Rain and Missionary Work.

Hello Everybody!

Monday:

We went to KFC for Sister Chanthakhoun's birthday this week! I bet you didn't know they had a KFC down here! Anyways after that we just went back to the house and chilled, nothing too exciting. Then we went and saw Srei Mao, our investigator. We taught her about prayer and scripture study. Before she started meeting with us she always used to get the worst headaches and would just feel frustrated... but honestly prayer has made such a differerance now whenever she feels like that she just prays and her headache is gone! It incredible what the spirit can do. One thing I have loved seeing on my mission is the difference of the investigators prayers, like compared to the beginning and the end. The beginning they usually just pray for us to be safe while we bike, and for their family to have happiness, which are all good things, but it is awesome to see them grow and become closer to their Heavenly Father! It's like at the beginning they are talking to a stranger... then it grows into that friend/father child relationship. It has been so cool to see it!

Mangos

Tuesday:

We went to BB for Zone Conference! It was so good! We talked a lot about the Book of Mormon and Family History. We talked about how when the Angel Moroni came to Jospeh. The first thing he talked about was the Book of Mormon, but then after that he quoted in Malachi, and talked about the sealing power of Elijah. President Christensen taught us about how the two most important things were the Book of Mormon and family! We talked so much about family history and the Book of Mormon. Every time we learn from President Christensen I just want to record it, so I can watch it millions of times... haha I feel like I learn so much. I really loved talking about Family History though! I realized before my mission, if I am being honest, I really didn't know much about the doctrine, I mean I still feel like I don't know much, but one thing I know, and know even more now is that I loved the gospel. Why? Because I love my family so much, and the gospel gave me the opportunity to live with the ones I loved for eternity. That is the reason I came out here. I didn't really know the gospel but I loved the gospel. And now I still don't know everything... but I love it even more then before! I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father that has a perfect plan for each and every one of us!

We have two Family History Senior Couples coming in June and it is super exciting! I can't wait to start helping the people of Cambodia with family history work! There are just so many people here waiting for us to get that temple work done for them!

My companion is awesome!

Wednesday:

We went and saw Ming Saron and taught her about tithing! I was a little worried about teaching about tithing just because of everything that happened with the marriage certificate, and she is always worried about money, but we taught it and she was like " wow it took you long enough to tell me... I wondered what those little slips were haha" She asked tons of questions about it, and really wanted to pay it. I was like we only do it once a month! I seriously couldn't believe her faith though, she wasn't upset about it at all. It was more like how and when can I do it? I love her so much she has grown so much from the time I first met her. After Ming Saron we went and saw Parri we just read in the Book of Mormon with her and our trying to help her get started again. She already knew so much when we asked her about it. She already knew the story of Lehi, but we still commited her to reading it again! After that we went and saw Ming Gontia, and helped her get started in her family history book :) she actually seemed pretty excited about it! They have given her one before but she didn't start it. We are going to go back everyweek and help her with it! Not going to lie it's kind of hard because we don't have a lot of records down here in Cambodia, but I know that God will open the doors for us if we really try!

Thursday:

We did service for Ming Sroah we just cut down some trees and moved some dirt for her. She is trying to make a better house. So that she can feel safer when voting starts in the next couple of years! 

Friday :

The Elders showed us some new houses to go visit. One of them was the wife of an active member, they are an older couple. She hasn't been to church in over 3 years but her husband, who is the nicest old lookpuu ever, goes every week. Well we talked to his wife for a bit and she wanted nothing to do with us. She was like don't waste your time talking to me, talk to my husband he is the one that goes to church... I don't want to go to church and I don't want you to meet with me... Well here's the thing family has been imbedded in my mind lately, and I know it's killing that Lookpuu that his wife isn't going to church... so I wasn't taking no for an answear. She said no about 100 times, and then I was like "too bad we are coming over and having lunch, I will make the food." She was like okay... I guess so. So at least we can get our foot in the door we are meeting her this week.

We also got stuck in this massive random rainstorm... it was so random. Honestly it came so fast, but we ended up in Bong Thavery's shop for it, and then the Elder's came as well. We all hid out for awhile. It worked out really nice actually because we were able to help Bong thavery get the shop closed when the rain started coming. We were all in there though during the rain storm, and all of a sudden a huge tree branch flys through the ceiling and almost hits Elder Walker. Thavery says Ëlder Walker the tree loves you it wanted to see your face" haha oh Cambodian humor... it kills me! It was crazy though! Have to be super careful for the rainstorms in the hot season because they are dangerous!

