life by the very fact that we cannot be present at church or at school or in groups bigger than 15 people. I was thinking of this as I sat at a cafe with all of the COVID-19 precautions in place and looked on in amusement at a ‘social influencer’. She came in all dressed in the necessary brand clothing, with the latest IPhone detailing her time there at the coffee shop; making sure her make up was on properly and that her presence on camera was ‘perfect’! She drove a Mercedes Benz and seemingly had it all! But as I looked at her, she was there alone. No one was physically present with her, just her followers on social media, and I thought how exhausting it must be to be ‘on’ all the time, showcasing your presence by physical appearance and material possessions to make sure you maintain and increase your followers on social media! Then, wham! The next day at the staff meeting online, we were shown how our youth were on social media talking about the Bible challenge of reading 1 and 2 Timothy and interpreting what they read into real life, showcasing their life as Christians and challenging others to read and get involved in helping out their communities! I was seriously in tears as I watched the creativity of the youth led by Oun Pisey who I will introduce in my next update to you, a young Khmer woman who has a passion for the youth who unashamedly tell about their walk with Jesus Christ in the midst of COVID! Some of these youth are also part of the worship team here so I get a chance to interact with them as well!

THIS PHOTO OF A YOUNG MAN PREPARING DAILY FOOD OFFERING FOR STALLS AT MALL MADE ME THINK OF MY PREPARATION FOR JESUS; READYING MY HEART TO LISTEN AND LEARN AND LEARN FROM HS WORD

Praise: We finished up our study of James and I listened again as each person shared on the impact of what we learnt and how to apply it to our lives. This has been one of the gems coming out of COVID, the intimate study of the Bible in our small group and the heart stories and prayer time together.

Prayer: We will begin Hebrews this Sunday. Please pray for clear internet/Wi-Fi since 3 in our group are connecting from outside of the city back in their hometowns.

 
Praise: Bible study time with Oun Muylen on book of Esther is always exciting for me as I learn new themes through her eyes!

Prayer: Oun Muylen just received the booster shot and has been quite sick. Pray for her recovery as her body reacts to Johnson and Johnson booster vaccine.

Prayer: As I try to get the booster vaccine, Canada still does not recognize the Sinovac vaccine. So I am thinking if I can get the Johnson and Johnson as a booster vaccine, then it is acceptable, since you need only one shot of that vaccine as opposed to 2 shots of the Astra Zeneca. You need to be fully vaccinated to travel. Please pray for wisdom and favour. The Johnson and Johnson is the more difficult one to receive (you have to ‘know’ people!!). We know the Connector, Jesus the Christ! 

 

Before I end this, I would like to express my heart felt condolences to Ruby I. on the passing of her father into the arms of Jesus. He was a man of few words but always welcoming and kind to me. Prayers are with you, Ruby and your mom and your brother and sister-in-law.

 
Chand Persaud: Chand would pick up Sister Dipali and myself to go in and sous chef for Neighbourhood Connection, for Jerry and Maggie’s team, and so many more events. His jokes, his tasty recipes, his kindness to me and being part of his cooking team with others are so memorable. My love goes out to Marty and the family. Chand is now with Abba Father. That is our gift, knowing that both Ruby’s dad and Chand are in heaven now.

Prayer: As I help others here, pray for our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan, and to know how to share their plight to those here who are trying to survive amidst the COVID epidemic. Sometimes when we are in our own bubble of crises, it is difficult to come out of it to pray for others! I have been using Esther, chapter 9 as a reversal of circumstances where the Jews were saved from annihilation from Haman, but also using Acts chapter 7; 54-56 where Stephen in the midst of the stoning saw Jesus, and in his face his killers saw that peace and the glory of God and were convicted!

 
Please continue to send in your requests.

Thank you all for your continued dance with me here in my heart country of Cambodia. Thank you for your continued sacrifice of finances, and taking time to write and pray for me! 

Much love! 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya 

#244 - SLICE OF LIFE: Death, Engagement, Song Writing, Bible-Study, Food Cart and Sunset!

