Reality

Many of you already know that while I was in Cambodia, I struggled with darkness. Now I can say that there was sin in my life. The sin made the darkness grow and yet the darkness made it even harder to fight temptation. I was caught in a place where I felt detached from God. The Bible makes it clear that all of us are sinners. We have a diabolical longing. This is due to the original sin where Adam and Eve went against God and ate the forbidden fruit. Even though God made the world perfect, He gave us the ability to choose for ourselves to follow Him and man chose to sin. The special part is that He still loves us. He loves us so much that He sent His Son Jesus to come into this world and pay the penalty for our sins. When we choose to follow Him, we are set free from our past sins. I am so glad that God forgives. I am so glad that He still desires to use me, despite my failures, and that I can have a personal relationship with Him. I know that there are a few of you who read this who have not chosen to follow Jesus. I just want you to know that Jesus loves you and desires you to come follow Him.

Merry Christmas!

I would just like to start by wishing everyone who reads this a merry Christmas. Thank you for your prayers...I have really felt them. This has been a wonderful Christmas.

It started with babysitting my neice. We successfully got paint everywhere...including her mom's good chair.

Then after dinner on Christmas Eve with my brother-in-law's family, my parents and I headed up to their new home for a quiet Christmas. We opened a few presents, cleaned, and relaxed. It was actually really nice. Then everyone arrived and we had a full house, snowball fights, good food, and lots of presents.

(Me, Jackie, Bobbi, Maria (my bother-in-law's mom), and my mom.)

(We discovered that Rylee really likes dada juice -- aka pop!)

(Noah and his new gecko that I brought home from Cambodia for him.)

(Mom with one of her presents -- a picture of my nephew in his hockey uniform, and my niece in her figure skating costume.)

All in all, it was really nice to spend Christmas with my family again!

Quick Update

Sorry I haven't written anything on here for awhile. I have been a little under the weather and very stressed. I was rear ended a couple weeks ago which left me with whiplash. The whiplash plus the stress made for a very painful week last week. Now that my neck is getting better, I have started to come down with a cold/bronchitis. I am hoping to nip it before it gets the better of me. Please pray for physical healing as exams start on Friday and I want to be able to focus and do well.

Thanks so much.

The Power of Prayer

This morning in class we watched a Transformations video on how 4 different communities around the globe have been transformed because of prayer. In each of the communities, as the people gathered to pray (including different denominations coming together to pray) things started to change for the good in their cities. I have noticed that we, Western Christians, have missed the message somewhere as not many people pray like they used to.  Rarely do people come out to prayer meeting or have their own weekly prayer meetings at home. On Sunday night, I went to visit a church and the guest speaker spoke about how his Muslim friends make the time to pray 5 times a day. I can say, that as a Christian I don't take the time to spend in prayer 5 times a day, yet we are called to pray without ceasing. How can we expect God to change us and use us when we are not willing to make the time for Him in our day. I think its time I learn to get on my knees and spend some quality time in prayer. Will you join me?

Date with a Sweet Old Man

A while ago a bunch of us were at Tim Hortons for a study break and we met this nice old guy. He was sitting by himself so we invited him to join us. We ended up having a great evening chatting with him. At the end of the night we decided to get his phone number so that we could take him out for coffee...

So that's what we did tonight. We met up with him again and spent an hour and a half talking about God, church,  family, the provinces, and so on. Selfishly, I rather enjoy our conversations. I think that there is so much that we can learn from people who have already lived through most of their life and experienced so much. The seniors who God has placed in my life have been like hidden gems to me, you may think nothing of them at first but then as you get to know them you realize how much you value their friendship. My grandmother, for instance, has been one of my biggest supporters and encourager's. I have gotten to know her, all because I called her once. My old neighbour became a special friend all because we shoveled his driveway once and took the time to say hi. I wouldn't trade my conversations with them for anything. I hope that one day when I am old, someone makes the time for me.

Raw and Real

This afternoon I was sitting in the library with a friend. We were both working on papers that we have to write and she was referencing from her Bible.  A passage really struck her so we started talking about it.  An hour later we were still talking about it, God, our failures and God’s grace. It was raw and real. This is what it is all about: spontaneously being vulnerable with each other, encouraging one another and praying for each other. Too often, we can get so focused on the task at hand and the busyness of life to actually make time for God and those around us. In the grand scheme of things, school/ work is only important in the here and now, but one's life has eternal importance. We need to make time for people. We need to make time for God.