Got caught in a rainstorm

Saturday:

First off Sister Chanthakhoun is 20!!! Shout out to her!!! Best kid ever!!! So Saturday we went and saw Ming Mao and read from the bible with her, we read about David and Goliath, after we reviewed the story, she was like I loved this so much I just have to read on and find out what happens to David...she was like What happens Sister.... yeah so we explained... how David's story ends... she couldn't believe it! But it was also good for all of us to remember that we have to endure all the way to the end, not just stop. Ming Mao is so good though, and she love love loves the bible and just the scriptures in general! Everytime I meet with her I just want to be better! Do better! Then we met with Polly a RC of ours. She is only 9 and pretty shy, but just give it two more times and he will open up! :)

After that we saw Bong Chentra and she is having a super hard time right now, she is struggling with work, and she just told us that she has been waiting for years to see blessings from God but she is still waiting.... the thing is she does have blessings from God, but she really is having a hard time right now. Her dad and her brother left her and her mom and left the church... so now she is providing for her family. We decided we are going to fast with her next saturday... She just needs a little miracle in her life that's all. She just needs to know that God is there looking out for her.

We also got to see Arica our investigator who is so awesome!

Sunday:

Well guess who had to play the piano today.... guess who doesn't know how to play the piano?! haha don't worry I just sat up there and pressed the play and stop button which is actually harder then it looks, the first song I messed up and everyone was off for the entire thing... whoops my bad. Also nobody had hymn books so I felt like Me and Elder Xiong were just singing a duet up there... haha oh the struggles!

So we get back to the house and Sister Chanthakhoun tells me "so ming saron totally paid tithing today" you know our investigator, that has struggled with money. So we went and visited her and she told me, I could only pay 10000... which is 2.50 in american money, but she said just wait until next month I will pay 15000... I can't believe her faith. We told her at the beginning of the week, not to even worry about it because she doesn't have to pay it yet... but she wanted to so badly she just did it... I just wanted to cry....Literally she just has so much trust in God, if he tells her to do it, she doesn't ask any questions she just does it. I love her so much! I told her how much that meant to him... Honestly the widows might that is Ming Saron! She would give up everything for the gospel. She may not understand everything, but she loves the gospel so much. It gives her happiness through all the suffering and hardships she has had to go through it gives her hope. She is amazing and an example to me!

We then went and saw Srei Mao, she is golden! Hopefully Srei Mao and Ming Saron will be baptized on the Mother's Day... well at least that Aunday! Hopefully it all works out I love them so much seriously!!!

Well I hope you all had a great week! Even week I love my mission more and more, even though it's hard sometimes it's all worth it! I love these people, I love my mission, and I love all of you guys at home!!! I hope you all have a good week! Love ya!
ដាោយសេចក្ដីស្រឡាញ់

សីុំសើរស្វប់

Week of Khmer New Year

Hello Everyone! I am not going to lie to you... nothing too much really happened this week! Khmer New Year kind of made it hard to meet people! hHy, but I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else than in Siem Reap. It was super awesome to get to go past Ankgor for Khmer New Year. Like over 1.5 million people come into Ankgor, and they party for 4 straight days! Some people just stand on the side of the road and throw water at you! We got hit so many times haha, hey but not going to lie it felt pretty good in the over 100 degree weather! 

Monday:

We went to the culture center. It was super awesome. we some some plays and stuff about the history of ankgor, and of a cambodian wedding. It was super cool though, I love the Khmer Culture! Then we got to do some archery and stuff. It was a really good day.

Archery on P-Day

 

Tuesday:

We cleaned the house all day.

 

Wednesday:

The other Sister's showed us a house of a less active that just barely started coming back to church. Her name is Leenaa. She is like 40 years old. She told us that before she got super sick, and "was dead for 7 days" but the Elders came and prayed for her and fasting for her and after a week she came back to life. She said during her dream she saw the temple and two angels, and that they were helping her. She told us she saw all of her family in the temple. Now that is her goal, she wants all of her family to enter into the church and go to the temple. Her daughter is super cute. She is mute, and can't talk. but she is teaching us some of the sign language in Khmer so... :) She has a really cool family we just need to get them all coming back to church! After that we went and saw Bong Charm. we just talked about prayer and encouraged her to start praying with her kids. Both of her kids wanted to try to pray. Haha they both gave closing prayers haha! Then we went with the Levitt's to go to lunch. Then we went to the church, and played a "traditional"Khmer game. Which included trying to pop each others balloons on the foot. All in all it was a pretty good day. We also had some people show up for english class which was surprising! They were all members ;)