 Vol.# 244

The sounds of the hustle and bustle have begun here. Even on a Sunday there is no break from the sounds of construction and the tooting of horns as sellers go by on the street! We are in the midst of the rainy season when the rain does not come gently but as mini-storms where the gusts of winds sends everything flying if it is not nailed down! It is refreshing however! 

As a church we have been reeling from 3 deaths that have occurred in the space of 3 days. The first deaths were of a mother and daughter. The husband is a leader of one of the satellite churches not far from the main campus church. The mother and eldest daughter were on their way to the market to sell their produce and got into a traffic accident. Both died on the scene. The father is left with 5 children. 
Prayer: Please pray for Lokru Somien as he is now a single parent with one income coming in. Pray that as he moves through this grief journey that he knows the true comfort of Our Lord Jesus Christ as Job got to know the deep intimacy of our God. Pray that those around him will walk alongside the family as they all process this sudden death.

 
Sister Sreymom: I first came to know of her when there was an urgent call at the beginning of last year for blood donations for her. She had just given birth and they could not stop the bleeding. The second time I heard of her was when she and her husband were on stage at church giving thanks and sharing their testimony of God’s healing through the prayers and practical giving of blood at the crucial time. The other times I encountered her was to pray alongside her after church for others. She was always smiling and ready to pray for others! 

Sister Sreymom first began to have symptoms of COVID that started off mildly, but within 4 days she had succumbed to this virus. I found out later that she was the Co-director of Transform Cambodia, a NGO school here, and right up to before she was hospitalized, she was doing her volunteer teaching of Life Guidelines to the next generation! Sister Navy (wife to senior pastor Lokru Samdy) told me, “we thought we would grow old together with our families since we have known each other since childhood!” We had an online funeral service for her. Over 200 ‘attended’. My tuk tuk driver and his wife, who was a maintenance worker at Transform Cambodia, also attended the funeral, and were impacted by this sister. In tribute to her, she said that ‘Mom was best friends with Jesus and she had a praying heart for her people!’ 

SISTER SREYMOM'S HOME GOING TO JESUS: HER HUSBAND SPEAKING TO US

Prayer: Pray for those asking the question as to why God would save her from one near death experience to have her go home to Him now. Pray that they would treasure each moment that God has given to us, to live for Him and to share about His love for Him. These are the thoughts of her husband who spoke of her life and her strong faith in God!

 
Update: In my last update I introduced you to Oun Pheareak. Since then he has gotten engaged! Yay! I was invited but could not go since it out of the city and attendance is also limited. He had worked closely with Sister Sreymom, and I was moved by his comment to me that ‘the footprint that she left was one of faith and a true knowledge that God is real because she prayed all the time and spoke of His Word as HIS WORD to us!’ I loved that! His fiancée is Hoy Seakmey and a true purpose partner in the Lord! Oun Pheareak is in his second year of his Masters in Business Administration.

OUN PHEAREAK AND FIANCEE HOY SEAKMEY'S ENGAGEMENT

 
Oun Veasna: He had co-written a song called Child of God. Here is the link with English subtitles. This song has now been heard all over Cambodia and beyond! His team just finished S.W.O.T. Analysis to be better prepared for the upcoming years.  At first he was nervous, but now, after realizing the importance of order and organization within his team, matching the skills and abilities with each member, he has found it freeing!

 

Prayer: I am involved on Mondays with an online Bible study on Acts with Foundation group from 8-11. We have a devotion/worship time. Pray for a fresh anointing as I study and then listen as others share. As it is all in Khmer and a bit of English, it is sometimes very difficult to understand all that is being discussed as Wi-Fi/internet is not strong for others and therefore the reception is not clear.

MY INFO DESK GROUP STUDYING JAMES

On Tuesdays we have staff meetings also from 8-11. Pray for His discernment as I listen and watch faces to know how to pray and care for those He has given to me. This is when I get a sense of who needs a private message from me, either a verse or word from God, or just a simple ‘how are you’, so that that person knows he/she is being seen and thought of, or maybe financial aid may be needed, so if I am able to offer that I will pray and then give!

