"I love the Pochentong Ward"

Hello!

MONDAY

After the annual P-day activities we went to see our new investigator, who was going to meet us at the church. Ming Oun met us there and had like fried rice that she made for us to take home. We just told her, that she can't feed us meals every single day, it's against the rules. She was like "well I am still bringing you treats" But besides that we sat and waited for like 30 minutes for the investigator and she never showed up. It was kind of disappointing that is for sure... 

P-Day Breakfast

TUESDAY

We got to teach Srei Neak again! We just answered her questions from the Book of Mormon. I love her! I feel super lucky to be able to help teach her. She told us that she wants to come with us and help teach after she gets baptized! Seriously she is so so so great! After Srei Neak we went over to Ming Naan's house and I really think she is going to come back to church. We just read from the Book of Mormon with her. It was crazy because she lives in a construction site. So it was so loud. They were drilling concrete, and there was dust everywhere, but it always amazes me how you can feel the spirit wherever you read the Book of Mormon. Whether it be in a quiet room or in a dusty loud construction area you can still feel it! It's amazing! After Ming Naan we tried to go see a less active but she was sleeping... she is always sleeping when we go over.... Funny story there was this girl riding her bike and it's a goal of mine to always contact people on their bikes. So I totally just followed her, I felt like such a creeper... I legitimately went down a completely different road to follow her. But we did end of getting her number so that was pretty sweet! It was awkward after I got the number I just turned around so the whole following thing was pretty obvious... It's all good though! We got her number so it was for sure worth it! 

She is pretty much the sweetest lady I know

WEDNESDAY
Ming Oun helped us find two new less active families! One is Bong Sompoah. She had this brand new baby boy which is making it hard for her to go to church. Oh my goodness he is so cute, and so chubby I just want to hold him, but you know... can't do that! But oh my goodness he is so cute. Bong Sompoah is super sweet, and I really think we can get her coming back. She has got a super sweet spirit I am glad Ming Oun helped us find her. Then we found this other family they are less active, we just have to get them converted to going to church now to. It's so important! I know we can get them back. After that we went and taught Srei Neak! We taught her the commandments. She promised to follow them! Then when she was praying she promised Heavenly Father she would follow them, and she prayed to be able to find friends at school. Then went she finished she was just crying. She just told her that God has helped her so much with everything. She is seriously filled with that christ like love! You can just tell she loves the gospel so much! 

Studying

USU picture, She dies after this transfer

THURSDAY

We moved dirt for Ming Po for service. She has water in the back of her house so we are trying to lay dirt down so that the flooding will stop. In Cambodian you can get dirt for like 10 dollars, and only with it you can usually find.... old pants, garbage, tile, wood, pieces of banana trees, bottle, and so much more. We worked on that most of the morning. Ming Oun came and helped us and she wore a cow suit. I can just see her thinking what should I wear for service... oh of course the cow suit.. haha she kills me! I love her! She always want's to help! She is great! Then we went to Ming Tavee's house and shared DC 100:3-5 with her about the holy ghost. It was exactly what she needed! Before 

we even started she was asking questions about it! 

Service

10$ Pile of Dirt

FRIDAY

We did some more service for Ming Po, we still aren't even close to being done, but we are making progress so that's what counts. Even though we were all pretty tired it felt so good to help her! Then in the afternoon we got to teach Srei Neak again. We taught her about the law of fasting and tithing, told her her baptism is November 7th. She was so excited. She just lit up. AHH! I just love her the light of christ that's in her is just amazing! She is so great! I can't even tell you how excited she was! I feel so lucky to be doing what I am doing! The Lords plan is so much greater than what we think! The gospel is really true happiness nothing else really matters! 