Bed Bugs

So I think we have bed bugs in our room. Right now my roommate and I are kicked out of our room for the afternoon so that they can spray it. All our clothes, bedding, teddy bears etc., have all had to be laundered. I feel like I am living in the laundry room. Anyhow, this whole experience has brought two things to my attention:
1) I think I had bed bugs in Cambodia because my bites look the same as the random bites I used to have there... which is why I have just lived with it here too.
2) I realize that I have way too many clothes. I thought I was good and not so materialistic but my closet would tell otherwise. Once my clothes come out of storage I am going to do some serious re-evaluating.

So that is my life right now.
Yeah bed bugs!

By the way... the one I found crawling inside my mattress cover looked more like the the one at 8 o'clock in the picture.

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus...

This week, during the business of exams, my mind has been anywhere but where it should be. I had to share briefly at the inter-cultural program's special dinner about my experience last year. Reliving my experience brought back all the memories. With the memories came the question about where God is taking me and what comes next? It all feels so unknown. I have to try not to think about it, rather I need to just pray and ask God to lead me and then trust Him -- but that is easier said then done.

One song that has really spoken to me this week is "Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus":

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, 
and to take him at his word; 
just to rest upon his promise, 
and to know, "Thus saith the Lord." 

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him! 
How I've proved him o'er and o'er! 
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! 
O for grace to trust him more! 

I'm so glad I learned to trust thee, 
precious Jesus, Savior, friend; 
and I know that thou art with me, 
wilt be with me to the end. 

Father, I am coming home to You!

Tonight, while in downtown Vancouver, we decided to go for a walk through East Hastings. For those of you who don't know about East Hastings, its where all the shelters are, where the prostitutes and drug addicts are. Its the opposite of the white picket fence neighborhood.  We ended up going to into a service at one of the missions. As I sat and listened I became overwhelmed with just how much God loves everyone who was there -- from the tough guy with the tattoos to the guy with his hands lifted up to heaven. One of the songs that they sang said "Father, I am coming home to You" and it nearly broke my heart. That's what its all about. That's what home is. Its for all of us.

Cambodian Food

So today a bunch of us drove to Vancouver because I wanted to try a Cambodian restaurant that I discovered online. I was really excited about it until we got there. The sign was in Chinese script and it said they served Cambodian and Vietnamese food (but there was no Khmer or Vietnamese on the sign). The menu was the same, except it added Vietnamese, and all the waiters and waitresses looked Vietnamese. I was so disappointed because I wanted to speak Khmer to someone. :( Anyhow, the food was good but it wasn't Cambodian (except for the loc lac beef and amok).

(Sarah, Steve, Kristena & I)

The best part about the meal was that they had ice coffee with sweet milk. HELLO! It was strong but delicious.

Blessed!

Thanksgiving was a difficult holiday for me this year because I was in Canada, yet I was not able to spend it with my family. I miss them. None the less, I realize that I am incredibly blessed. I got to know some great people this weekend, I was taken out for dinner by some family friends, and had a delicious turkey dinner on Sunday with some friends. I even played a couple rounds of Settlers of Catan -- my favourite game.  My mail box has even been full of cards -- some with special treats inside.  All in all, I have so much to be thankful for. Thank you Jesus for all your wonderful blessings! Thank you to all of you who have blessed me so much!

The View In My Rearview Mirror

This afternoon, as I was driving home from ministry, I glanced into my review mirror and noticed how beautiful the view was. I was captivated by the view of the small mountains and the trees. I kept looking back. However, while I was busy thinking about how great the view was behind, I neglected to notice the spectacular view ahead of me -- much like the view in the picture of the mountain above. I realized that sometimes the past looks so good to us that we neglect to realize that the future/the present can be just as amazing or better. In a way, I have been looking back on last year and thinking about how wonderful things were... but I need to stop looking back and recognize how amazing it is that I am in BC now and that what lays ahead is still a fascinating adventure waiting to be unleashed. The past may have been good, but the future may be even better. I am excited to see what God has in store.

