Senior Conference

We held a Senior Conference on Friday, March 5, 2010. The couples were all in attendance but the Curtises who were in Hong Kong for training. The Curtises are the LDSC and Service Center and they made it in time for the end of supper. About every 6 months or so, we hold a Senior Conference. We give instruction and guidance for the couples and also some spiritual guidance and appreciation for their fine work. They also shared with us a report of the areas that they work on. Some are here for the Perpetual Education Fund, Institutes and Seminary Training and Employment (that is one couple), one couple is over the Service Center and for right now also LDSC (we have another couple coming next week to take over that assignment), Office Couple and Family History, Finding Returned missionaries and making sure they are active and Family History and Medical Advisor, two LDSC in Vietnam, and three couples are doing Leadership and Activation in the Khais (Provinces) here in Cambodia. The other couples also have branches but just work with them on weekends. The ones in the Khais work with the branches and missionaries 24/7. All of them are making such a difference and helping so much. We love them all and appreciate all that they are doing.

Hanoi Zone Conference.

On Saturday morning, February 27th, 2010, we had a little Zone Conference with the Talbots and Elders Son and Thinh. As always, they carry such a strong spirit. When the Elders talk, I always get a little emotional because they are in Vietnam without any direct supervision from the President except when we travel here about every 3 months. They get up, follow the program all on their own and obey with exactness. What wonderful young men. And the Talbots are such a great couple serving as the Country Directors for LDSC. They are truly paving the way for great things to come. After our conference we took everyone out to eat. The Elders wanted us to come to this restaurant really bad because of all the authentic Vietnamese food, and plus they said, "It is cheap." They were so proud of their food and culture and wanted to share it with us. It was delicious food, especially the Vietnamese Fried Spring Rolls. We then went to a Water Puppet Show. It had various Vietnames Folktales. There was an orchestra with ancient Vietnamese instruments and singing. It was narrated all in English, so we understood it very well.

The little orchestra is off to the left, and the water is the "stage". The puppeteers are behind the puppets behind a curtain. The puppets are on sticks under the water and the puppeteers can make them come up and out of the water and move all over. It was really clever.

In this story, they are telling about the prince who comes home after a successful battle and he is on a parade through the village. He eventually goes to the ocean and gives his sword to a golden turtle.

These are the puppeteers graciously accepting the applause and appreciation of the audience.

I really enjoyed this. It was very unique. It was a good way to end a great day with our missionaries.

Hanoi Branch Conference

As we were going into the Church on Sunday, February 28th, 2101 for the Branch Conference. There was a dragon fly on the step. Shari, our niece, loves dragon flies. So, I put this on for her to let her know, even here in Vietnam are also some of God's special creations.
Before the branch conference there were two baptisms.

The sister on the left is such a solid baptism. She is just such a good person and has been investigating for over 8 months. The other young man, seems solid also. These are our missionaries: Elder Thinh and Elder Son (say Tin and Sewn) They just found some people whose father wanted to know about the church before he died. He was an influencial man there in Vietnam. This happened many years ago and was in a book that Elder and Sister Talbot had. So they went and found this man's children and they were supposed to of come to church on this past Sunday. I hope they will be able to teach them about the Church. Because the law doesn't allow them to teach them about the Church in their homes.


Sister Talbot and me with the new members.

Cu Chi Tunnels

This is an historic day. This is the first time since we have been here in this mission that we donned our preparation clothes in public and actually went out! So, we took a picture to mark the moment. On this day, Monday, March 1st, 2010, Scott and I went with Elder and Sister Jackson, our LDSC Couple in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam to visit some tunnels in a village some 70 kilmeters out of Ho Chi Minh. These tunnels were used when the Vietnamese were fighting the French for their freedom and then used again and enhanced when the Viet Cong were fighting South Vietnam and the Americans. They are three deep and used for popping up out of the ground and do I dare say it? Kill people. They, meaning the Viet Cong, used 14,000 villagers to live and fight in these tunnels. 30% of them were tiny little women. The town is called Cu Chi and so the tunnels are called the Cu Chi tunnels.


