Sunday, July 24, 2016

Week of Suprises

Hello Everyone!

Monday:

P-day was a little crazy but we went and ate at this sushi train place... it was pretty good actually. Then we found out that we are getting a new comp... Do you remember Sister Semones from the MTC yeah well she is going to be with us for a couple of weeks, so back to the trio life. Anyways that night we taught M about miracles. She told us that her sisters had been fighting for 4 weeks straight and they hadn't been talking to each other, and then they went to church, and all of a sudden they were fine again... She asked them why they had started talking to each other again, and they said I don't know. miracles! Just going to church brings such a good spirit! It's amazing! I love it heavenly father really does just work miracles everyday! 


Tuesday:

Tuesday we went and saw Ming P and taught her about temples and Family history! She said she wanted to start doing it. Then we picked up our new comp Sister Semones! She was feeling a little under the weather so we let her rest the rest of the day, and got our house reorganized and unpacked. 


Wednesday:

We had an English class conference and talked about ways we can improve English class! Then after we went to get our new bikes, and then went off to English class. For the spiritual thought we had the Jone's the FH senior couple talk about Family History it was really good! We had some students that were super interested in it! 



Thursday:

We went over the baptismal interview questions with Srei L. She told us that she still has some questions but she know that she will continue to grow! Which is common and true for all of us.... i mean I still have questions, but usually when I do. I just think ah Heavenly Father has it all worked out haha. Then after that we had a lesson with N, and talked about baptism. She also told us about how much she loved Moroni from the Book of Mormon. She was like " I want to be just like him" Oh the Book of Mormon... it really is so good!





Friday:

We went and taught K about baptism and our new investigator Bong H joined in on the lesson as well! Then we went and saw Yiay S and just read the Book of Mormon with her, that is for sure one of my favorite things to do on the mission. Just the spirit that comes from reading! I love it! Then we went to the church to wait while Srei L got interviewed for baptism. She told us that she was so nervous just like that feeling that you get right before they give you a shot haha. Well it's all good she got the interview and she passed! So she will be getting baptized this coming Saturday! Wahoo! Then we got everything ready for Ns baptism which was so so good! M gave a great talk about baptism, Som M about Holy Ghost! The spirit was really strong. After she was baptized she told us she felt so so happy! She had the biggest smile on her face! AH! I love it! It really makes everything worth it! Honestly it does! It was honestly one of the best baptisms I have been to here in Cambodia :) 


Saturday:

We went and taught Srei L and showed her faith in Christ. She told us about a miracle that happened.She she was telling us this week that she had someone that was following her on a moto, and she got super scared... because she was just riding her bike. and she was by herself. He was literally going the same speed as her even though she was on a bike and he was on a moto. She had a thought to turn into a random alley. She did it and then the moto flew past her. Then this random moto driver asked her "hey why are you going down these roads they are dangerous." Then she said she was overwhelmed with this feeling that she was being watched over, and that there are lots of people that care about her! Heavenly Father is just so good, and I know he does watch over his children. She started to cry when she told us about it! The spirit was super strong... I know Heavenly Father is watching out for her. 



After that we went and saw Bong V and talked about temples she is working for going in about a year! Then everything else fell through so we decided to go to Ming Ss house to see if she was bad yet. turns out the just got back the night before and they had to leave again that night to go to Thai because there daughter has a muscle disease. When we got there both of them were in tears... I know that Heavenly Father made it so we were able to go to there house and see and comfort them... he really does watch over his children I am so grateful everything else fell through so we could go and see them. Then I ended up dopping Ming S over to the baptism and dang it's a good thing we got new bikes because we went over a pretty big bridge haha... I barely made it up, but we did it. She was laughing so hard. Which was good because she was having such a hard time... really was a tender mercy. She was the one who made the outfits for the baptism so she was really happy to be there and see it! Yeah that baptism was really chaotic and crazy... and that's all I am going to say about it! It was insane and everyone came out and were stressed, but hey guess what they were baptized and that's what counts! It was one of those moments where you remember that you are in Cambodia and that's for sure... you realized how new the church still is here haha. It's all good though! It will just continue to grow! 


