Sept 24-26th we went up to Siem ReapWe were in Siem Reap on September 24th-26th for Branch Conference, branch leader training, and missionary interviews/chats and a specialized training. We also like to go out with the missionaries as often as we can wherever we are. It's always an adventure and a spiritual high. This is the rainy season in Cambodia and all parts of Cambodia have seen more rain than normal it seems. There are floods in many areas. In Siem Reap as in other towns, in some places it is floods and other places in the city it is fine. But wherever you go whether it is flooding or not, there is water all around. We went out to Sra Srong with Elders Christian and Hem. They have several investigators out there and a member they are trying to reactivate. The members told us that we would have to go through about 20 meters of flooded road, but then their area was dry.
This was very true, however it was more than 20 meters and when we came back it was worse. As you can see from where the Elders are, they are pushing the tuk tuk. This brave driver went through at least foot high water just pouring across the road. Big trucks and other cars were coming and causing more water. What we didn't know because the water was too deep was that in the area right behind the Elders the road was washed out leaving big deep ruts. Our tuk tuk got in one of those and tipped over almost taking our tuk with it. I was on the side that would go into the water first. I wasnt' worried about that because it wasnt' that deep, but I didn't want the tuk to fall on top of me. So I hot footed it over by Scott and I was ready to jump out. But he woudn't let me. The Elders got out and helped right the moto and the tuk and a young gal came by and helped also and pushed it along with the Elders until we got to a little more dried ground. The moto had water in it and they tipped it up and eventually it started up. The ladies were helping the moto driver figure out why it wouldn't start. They were just walking through.
The homes were in dry ground for the most part. The first family we went to, I have had them on the blog before. They went through the temple last year and now he serves in the branch presidency. They couldn't get to church that day because they had a flat tire on one moto and the flood water the night before coming from the training meeting ruined the other motos. But they greeted us with warm hearts and dressed for church. We were there to teach their little friend in the blue dress. She was very shy. The sister has 3 sewing machines in her yard int he shed by Elder Hem. I think Elder Hem is one of the most bowlegged people I"ve ever met. He is a good missionary ! I think his shoes dried out when we got home.
To get to the home where we taught by this little light, we had to walk through alot of mud. I tried to stay the high ground and walk on grass, but to no avail, I fell in the mud. Luckily just one side got a little muddy. It was a soft landing! I had my "walk in the mud shoes on", so I wasnt' worried about that. The home we went to was the first one that Scott and I went in here in Siem Reap. My first memory was coming into the home with the branch president and the Elders were already there teaching. The family of 7 was gathered around on the mat with their Books of Mormon out learning by the light of this little burner. So, I finally got a picture of it, to remind me of such wonderful loving people. There were about 3 families or more here because we ran out of time, and they had to combine their member and investigator lessons for the day. The flooding slowed us down quite a bit.
I had to mark that my shoes were extremely wet because when we left the family with the little light, we had to go quite a ways in the water up above my ankles to get out to the road where our tuk tuk was waiting for us. The way back was just as bad as the way in, maybe worse. The tuk tuk moto fell again. This time Scott got out and walked along with the Elders. I got to stay in the tuk. It really wouldn't have mattered because my shoes and feet were already soaked anyway. Ask me why I wore my beads out to the homes where we went? The answer is, I dont' know. I just didnt' think about what we were going to walk in, I guess. It was a wonderfully great adventure and spiritual high because I felt a great spirit in the home with the little burner bearing testimony of the truths of the Gospel.
I ordered some fried rice for supper and lo and behold it was a HUGE plate and they put it in the shape of a fish. Can you tell?
This was going back to the airport on Monday after the trainings. Water was just all around us. I was happy to get home. We usually have water that drains pretty good. Sometime in front of the mission home like last year when we had a massive storm, the water came almost up to our steps. But this year, we have been fairly dry out front!
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