SATURDAY

We saw Lookyiay Tooc in the morning, and she is just the sweetest. She told us she always "watches the road for us but we never come" just take my heart... haha we are going to try to see her more. She just loves the visits. She is so sweet! Then we had this game plan to eat out so that we could see more people... well the game plan failed... everyone we went to see was literally sleeping 3/4 people we went to see were sleeping... haha the struggle.... We ended up seeing a contact that we met last week. Well we tried to teach her, and then randomly she grabbed my hands asked if she could paint my nails, and I was like yeah sure, not exactly understanding she was going to do them then and there, and after that it she would not listen. Don't get me wrong she was super nice, but she didn't want to listen to the gospel, so end of the story my nails are pink and sparkly now, and she didn't listen... the struggles... haha! But her mom came out and she was literally one of the nicest old ladies I have ever met. She told us how much she loves Americans, and how they are always so nice to the Cambodian people. then before she left she told us to call her mom, and she would call us her children. Cambodian people do this if they really love you! She was so nice. We got her phone number, she lives in an area that isn't open to missionaries yet, but one day she is going to hear the gospel! I know it! 

Sunday

Today at church I realized something, I realized just how much I love the Pochentong Ward. I mean I already knew I loved it, but yesterday I just thought how extremely blessed I am to be called to this area to be called to this mission really. I love the Cambodian people they have such a special spirit and such sweet hearts. I can't even express how much I love these people. Also Ming Naan and Bong Goontii came to church today! Both are less actives so that was really excited. They both seemed really happy to! We also had Lookpuu Seh neighbors come to church today they came to ours because theirs is really far. We got to teach them after church. They have a really strong belief in christ, and believe that God has an amazing plan for us. We gave them a book of mormon and they seemed really interested. They were both really open and willing to learn. They are really promising. We are going back on Tuesday! After that we waited for the same investigator that we waited for on monday... and long story short she didn't show up... So we went to Bong Amys. I feel like whenever we go over there she teaches me!


Overall it was a really good week! Kalin have a happy birthday! Hope you all have a great week! Love you so much! Feel really lucky to be where I am, and have the family that I do!
Love
Sister Schwab

Staying in Pochentong!

Hello Everyone!

Monday:
P-DAy/Cleaning the house

Om Yuana's little girl, she is a smarty and knows so much English!

She decided she wanted to model for a bit

Tuesday:
Cleaning the house round two... let me just tell you about cleaning the house. So we took these two days to clean our houses because #1 our houses were pretty nasty from all the missionaries past, and #2 everyone was out of town because it was a Cambodian holiday where they all go back to their hometowns. Cleaning the house went well, I am so glad that we did it, so while I was cleaning a desk, I opened a drawer and there was a mouse in it! Oh my goodness it scared me so bad! We also found a dead mouse in a cupboard in the kitchen, the old washing machine, and one got stuck in our oil. We sort of have a mouse problem... it's getting better though... I think... After cleaning we went with all the missionaries in Phnom Penh to watch the Joseph Smith movie! It was super great! I got to see Sister Collins and it was so good to talk to her and see how she was doing! She seems to be doing great! 

Sister C. took a pic of me, I sorta fell asleep during my prayer

Wednesday:
We went to go visit the 1st counselor in the relief society Ming Daraa. She has been really sick. She has a bone disease. She told us this story that she got in an accident and couldn't walk or do anything, and then she had a dream. She said in the dream she saw President Somnaay ( Ming Somnaay's husband that passed away) and that she saw Christ. She said that they told her to walk and took her by the hand and after that she could walk again. I don't know if that entire story is completely true... but I do believe that Heavenly Father speaks to a lot of the Cambodian people through dreams! It's pretty awesome actually! Either way it was for sure a miracle in itself, and Heavenly Father is looking out for her! Then we went to go see Ming Gomsan a less active... she said she was busy and her husband said come in... it was sort of awkward so we just said we would come back tomorrow. We had english class that night but nobody came because of the holiday, so Sister Christensen and I just stood outside the church with our flyers yelling at people and chasing them down to give them the flyers haha! After that we talked with Lookpuu... I don't remember his name, but he was telling us about the family history he is doing. When he told us about it he got really emotional, and you could just feel how much he LOVES his family. He just wants all of them do live the gospel so that that can live together for eternity. It made me miss you guys, but also super grateful that I get to share the gospel and give others the opportunity to live with there families forever. 

Tuk Tukking it! 