Sunday :

We went and saw Om Nye who is still sick. She is 73 years old and she just keep on looking for something that will help... 

Then we saw Neri! She is so good! She is going to fast about the choice to be baptized this coming week! 

Church We had 6 potential investigators show up it was awesome! Everyone was so excited to have so many people there!

We did a little split after church because we had two investigators we needed to meet so I went with M to teach. We taught about reading the scriptures. It was really good! Plus M is a killer teacher and going to be an awesome missionary! I can't believe she has only been a member for 3 months. after the lesson we just talked about Missions while we waited for the other Sisters. Ah I am so excited for her to serve she is going to be so good. I want her to come to Wyoming :) Seriously though M is one of my favorite people ever! This area is exploding and I am so happy to be here :) The work is good! It's hard but it's worth it! 


UPDATE-
The less active that I met my 3 transfer that was neighbors with us, his name is J, well he wasn't going to church and then I came back and he asked are you going to church and I said yep are you going to go? And he said what time does it start? So we told him the times and now the elders visit him and he has been going to church for the past 3 weeks!
 
Ming S I heard is doing really well! She is continuing to have miracles, and her house is getting better :) 

Well good luck to Hanna this week she is going to be so awesome! Thanks for all the support and love you guys are the best and I love you! 

ដាោយសេចក្ដីស្រឡាញ់
សីុំសើរស្វប់

Monday, July 18, 2016

Miracles in Cambodia

Hello Everyone!

Monday:

We went out to lunch with Sister Hall and Sister Hom who are some of my favorite sisters! We treated ourselves to Pizza Company, because you know that's the good stuff when you are down here in Cambodia. After lunch this huge rainstorm hit, so after some shopping we went down to Chat time in the pouring rain.... it was crazy, and one of the things that I will miss about Cambodia... haha we walked into Chattime and we were soaking wet, our make up smeared all over, our eyes stinging because of the rain, and not to mention you just feel sticky because who knows what's in the air here... haha but it was all good. Just another day in Cambodia. Then we went to the church, Sophia didn't show up because of the rain, and the flooded roads so we just ended up teaching Muay. We shared DC 122"5-7 with her and talked about how all of the trials we have are for our benefit and learning. Then I shared about Gloria, and how the night before she passed away she bore her testimony to her family. Even in her weakest moment she was so strong, and I know that that is because the strength of the atonement, during our hardest times it's true that is when the savior is caring us! 



Tuesday:

We had DM and Elder Medley gave this really good story about the importance of the sricptures. He said that in his training they had this member that got super upset and she was just chewing the Elders out, and then she starting grabbing all of her scriptures, liahona's and everything and saying take them I don't want them anymore, the elders wouldn't take them and she said take them or I swear I will take them and throw them in the mud. They didn't know what to do so they called president and he said "you take those scriptures from her, do not let her throw them in the mud." It just showed how important the scriptures are! They are sacred, they are the word of God. If we want to speak to God we pray but if we want God to speak to us we read. So the elders took her scriptures and then like 3 weeks later that same member called them back sobbing and said... I haven't read in 3 weeks and I just can't do it anymore, can I please have my scriptures back... I need them. Now that member is super strong!!! It was such a good story! The scriptures really are so important!! I can't believe how much I took them for granted when I was home. 


We went and saw Ming P and taught about scripture study... we got her the gospel library on her phone so now she can read anytime... techonogy is so nice haha, you forget sometimes. Then we saw R and taught her about prayer and then we shared DC 121"7-8 with Ming R. She told us the before all of her siblings hated her because she was apart of this church, so she just kept praying and praying and turns out now all her siblings kids have joined some kind of christian church... she said it was honestly an answer to her prayers! I love how Heavenly Father works! He is just so good.
Then we were just going to teach piano class and N was just sitting there. I was like are you going to piano class, and she said no I just figured if i came to the church you would be here and teach me.. haha for sure! So we ended up teaching her about light and committed her to sharing the light that she has with others. I love her she is so good! Cool story an Elder here, contacted her in BB and she said that she didn't want to learn, but now she comes to church everyweek and loves the gospel. Crazy what just talking to one person can do, even though it may not be right then, you never know what is going to happen later. 