 
On Friday, I started a Bible study with Oun Muylen who previously was the Executive Director of Prison Fellowship but now is working with BRAVE. She said to me, “Bong Srey (older sister), can we do a study on a book instead of random verses from the Bible?” I actually was being led to ask her to do a study as well, so immediately I said, ‘let us do the book of Esther’! Well, the first chapter of Esther is a bit difficult with the names and the history, and Esther herself is not even introduced, but it gives a background to the evolving story to follow. I knew that but Oun Muylen did not know anything about Esther, so when we got together online, I said, ‘you are probably wondering why did I chose Esther, right’? And she said, ‘yes, it was so difficult and not as easy as Psalms or Proverbs’! And this was the Old Testament! Most of the time it is the New Testament that people study there! Then she thought, ‘okay, Bong Srey must have a reason so she re-read it and said, ‘nationalism’! I was taken aback by her one word summary because it is about nationalism, the existence of the Jews /culture. Then we discussed the Khmer similarities to the culture in Esther’s time, the paternalistic culture and emotions and feelings of Queen Vashti and King Xerxes, and consequences of acting impulsively and not waiting and seeking God’s guidance! I cannot wait to see what I will learn anew from Esther through the eyes of Oun Muylen! 

One of my ‘boys’, (ex -students from Rescue), started a new business: food cart. I was going to go on site to support him but could not, so I was able to send money to his account and buy dinner for about 10 of ‘my guys’, also former students from Rescue! A win-win!

FORMER RESCUE STUDENT'S FOOD CART

Finally, I started this talking about the rainy weather, but with that comes some spectacular sunsets! I took photos of three different views of the sky from my one standing position on my rooftop! I was astounded! To my right was this peaceful blue sky, to the back of me was the beginning of the sunset, and mercy, to my left was this amazing fire in the sky! As I looked I can hear Jesus saying to me, Vidya, are you going to be my servant who is neutral, lukewarm or on fire for ME? I just stood there in tears, as I had never seen these 3 views at the same time, just at different angles from my one standing position! Oh! My answer? ON FIRE! What is your answer to Jesus?

3 ROOFTOP VIEWS OF SUNSET

 
Thank you for your continued dance with me through your prayers and financial support! Oh yes, I GOT MY OWN POSTAL BOX and new address! Yay!

 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya 

#243 - Snapshots of my life in this season: Praise and Prayer

Vol.# 243

Hello from a noisy and hot morning here in Phnom Penh! 

I thought I would do my update a little bit differently through pictures of life and those He has given to me to walk alongside and dance with in this season here in Cambodia!

 

SREYLIN

Praise: The first picture is of SreyLin. I call her Oun (little one) Lin Lin. We met for a one to one at Pizza Company to sit and chat about what has been going on in her life since last year December! We had chatted online but this was the first time we got to meet for lunch. Oun Lin Lin works at the office at New Life Foundation, and was on the church planters’ team, but now has transferred to Media with HR department at NLF. She actually cried when we first reconnected on my first day back to the office a couple of weeks ago! I am so proud to see how she has grown in the Lord, her involvement with the Youth group and her hunger for God. She is in a new relationship, so I am one of her big sisters who is asking her the ‘difficult questions’ because I want to make sure she stays close to God’s values and have healthy boundaries in her relationship. She lives with her mom (she lost her dad few years ago) but here in this culture sometimes there is difficulty in asking the ‘hard questions.
Prayer Request: Pray that God would show me how to balance the fun in our relationship with the delicacy of being a true mentor in challenging her in her growth in Jesus. I will be meeting with her boyfriend at a later date as well. Please ask for His discernment and wisdom as we all ‘lime’ together!

OUN ALY

 

Praise: Oun Aly! She is in charge of Dynamic service set up, for online taping of the service. She makes sure the cameras, music, IT and all the details of service set up is done and ready for the taping. I have felt God lead me to be her ‘runner’ to get things done, from the cleaning of equipment to moving around of stage equipment. My experience of setting up events at RAC is being used here as we trouble shoot together on possible problems and come up with different scenarios of how to problem solve. I listen, pray and am her helper on set up days, which is usually on a Wednesday. We have lunch together and recently she shared about her new relationship as well as her relationships with her family members and her relationship with Jesus.
Prayer Request: Please pray for energy to keep up with her! Seriously, she moves fast! Pray for our weekly meetings to be times where I can encourage her as she is a woman in leadership, to be able to challenge her to keep the discipline of her quiet times with Jesus so that she is filled up to pass this on to her team! Pray for me to share with her how to be ‘silly’ and to allow His laughter and His sense of fun to permeate into her life, to not always be so serious and to enjoy this new season with her relationship with a wonderful man of God! I had been praying for her and God has sent her a fellow worker from NLF!

