What An Opening of An Awesome Year!!

Greetings to my friends and family,

It is wonderful to receive the New Year once again! The Lord is still and always good. He is active in so many lives. This coming New Year is another year of grace, another year of peace, goodness, laughter, sadness, stress, mercy, and joy. It is so wonderful to serve and be under His wonderful love.

It seems awhile that I ever visited this blog, though made by myself. Last year was a challenging year. There are so many things to learn, and there are so many things unknown. School was quite stressful at times. It gets hard when there are so much materials to know, but few area selected for the exams. However, I thank God that His grace has brought me through. For the the whole Christmas break, I was waiting the whole time for my Philosophy mark. It finally came during the first few days of January. I have been thinking that I probably failed the course since my first exam was not good; but it turned out differently. I was very surprise that I did quite well, in fact, wonderful in my own opinion. It was surely a gift for the New Year. The rest of the classes was good as well.

During the break, I mostly stayed at home enjoying the snow. This year, BC was quite cold compare to last year. I am glad that I came last year and not this year, because even snow was pretty high. However, it lasts only a few days. It didn't stay for the whole season, it only comes and goes. While the season is riped with snow, I was able to go skating for my first time. It was like roller-skate except on ice and lots of work on ankles. It went really well, because I manage to fall on my bum only once. Since the event, I started to admire the hockey players! It's wasn't easy the way they show on TV!

A week before school started, I was able to go to Helmlock Resort. It is a town where the skiers go to ski. Since my experience with the skate, I was reluctant because I thought it might be the same, thinking that it would hurt my ankles really bad. It was a great mistake! Some of you might say, especially when you had experience with skiing before. It turned out to be the greatest thing on earth!! Those who have snow as a part of their lives are so fortunate!! (I mean the skiing part). I don't know how many times I felt, but every time I gain a little bit more experience :-)
Before I actually went on skiing, I took a course which it gave a basic controls lesson such as obtaining the "S" and the pizza for slowing down. Although I took lessons, I still fall like crazy, but it was so much fun. I probably get a medal for falling! Yet, with my level I managed to ski from the top of the mountain. I am so glad that I was able to go. Now, I fell in love with the ski! It's a good lesson, you can never say, "no" until you experience it first. It was worth every minute on that mountain.

It is now another journey into the new semester. Each semester there is always something new. God keeps on reminding me of His goodness and faithfulness. This semester I am taking two Nursing courses, one Biology, and one Religious Studies. All classes provided me such great insight into the wonderful lives that our Lord God has created. In Nursing courses, I am learning about gerontology and the way of its communication. I also start doing clinical; in fact, I just had it last week! Each walk, each step is so precious. It is so wonderful to be able to serve and to see life in a different perspective and new light.

In Anatomy and Physiology, there are more terms and wonderful secrets reveal to me as I walk through the process of the brain and its reflexes and action potentials. In RELS course, which is Introduction to Missions, the Lord Jesus teaches me so much.
Within this week, I was able to go to Mission Fest that was held in Vancouver. It was for my RELS class assignment that I got to know about Mission Fest. What a wonderful time!
There were some booths representing the work in Cambodia!! Moreover, I met three teenage Cambodians! What a great surprise! Since coming to Canada, this is my first time meeting another Cambodian :-)

During the event, there were seminars held by different missionary's leaders. I got to attend a few of them. Each seminar was unique and has so much. At the end of the event in the main hall, we came gather together. I am priviledged to listen to a wonderful story of a man by the name of Stephen Lungu. What an incredible story that God has worked in his life!! I am so touched by his struggles and the glorious transformation! In fact, I found his video story online, if you ever have time to spare please have a look: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1425210587550264985# (It was not from the event, but the same story that I heard). "Out of the Black Shadows" is his autobiography!

What a great God we serve! Love this New Year! God is going to do so many great things in our lives! I just want to jump and shout praising His name! He deserves our praise!! Hallelujah!!

I am so excited for whatever God is going to put on my plate! God is soo good! And, "Yes!" ALL THE TIME!

Just some great moments I love to share with you all!

Thank you for all your support day by day. Thank you for so many prayers that has been lifted up for my sake. Thank you! They meant a lot to me.

Many blessings to all of you. I pray that the Lord will continue to work within you and continue to build up the good work He has already started.