They have built this huge wat to tell the history of the Vietnamese people. It is a pictoral history painted on three sides of this wat. Inside the wat is a huge statue of Ho Chi Minh.

This is a building next to the wat, all decked out in dragons. It is my understanding that to the Vietnamese the dragon is a good luck sign. You see dragons in a lot of their designs on clothing, material, etc.

A view of the country side from the wat.

From there we had a guide who took us down a jungle path where we were greeted by these Cu Chi villagers who worked the tunnels. I was glad they weren't real since, we were kind of in former enemy territory.

We were sitting on a bench watching a propaganda film on the tunnels that is at least 40 years old. The guide reminded us that this was just one side of history and as Americans please don't be offended. As I looked down the path, I wanted a picture because as we were coming up on that path, I was about 10 feet behind our guide when a green snake slithered across our path. I, of course, HATE snakes. So I let out a nice little scream yelling there's a snake. The guide turned around and said, oh yes, that is a green mambo. I guess that is a very poisonous snake in this jungle area. I very cautiously, walked past that spot looking for signs of movement. There were none and so I continued to walk. I gained a much greater appreciation of our American Soldiers who fought here after being in the heat, walking in the jungle, hearing the sounds of the jungle all around us, seeing snakes, walking in these tunnels and seeing all of their traps.

Now you see him.

Now you don't.

Off to the right is the door of the entrance to a tunnel. They would surprise people as they popped up, shoot, and then disappear. The Americans discovered the tunnels and many of them were bombed to protect our soldiers. We went through a couple of tunnels in entrances such as below. They exit is out another way. These tunnels are made out of clay soil. When it hardens it is just like cement. As we were in a room under the ground, I asked him, just to be safe or scared, if they still didn't like Americans. He said, "Oh, don't worry that is all behind us many years ago." I was grateful to hear that!

The second tunnel exit was similar to this. Keep in mind as you walk through these tunnels to go from room to room, they are made for very little people. You cannot stand up. You walk clear bent over almost on your knees. As we were coming out of the second tunnel they took us in, I was the second one out, and three bats were very disturbed that I was even there. Keep in mind again that I was clear bent over and these bats were flying up by my head and through our legs. Scott was right behind me. I didn't realize how close until I saw a grayish-brown snake at the end of the tunnel. Right by the foot of the guide and the stairs to get out. I started backing out, probably screaming, as I recall saying, "How do I get out of here, with bats and snakes right here! ?" The guide stuck his hand in because I was close to the opening and said, "Don't worry, the snake is probably dead." It was holding really still, I thought to myself, "Yes, it probably is dead." So I took his hand and he guided me out and up the steps where Sister Jackson said, "The snake is not dead, it just moved." The guide heard that and jumped to the other side and waved Scott and Elder Jackson out. Oh boy, was I glad to get out of there! The smile you see on the above picture was because before we took the picture, I made good and sure that there were no snakes hiding down there. Under Scott's hat on his forehead was a nice red mark where he hit his head when I started backing up out of the bat/snake tunnel. Sorry, Scott!

All in all, it was an experience in appreciation for what our American Soldiers went through.

Vietnam Landscape and School for Handicapped

While traveling home from Cu Chi I tried to get a video of the landscape just out of Ho Chi Minh.

We stopped at a school for the handicapped that Elder and Sister Jackson are working with for LDSC. They have helped with some equipment, I believe. This little gal has graduated from this school and now is the librarian. As you can see she works the computer with her feet because her hands are pretty useless and just hang down her sides. She speaks English by typing on the computer. She also is getting pretty popular as an artist. She paints Vietnam landscapes and other things dear to her. She does this all with her feet. She is a happy postive person. Her painting are so popular that they were all sold. But I bought a pretty floral centerpiece made and designed by other physically handicapped people. So, we felt like we were helping a little bit for the school. Below is the landscaping. I don't know, but wondered if it also was done by some of their students trying to learn a skill so they can be self-sustaining.