 

OUN PHEAREAK

Praise: Oun Pheareak is in his red tshirt! He is the facilitator of Life Guideline classes on a Sunday, showing the expats how to share the gospel within the Khmer context! He has an amazing testimony of a gangster lifestyle before joining the dorm, and learning English at the classes given by NLF. He is now the personal assistant to the Senior Pastor, Pastor Samdy, at the church. He works with the Youth and teaches/trains youth on their faith and how to share their faith whilst going to school himself! We meet on Wednesdays to go and buy lunch for the three pastoral leaders, who on that day usually have no time to go and get something to eat because it is ‘taping’ day for church service. So Oun Pheareak and I would go and surprise them with lunch, the surprise being whatever they would be eating that day! From my days of sous chef with Jerry and Maggie Ages where I worked under their leadership to prepare meals for the Board once a month, I know the importance of giving this gift of literally feeding the leaders so that it prepares them to spiritual feed the souls of others. So I have made a promise to feed these three once a week, not in cooking, because we have no kitchen, but at least in buying the food! 
Prayer Request: Oun Pheareak has so much going on in his life. Pray that I would be able to wisely show him how to draw boundaries and how to say ‘no’ to certain events no matter how ‘spiritual’ it seems! I have had to learn that in my own life and next month he is getting engaged, so please pray that we at NLF would be allowed to go to the village to celebrate this engagement! He and his girlfriend have been seeking advice from their Khmer Christian leaders and I am so happy that finally they are getting engaged!

OUN VEASNA

 

Praise: Oun Veasna! He is the new Worship pastor for NLF! He has been wise in gathering a group of us to be prayer supporters for this ministry. He has been under the mentorship of Angie and Jason, who have now returned to the States after serving here for 16 years! He can listen to a piece of music and then play it by ear. He is creating worship music as well. He is the eldest of 4 brothers, all of whom are musically inclined! They lost their parents at an early age and he was told that he would never amount to much! He has been married for about 3 years. 
Prayer Request: Pray that I would be able to encourage this Psalmist of God. The mantle of leadership can be heavy since he is trying to find his own way and not those of his predecessors. He is also now involved in administration and in meetings that are more structured now in this pandemic time. Please pray that I can encourage him to see that these meetings are also worship times and that his role is pivotal just as the spoken word is at a service. I am encouraging him to find his voice in a leadership capacity! He just wrote a song about being able to worship even when times are difficult based on Paul and Silas being in jail and worshipping the Lord! So many are now listening to his worship music all across Cambodia since we have gone online!

 

VISAL AND FORMER RESCUE STUDENT, SOKCHEAT

Praise: This picture is outside the house of a former student from Rescue (he is wearing the dark shirt). His mom passed away that morning. I had received a text from another former student, Visal (who is standing behind him in the picture), informing me of the death earlier in the day. However his mom, who had worked at Rescue for a time, had died of complications from COVID-19 and had been cremated as per government’s instructions on any COVID-19 death. Why do I put this under praise? I was deliberating whether I should go and God reminded me how important ‘presence’ was, to not only me with His presence but also the physical presence is one way of reflecting His presence to others. So I went and prayed and chatted with Sokcheat. I saw his wife and his little girl and got to meet with his 2 sisters, one of whom had just had a baby! It was a 20 minute tuk tuk ride one way for about a 10-minute meeting but I am glad I obeyed God, for as I was leaving Sokcheat said, “Thank you Bong Srey for your time, for your prayer and for your love for me and my family.” I gave him money to help with funeral expenses and he teared up. I could not hug him, but again I am so glad I obeyed God to go and show my respect. 
Prayer Request: Pray for wisdom on how to follow up with care for Sokcheat and his family. I reminded him that as his mom was a Christian, that she was in heaven now, and he has that hope of knowing she is there with Jesus. His walk with Jesus has become lukewarm so I am praying that God would give him dreams of seeing his mom in heaven and being reminded of how God came to save him. Please pray that Sokcheat and his family would not have contracted COVID.