Ministry

One of the things we have to do while in Bible college is participate in a ministry. The ministry that I decided to help out is Metro Kids Kids Klub in Surrey (the slum city of BC). It is a bus ministry. We set up the church and then hop on a bus and drive around and pick up the kids and bring them in. Then we have an awesome program with songs, games, and  a lesson time to teach them that there is a God who loves them. It is pretty awesome. Today was our kickoff for the school year. It went pretty well. Please remember it in prayer. 

(This is a picture I stole off of their website.)

You can check it out at: www.metrokids.ca

Mailing Address

For those of you who wanted to know my mailing address here, it is:

Box 1700
Abbotsford, BC
V2S 7e7

:)

Westminister Abbey

This afternoon I went to a nearby Catholic monastery. I wanted to sign "the hills are alive with the sound of music." Meanwhile in the background a special group was there making amazing music with the tower bells.

While there, we had an interesting conversation with a monk. Oddly enough his parents were from Mississauga and Thorold (who would have thought). We chatted about how some people see Catholicism as a cult and/or separate from Christianity. However, while talking, there was no doubt in my mind that this man was a Christian. His most adamant point was that Jesus is Lord.

The nature surrounding the monastery was so beautiful and refreshing to the soul.

All in all, it was a pretty awesome experience.

I am loved!

Over the past week and a half I have had difficulty adjusting to my new living situation. On the outside things are great but on the inside I have been feeling empty and shattered into a million pieces. I know this is where God wants me for this season of my life but my heart is not here. I left my heart in Cambodia.

Tonight during our chapel time, I felt like God was repeating to me "I love you".

God loves me, Rebecca Osmond. Wow! God really loves me! Sometimes we just need to be told that we are loved and today was one of those days for me. Lately I have found it hard to grasp that God really loves me. The amazing thing is He actually does. So if you have been feeling like me, remember, God really, truly, genuinely loves you.

Move In Day

Welcome to my new school.

This is my residence building. We were swarmed as soon as we pulled in with upper-year students to help unload the car. I only carried in one handful of my stuff. It was very kind of them but a little overwhelming at the same time.

Here is a picture of my half of my room.

Aunt Susie really wanted to go to White Spot for a piece of their fresh blueberry pie. Most were out of it but one still had some blueberry pie left so we went for dessert tonight.

Day 4

WE ARRIVED!


Km: 802.3
States & Provinces: Montana, Idaho, Washington & BC
Tolls: TOLL FREE... I don't know why the Eastern States like to charge and arm and a leg for tolls, you don't even have to pay a toll to cross the border on this side.

Observations: Idaho definitely wins the trophy for the most treacherous state to drive in!!!! The steep, winding roads were freaky, especially in the rain! As for Washington, half of it was extremely boring to drive through...

...but half was interesting. We stopped at a scenic look out along the way and the view was breathtaking. It was also extremely windy.

We took a detour to Vancouver and went to visit my great-aunt. It was kind of neat meeting my grandmother's sister.

Then we did the journey to Abbotsford in the rain and dark, so I will have to wait until tomorrow to actually see Abbotsford. I thank God for getting us here alive and with no complications.

Day 3

Km: 1157.6 Km + Detour to see Mt. Rushmore
States Entered/Exited: South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana
Tolls:  TOLL FREE AGAIN!! Yay!

Observations: So far, Wisconsin has been the prettiest state, South Dakota the most interesting state, Wyoming the most boring state, and Montana the most treacherous state.

(A bridge in the rock. I took this picture by just sticking my hand out the window and shooting.)

This morning we headed out to see Mount Rushmore before starting on our journey. The gift store had a Cambodian flag so I bought it and took a picture of me, the Cambodian flag and Mt. Rushmore together.

The scenery today varied from boring and dead as can be, to watching a helicopter put out hotspots after a forest fire, to freaky winding mountain roads, and the grand finally was driving into the sunset.

Day 2

Km: 1192.9

States entered/exited: Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota

Tolls: TOLL FREE :)

Observations:  The scenery changes soo fast. God is so creative!

Today we crossed the Mississippi River but it was to foggy to see anything. 