Wednesday:

We saw S in the morning and talked about enduring trials. Then we went and saw Om N after that and we shared DC 1217-8 with here, and she freaked out she loved it so much haha. She was like praying to the scriptures... which was a little weird and then she was like dang where did you find this i just want to take this and stick it to me and absorb it haha... we were like Om it doesn't really work like that haha. She is funny though, I always end up laughing before leaving her house haha. Then we saw Om C, she told us that she had to work two days this week and after the first day she felt really week, but she need the 5 dollars the would give her the second day so she just prayed and prayed and then she said the next day she was fine, just a little sore but that's it! Then she told us I was waiting for you to come so I could tell you about that miracle! 


Then we saw N, she just happened to randomly be at the church when our other investigator didn't show up. We meet with her and taught about fasting and enduring. She told us she has some decisions she is making right now and she is looking for some guidance from heavenly father so we just encouraged her to fast and pray about it. 


Thursday:

We saw Srei L she told us about her father who passed away two years ago, she had this diease where there stomach swells us they get really skinny and then they just pass away because they get so weak... it's really sad and there isn't really a cure... we saw someone pass away with it in Siem Reap as well... he was 50 when he passed away. We testified that we know she will see him again! She told us that she really hopes he will recieve the gospel up there! What I love about heavenly father's plan is that no matter what happens... it will all end up okay! No matter what! 


Friday:

Everything sort of fell through in the morning but we ended up seeing Om P a less active that we haven't gotten to see in a while, we shared with her about the atonement and then asked if she had anything we could help her with and she actually said yes... she needed some help with measuring sugar, so we told her we would come back at two. 


Sister Semones has been a little under the weather lately so we got to take her koon with us Sister Nit. SHE IS SO GOOD! I meet so many missionaries here that I want to be comps with! Then you realized you are getting old and it probably won't happen... hey but you can always hope right. We went and saw Ming T and Om P, and then we went back to the church and taught M about light! 


Saturday:

We found a new investigator we contacted a girl while we were waiting for a member to show up and she toltally rejected us, but then she came back with her friend that wanted to learn her name is H. She is married with one son. She told us she really wants to learn, and she learned once before but she has forgotten everything. So we taught her about prayer and we are going to meet her again this week. Then we taught K and taught her about Holy Ghost because she will be getting baptized coming week! Then we talk Bong V and helped her prepare for her talk on Sunday.
After that we grabbed a quick lunch and went to a baptism in which sister lines played the piano and I lead the music... you know what's funny i still don't know how to lead music... on one song we were all way off on the first verse but we kept going that is what counts and then the second verse we had it haha! 


Then we saw Srei L and taught about the book of mormon he is still doing awesome and preparing herself for baptism in the next coming weeks. 


Then we saw Bong Pisay a LA we haven't seen before she works at a club and says that she drinks every single day.... that she "has to" she told her that she only wants to work there for a couple of years and then open up a makeup shop. Then I told her I know that you want to do that but where do you think your health will be in 3 years if you keep this up... we kind of chastized her a little, and then bore our testimonies on how much Heavenly Father misses her and wants her to come back, we are going to go back and teach her about the atonement. I really like her! Which made it easier to chew her out haha, it's true when you really care about someone you it's easier to call them unto repentance haha. 


Then we saw Nada at the church and went over baptism again 


Sunday:

Sister Xiong was sick, so I went with Sister Chanthakhoun to TTP, it was nice to see everyone again... I love those people. Then Sister Semones came to our house and was feeling pretty sick so she stayed with Sister Xiong and we went in a trio for a little bit, and man it was fun! Sister Lines and Sister C are way good teachers is was so fun to teach with Sister C again and see how much she has improved! Seriously both of them are amazing missionaries and are just getting better and better every day! We taught Neri about prayer, reading, and obedience. 

Then N had her baptismal interview and she passed! She will be getting baptized this Friday! WAHOO!! 

We are also getting reading for Pioneer day so we are teaching the yw Put your shoulder to the wheel. Sister Lines played the piano and i taught them how to sing it... can you imagine me teaching people to sing... haha they just laughed because my voice is terrible but they did get the jist of it. It's coming together! 