INFORMATION DESK TEAM STUDYING EPHESIANS

Praise: This is a screen shot of our Information Desk team meeting to study from Ephesians. The young man next to me on the screen is a former student from Rescue who now lives in the Boys Dorm here in PP. He led the Bible study that day and I am so proud of him as he is usually so shy!

GIVING BLESSING PACKAGES WITH PRAYER

Praise God that besides giving the blessing packages to those in need outside of the city, the leaders are also praying over and with them!

 

SENIOR PASTOR CHATTING WITH GIRLS AT DORM

Prayer Request: In this screenshot pic, we see our Senior Pastor and his wife talking to girls at the dorm. There have been 2 cases of Positive COVID, so please pray for quick recovery. They have all received the vaccine yet they got COVID. Pray for the girls at the dorm. They did the COVID-19 test and so far they are negative except for those 2 cases.

BAPTISM OF 13 YOUTH

Praise: In the midst of COVID-19 and online baptism classes, we just had baptism of 13 people, all of them youth! 

SNAPCHAT MESSAGE, LOL!

And lastly, a snapshot of a message I received from one of ex-students from Rescue on a group chat with them, a Happy Father’s Day! LOL!

 
Thank you all as you continue to dance with me here. I am praying for a reprieve away from the city from this intense heat and sound of construction as places are being opening up. However COVID precautions are still in place! I pray for your safety as well! 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya 

#242 - First Vax, Bible Translations and Role Adjustment at NLF

Vol.# 242

It is 5:30 in the morning and I am hearing chants and thinking, Hmmm, we are not allowed to go to the pagoda/woat/ Buddhist place of worship, so it could not be coming from the temple located about 5 minutes from where I live. (Usually on loud speakers you can hear when a special event is going on). Then I realize the sounds are closer, and as I peek over my rooftop balcony, I realize the chanting is coming from the courtyard at my own place! 

As I looked and saw a white tent being put up, I realized that someone had died and then I saw the pic of the grandmother being put up on display. She passed away early in the morning and because it is during this COVID-19 time, everything is being done quite subdued and simply. A white cloth is wrapped around the light post just outside the yard to signify a death, and then the local commune chiefs and a couple of policemen came in to sign papers and to verify that the death was not associated with COVID-19. Then the monks came in, and the landlord and his son and son-in-law went to have their heads shaved as part of the ritual of mourning the dead here. I waited until the next day to go and pay my respects to say I will miss seeing the grandmother early in the morning sitting outside just enjoying the sun and watering her plants. The family from the province/ countryside drove in and food was being prepared for those who came in. There were about 20 people sitting in chairs arranged in social distancing pattern to observe the proceedings. As I spoke to the landlady, I told her I would be praying for the whole family from my rooftop. I gave some money as part of the ‘respect’ to honor the grandmother and then I left. 

GRANDMOTHER'S FUNERAL

As I listened later to the chants and then the silence that followed, I thought (from my viewpoint) that death here on earth is a home going to Jesus. I picture the dancing and singing (not muted) as a celebration occurring not only in the heavenlies, but also for me here on earth. As sad as it is lose a loved one, not to see them or speak to them, what a comfort, no, more than a comfort, it is a fact that in Christ I will be seeing those loved ones again in heaven. Eternity with my Jesus. As I spoke to my landlady later, there was no peace for her, except that she hoped she had taken good care of her mother while here on earth. I stood and listened and looked at her face. She was scared that I as a foreigner would want to move since there was a death here. I just called her up to pay my rent early as part of the reassurance that I am still here and in Jesus’ Name I will be praying for her family.

THANK YOU to all who have continued to pray for Sister Boramey. She is about 70 percent well on her way to complete recovery. Her husband Lokru Virak sends her gratitude to all have been praying for her.