Thursday:
After our annual weekly planning on Thursdays we went and visited Ming Gomsan. The less active that we tried to visit before. I had been praying that night for a way just to let her know that she can trust us and that we love her, and I know this may sound kind of strange but the thought that came to my mind was stickers... yep stickers... I forgot about it and then when we were praying before we left the house I thought of them again. So I just brought her some stickers I gave some Disney's Chip And Dale ones to her son, and then I had some Minny Mouse sparkly ones as well. She loved them! Keep in mind this is like a 30 year old... she loved them so much! She was just sticking them all over her phone, and then she was like now I will always remember the sisters. They live on the railroad, I never knew stickers could make someone so excited and happy. So that little little thing was an answer to prayers. Also Sister Christensen asked about how they met, and that also broke the ice! They loved talking about that! Then we went and saw Ming Phiap she is the one that doesn't have an arm... she told us that when she was 7 she stepped on a land-mine and that's how she lost it. These people have been through so much.... I just keep thinking I don't know how you feel but christ does, and he loves you so much! I feel super lucky to be teaching such amazing people. After we went and saw bong Amy with Ming Po and Bong Pake... they just sat there and were talking and I literally had like no idea what was going on haha. They just kept giving us food to. They gave us like this OnSan, it's like rice, beans, egg, and pork wrapped up in a leave. It was super good, then they gave us some fish meat with a chili pepper in it... not so good. They are so nice, they just want to help and give in anyway that they can! 

My Trainer is pretty much the best! 

Kids from our Area

Cambodians, they nap everywhere

Friday:
The day that my mouth decided not to speak Cambodian.... so we started off the day by going to Ming Oun's house. She bought us like hot dogs, pastries, coke, and like lots of other stuff. We were like no it's okay, and she was just like eat it all! We couldn't eat it all.. so she made us take it home! She is like super nice.  Then we went with Ming Oun to some less actives houses. We went to visit Ming Naan and she told us that the night before she had a dream of three of us coming to teach her the next day, and that she had to shower because she wasn't clean... she said after the dream she woke up and said "if that happens tomorrow I promise I will believe." Then we ended up going to visit her that day it was so cool to see the Lords had in this work. He is there even when you don't see him! Then we had a lesson with our new investigator Bong Vwee. We talk lesson one, and you know what my mouth and my brain were not on the same page with the entire speaking Cambodian thing. I would literally say someone and she would look and me and then Ming Oun would translate what I said! I was like... well.... and then I tried to say the first vision in Cambodian, and I totally butchered it I felt so bad... I could still feel the spirit though... so I hope she could as well. Oh man though it was rough, and I was like well I can either cry about this or laugh and take it as being one mess up closer to being fluent, so I did the latter. 

Saturday:
Ming Oun said she had a new investigator for us, so we went out to her house. Her new investigator ended up not being at her house, so we ended up going to meet Ming Tavee. Ming Tavee. We went to her house and sang Nearer My God to Thee with her and Ming Oun. It was really great. I love the spirit that comes with music. She also gave us more food, and then later that day we went to the church and fried some banana's with President Lamon, and Mattieda. they are both return missionaries and they are seriously so awesome. President actually speaks perfect english but he won't with the missionaries. Probably a good thing because I need to practice this language as much as possible. After that we went and had a lesson with Somnat. She is the 15 year old that got baptized like a month ago. I LOVE HER! We just shared about the book of mormon and I read Ether 12:27 to her, she helped me read it, and then just shared why I love it so much. She looked at me and was like yeah just like your reading and speaking it is weak now, but with my help and the lords help it will become strong! I lover her! I just wanted to give her a huge hug, so I did before we left! It was a

really great lesson. 

Somnat, I love her so much! 

