Vision Autumn 2017 | Page 9

Khmer Rob and Deb recently began the adventure of learning Khmer culture and language, based in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Since arriving they have looked for opportunities to build relationships with local Khmer people who are patient enough to help them in their efforts to learn about their culture and begin to speak Khmer. Within a short walk of their new home they have found friendly and patient locals who trade fruit and vegetables and cook rice and there is even a family of  coffee baristas! Enjoying a morning coffee has been a routine of Rob’s for many years, so it was a pleasant surprise to find a coffee cart in his street that served a very nice coffee with locally roasted Cambodian beans. But the coffee has only been one of the attractions to frequenting the family’s coffee business! Rob and Deb are loving the relationships that are forming. Deb doesn’t drink coffee but, being a midwife, has especially enjoyed following the progress of the pregnancy of the coffee cart lady. Love reading stories about lives being transformed? HEAD TO: WWW.GLOBALINTERACTION.ORG.AU/SUBSCRIBE AND START RECEIVING NEWS AND PRAYER UPDATES DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX. Both Rob and Deb have benefitted from the young family’s help with Khmer words and sentences. Their cultural understanding is enriched by learning how this family’s aspirations are influenced by the unique opportunities and challenges of a life in this Cambodian city. Being welcomed into the lives of Khmer people like the coffee cart family gives Rob and Deb a real sense that God is involved in these interactions as they share some of their own life journey and hopes for the Khmer people. B people Joe came to faith a few years ago and was active in telling others of his new faith in Jesus. However, his wife remained aligned to her Muslim beliefs. They have a great relationship and love one another but their faith differences were becoming a concern. She thought that he was on the road to punishment and he wanted her to experience God’s grace and forgiveness. So they reached an impasse.  She said to him, “I can’t bear the thought of us being separated in eternity.” He said to her, “If you are right, I will be in Hell and you in Heaven and if I am right then vice versa.” They discussed the basis on which they believed one goes to Heaven. He said, “By God’s grace shown through the death and resurrection of Jesus.” She said, “By keeping the rules of Islam.” He asked her, “Are you keeping fully the rules of the religion?” After a few days, she said to him, “I realise that I do not keep all the rules of religion and you say that it is by grace. I don’t want to be separated from you in life or death, so tell me the way of grace.” B.I &S.I people Miss I is 21 years old. She joined the café staff last November in a role as a cashier/waitre ss. She is a very pleasant girl and diligent in her Muslim faith. She has become comfortable to chat with Wanda and others and to bring up topics related to faith. A couple of months ago she asked about getting to Heaven. Wanda followed up this conversation at a later time, seeking to deepen the conversation. Recently she had a motorbike accident on the way home from work so Wanda visited her at home and met her parents. Join Wanda in praying that Miss I will be open to hearing about Jesus and Wanda will be sensitive to the Spirit and be used to speak into her life. Some names changed for security reasons. VISION AUTUMN 2017 9