July 6th Wedding

Scott performed a wedding ceremony on July 6th and another on July 7th. He did this inbetween Zone Leader Council and Leadership council and two couples who were leaving to go home. I couldn't go on the 7th because I needed to help take care of the meals here for the missionaries. This couple are both members. The pretty lady by me is the mother of the bride. Our new Sen Sok branch president and his wife attended this wedding too.

Various Stuff

Saturday, July 2nd Seminary and Institute Graduation for the Central Vietnamse District here in Phnom Penh.

Saret (say saa rayt) Long is our new Administrative Assistant. He is a very capable young man and is going to school and working here. His family name is Long and here in Cambodia that is what they say first, so here his name is Long Saret! He also speaks excellent English.

Scott's latest pillow arrangements.

This is one of our fine Elders who ended up staying here for 5 days to receive treatment for a health issue. I am happy to report that he is now doing very well and is one of our office Elders. Let me introduce you to Elder Wilcox! He gave me permission to take this picture!

Hanoi Missionary Training and Visits

June 27th, we had a Zone Conference Training with Elders Ly, Son and a future missionary who is now one of our missionaries, Elder Wu, and the Michels, our Senior couple on assignment as the LDSC couple. Afterward, we all went to lunch together and the Michels took Scott and I to see one of their finished projects. I had this on my blog several months ago. This is a shelter that provides work for the handicapped. It needed a new roof, some new flooring and improved roofs and ceilings on three floors. The bottom floor is the one that got flooded at every rain. It was moldy and not a healthy place to work. Now it is painted a bright yellow and the floor and drainage have been fixed by LDSC. It is much appreciated by the people that run this. They had us come up in their office to give us some bottled water and a voice of appreciation. They are most kind.


Walking out of the alley where the shelter is, is this section of the city, but it appears that the city is now making improvements here.
That evening we went on a teaching visit with the Elders and Michels were also invited. This family is the nonmember family of one of our missionaries, Elder Trung (say chung). His parents are very interested in what he is teaching. This is the first Vietnamse home that Scott and I have been in to. They are a most gracious couple and fed us a wonderful feast of Vietnamse food.


I liked it all, but didn't eat much of the fried duck fat, but did very much enjoy the duck. She spent many hours preparing this for us. This was so kind of her to open up her home and invite us in. We couldn't teach because only Vietnamse are allowed by the government to teach, but we can bear testimony and enter homes as invited. Scott's sisters left the night before, so didnt' get in on this feast.

District Conference and other Activities

We traveled to Ho Chi Minh on June 24th for the Hanoi District Conference. Melanie, Lori, and Sue went with us. While Scott was in some morning interviews, June 24th, I went with the Sisters to Cu Chi Tunnels where some small local people were asked by the Viet Cong to live in and pop up out of the tunnels and injure/kill soldiers and others during the Viet Nam War. They also have Vietnamse culture displays. The woman is cooking rice paper to make spring rolls or other food. The tunnels are along narrow pats in the jungle. Some methods of injuring others was demonstrated. Not fun and I feel horrible for anyone that suffered with this. I can't imagine anyone enjoying working in these narrow tunnels. They have even made them bigger for tourists and others who visit. We went on one for quite a ways and Sue and I were getting claustrophobia at the end. I was totally ready to get out. They were hot and stuffy also. At least this time there were no bats or snakes, for which I was very grateful.

Leaving the Cu Chi Tunnel area reminded me of parts of Cambodia with the dirt lanes and rice growing on either side. What is missing are the palm trees. I haven't seen too many of those in Vietnam. There are some, but not as many. The little homes in the picture are burial sites.

We then went to a few more sites: the old post office which is huge inside and very, very organized; the Notre Dame Cathedral which is the oldest Christian Church there in Saigon, but maybe even Hanoi. I'm not sure, but for sure Saigon/Ho Chi Minh. We also visited the old "white house" before the fall of Saigon. There is a beautiful rug in there with the symbol of eternal. The dragon means something, but quite frankly I don't remember what. I think it is good luck and victory? Makes sense to me anyway.

After the conference, I was able to socialize with the members and Sister Pratt while we were waiting for our husbands to finish up the interviews and District presidency evalutaions. The sister in the beautiful Vietnam Dress is one of the oldest members of the church in Vietnam. She joined before the fall of Vietnam and is still a true and faithful Latter-day Saint. The little Bird boy was tired of waiting for his Dad. His Mom, Teresa is pictured with Sister Pratt. Sister Bird is Vietnamse but raised in California. She went on a mission and later met her husband, Ryan at BYU. They have lived in Viet Nam for 8 years now with their 5 children. They have been a great strength to the church here. Ryan is now the branch president for all members who do not live in Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi. She has been the Relief Society President also and the Primary President. There are great members here and we do love them.

After all the meetings, we dropped the Pratts off at their Hotel and we took a plane up to Hanoi to have a Zone Conference and luncheon with our Elders and Senior couple. The view of Hanoi as we enter and landed. Pretty big country!