I was blessed to join a ZOOM seminar on the origins of Bible translation into Khmer language. The process of having to know Sanskrit, Hebrew, Greek, and English, just to name a few of the languages which the translators had to have a deep knowledge of, as well as the grammatical knowledge of passive and active tenses... to present tense in order to capture the meanings, plus the knowledge that the Holy Spirit was guiding those who undertook this challenge and still are doing these translations was mind boggling to me!  Some Khmer friends were asking, ‘Vidya, why did you join?’ It was all in Khmer and the level of vocabulary and content were quite beyond my own knowledge of Khmer. My response was, “It was exciting to see the process and to hear what the main translators/interpreters had to say on what they had to learn and how they had prepared to do this task so that any Khmer, not withstanding the level of education had access to read and hear Jesus the Christ in their first language!” 

EXAMPLE OF BIBLE TRANSLATION PROGRESS

You all know how passionate I am about reading the Word, how precious my coffee time is with Jesus, as His Holy Spirit talks and I hear His voice through His Word. I am blessed to open up my IPad and I have so many translations of His Word! On my IPad I now have 6 Bible translations in Khmer language! Some are in both the Old and New Testament while others are still trying to finish the whole Bible in that particular translation! Of course I took screen shots of the slides shown so that I can go back and study them, since, yes, much of what they were saying went way over my head and the seminar was for 3 hours, but in reality it went on for 4 hours! 

6 BIBLE KHMER TRANSLATIONS

I am on the Info desk welcome team and since there is no on-site service, we as a team have been meeting on Sundays at 10-11 on Google Meet and studying the Book of Ephesians. We get to read it together and talk about what we hear God saying to each of us. If it weren’t for COVID-19 we would not be having such in-depth meetings and praying for each other, so I am thankful to the leaders of this group who initiated this. What is church if not for the building and maintaining of relationships? Again I am the ONLY foreigner in this group so I am very grateful to be invited to participate! 

In my reading over the past 2 weeks, ‘leader burnout’ seems to be the recurring theme and as I prayed over a meeting I was going to have with the leader of NLF here, I knew I was going to be sharing about this. Wouldn’t you know it, during the lunch hour prior to that, I was listening to a Global Leadership Network seminar given by Carey Nieuwhof (a Canadian pastor), and the second seminar was on leader burnout and the different signs! It was a good meeting. The staff here are in different stages of burnout, and what they need is not only a fresh outpouring of His Presence, but also the visible presence of the main leaders to spend quality time with the staff! I had sensed the word ‘exhaustion’ when I had stepped into the office for the first time last week, and this week even though half of the staff would come in on site on certain days, we would all meet online for meetings. I had the privilege of being there when we shared communion together on site and online with others. I know many, if not all of you, have not been able to have communion together, and that is why I am so grateful to go in and participate on behalf of all of you who cannot do this.

WORSHIP PREP

FIRST WORSHIP TIME TOGETHER

I HAVE received my first vaccine. I had written to ask Dr. Gamble his advice on taking Sinovac which is the only one available right now here in the city, and am grateful for Dr. Gamble (and Linda) taking the time to discuss my case with other doctors and getting back to me quickly, advising me to take the available vaccine. I was concerned because I wanted to get an internationally recognized vaccine! This advice coincided with Bro. Krong and his wife Liep who were burdened that I had not been vaccinated. Within 2 days, Bro. Krong’s cousin, who is an intern, called to get my passport information and I was called into a school that has been converted into a vaccination centre to get the vaccine! The appointment was for one o’clock; I got there by 12:40, being escorted by Bro. Krong and Sister Liep. With the sun beating down upon us as the line grew to wait for the vaccine, the gate suddenly opened and I was invited in with Sister Liep to go in early to get my vaccine! It was all done within 15 minutes while others still had to go in and sit and wait in the hot sun! I found favor and I am so grateful for all of your prayers. 2 days after receiving Sinovac vaccine, it was approved by W.H.O.! My second vaccine will be on June 13^th. I am praying for the same quick favor. The young doctor was quite professional and I am remembering to pray for him, Dr. Vannith!

