Farewell to the Reynolds

March 2, 2012, Nikki and Dee Reynolds aka Sister and Elder Reynolds departed home for Ashton, Idaho after serving almost 2 years in Battambang. They did a great job strengthning the members and helping investigators and new members. Their first week in Battambang, they met a tuk tuk driver who took them around town. He joined the Church and so did his family. Sister Reynolds knows how to put on a great meal. She is a wonderful cook and the Missionaries and us certainly were the benefactors of her delicious foods! She did a great job with the auxiliaries and Elder Reynolds worked so good with the leaders in training them to take over the District when he left. They are just solid good people/missionaries and we do miss them alot and wish them the best.

I felt bad the walk on the red carpet got forgotten. We were in the middle of doing a Zone Conference when they left and we totally forgot to pull out the red carpet. They totally deserved to return with the Red Carpet walk, meaning that they returned with honor.

We had a Senior's dinner in their behalf at Steve's Steakhouse!

Scenes and visits from Kampong Cham

Monday, January 31, we tried to find a less active member's home on our way back to Phnom Penh from Kampong Cham, but instead found these tidy haystacks and wonderful gardens.

We sat inside the restaurant which is called Mekong Crossing because it sits on the Mekong River front. One of our Senior missionaries always goes here to eat. The restaurant is doing very well, and he tells them it is because every time he comes, he blesses his food and the restaurant! They politely nod their head and say yes they know!

Sunday, January 30, I got to have my picture taken with Sister Nouer and Sok. Sister Sok is now working down in Phnom Penh.

Saturday, January 29th, we went visiting with these leaders of the Church in Kampong Cham. Elders Schiefer and Chum helped us.

We all crowded in the Prado because everyone just had Motos, except the missionaries, they have bikes! L to R District President Say Rhata, Khong Lim 2nd Branch President, and President of the 3rd Branch President Vornn Surin. And the Elders in the back!

3rd Branch members who don't come too often. One of the family members agreed to come to District Conference on Sunday. They were kind, but their Faith is weak. They need visiting and home teachers every month to help them. At least one of the daughter's came! The one in the yellow tee shirt came. President Surin is organizing a branch service project and they are going over to help the young man in the back with the young child build his home. It' s going to to be a nice home too!

Sorry about this being sideways. Elder Schiefer took this self portrait!

Elders Chum above and top above Elder Schiefer came with us in order to meet these families and make a call back and encourage them to come to Church.

This little home is made all of palm leaves with a cement floor. They have these two children and did come to Church on Sunday. They are older members, but kind of just got out of the habit of coming. We were honored to be in this most humble home. At first she wanted us to meet in the little restaurant across the street, but i told her we would love to go in her home. So she huriedly put it in order and invited us in, for which we were most appreciative. We invited them to conference, to pray and to start reading the Book of Mormon again. They accepted. Hope they keep coming!

We went to another home where the Dad comes, but the other family members who are members don't come so much. This sister is cutting the palm tree stem and cutting it fine in order for the juices to seep out, or weep out, and give them more wood. I looked at that knife and it is NOT dull, in fact it is very sharp!

The sisters were teaching this family and I got to go with them and bear my testimony. Actually this is a family and also 3 of their nephews whose Mom is a sister to one of the investigators. They have taken them in and receive no money for them from the Mom. A couple of these young boys are members and two are Tay Phirun's nephews! They are good fellowshippers! This family got baptized on Sunday, January 31st. We stayed for the baptism and they all are very happy to be members of the Church. We climbed a very tall homemade ladder to their home and walked very carefully on their floor! They are a very generous couple. The Dad isnt there and sells icecream on the street to feed his family. So, they are being blessed and barely make enough to have food for the family.

A Fall In Kampong Cham Province

I was amazed as we went from Siem Reap to Kampong Cham the 27th of January. It seemed so wonderful to see some color on the trees. These are rubber trees. The weather gets a little cool, and this is what happens. Now it is getting hot again.

A herd of Brahmas grazing on the side of the road near the rubber trees.