Day at Angkor Park

After transfers and farewell dinners on June 17th, we traveled to Kampong Cham and then on up to Kampong Thom on June 18th. Scott had interviews in both cities and he reorganized the branch presidency in Kampong Thom on Sunday as I've stated in a previous post. June 19th, we took a preparation day and took Scott's sisters to the 7th Wonder of the World: Angkor Wat. There are also many other temples there that are built in different eras. There are four pools on the 2nd level of Angkor. I have never seen water in them until this day. I found out later that these four pools are for the priests to clean themselves before going to worship their god called Vishna. This temple at first was built for the Hindu religion and later the Buddhists adapted it to their religion as Cambodia became more Buddhist than Hindu. The water around the temple was man-made as a moat and built to protect the temple from invaders. It was strange to see this green plant growing in the middle of one of the empty pools.

You would think Scott had been here before or something! He was reading his e-mail and letters from the missionaries while I walked around with his sisters! I guess no Preparation day for him! The monkeys gather at a certain place in the park and many people stop to view them. The little girl was fearless with the monkeys. Her mother sold bananas to tourists to feed the monkeys and she was just very comfortable with them.

I never tire at looking at these roots in the Ta Prom Temple. It is amazing how they grow above the ground and support these big trees. The height and sometimes the width of these trees is somewhat reminiscent of the Red Woods in California. I stand in awe of these magnificent trees. At the Bayon Temple there are many faces. In one area of the temple, one can stand and almost touch noses or kiss the head of these ancient faces.

Melanie, Lori and Sue were quite brave to get a fish foot massage. At first Melanie was very ticklish, but adjusted. You paid $3 for 20 minutes of fish nibbling. I opted out. I had a dress on and it didn't seem quite appropriate for me to do that at this time. plus, I am extremely ticklish on the bottom of my feet so don't know if I would have done it anyway. I took their pictures and visited with a man who kept asking questions about the church. He finally agreed to give me his phone number and let the Elders come and teach him about the church! I will have to ask the Elders if the number was a good one he gave me, or if he was just being nice.

Titanic Restaurant--Sister's Last Night

June 22nd we took Scott's sisters and sister-in-law to a terrific restaurant called the Titanic that I have had on my blog one other time. My pictures didn't turn out so good, but it does mark the last night in Cambodia by Scott's sisters and sister-in-law. The next day they traveled with us to Ho Chi Minh for the Hanoi District Conference.

Scenes from Kampong Cham to Siem Reap

June 18th found us traveling for several days. Elder and Sister Thalman were so kind to have fed us and then on our way out of town escorted us to this Wat. I have seen this many times but sure wasn't aware of the beauty we saw and interesting scenes. Scott's sisters came with us as we had some Church business in Kampong Thom and Scott had some interviews in Kampong Cham. Sister Thalman shared her nice big umbrella.

There were at least three different Buddhas at this Wat. All were well cared for and loved. I think the one in the middle must be about going to a heaven. I just found them fascinating. I'm pretty sure there are resting Buddhas in Thailand and in other parts of Cambodia. But this is the first one I have personally seen.

We stayed overnight in Kampong Thom and went to Church there on Sunday. Scott put in a new Branch President. His name is Nuth Yi. He was the former counselor to Om Ly. Om Ly is now the group leader in Romlong. I loved the scenes on the way from Kampong Thom to Siem Reap. I loved the barber shop, the haystack and the dogs running around, the lazy days of the water buffalo and the home with the warped foundation. All so fun and unique to Cambodia.

It is the rainy season, so driving even slower than normal is a must. Once the rain was over we made it safe to Siem Reap and were greeted by these fun people catching a ride on the truck.

Gardens in Kampong Cham

LDSC helped with some of the irrigation techniques and a few other things in these gardens. We lined up because we didn't want to get in the way. They were irrigating.

This woman prepares these vegetables to go to the markets. I love the children of Cambodia. They are all beautiful and so innocent!

Senes from the road to Kampong Cham

This time of year is the rainy season. The fields are always beautiful and green this time of year. The young man was selling barbequed duck. He actually looks like someone who would join the church if he lived where there was one. In this area, there are no branches of the church.

This tower being built here reminded me of the tower that King Benjamin spoke from. There are workers tying it together. It looks down on the pasture with the cows and waterbuffalo. This is just as one enters Kampong Cham.

Sisters and Elder Sanford

Our office Elder, Elder Sanford wanted to have his picture with Scott's sisters and sister-in-law.

June 17: Walking the Red Carpet

Elders Zabriskie, Eagan, Z. Boyd and Salmon prepare to leave the mission home with their Cambodian ties, and a Red Carpet to walk on.

Elders Walker, Thompson (Can't remember what happened to the suit), James and Hermann are ready to go home also! All walk the Red Carpet.




Elders Heywood, Boyd and Hurwitz.
Somehow I messed up the Picasa collage of the last three Elders and had to put each of those pics separate, lest someone think I was treating them different than the rest!

This group of missionaries were the first group that we had for all of their missions. All of these missionaries were leaders in the mission and contributed greatly to the mission.

Finishing Missionaries Meet Families

Elder Matt Boyd from Arizona had his parents and two brothers greet him. Elder Thompson from California meets his parents and Elder Zachary Boyd from Colorado greets his parents and brother. His brother just received a mission call to Mongolia. All parents were/are so proud of their wonderful missionary sons/daughters.