So South Dakota makes for a very interesting ride with the badlands and the rolling hills turning to mountains.

As well, there were strange signs for "WALL DRUG" every minute or so in South Dakota, so we decided to check it out. We discovered that the Wall Drug signs were for the town of Wall. It was very unique, but not as good as the signs.

BC Here We Come...DAY 1

For those of you who have not heard yet, I have decided to take a year and go to Bible College in BC. I am sad that I will not be returning to Cambodia at this time but I know in my heart that this is what I am supposed to do. 

The process to leave as been very rushed as I was accepted last Thursday. I have had one week to get things together and this morning Aunt Susie and I started the long drive to BC.  

Day 1

Km: 1108.3

States Entered: Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, & Wisconsin (Wisconsin is my favorite so far.)

Toll booth charges: $10.95 US

>>> and we are both still alive, praise God!

The most eventful part of our journey today was driving through Chicago. 

Observations: Motorcyclists don't wear helmets. One guy wore leather chaps but no helmet. The way I see it, you can live without your legs but you can't live without your head.... priorities.

(Aunt Susie driving.)

(Chicago Skyway Toll Booth)

(Me in the car waiting in line to pay the toll... while the car behind us kept honking.)

Home!

For those of you who do not know already, I am back home in Canada. Please remember me in prayer as I am in the middle of my application process and fundraising so that I can return to Cambodia on a long term assignment. Thank you for all your prayers, encouragement and support.

God Bless!
Beca

The Countdown

One week from now I will be in Canada. Its really weird and surreal. I can't believe that I have less than a week left here in Cambodia. It has been great! I just want to hurry up and come back. Please pray that I get accepted and can raise the funds to come back. I don't know how I am going to say goodbye to my kids at the orphanage. It is going to be a highly emotional week with so much to do and so little time to do it.

What is Justice?

Food for thought:

Yesterday a friend of mine was giving me a lift home on his moto. As we were driving we witnessed what appeared to be a moto theft. The woman yelled "thief" in Khmer and immediately everyone around was after the guy (some of them probably saw him do it too.) They caught the bike and then the men grabbed the guy and pushed him off the bike and started throwing punches at him. The cop stood by and watched until the guy received a good beating. Then the cop removed the culprit from the scene.

This is the way it works in Cambodia. I would hate to be someone wrongfully accused of a crime. It's like being guilty before proven Innocent and your fate is left to the people around at the time of the crime and the crowd that joins afterwards. It kind of parallels the stonings in Acts where Stephen was stoned and Peter, not to mention Jesus' death.

After witnessing the scene (because my friend stopped his moto to watch the whole thing) it made me really start to think about justice and what it is all about and should be all about. The way things are done here in regards to justice may not seem right at times but I can't really say they are wrong either. Its just different. It's just something to think about.

New Clothes

During Christmas time, many of you were so generous in sending money for my Christmas project. For Christmas they each received a present, went to KFC and many of them experience a mall for the first time. I saved some of the money and used it this week to purchase new clothes for all the children. Here are some pictures:

Thank you for your generosity.

2 Kings 18:5-7

He trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him. For he held fast to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses. The Lord was with him; he prospered wherever he went.

Wow! Wouldn't it be amazing to have that said about you?! My favourite part is:
For he held fast to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him

May we all strive to hold fast to Jesus and His Word.

In Need of Prayer

I met a boy today. I am really worried about him. He is an orphan who was taken in by an elderly couple who do not work. Instead, the boy works as a garbage collector after school to support them. He has serious mental/cognitive problems and they told me that he has only eaten rice and salt since he was a child. I want to get him into see a doctor. I don't know if it is a caring or abusive situation that he is in.... but I do know that he needs some serious prayer. Please remember him in prayer!

Leadership Retreat at the Beach

This weekend I headed to the beach with the leadership team from my church. It was fun experiencing a day at the beach Khmer style. Instead of sitting in the sun you sit in the shade. Instead of wearing a bathing suit you wear clothes -- and none of the girls actually went swimming.

(Me sitting at the table in the shade wearing a flower thing that they sell.) (One of the guys playing some worship tunes on the beach.)

(Just playing around... see they swim in clothes.)
(Evening worship.)