Kampong Thom and the BIG Lizards

After the training in Kampong Thom, we went out teaching with Elders Murdock and Den. The first home was a little store down the little path where the Elders were going. The sister, the one on the bottom right with the sweater on was to be baptized the next week.

After we went to a home to do a Family Home Evening. A family where there are some new members were taught about how to do a FHE and the Elders brought them the treat. Several neighbors wandered in to see what was going on. I noticed as the Elders were teaching they kept looking up above the lace cloth over the door. Out came these Big lizards, the mean ones if you annoy them. Elder Den said they were there teaching when all of a sudden one of them jumped down right in the middle of the mat where they were. He jumped so fast out of the way. So, then, I kept looking up to make sure they were stuck where they were! Afterwards we played a game where if someone pointed to one person the other two on the side would have to put a hand on their ear and the middle one had to act like they are the trunk. If you get the wrong ear then the one that's it draws something on your face. Scott and I got drawn on! When I remember the name of the game, I'll get it on here!

For months I have been going to put a picture of the shower/bathroom in the Kampong Thom Guesthouse. Sometimes we get a tub, but when you get the shower, it's all just right there and water gets all over the floor! However, it is clean and no cockroaches or spiders, for which I am very grateful!

Sophal lives with the Senior Couple as a cook/housekeeper. She has a tie making business and all the Elders love her creations. Many have Cambodian silk with Elephants. These are a little more modern, and I love them too. Elder Matthews is checking them all out. She recently went through the Temple.

Siem Reap Srah Srang Mosquitos

I forgot to put on my Deet when we taught up in Siem Reap and I received 47 mosquito bites! It was amazing that they didn't itch and I was grateful for that.



Near one of the homes in Siem Reap we saw this stone replica of the Angkor Wat. The artist opened up his gate and let us take a picture. It was really quite amazing.

Hitting a Water Buffalo: Specialized Trainings in the Khites

On the road to Battambong, Scott was driving. I usually stay awake, but this time I was resting. I opened my eyes to see a water buffalo trying to keep up with us. Actually he was heading right towards the car as he was trying to cross the road. I guess he was blind or something. Anyway, Scott braked, as it tried to run in front of us. It hit the driver's side, slid on it's back in front of the van, rolled over, and landed on the back with all fours sticking up. He looked at us, like What just happened here? Or what did you do to me. Then he got up and ran away! We were relieved that it didn't bounce off the windshield!

We went around the Khites (you know, I'm not actually sure how to spell that word. That's how you say it anyway! :) ) with the Assistants January 24th through the 30th. The first 5 days we did Specialized Trainings in all four towns where we have missionaries. This was about 24 hours in each location. We taught them about Revelation Through Prayer and how to teach investigators to recognize the role prayer has in their conversion and gaining a testimony. The first stop was Battambong. Afterwards we went to a restaurant, White Rose, to eat. We all ate Dutch! The bottom picture is of Elders Samat, Va, James, Weller, Christian and Jensen. The top is similar. The middle are three of our wonderful sisters: Sisters Robertson, Tay, and Hildenbrand, Now two of them are training. All excellent sisters And they all got along really well. I went teaching with them afterwards and we taught a handicapped lady in her wheelchair, but of course, I had forgotten my camera! That particular sister rides in a special hand pedal wheelchair about 45 minutes to 60 minutes to church!

Our next stop was Siem Reap and we went out teaching after our training on prayer with the Elders here. The first ones we went with were Elders Conner and Kong. The middle picture shows the path to the bottom right hand corner's home. We are pictured here on paths going to another home in this kind of jungle/forest. The bottom picture right is a terrific family that live in this most humble home which can be seen int eh middle picture where the Elders are going in. The woman is a very good member and also her son, but not her husband. The missionaries and us taught him. He is a very shy man but agreed to let us take a picture. The left bottom corner is Elder Kong, one of our terrific Cambodian missionaries.