Thursday:

We went and saw Parri, and talked about Christ's baptism. She still wants to get baptized but we are going to have to wait a week or two because she didn't come to church the past two weeks...
After that we went and saw Ming Saron, and guess what?! She doesn't need her Wedding Certificate! I called President and he told me if she has her family book that is good enough. I told her and she literally was so happy! She just got the biggest smile on her face and just gave us a huge hug. So now we are just preparing her for baptism. Should be happening in the next two weeks or so! I am so excited for her she has worked super hard for this! then after that we went and saw Ming Sokpeak, and she was having a super hard time... just family problems. We shared Matt 11:28-30 with her. She told us that she is so grateful that we came and taught her... it makes even the worst of days, good ones. I love her so much! I lknow the Lord is looking out for her. 

Her first Wyoming shirt

Friday:

Today we just went and saw Ming Saron, and taught about love and service... just trying to prepare her for baptism. Then we went and saw Om Nao. She is always so good. Listening to her speak kills me, I can't believe I can understand her...for the most part... haha but I know that's not me that is for sure the Lord, couldn't have done it without him. Anyways she wants us to take a a P-day and go up a mountain with her! Which I totally think we can do! I love her so much! We talked about the ressurection with her! I honestly can't wait to meet all of the people here again! When they are sick like this anymore! I love the people here so much I can't wait to see all the blessings the Lord has in store for them! 

We visited the King

Always looking forward

Sister Kong preaching!

Saturday:

Had lunch with Ming Sroh, haha she wouldn't let us leave! I told her we had to go and she was like okay one more story haha and then she went on for like 30 minutes haha! But we love Ming Sroh she is an awesome missionary and loves to share the gospel with everyone she meets literally everyone! After that we went and saw Ming Mao and had a review lesson about Joseph Smith. Guess who gave the first vision in Khmer? Sister Chanthakhoun! Wahoo! First one and she did awesome! So fun fact! I seriously love Ming Mao everytime we go teach her I am reminded how much I love to be a missionary! She literaly just has the spirit so strong. She has strong faith, and every single time we talk to her, the spirit is just so strong. I love her so much!

I had to rent a bike, everyone laughed at me

 

Sunday:

Surprise! President ended up calling us and telling me and Sister C that we are giving talks . I talked about going to church, which was kind of awkward seeing as it was Khmer New Year and there were only 30 people there... maybe 30.... haha and then Sister C talked on prayer.. she took it like a champ! It's way hard to get those last minute talks when you are still in your training, but she did it and she did awesome! So at 9 our Stake President looks at us and says "we have no bread for the sacrament" then he goes to call someone to go buy bread at the phsaa for it... I was like wait no give us 5 minutes we will run to our house and get some... so we rode to our house as fast as we would came back at like 9:07 ish and started sacrement... then we gave our talks, we were super sweaty too from riding out bikes! Hey it's all good as long as we had the bread right? Haha church we went and saw Bong Rii, usually she doesn't like us to visit her. Well her husband and 3 friends were super drunk ... she invited to sit with her and just eat some mangos. We just sat with her and talked with her for a bit. I think that was exactly what she needed she just needed someone to be there with her...We both felt like we shouldn't try to share a lesson so we just talked to her for like 15 minutes and then left. When we left she stopped us and gave us a paypaya ... I don't remember how to spell that... but it was so nice of her! I honestly think that was what she needed! 

So that was pretty much the week! Lot's of people down here make it a little crazy to get around places but it was super fun! This week should be more of a normal week! I love you all so much! Also random fact... I went through 3 bikes this week.... the struggles.... haha well I love you all!


Have a great week!

ដាោយសេចក្ដីស្រឡាញ់

សីុំសើរស្វប់

Conference Week!

Hello Everybody!

Monday:

We went and saw Srei Mao and Bong Hang! Srei Mao is doing really well and we are shooting for her getting baptized in 3 weeks! Bong Hang just needs a ride to go to church so we are working on that! Both are doing good though, and have a lot of support around them! I am super excited about the both of them! Then we went and ate at Ming Penny's and President Loy's house because it's transfers and Petra was leaving to start serving his mission on Tuesday. So we went and had dinner at their house.