The Silk Factory

This is the first of posts from our week with the Pratts for the Mission Tour the last week of February. So, if you want to read something in order of how we did it, then go to the last post that says the First Stop of the Mission Tour and read up. I actually did better with my Vietnam Posts and got them in the right order. Maybe I'll have this all figured out for the next time! So there is my disclaimer!
Please scroll down to the bottom of this post and read up from there to here! Backwards. . again!
This is the final result of making silk. The weaving. They have set designs and these girls each work on a certain design. The final result is stunning, but expensive. It was great to take a day and enjoy some of the cultural things in Cambodia. We enjoyed having Elder and Sister Pratt with us also, so that they could appreciate and love Cambodia as we do. I have pictures of our Zone Conferences, I just need to figure out how to take them from Google gmail to here. But I'll work on it.

These are the natural dyes they use on the silk.

The old fashioned way to spin the silk, but they use old bike wheels instead of spinning wheels. It works all the same.

These women are taking the silk out of the cocoons. As it comes out in its'natural state, it is a golden color. Each cocoon has one long continuous strand. It is tough and strong and hard to break.



On our way to the airport with the Pratts, we had enough time to stop at a famous silk factory near Siem Reap. They raise their own silk worms, and take the whole process through to spinning and weaving the material. It was quite fascinating and I can see why they charge a bunch of money to buy products made from this silk.

The above picture is the first stage after the worms come out of the cocoons. They feed on these leaves for a day or two, then spin their cocoons. So many cocoons are saved out of every batch to keep the worms coming and coming. It is a daily process. A couple of my pictures didn't turn out so good showing the worms inside the cocoons. It's all a rather quicker process than I thought. I thought it would take weeks, but maybe 10 days or less from start to finish. Meaning from when the worms start weaving their cocoons till when the silk is taken off the cocoons and woven into the material.

A few more Temples around Angkor Wat

Don't know the name of this one.


I think these are called the Watch Towers

Of course we had to take the picture of the Elephants guarding what is left of this particular temple.

The above and below pictures are of the Bayon Temple. There are many things here in Cambodia named after this Temple, especially Bakeries. There are Bayon bakeries all over and we've been to a couple of them. All wonderful!

More of Siem Reap and the Wats.

I thought the hat was alot of fun so I decided to get a close up for all to see of Scott in his terrific hat. It kept him cool. Notice what a great husband I have, he is carrying my purse!

Nothing to say about this photo. It's just me.

President Loy was our driver for the 2 full days we were in Siem Reap. He is the Branch President of this two year old branch. Aren't they a handsome couple? I gave them this picture by Chad Hawkins of hands on the Book of Mormon. Scott thinks they are Moroni's hands. Sister Hawkins gave me some of her son's pictures to give out, so I decided I should start to take pictures of people I have given the pictures to.

Second, Third and Last Stop on Mission Tour, and Angkor Wat

The second Zone Conference: The South Phnom Penh and Central Phnom Penh Zones. Held in the South District Center.


The third and last Zone Conference was the Battambang and Siem Reap Zones held in Siem Reap.

After the conference Scott and I went with the Elder's Quorum President, here in the picture he is our driver also and Elder Pratt went with the Branch President.
We are on our way down a very sandy path to visit the branch Relief Society President. She is a teacher and has her grandson living with her and she teaches him. Her oldest son is now taking the lessons. He wasn't making good choices and through her prayers he came back home to live and is very happy that his Mom opened her arms to him and loved him just the same! The path was so sandy that on the way out, the moto fell over and we walked part way up the path. It was evening, so it was cooler and good exercise.