Sunday
I have come to the conclusion that everything happens for a reason! Sunday morning we went to go pick up Bong Vwee for church but she wasn't at her house, so we went to go back and head to church, and we ended up meeting a less active. She was like I was just coming back from the old church and nobody was there, so I was on my way back when I saw you. That was for sure the Lord's plan for us because if we didn't go to pick up Bong Vwee we would not have met Om Smah. She was so excited to see us, and then she came to church with us. We are going to visit her this next week! She LOVES the missionaries and we LOVE her! After church we went and met Ming Yuana and she fed us lunch. Oh my goodness she fed us so much, and she wouldn't stop giving us food. I didn't think I was going to be able to ride home... for real! They are so kind, even tho they don't have a lot they want to share everything, and they want you to eat it all or they will be offended! They are the most kind hearted people ever! We had another appointment after that but the women never showed up, so we had another lesson with Somnat. It was transfer calls yesterday and drum roll. . . . . . . . . . .  I am staying in Pochentong I know surprise surprise! I am super excited and grateful to be here with such a great comp! I love it so much! I love this gospel and I love the people of Cambodia! I know Heavenly Father loves all of his children so much, and I am grateful for the chance I have to share this message! Love you all have a great week! Happy Birthday Dad! 

Ming Yuana gave us so much food! 

Love
Sister Schwab

This week in Cambodia

Hello Everyone!

Monday:

So monday after our normal everyday P-day we went and visited a less active member named Bong Pake. Now something you need to know about Bong Pake is that she is intense. What I mean is she is just really intense and talks super super fast I mean I cannot understand her. We were teaching and she got really frustrated about singing(burning food for their ancestors) So she was super super yap about it (yap=frustrated). After that she started talking about how she is tired from work and gets really impatient with her kids. She is sad. She said when we was 6 she saw someone get killed with a grenade right in front of her, and that she saw her boyfriend die right in front of her as well. She said she is thankful for the gospel, but that she is just really upset and tired all of the time. My heart was literally breaking for her. I just looked at her and started to cry and told her how much Heavenly Father loves her, and even though I don't understand what she is going through that I know that Christ does because he suffered for every single one of us. We just cried together, and then I just gave her a hug. Sister Christensen said when I said that, that my grammar was like perfect and she had never heard me speak so well, so that's good. I know that wasn't me tho Heavenly Father for sure helped me out that night. We just wanted her to know that she is loved and Heavenly Father and the spirit helped us do that. 

Just Buying Fruit on P-Day

Beautiful Pochentong

Tuesday:
We got to do exchanges today Sister D, native Cambodian, came with me and Sister Christensen in the morning and went and saw Ming Nang and Lookyiay Tooc. Ming Nang had alot of questions about signing, so it's a good thing Sister D was there. I am not to familiar with the whole Buddism thing. After lunch I went out with Sister Killian to her area. Her investigators and the people in her area are amazing. After the day we talked and she helped me a lot. She just told me about when she was a Koon (baby) code name for new in the mission... she said she felt like she had to learn to re-trust herself and that you realize when you trust yourself you trust the lord as well because he called us here. That was exactly how i felt, like I am learning to re-trust myself. She told me not to overthink or over-stress because it will come! She gave me lots of really good advice that helped me a lot! 

Sisters in the House, Sister C is taking the picture

Wednesday:

We finished the exchange after lunch. Before we finished we tried to do some contacting. We asked this one girl where the road went, and she literally looked at us and then just really slowly and awkwardly ran away. We both just died laughing, never had had anyone just run away like that before. Then we had english class that night. We only had two students but we sang I am a Child of God, and then I shared 2 Nephi 26:33 with them for the spiritual thought. 

This little girl loves getting her picture taken

See. . . I told you she liked it!

Thursday:
This week we made it a goal to pray before we contact, and we have been really praying for some new investigators. So thursday we started our contact with a pray and right when we opened our eyes a girl came over and asked if we knew of any apartments for rent. She spoke English, and she said that she was getting kicked out of her house, she didn't have any money, and that she had just broken up with her boyfriend. Her name was Joy. We just talked to her, and gave her a number of a member we know that could help her, and then before she left we asked if we could pray for her, with her. We did that, and then she left, but both sister Christensen and I felt like she just needed to talk then, and maybe later we will check up on her and see how she is doing. Then we went and saw two Mings with there children. We went and talked to them and ended up teaching part of lesson one to them right there. We are going back next week. Heavenly Father really answers prayers. His hand is in everything! Then we talked to Koonteii who is a less active member. She told us that she once wondered why she had so many trials in her life, and then she heard the story of the building that burned down and they turned it into the temple. She said of course heavenly father breaks us down so he can build us up to our full potential. I loved that and it was so true! 

