Takhamao Flood October October 11th

I think it was October 11th the rains came down like a typhoon. It came so fast that the Takhamao area that sits in kind of a bowl flooded. The Elder's apartment also. The flood almost came to the top step of the Church. The Service Center sandbagged and avoided more flooding in the church area. The two Elders above are Elders Oleson and Draper. Elder Oleson had on the left had only been here since October 7th. So, it was quite an iniation to Cambodia.

Elder Hermann and his Member companion,future Elder Eng, were cleaning up after the waters receded and found a bunch of cockroaches which they put in this can. If they weren't dead, then they took care of it. They came up through the drains we are thinking. Also, they saw a rat swimming around in the water, some fish, and some crabs!

The Elders are off to do service to help people clean up. They not only helped at the Church and other member's homes, but anyone who needed their help. Because of this service there are many more people who are interested in learning about the church.
We are grateful that we haven't had any more rain this bad since that day. We were being threatened with Typhoon Megi, which gratefully, chose to go another direction. However, had it happened we were prepared and the above missionaries would have grabbed their 72 hour buckets/bags and go to another missionary home that is in their branch that does not flood. This is a newer home where we put these missionaries, and no one knew that it would flood like that. With their landlord's help, they cleaned it up 2 days later. It took 3 1/2 hours to clean.
Oh, the rats on the left were found at the Church when the waters receded. Truly they were wet as a drowned rat! In fact, I believe, they were drowned rats.

The Elders all were enjoying their service. In the rear waving all dressed in his white shirt, tie and pants, is Elder Haem who also is serving in the clean-up. The Elders in the bottom left with some of the youth that helped in the cleanup at the Church. Our assistants went out to see what they could do. Elder Hurwitz on the left, Elder Matthew and Elder Eng who is not an assistant, but is helping one of our missionaries while his companion is sick. He is going as a missionary to Boston. Leaving for the MTC the first week of November. He has waited 6 months, so we have used him quite a bit to come on some mini missions. He is going very well prepared as to missionary work and teaching. We expect great things of him.