This is a very good woman. She and I both had an impression that the sisters in her branch needed pictures of a Temple to put on their walls. So, I gathered some from a Temple Calendar that Sister Winegar kindly left here for me and Jill sent me some pictures. So altogether it was enough. She was so grateful to have them.

The night after the conference, we visited 4 families with the Elder's Quorum President. He was also our Tuk Tuk driver. He is a man with a great sense of humor. Elder Pratt went with Elder Miles and the branch president, President Loy. This family is one of our missionary's family, Elder Da. Elder Moore is translating for us, he is one of our assistants. Next to him is Elder Da's Father, then his little sister and Mom. The other three are aunts and cousins. Oh, Scott and I aren't related physically, in case you couldn't tell, just spiritually as our spiritual brothers and sister in the Gospel! I love the mats we sit on. Many people don't have furniture so they buy these mats and you sit on them when you visit, and I think some people sleep on them and eat on them also.

The sister in the pink got polio when she was 1 1/2 years old. Her one leg is all little and shriveled and it is very difficult for her to walk. She has to hold on to someone. The sister behind her just came in when we started visiting with the Pink sister. I'm sorry, but I cannot remember her name. She is just so sweet. She had a remarkable vision that she shared with us that brought her to tears. I think Heavenly Father looks very kindly upon this sister. She has truly suffered alot. She has one daughter and I think divorced from her husband. She is faithful in the Church and likes to serve others. As she was telling us about her experience, tears were streaming down her face and her friend was so compassionate that she just stroked her arm and put her arm around her. Both sweet and kind women.

The Tuk Tuk (a moto that pulls a 2 wheeled carriage with two seats.) couldn't make it down this narrow path, so we walked down to a little neighborhood to visit a member family.

They have been members for two years. That is how old the branch is. It was established I think in early 2008. While we were visiting with them a neighbor came over to see who we were and why we were there, so we invited her to join us. This is a new home for this family. They are renting. We are sitting on a bed, table with the mat. They have three other children. Two of them are in an orphanage where they can get schooling. Many do this, because the children will get an education this way. They can go back anytime and get their children. The oldest is learning auto mechanics at a school somewhere. They were telling us how blessed they have been since they have joined the Church. They were able to move into this little home which is an upgrade from where they were, and now he has bought some land, and they are saving to build a home on this land. I think a small home can be built for around $1500. I'm not sure. I'will have to check on that. So don't quote me! They didn't think they could do a family home evening unless they invited members, the neighbors and had a big feast. So they said they didn't have time nor money. So Scott had the idea of showing them how to do a 10 minutes FHE without food or fanfare. So the man assigned his wife to open and me to close with prayer, we sang a hymn (Child of God), and Scott gave the lesson. So afterwards they said they could do that and have FHE everyweek. Hope they do! A very sweet and kind family. Working hard and doing the best they can.

The next day, February 25th we went to Angkor Wat.
Angkor Wat was our last stop after the conferences. This is a very historical and cultural spot for Cambodia. This temple is HUGE. Anciently it was a Hindu Temple, but is now considered A Buddhist place of worship. Pol Pot's people came in and took off the heads of all the Hindu statutes that are really works of art, so this was sad. But most of the Temple itself is intact. Just very old. This is in Siem Reap where our last conference was held. (The Zone Conference was held at the Church not the Wat) All around this site are many, many more Wats, Temples. It was an extremely hot day, so we all bought these weird hats. The Pratts were taking this as a Preparation Day and so wore appropriately clothes for that. We had our assitants with us, so needed to dress in mission clothes. Skirts are cool, so I was good!


I think the Pratts look better in their hats than we do in ours. It was so hot we all bought whatever hat we could find. Did you notice the reflection of the temple in the water behind us?

Taking a breather in the shade inside the Wat.


These reminded me of Chichen Itza in Cancun, Mexico. They are just as steep and scarey coming down, but not as many.
I just thought this picture was fun. The horse is just a little pony and it stands all day and has various people get up on him and pose. The little boy is just such a handsome little Cambodian!