Little kids while we were teaching

Friday:
We went to visit Ming Somnay. We shared a scripture with us, and then she told us about how other members asked to borrow money from her so that they could sign!! WHY?! We need to make sure that the members understand that we don't sign... yeah but Ming Somnay is awesome her son is waiting on his visa so that he can go serve his mission. Yeah it was hard to find people to teach. It's some Cambodian holiday this week and everyone goes back to the kites, or there hometowns. So we are running low on people right now. 

Celebrating one month in Cambodia!

Saturday:
We got to watch some conference! I love conference it was so good. I don't even know what talks where my favorite. I really like the talk about seeing everyone through parents eyes, seeing everyone as a Child of God. I think once we do that every other aspect of the gospel just will come so naturally. Also I loved Elder Hollands talk about mothers! Seriously it just make me want to give mom a hug, so mom just know that I love you! After conference we did taught Ming Phiap. Ming Phiap has one arm and has one eye that works. She watches over 5 kids that are not hers and has three kids of her own. It was crazy when we were teaching her the kids were everywhere acting all crazy, so I was like Hey do you want to sing a song with us, and we all sang I am a child of god together. The spirit was super strong, and then right after the song it went right back to craziness. But when we sang the spirit was there so that was good. Then we went contacting and the first people we talked to wanted to hear about the gospel so we scheduled to come back the next day. 

Milo Before I write

Cambodia Dress

Sunday:
We listened to conference again. I love President Monson, I worry for him and his health, but he is so awesome. I know that the light of christ really does shine through everyone, and can touch the lives of others just through the spirit. I loved conference so much I can't wait until I can read and mark the talks. After conference we went and taught Bong P and On V. Bong P has a husband, and a boyfriend. Her husband has three girlfriends, and she has a 7 month old baby that lives with her mom. She needs the gospel in her life, she needs happiness in her life. I was reading in 2 Nephi 30:5-6 and where is talks about the darkness falling from there eyes. I love that. I want that for everyone, life is hard but the light of Christ cuts through that darkness and gives us happiness. Yeah we are meeting them again on Thursday. 

Yeah that was my week though! It was really good! My comp is still as awesome as ever! She is seriously like a Cambodian when she speaks she is like family to them! She helps me so much!
Well, I hope you all have a great week love you so much!
Love
Sister Schwab

One Month Already?!

Hello Everybody! 

MONDAY:
Okay so on Monday we went to this place in Phnom Penh called USA donuts. There we met this guy named Patrick, Patrick was from Ireland. He had just spent the last couple years of his month in Thailand, and he was just stopping in Cambodia for a week to check on the charity he sponsors. Then he was going to go back to Ireland for the first time in like 4 years. We talked to him a bit, and before he left Sister Christensen pulled out an English Book of Mormon that she had put in her bag that morning, and said "I know that this book can accomplish miracles" The spirit was so strong when she said that, and then he looked at her and said that he had recently taken a book from someone else to help him stop drinking, and he for sure wanted to read that book. I think the Lord set that up perfectly because Patrick was at a point in his life where he needs the Book of Mormon! It was awesome hopefully he reads it but I know that he will! After that we came back to teach Bong Niro a less active who just had a baby last week, and oh my goodness he is the cutest. We shared about family prayer. She has a great family! 

The Church

TUESDAY
We went out to our far area and saw Bong Recksaa, and Bong Tii. They are both recent converts. We shared D&C 62:3 with them. I came across this verse in my personal study, and thought since it was fast and testimony meeting why not share. I love thinking our testimonies are recorded in heaven! Everytime we share it! We shared this and then we invited them to share their tesimonies Bong Tii was so nervous so we all practiced sharing out testimonies together to practice for sunday, and just show how easy it was. It was a really neat experience! They are both super awesome! Then we went and visited Somnat. She got in a moto accident last saturday and wasn't able to receive the holy ghost last sunday. So we just did a quick visit making sure she was okay. She is okay just a little bruised up from the whole thing. We said a pray together and then left. Her mom got to be there when we said the pray, her mom isn't a member but I have hope for her. Her mom is seriously the nicest! I love her! So hopefully that opened her heart a little more to the gospel. Who knows the lords plans or the seeds that are being planted! 