After church we met with Srei R an investigator that we thought had fallen off the face of the earth. She finally called us we just taught about enduring to the end, and committed her to come back to church. 

YEP that was this week! I hope you all are doing well! I can't believe all those missionaries are coming home, and congrats to Lexi!!! Tell her congrats for me! I love you all so much I hope you have a great week! 

ដាោយសេចក្ដីស្រឡាញ់
សីុំសើរស្វប់

Sunday, July 10, 2016

I am running out of titles...

Hello Everyone!

Monday:

Pday, we went out to some Italian resurant place for lunch so we could go see Thida, an investigator of the Sister in TTP. She is super cute and will be getting baptized in the next couple of weeks. Then to celebrate the Fourth of July we went ice skating. Which if I am being completly honest is one of the more dangerous things I have done in cambodia since I have gotten here. I am no balance, so it took me about 30 seconds on the ice before I biffed it.... You know I am not the biggest fan of ice skating haha because I suck at it! Seriously it's lucky I didn't brake anything when we went... I am that bad! 



After that we met with our RC's first we met with S. She has been struggling lately... her mom won't let her go to church.... so this morning while I was personal studying... I just prayed because I had no idea how to help her... then I opened up the scripture to Mosiah chapter 24. It's when they forbid Alma's people to pray and then the Lord creates a way for them to escape bondage and lift their burdens for them..... Heavenly Father is so good. I am so thankful that he knows exactly what people need. When we shared that with her she loved it... she was like "sister this is exactly like me" Then after we testified about how Heavenly Father is going to lift her burdens and create a way so she can go to church, but she has to have the faith and keep praying.
Then we saw one of my favorite people ever M! We just reviewed a little about the covenants we make at baptism! Honestly she is so good. She is going to be one amazing missionary one day! 


Tuesday:

We saw Ming P. in the morning and taught about the ten commandments... it actually turned out to be a really good lesson. Probably because it was with Ming P. and she is the best. Then after that we did some translated for our Clerk because he didn't understand what he was suppose to do because the program is in English... well translated wasn't bad, but seeing as I have no experience in clerk work that was a little hard haha... but it's all good. After that we helped him do some Family History work and put it into family search! Om P. is way into it! It's awesome I love it! After that we saw our investigators N. and Srei L. The are both really progressing and working their way towards baptism on the 30th. 

Language Study


Wednesday:

In the morning we went and helped Om do some more of his family history work, and then we went to see Om N. we were going to teach about Family History work but she got in kind of a rush because she had a customer coming that wanted to rent an apartment from her. It was really funny though because she has Sister Lines to give the prayer and when she finished Om just kept praying... she was just asking extra blessings from God... me and Sister lines just stared at each other laughed and then folded our arms and kept praying... haha it was hilarious she went on for about another minute just asking for more blessings and then she closed it haha.. Hey whatever works I guess. Then we went to see Om P. We started to talk about family history with her and she got way into it. She got super excited she told us that her mother and father had passed away and that she wanted to do the work for them and all of their siblings She was telling us that her mother was the only one of 7 siblings to survive Phoul Phot. She said she was taken to a camp and all that she remembers was that if you did something wrong you were killed, if you ate too much you were killed, if you were smart you were killed.... Cambodia has been through a lot of pain and suffering I am grateful that we are able to share the gospel here and try to heal some of the damage. That's the amazing thing about the gospel is that it can heal the hurt so there are no scars remaining! I am really excited for her and the family history... I know that if she starts putting in her effort and going to church and obeying the commandments she is going to experience some real miracles with it. Then we taught Srei L. and taught about Family History she told us that her dad didn't like the church when he was alive so maybe he doesn't want her to do the work for him, but we encourage her to do it so at least he can have the chance to do it, because we don't know what he is feeling now!

Then we had English class... we all made songs and posted them on facebook... honestly we have the best English class ever. 