Tuk Tuk Ride

Khmer New Year party

Tuesday:

We saw Parri, and her mom and reviewed about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. Turn's out Parri's mom hasn't been reading the BOM either, so we committed them both to start reading together, and we committed them to reading Ether chapter 12 just for a start! I really want to see them start reading together! I know it is going to start making a huge difference for their family. Then we went and saw Ming Saron and just kind of did a review of stuff! She remembered a lot, and she is really growing in faith and testimony... we are still just working on that marriage certificate! I love her so much though haha! I remember when I first met her I was like "Oh goodness this lady is hilarious" haha but oh my goodness I love her so so much!!! Seriously she has worked so hard to get where she is at, and I know the Lord is going to help her the rest of the way! Then we saw Bong Charm and talked about Prophets and invited her to go to conference! Then talk Bong Thavery the same thing! It's super awesome I still can't believe that the prophets and apostles seriously receive revelation for all the members of the church! So crazy awesome! Man, our church is just so awesome haha! Then we went and saw Bong Dawn, whose mom just passed away about a month ago. We just talked about Heaven, and how her mom is waiting for her there and is taken care of. Then we talked about the ressurection, and how amazing it's going to be to see our family members when they are no longer sick, and have nothing weighing them down! It turned out to be a really good lesson! Seriously I just love the gospel! I love the fact that we can overcome anything because of our Savior! Everything, even death! I know 100 pecent that we can conquer death and be with our family members again!

 

Love this family

Wednesday:

We tried to go see Srei Mao but she wasn't at her house, so we went and saw Ming Teret, an active member. We did some service for her and made some bags, and just kind of talked about life! She is super awesome! Then after we shared DC 58:2-4 with her and she loved it! She talked about how this life is hard for sure, but the Lord has made it so she has enough... enough to survive it, and then she talked about how she can't wait for the day when, if she endures to the end, get's time to rest, and just be happy with all of her family in heaven. She really really cares about all of her family and wants them to enter into the church with her. Right now she is planning on going to the temple but she wants to wait until the rest of her family is worthy so that they can go together. After that we tried to go visit some members but they were all getting ready for the party, haha. Then we went to the church and they had their Khmer New Year party! It was so good! I seriously loved it! All the little primary kids danced and had some plays. It was super good. Then after that we taught Sister Jackson, and we talked about "The Living House" And how all the trials that God puts in our life are for our benefit. 

And I love this family

Members Grandkids

Superstar Relief Society President

Thursday :

We went and saw Srei Nawt a daugther of our Stake President. She is like 12 years old, but turns out she was having some problems. She told us that she was made at God because all of her siblings don't live with her and her parents are always working trying to support the family. She was super cute she told us if she was older she would support the family but she just has to learn and go through school first. We talked about how even though she might be far from her family in this life, with the gospel we can live with our families for eternity. She told us whenever she is home by herself she always prays, and knows that God will protect her! She is seriously the cutest nicest girl! I mean I know that God loves everyone, but I know that he has got a special place in his heart for srei nawt. Then we went and saw Ming Mao, and talked about the bible we decided that each week we are going to share different stories from the bible with her, which will atually be really good for me as well... well because I don't really know the bible as well as I would like to. 

Members attacked us!

More and more people kept joining the picture

Friday:

Zone Conference BB

Saturday:
Conference

Sunday :

Conference
Conference was soooo good!! I feel like I get so much more out of conference then I used to. I kept on thinking about all of our investigators, members, less actives, and myself. The talk about the Ressurection make me cry haha hey when I feel the spirit it just happens.
" the Savior cured my cancer, and he can cure yours too." I know that because Christ, and his atonement any of our sickness can be cured, even the grave has no victory! It just made me think about Gloria, Terry, Grandpa Kendall, and Grandma Jean! Just all of the loved ones we have lost... but what's amazing is that we haven't really lost them! They are with us now, watching out for us! I am so grateful for a Savior that loved us so much that he came down and suffered for us... so that we could live with our families for eternity! I love this gospel so much! I think I love it more and more everyday as I am out here sharing it with the people!
Also really loved Elder Hollands talk! Really just everyone so so good!
Well that's it for this week! It's Khmer New Year this week so it may get a little crazy in our area! Hey but the more the merrier right? I love you all hope you all have a great week! Love you!

And I love this family

Love Sister Kong!

ដាយសេចក្ដីស្រឡាញ់

សីសើរស្វប់


fun fact: Last week I ate Silk worm and cricket and this week i finally tried the pigs blood I keep on forgetting to tell you! haha