Ongoing service in Cambodia

We're having great experiences.  A few have been sweet tender mercies.  Hol,  a sister who couldn't read had been coming to the Addiction Recovery class for about 3 weeks.  She and her husband wanted to be baptized.  Her husband would always read the scriptures for her.  Then Elder Spencer called on her to read a scripture from the Book of Mormon.  There she was reading haultingly, but reading!!!  The elders attending the class with us looked at me with wide eyes.  My jaw dropped open and we looked at each other in amazement.   She said that she had prayed to Heavenly Father to help me and He did!

When I told another senior couple about this experience they said that they had seen it happen before.  The power of the faith of the investigator, the power of the Book of Mormon, and the tender mercies of the Lord blessed this sweet sister to read.  She has since joined the church with her children and she and her husband continue to attend our class.  He is working on his recovery so that he too can join.

Another sweet experience has been our class in Sen Sok.  We have had up to 43 people attending our addiction recovery class there.  A sweet woman , Pea Up, first came nursing her new born baby.  She has worked hard to overcome her gambling and drinking problem.  Yesterday she stood and told the class that she had stopped drinking and now saves her money instead of gambling it away.  She now takes care of her family instead of drinking.  Light is in her eyes.  The atonement of Jesus Christ has become effective in her life and she is being blessed. 

We did three parties in 11 days this month.  On July 1 we had a reception for the newly released President Son Try. We had cookies and punch and I asked Sister Paul La to make  some Khmer food.  We had about 120, half were hungry children.  They ate, and ate, and ate.  We had not one crumb left. 

On the 4th of July we had a little party for the Elders in the North Zone.  We bought  KFC, I made baked beans, cupcakes, watermelon, and a green salad.  Sister Liggett did a quiz on the Star Spangled Banner, and Elder Spencer did a mini program.  Last Monday we had another party for the newly released branch president from 12th Branch to thank him for a job well done.  We had a branch Family Home Evening.  I made cookies and again asked a sister to make her delicious curry.  It was very successful.  The people loved the Banana Punch and we wrote thank you notes for the old branch president.  Elder Spencer gave a FHE lesson on gratitude.  I tried to do these two receptions to thank the branch presidents for their service like its done in Pasadena Stake.  They were tender mercy experiences.

Second month on a mission!

Our Second Month is history.  We have grown in our love for Heavenly Father's children in Cambodia.  They are a happy, friendly people, full of love even though they've been thru tragedy.  One of our precious missionaries, Elder Ny, has been called to the Oakland/San Francisco Mission.  He wants to get his endownments and get sealed to his parents, who were killed by the Khmer Rogue.  I told him the mission home was across from the temple.  The closest temple here is Hong Kong and its very pricey for the plane tickets.  He reports to the Provo MTC May 15 so we'll be back home before he leaves in May 2013.

We've had numerous baptisms.  Sometimes 4 at a time.  Nearly every week there's a baptism.  Today there were four more.  We love visiting the members in their humble homes/shacks.  We're learning to climb up bamboo ladders to get to their houses.  We're learning to sit on the floor although it's tough on these old bones.  We're learning a little Khmer to speak to these wonderful Saints.  They are all first generation members and have great faith.  I have to run meet the Elders right now and will post some pictures later.  We have Elder Watson coming from the Seventy on Wednesday.  Can't wait to learn.

This is our view outside our apartment.  It's beautiful.   Add caption

FHE with the Set Family.  Our car fell in a hole and the whole neighborhood pulled us out.Add caption

Here we are outside the Sen Sok Branch.  In the background is a termite mound that some Buddhist people worship.

Coming to Cambodia

Here is a Cambodian woman setting up her "kitchen".  She brings her food on a pole with a pot dangling at each end, then sells the food on the streets.  Look at her smiling face.  They are a very happy people.






 Here we are at the famous "map" at the MTC.  It was great being there with thousands of young men and women.  The 24 senior couples we were training with are such consecrated saints.  It was a privilege to rub shoulders with them.

 Here I am in Cambodia shopping for produce at the passat.  I was able to find potatoes, carrots, onions, and tomatoes.  I washed them in bleach water when we got home.  We ate them and did not get sick.  The Lord watches over His missionaries!

The temperature difference between the MTC (2 degrees F one morning) and Cambodia (102 degrees F) this week while we visited member with the elders, was drastic.  We are loving the dear people here.  They are pioneers in the Gospel.  There are only branches and districts.  They have strong testimonies.

4 days til we leave for our mission

Hi one and all!  It is 4 days til we put all of our suitcases in the van and head to LAX.  I'm excited and scared.  There is still Christmas to do, pageant to perform, Christmas presents to wrap, and of course the last minute purchases for the person you discover who has nothing to unwrap.

We had our last Skype Cambodian lesson today. We are in trouble. I learned how to say, "Where's the bathroom?" Very important for a 63 year-old woman. :)

With the Lord's help we will be able to do this. Pray for us. We'll need it.

Excited for a Mission

Thinking about the next 2 years

 

 

 

 

We're excited to serve the Lord for 2 years!