Thursday:

We saw Amap( which means little fat one) she wants us to call her that because she wants to be fat... haha She is a new investigator of ours. She is actually a past investigator that we picked up again. She is way good, she is just super busy. She is a reseacher. She had a foundation that helped her go to school and she told us that when she was young she made a goal to be like them all she wanted to do was help people that were in the same situation as she was. Now she is doing it she travels around all of the poor kits and studies how dieases are spread. She also interviews the children there and tries to figure out ways to help them. She is really good, but right when she promised to go to church they called her and said that she needed to leave sunday to go on a 10 day trip to the kite to study malaria there. Darn it! She is too good haha! She told us I know that one day i will join this church, I just need time first... so we will call her in ten days when she is back. Then we taught N. about the priestood. She is in Helamen in the Book of Mormon! Helamen everyone! 



Friday:

One year in the mish! We had zone training and then went out to eat with my group! Can't believe we have made it this far! Who would've thought.



Saturday:

In the morning all of our plans fell through but it all worked out because we ended up seeing a Less Active her name is Ming S. and she said " i knew you would come today, I had been waiting for you" Dang, I love how Heavenly Father has everything worked out. If everything wouldn't gone according to plan we wouldn't have seen her. Well we talked to her and she told us that her daughter is sick and they are going to Vietnam, so she asked us if we could pray for her and her daughter so they could come back quicky to the could come to church. Last time they went to Vietnam they went for 3 months. The left on Sunday... so it was so good that we got to see them!!! Heavenly Father is sooo good!

 

Then we saw N., and guess what she told her parents! They said she can get baptized! Then in her prayer she asked Heavenly Father to help her become a member of this church quickly! She is so good! 


Sunday:
The normal church acitvities :) 

Well I am out of time! Love you all I hope you all have a great week love you!
Love
Sister Schwab

Sunday, July 3, 2016

The fastest year of my life

Hello Everyone!

Monday:


For P-Day we took a step back into America... it was weird... I don't know how I felt about it! We went bowling with all of the Sisters :) One good thing about being in the city... is you do get to hang out with all these killer missionaries around here! After P-day was over we hustled home and made some Rice Krispy's for the Temple Activity. We broke records and it only took us about 10 minutes to go home make them all and be at the church! 

So we told everyone that the activity started at 6, knowing that everyone would show up at 6:30 because well, that's just how it works down here in cambodia. Also there was rain.... rain always puts a damper on things... I don't know why but when it rains in Cambodia... everyone hides away in their house and won't go out and do stuff. So anyway we ended up only having about 12 people show up to the activity which actually was pretty good! 

For the fireside we talked about going to the temple. The Elder's talked about how to prepare to go to the temple. Which was super good because most people here think the temple is just like a dream... something out of reach. Then the senior couple Elder and Sister Jones talked about Family History! After them we got up and taught about what we actually do in the temple. It was just a really good fireside! I love the new focus we have on temples! I love them so much! I can't wait to go back and go to the SV temple!


Tuesday:

We saw Ming P. and taught her about the spirit and about revelation. She told us that she didn't really know when she was feeling the spirit or what recieving revelation was even like.... so we reminded her about the times where she wasn't able to understand the book of mormon so she prayed and then it just all started to makes sense. We testified that that was the spirit! She got super excited and said "wow I guess I do know what the spirit feels like" 

After that we went to lunch at Bong S. house. My RC from TTP oh my goodness I love her so much. It was so good to see her again! Honestly that is one bonus from serving close to my old area. I get to see the people that I love so much on random occasions! Then we went and saw Yiay C.  she is an active member from TTP. We were just going to say hi, but she wouldn't let us leave without sharing a scripture with her haha! So we shared Ether 12:27 with her! My favorite you know haha! I love her though she is such an example to me! She is probably one of my most favorite people I have ever met in my entire life. She is just so happy even though she has so little. 

Then we saw Srei L. and finished teaching her lesson one :) Srei L. is doing really good. She is just super busy with work right now but she always squeezes in time to meet with us! We committed her to baptism for the 30th of July!
 


Wednesday:

We went and saw Yiay S. and T. and started reading from the Book of Mormon with them. We use the picture book. It is literally one of my favorite things to do here... is just to read out of the Book of Mormon and explain it as you go. The spirit is just always there when you read the Book of Mormon I love it! Then we saw Om N. and Om P. we taught them about sacrament and the atonement... they both committed to come to church... but I didn't see them at church so we are going to go see them again this week! Don't worry we are going to get them coming back! Then we had english class. I gave the spiritual though about going to the temples! I just love it! Heavenly Father's plan is just so good! It's perfect! We are so lucky! 