FIRST SINOVAC VACCINE

Praise God: I was looking for fresh fruit and found watermelon, but could not find pawpaw/papaya! So I went home. I got a call 5 minutes after reaching home from my usual tuk tuk driver, and he says, “you come down I have papaya for you, my treat!“ SO very grateful! I had just bought coconut water for him and his wife so he had kept his eye open for papaya for me!

 
Praise God: I have more reliable fibre optic internet service! After being promised I would get delivery in 2 days, I was still waiting 4 days later. So I called the service provider leader and asked where he lived so that I could go and stay there, with his house becoming my hotel since he had Wi-Fi and I did not. There was a pause and I think he got the message that was reinforced by my asking for a DEFINITE time for the installation, since then I would be calling him every 15 minutes or so to make sure no one got lost or got in an accident on the way to my house! I was reading the story of the persistent widow from Luke 18:1-8 and was inspired! I was told they would come the next day but, lo and behold, I got a call that day and they came and within half hour (a miracle indeed here time wise!). It was installed, the two guys got their cold Coca Cola, and I prayed over them as they were leaving. One of the young guys got to practise his English and we were all happy! My expat friends told me they were going to call me next time they need to get something done!

WI-FI CABLE ON STREET

WI-FI INSTALLED

As I met with Lokru (Pastor) Samdy on my role with NLF as things have changed at the Skills Training Centre which we had to close due to COVID-19, he felt strongly that prayer mentoring as well as hospitality/welcome ministries were where there was a need (one of my prayer partners in Canada had said the word ‘welcome’ was propping up when she prayed for me before going into the meeting). One day later I got a call asking if I was busy, and could I meet for time to reconnect and prayer! It was a young Khmer leader of one of the ministries God had put upon my heart. So yesterday, just meeting with her was a confirmation. The second was when another younger Khmer worker saw me and came up to say hi with tears in her eyes. I think we as leaders or influencers forget the importance of ‘presence’. It was one thing to be present at the staff meetings on ZOOM or any other meetings (even if the topic was way over my head because of lack of Khmer language knowledge), and another not to be on site when it is now allowed. I was told many times, “Bong srey Vidya’, so good to see you on ZOOM, you are still connecting with us, thank you and now thank you for getting the vaccine so that you can come into the office!” I will be meeting with that second sister next week Wednesday.

 
I met with and prayed with the Worship leaders. I am officially part of the prayer group for this young ministry as it moves forward to reach Cambodia during pandemic time online! 

I have often mentioned Oun Muylen. She has resigned from Prison Fellowship Cambodia and so I am walking along with her as she prays and asks God for her next step. It is my privilege to be here to listen and pray with her at this time.

Thank you for reading through this LONG update. 

I will end with this story. I was heading back home from participating in the taped worship service session and as I was looking for a tuk tuk to take me home, one guy comes along and I give my address and ask him, so what is the price? Usually a negotiation is done but the negotiation did not go the way he thought it would! The young driver said,”muhmerne”, which is $2.50 for a 3-kilometre journey. Usually, if the APP is used, it is $1.70 to maximum $2.00. So he is probably thinking, okay I will get way more. I just looked at him, and remembered that it was only in the last 2 weeks this same area was under lockdown and he had no work. So I told him $3.00! He looked at me and then looked away quickly with a shocked look on his face and repeated, $3.00? He was probably thinking, this foreigner, poor ting, does not know that is more than muhmerne! He quickly said yes, sprayed the seating area, made sure he had on his mask properly, and that I had on my mask, and off we went home, the fastest time possible! When we got home, I counted the money that was in riels back to him in Khmer to let him know he was receiving more than he had asked for! He quickly took the money (and sprayed it) and said a heartfelt thank you and quickly left before I changed my mind! I started to laugh! The drivers all know that I work at the church at the mall, so prayerfully this would be a seed into conversation about why I am here and into Jesus’ heart!

 
Thank you all again for your sacrificial giving of your finances and time. Please continue to send your requests and stories as we dance and do life together with Jesus as our dance Leader and Partner! 

Love, His Warrior and Disciple, 

Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia, 

Your sister, Vidya