Visiting Some Vietnamese Members

We took Varci and Kali to visit a wonderful family. President Om and his family. He is branch president of the Vietnamese 3rd branch. He has been branch president for 9 years. This is the second time we have been in his home. It sits high off the river, but when the rainy season comes with rain most days, the river swells. So the people that live near and by President Om build walkways to their homes. The last time we visited there it was during the rainy season and we walked very carefully along the walkways.
His son does engravings of popular items in the country and sells them at the market. He also makes beautiful canes which you can see they have displayed. His son just recently joined the church. They always have a treat for us. Last time it was Vietnamese cakes and this time it was soda pop!

Our second visit was to a former district counselor in the Central Vietnamese District. We als0 have visited there before and encouraged them to go more often to church. They have done this and are very active in their branch. These pictures show items close to their home. You can see the little home on the river from their back window. I loved because it looked so inviting. The home owners must really care about their home with the beautiful plants and painted walls. The brother and his wife that we visited, are always so gracious and kind. They always have water for us and this time they also had a fruit I really like. I call it the Cambodian grape because it is soft white fruit with the texture similar to a grape. However, it is encased with a brown shell like cover and a big black seed inside. The fruit is sweet and refreshing. The animal that Varci is standing by is really a steer that is being broiled over some coals. The children in the left hand picture are watching Elder Peterson talk to the little member girl. You can tell they really like him. This was his area. He is now home. He and His companion, Elder Lines, were with us to translate. Scott also gave this brother a tie.
Elders Seang (new missionary), Lines and Peterson who went with us on our visits.

They took us to see this sister. She is a newly baptized member of the 3rd branch. She is cooking supper on her wood stove. She is making a fish porridge for their supper. This stove is very popular here in Cambodia. It has a ceramic lower part and aluminum upper. It is in the shape of an upside down volcano. I understand they only cost $1.50. It heats fast and suits the way the people have to cook here very nicely. Even some of the members we know, that have nicer homes, use this to cook outdoors.

She invited us up to her home. Keep in mind, that during the rainy season, these homes all have about 4-5 feet of water underneath. That is why they build up so high. I was traveling carefully.

So did Varci . . .

. . . and Kali. We were actually coming down from being in her home.

She is a very gracious woman. Her little girl was also baptized with her, but not her husband yet. She really liked me for some reason, and we bonded very well. Scott had just given his tie to her younger son. That's why he has no tie.

This home is right across from this sister's home. When the water is down, they all enjoy living underneath their homes. This one is very protected from unwanted visitors it looks like!

More children along the walks as we went by. These are very happy and content children.

Elder Peterson is describing how deep the water was there last rainy season. It was near the tops of those poles.