Thursday:

We saw Srei L. and talked about reading the scripture we testified that they are the word of God. She looked at us and said "i know that that is true" She then went on about how Nephi testified that she is writing the word of God, and after that she just knew that it was true. Then we went and saw R , and Srei L. we just watched the Restoration with them. Then we went and watched Faith in Christ with Nada. The Senior Sister Training Leaders brought in their investigator and then we just had a group discussion afterward. There is nothing like the spirit that comes when you testify of the Savior!


Friday:

We saw Ming T! She is an active member from my birth area Pochentong, well turns out she just moved to Chomkamon! Way sweet that I get to see her and visit her again! She had some problems at her other house so she had to move. She said she came to the new house and had no idea where the church was or what to do, so she prayed and asked God what she needed to do. Well she had this thought... just wait for the elders to come. So she sat by the door and waited for the Elders to come. Well the Elders were contacting that day, and were having no success at all! The had this feeling to go to an area they had already contacted in before but they went anyway... Well turns out that was Ming T's area she called them in! MIRACLES!!!! The church is true!! Seriously Heavenly Father is so good! Then we saw Ming S. and read the BOM with her as well. She loves the picture book of mormon she says she uses it to translate the regular book of mormon haha!
Then we saw S... her mom isn't letting her go to church right now.... We are trying to help her. She is good and has a lot of faith it's just hard for her right now. We are going to see her again tonight. 
Then we saw Om K... she is an active member and her house is way sketchy. We felt like we were in the sarotov approach which is actually a reoccurring thing... it just happens in Cambodia when you are trying to find less actives,,, it's fun it's like an adventure every single day. Anyways we climb up to her house and i see like 3 rats run across the floor and up the wood ceiling. Then we get in there and she says "my house smells like pee" she gets out this nastily smelly stuff and then just goes ape with it and starts spraying us with it... it was so nasty the smell of the perfume literally made me sick haha. It's okay though it's all good in cambodia.
Then we saw M. and talked about Christ like attributes we all picked one to work on! M. is still awesome and still helps us like everyday! She is the best. 


Saturday:

We went and saw Yiay S. and T. and read from the Bom again. Always so good they love it! Then we saw Bong V. and her husband and taught them about Faith. It was perfect timing because the wanted to fast but they didn't really know how so they were really hoping the missionaries would come over before they started to explain... and what do you know... we came! I am telling you God is so good! We literally came 5 minutes before they started fasting. After we taught them we went and saw R. and K. our kid members. We taught them about fasting and fast offering. Then we went and saw Srei L. we taught her about the WOW she has some problems with it, but she committed to follow it!
Then we taught N. and she told us that she has had a better relationship with her uncle since learning about the church. She said before they didn't get along at all, but now it's getting better and better. Her family really is being blessed because of her!
 


Sunday:

We saw N. who is doing great. We taught her lesson 2 and she understood it, but she still hasn't committed to baptism yet... she says she wants to make sure that baptism is what the lord wants her to do so we committed her to pray about it, and ask God if he wants her to recieve baptism or not. Our other investigator bailed out on us so we just ended up teaching Srei L. because she was just chilling at the church. We taught how Enduring to the End.



So crazy i can't believe that I have been serving a year this week.... it's gone by way way too fast. All I know is that a year before I never thought I would be were I am at now. I am super grateful to all of you guys and the love and support i have had my entire life. i love you all so much. I am so grateful that I chose to come on a mission... I can't believe it was ever even a hard decision for me it shouldn't have been... it should've been easy. Even single day I love my mission and more. I am so grateful that the Lord has given me the opportunity to work with him and serve the people here in Cambodia! Seriously I love them so much. They are my family. These next 6 are going to fly... but I don't really want them to! I love it here and still have lots of work to do! I am so lucky I get to testfiy of the Savior every single day!! It's the best choice I have ever made!


Well I hope you all have a great 4th! I love you all! 


Love 

Sister Schwab