Psalm 98

Make a Joyful Noise to the LORD

A Psalm.

¹Oh sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
²The LORD has made known his salvation;
he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
³He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.

⁴ Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
⁵Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody!
⁶With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!

⁷ Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who dwell in it!
⁸Let the rivers clap their hands;
let the hills sing for joy together
⁹before the LORD, for he comes
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.

For His name sake,

Sureyah

The Amazing Week of God's Grace

Greeting to all!

As the second semester moves forward I cannot wait to share with you all how gracious and amazing our God is! Before I start I would love to pray this prayer: Philippians 1:16-19

"I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for who believe, according to the working of his great power."

Having school is a great thing; however, at the same time it is hard and long hours. I think you might also remember how it felt like back in those days. I did not say, that I am complaining. School is, indeed great! However, having school alone is not enough. Through experience, it can be tiring sometimes. Within this past week my life on campus seemed to be on a see-saw. It tilted from one position to the other. What I am trying to say is that I missed home, my beloved Cambodia and all the friends. I mean, I do have friends here, yet sometimes I do feel alone. I guess, although there are friends around, my heart seemed to be out of place. I felt a deep missing. The missing that raised the question, "Why am I here?"

I thanked our Lord Jesus Christ, who I am so thankful that I brought Him along! In time of depress and in time of sorrow He can along with His Mercedez. Trinity is a great place. I am so thankful for this wonderful university. It seemed right and in perfect timing. On that day I went to the chapel. What a great time! Chapel is always a great time to relax and concentrate for my needed part: Spiritually. A time to grow and stay close to Christ. I remembered it clearly that God brought a confirmation and consolation to my heart. I know that I am here for a purpose, but just understanding by myself is not enough. I do not know how to express it. Yet, what I am trying to say is that God came to my rescue and give me strength in time such as that! A true serene peace.

At the university, this week is called the "Mission Week". What an incredible time! People from different mission organization came to campus telling the work they are doing around the world. It is such a great blessings to see how God works in different places of the world, and different hearts. In particular, there were stories that were shared telling about God's amazing work within lives that sometimes seem impossible for us to think.
Dr. Bruce Main, the speaker of chapel this week, is working in the UrbanPromise Ministries. Such incredible stories that he experienced inspire all who hear. Sometimes, I was filled with tears. One story was how a helpless boy living in the gang's world became a successful man as he finished his studies. A girl who never thought of finishing high school got her master degree. These children were hopeless but light was brought to them through people who dare to take the step that the world look at it as crazy. And that is what the UrbanPromise are doing. They are working with gangs and people with many problems. I really thank the Lord that I got to hear such incredible stories. The power of change. The power that I could not comprehend or imagine. Praise God for His love towards those lost people!

Tonight as I write Bruce Main came into my dorm to share more about God's work in his ministry. Why he does what he does! Such great inspiration! I am so glad to get to meet him. What is more joyful was that he asked me, "What do you see your life in the next 10 years?" I said that I want to go back to Cambodia and help the people there. I will either be working with some organization or if I am able to I can set up my own work/ministry. Thus than, he said after I finish my degree I can contact him because in his ministry there is a program that train people to set up their own NGO, and they raise support for the work that one plans to do! Wow!! What an awesome night/week! It was not accident. I am so excited, yet at the same time I should keep this vision, and walk step by step :) I am just so glad. Four or so more years! It seems long, but I will get there. It is my great pleasure to share with you all this. Please pray that God's will be done in my life.

The main homework/workload I have to do for this semester is mostly reading. Lots of reading, and they can become napping times. As I shared with you all, I am just taking the core requirements this semester and will head into nursing, hopefully.

About work on campus, they are scarce, so I do not have work to do yet. My guardians are trying to help me to get the off-campus work permit. However, I am definitely going to have summer job for sure. At the same time, my guardians will try to get driver license for me. Exciting, yet a bit scare (different driving system). I am going to be afraid of how to drive right.

Yes, thank you all for your precious time and supports through both financial and prayers. They are so important for my existent in this great university.

May you continue to pray for my nursing application and for my well doing in my studies. May the Lord shines His light upon me. May what I have learned with His revelation sink deep within my heart.

Blessings,

Sureyah