In the evening we all gathered together for a time of worship and then Gary shared a quick message. It was on how to be a leader. It was simple and yet important. His three points were

a) Jesus said to follow Him, so we need to follow Him. Its not follow me and I will give you... or follow me if... but just "follow me."

b) we need to have integrity. I think it was Paul who said "follow me as I follow Christ". If we are not following Christ and not living each day with integrity, how can we point others to Jesus and show them how to live according to God's Word.

c) Jesus was moved with compassion and He did something about it...and so should we. I want to be moved with compassion for the poor and the hurting etc.

Anyhow, I thought it was a good reminder on how we should be living.

(Our dinner: fresh seafood grilled on the beach. The guy in the picture is some guy who we all met on the beach. He used to believe in Jesus but then he turned away from the faith. He ended up spending the day with us and joined us through out our service. We are praying that he will decide to follow Jesus again.)

I love being near the beach. I never did like the sand, but there is something nice and refreshing about being by the beach.

My Prayer

I am just sitting here playing my guitar worshipping God, and the lyrics of this song really struck me. Actually, it was my theme song as I was preparing to come here and it is my prayer again now that I am here.

Hosanna

Heal My heart and make it clean

Open up my eyes to the things unseen

Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart for what is yours

Everything I am for your kingdom's cause

As I walk from earth into eternity

Lately I have been going through a tough time. I am in my final month of my first year term and I want to make it my best. I want to see God move. I want to see people's lives changed. I want to see people decide to follow Jesus and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Nonetheless, I have spent the past few weeks constantly fighting this spiritual darkness. It's so hard. I pray that God will heal my heart and get rid of this darkness and use me to bring Him glory. Please remember me in prayer -- I really need it.

Cooking Class

On Saturday, I went with the girls from my Bible study group to a cooking class. We learned to make a couple Cambodian dishes. YUMMY.

They started by taking us to the market and showing us what everything was. I never knew there were so many kinds of mint and herbs. Then we learned to make spring rolls.

(3 different types of eggplant.)

(Making the filling for inside the spring rolls.)

That was followed by banana salad and fish amok...two popular Cambodian dishes. It was tasty... and I really enjoy pounding all the spices together with my pestle and mortar. However, if you are ever working with chilies...KEEP YOUR FINGERS AWAY FROM YOUR EYES. I accidentally touched mine and it burned.

(Beth, myself and Caroline and our chopped banana flower).

(My banana salad once it was complete.)(The ladies pounding their spices to make fish amok.)

All in all, it was a fun day. Its fun to take a day and learn about the culture and just enjoy being with the friends that God has blessed us with.

Street Ministry

Last night as Tabi and I were leaving street ministry, we ran into one of the older girls who usually comes. When we asked her what she was doing she told us that she was going to go dance for money. AHHH! We tried to talk to her about how dancing and taking off her clothes for money isn't good; but, when it comes down to it, if she doesn't, how is she going to have money to eat. It's sad how we put people in these positions and then judge them for making that choice. My heart breaks for her. Right now, there is a dream to open up a shelter for these kids so that the kids can have a place to sleep and food to eat, but the parents can still have access to their children. I just wish we had the place already. It's something that girl really needs -- and many other children just like her.

Snails, Ants, and Fish Eggs

This past week was Khmer New Year. During the holiday, everything shuts down in the city and everyone goes to their home province. My housemate Tabi and I went with our Cambodian housemates to their home for the holiday. It was a lot of fun! I loved waking up in the morning to the rooster crowing and pigs snorting. All the food we ate was SO fresh...maybe a little too fresh. Tabi accidentally walked behind the house one day and saw the chicken being killed for the next meal.

(My housemates' niece drawing wonderful scribbles in my notebook.)

While I was there I left everyone for a day and went to visit one of my Bible College students in a nearby village. He took me to meet his pastor and many people from the church. We had to eat at each place. The first house cooked eel, frogs and snails for dinner but I was only served snails (I am grateful because I don't know if my stomach could have handled all three at once). Later I was also served ant soup and fish eggs.

(Eating snails!)