Two of my favorite people

WEDNESDAY
We went and saw Lookyiay Tooc. She is this really old women, who is sick all the time, but oh my gosh she is the nicest most awesome Lookyiay ever! When we visited her we sang "Love at Home" and then she just told us about her family, and how she didn't get the opportunity to learn, so she makes sure that her kids and grandkids get the opportunity. She has been through alot she went through the Khami Rouge and was telling us how they didn't get alot of food, and that they had to work a lot just dig and dig. She is seriously amazing. She has been through so much and she is so strong. We shared D&C 58:2-4 with her. It's true that we can't understand the amazing plan God has for us after this life, and we can't understand the infinite love that he has for each and everyone of his children. Then oh then we ate these sandwhichs and right after we ate them I felt sick but we had so many plans so I just ignored it. We went and saw Srei Nich our investigator and she is so awesome! She is golden! She told us she wants to get baptized before November 1st so that she can be cleansed from her sins before she starts school. I mean come on isn't she just awesome. I love her, and her love for the gospel is so evident and strong. Then we had out English class. Which went pretty well we had a total of 3 people in our advanced class. Hey but it can only get better right?

This little guy loves to help the Sisters

THURSDAY
So remember those sandwhiches yeah they made us sick. They made me kind of sick but they made Sister Christensen super sick. So we just stayed in on thursday. I felt way bad for Sister Christensen. Dang it. Apparently the member tried to tell me that the food there wasn't good, but did I understand? No! haha I need to learn this language. Anyways I guess that's what you get when you eat from a 13 year old that made the food. It was all good though because we were better by friday. 

Bong Amy and her son!

FRIDAY

We went and visited Om San today she is a less active she was super tired when we came in so she just laid down while we read from the scriptures. Then in the middle of the lesson she got up and pretty much started to teach us haha it was awesome! She is great and promised to go to church this sunday so that others can be blessed by her testimony. Then we went and saw Srei Nich again. She is just so ready to be baptized! I love her she passed her test for school and now gets to go to an international college here. Ahh I just love her she is awesome! Then we went to Ming Narat's house... okay I know I say this about everyone but I love her! We are trying to read the Book of Mormon with her. She is a less active and she just thinks all religions are good, and teach good things her daughter is a return missionary from England. Ming Narat is honestly the laziest sweetest women ever if that makes any sense. I love her! She gives these one worded answers to questions but she like yells them out. We were reading the book of mormon and I asked what Lehi is feeling right now and she yelled out ""EXCITED" and I was like haha yep that's right. Trust me way funnier in Cambodian! She is the best! She is crazy, we are going to get her coming back though! I know it! 

SATURDAY
We went out to the far area on saturday and it was a struggle. All of our appointments fell through and then we came back and we had to drop Soneata because her mom wouldn't learn with us. It hurt a bit just because you love them and you love the gospel so much that you want them to feel of the joy that comes through it, but I thought we never know the seeds that are being planted it's God's plan, and he has got it all under control maybe one day she will remember those two missionaries who said this book will bless your life and she will read it! We just don't know God's plan! Then we saw Ming Narat again. We read with her from the Book of Mormon, and I tried reading some verses, now understand I am not very good at reading, but after I was done with the verse I looked up and Ming Narat seriously was just staring and me smiling with this huge smile. Then she just kept staring and smiling she is so sweet! She just oh my goodness I love her! We have to get her coming back! 

This is my companion, and our room

Sunday
It was testimony meeting and Bong Tii and Bong Recksaa both bore their testimonies they were so nervous! They did awesome though! After church we went and did service for Bong Pake, we helped her move into her new house, and then after we helped her we went to Ming Po's house and helped her move some dirt and plants. Ming Po is one of my favorites she is seriously like my Cambodian mom that I don't understand. After service she washed our hands for us, and then put vasaline on all of my bug bites. She has such a sweet heart! Yep but that was my week this week! I love it here! I love my comp she is seriously awesome when she speaks she seriously turns into a cambodian like she is part of the family it's awesome! I love it! And I've already been here a month! Crazy right?! Love you all!
Love Sister Schwab