The sister whose husband we taught escorted us to her neighbor's home where there was a big group waiting. Scott saw the man pumping and pumping the water so he could bathe/shower with a bucket, so he and Elder Kong tried to help pump the water. The man was really appreciative. He had so many questions about the Church and we had to go so the Elders returned to answer his questions. The top right hand corner is Elders Matthews, one of our assistants, Weller and Meas. We are at a member's home. You can see her better in the bottom picture. She is wheelchair bound, but has two sewing machines and makes fancy wedding and party skirts and tops. So, she makes a good living. We were teaching the older woman in the backgroun how to pray. The missionaries had taught her alot about prayer, but she said she just couldnt' remember. She eventually said the closing prayer. It was a very sweet humble prayer and she got everything in it that she needed to say.

Painting of the Nativity

A member of the church who paints well was asked to paint a picture of the nativity by the branch president. She couldn't do the one he wanted so she found this one and I had her paint me one. I later found out that it was not an orginal but she found the picture in the Ensign and painted it. I still think she did a great job. The people look so Cambodian, that is what drew me to it in the first place.

Back from Everett Washington Mission

Saturday, January 22nd, Sister Kunty Chhoeun returned home honorably from her 18 month mission to the USA. She came home to many loving family members, all members of the church and to a home of most humble circumstances. I am happy to report she is doing well and her Cambodian language is returning. She could hardly speak in Cambodian because she has been so immersed in the English language. She was a very successful missionary. Mom is getting ready to hug her.


A proud papa, sister (Sonna who is expecting her first child in April), and her brother. Kunty's Dad is the Takhmau Branch President. Welcome back Sister Choeun. She will be a great strength to the church here. Her brother was one of our missionaries and has been home about 7 or 8 months. He also will be a great strength here.

Off to Manila MTC

Elder Sok, Sister Cheung, Sister Un (all Takhmau Branch) and Sister Loy (Siem Reap Branch), all were set apart on January 20th as missionaries going to our Mission. Because they all speak English well enough we did not have to send a translator with them! The Takhmau missionaries were set apart in the chapel/cultural hall with many family members and some friends there.

Sister Un and her family. Her Mom and Dad and brother (not in pic) are all members. The other women here are aunts.

Sister Cheung and her family. Her Mom isn't a member but her Dad is and her brothers. On the left is an aunt and cousin.

Sister Loy was set apart in the mission home before we went to Takhmau. She had famiy and friends also to see her set apart. Sister Loy's dad is the branch president in Siem Reap. I wish I could put a different picture in here because the picture of me is most unflattering! Oh, wellllll.

Sister Loy, President Loy, Sister Loys Mom, sister and a neighbor who is like a little sister. Sister Loy's Mom made all her clothes including 20 blouses! She must love to sew, but more than that she sure loves her daughter alot!

Pillows and a Future Missionary

Another creative arrangement brought to you by Scott Smedley!


This brother from the 4th Branch, has received his mission call to Cambodia. He already has helped us out with a pre-mission mission acting as a companion and doing missionary work with one of our missionaries until the last transfer. He is now at home preparing to come on his official mission. A very good young man, he has worked to save his money to come. His father is the former branch president who was released in January.

Proselyting with the 4th branch Sisters

January 17th Sister Wu and Sister Vo taught this sister. She had just been baptized. We went to discuss her Book of Mormon reading. She is on the second time through! She was to be confirmed the next Sunday. Her personal feelings about herself have greatly improved after having had husbands who abused her. She takes some persecution from some members of her family for joining the church, but she remains undaunted because she has found the peace that had alluded her for years.


Before we left se decided to clean our shoes and serve us!

Confirming our next appointment.

This is several families who are learning in one neighborhood. I gave a couple of them pictures of Christ after the sisters had reviewed how to pray. Oops, we had to explain, you can put the picture on your wall, but you don't pray to the picture. The sisters decided to teach them in 3 groups because they were on different levels of learning and one woman dominated the group. A good decision. All good, humble people who want to learn truth. The brother on the left is Sam Saphon. His wife is pictured between the two women near him. They are the member present helping the sisters.