The church that I visited seems to be really growing and it was amazing listening to the reports on how God is changing peoples lives. They just had a special youth meeting where all the youth were filled with the Holy Spirit -- praise God! The sad part is that I saw a lot of people still clinging to their cultural spiritual traditions. It broke my heart to go visit one house that had two spirit houses and a big table set up in front filled with food to offer to the angels.

Overall, my time in Takeo province was so refreshing -- spiritually, physically and mentally. It was so nice to be able to be in the country and just be surrounded by nature and find quite places where I could be alone to pray and meditate on God's Word. I did not want to come home, but now that I am, I feel ready to start back at work with a renewed purpose.

(While at my housemates house, we made a tasty Cambodian dessert which is kind of like a macaroon. I helped clean the banana leaves and fold them. They then stuffed with fresh coconut surrounded by a dough and then we cooked them. They were so delicious.)

A Sad Conclusion

This week I finished teaching at the Bible College. We had our last class on Tuesday which consisted of a pizza party and the sharing of testimonies in English. It was awesome! Then on Thursday I had the honour of attending the graduation ceremony. I walked down the isle amongst the ranks of teachers instead of students. It felt really strange and cool at the same time. I really enjoyed teaching English at the Bible College. It was such an awesome opportunity to encourage and challenge the future leaders of this nation to deeper heights in their relationship with God. I will really miss my students.

(A group shot of my class!)

testing

test

What a friend we have in Jesus

This week one of my housemates was giving me a mini guitar lesson. She likes older music and so one of the songs that we started to play was "What a friend we have in Jesus" but while we were playing it the lyrics really struck me:


What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear.
What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer.
Oh what peace we often forfeit. O what needless pain we bear.
All because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer.

It's just sooo very true!

WHY?!

This week a team from Vangaurd Bible College in Alberta has been here helping out. Last night I took two of the team members to the Saturday kids service that my children from the orphanage attend. For Easter, they decided to show The Passion movie (they showed it early because Easter time is around Khmai New Year which is a big holiday here). During the scene where they were whipping Jesus, before they hung him on the cross, I held the girl sitting on my lap tightly and tears started dripping from my face. I was lost in thought wondering WHY?! Why did Jesus have to go through that? Why does He love us so much? I saw myself as the one with the whip and realized that each time I am disobedient I am inflicted more pain on the One I love. As I was lost in thought, one of my little boys came up behind me, wrapped his arms around me and wiped the tears from my eyes. Wow!

I was thinking that if I were in Jesus' place, I don't know if I could do it. I don't know if I could withstand all that He did. I don't know if I even love anyone enough to go through all that for them. I wish I could say that I would -- that I would go through torment and die for those I love-- but in honesty, I don't know if I could do it. But, Jesus did it for us! He died on the cross for us so that our sins can be forgiven and that we can have a relationship with Him. He went through it all because He loves us that much! Isn't it amazing that someone could love us that much?! He didn't have to die for us. He was innocent and could have proved it. Instead, He knew that He needed to make the ultimate sacrifice. I am so grateful that He did.

The point of all of this is to say that JESUS LOVES YOU! HE LOVES YOU SO MUCH THAT HE DIED FOR YOU AND HE WANTS YOU TO LOVE HIM BACK. Usually I try not to be too preachy on my blog, because I know that many of you who read this are not Christians; but, today I just really need to tell you this. Deciding to follow Jesus is the best thing that I have ever done, and I want you to experience it to. Please feel free to message me if you have any questions.

Beca

Starbucks!

So we are getting a fake Starbucks in Cambodia. I am so excited. I can't wait to go try it out and see if it tastes anything like the real thing.

Hong Kong

Following my family's time here in Cambodia, we all headed to Hong Kong for a few days. The first few days we spent touring around together and we met up with my friend Roz who is teaching English there. She showed us around the city and we had a fabulous time.

Hong Kong reminded me so much of Toronto with it's tall buildings, a subway, crosswalks, and all the modern conveniences of home (except its a little better).

Then I spent a day and 2 nights with Roz at her place. It was so nice and refreshing to spend time with her and we were able to spend time praying together like old times. Friends are such a wonderful blessing from God! (Thanks Roz!)

My time in Hong Kong was so refreshing and just what I needed, however, it was hard to say goodbye to my family and Roz again. Now I am home again and it feels good to be back.