FHE:New Member

Scott and I were invited a couple of weeks ago, Monday, August30th to go to a FHE of a new member who wanted us to come. This was in Phnom Penh in the 7th branch which is in the northern area of the city on the way to the airport. This is a member who had his home burn down in a huge fire near the R&R tracks. Many people lost their home. The Church helped him rebuild and he wanted Scott to see his new home. We met the sisters, pictured above: Sisters Essma and Tay and they escorted us. We had to park about a block away, then walk along the R&R tracks where there still are many people who live there. I was very surprised. We went down a narrow alley and then across a bridge, pictured above. They had just built it the day before. There were a few poles to hold onto, and you could also balance yourself in one place by touching the tin walls of another home! We made it safely across to this home which was open on the entrance side and had the 3 walls. It is a solid home with good floors, big room, and a kitchen and an upstairs. He is very proud of this home. We were greeted by several members who came to support him with his first FHE. He wanted to do this because his daughter is a member, but his wife (above with her grandchild), isn't and also his son came and he is a less active member hooked on gambling and alcohol to the point he doesn't provide so he and his wife live with the dad. This son's wife is an investigator. Also about 10 neighbors, pictured by the sisters, also just dropped in. The red head above has sat in on several lessons and I thought he seemed very interested. The Elders think he is just curious. They have met him several times already. But the evening went well. The brother gave a great lesson and provided lots of fruit afterwards. I was grateful when we made it safely back across the bridge in the dark, to our car!

The little Crab boy

As we were walking to see a brother in the 6th branch, we came on these vendors selling fried fish. . . hmmm.. . can't remember what they are. . .oh, yes, fried frogs! They asked me if I wanted to try one, however, I opted out of that one. I asked them if they eat them, and they said never. So,. . I felt like I had made a good decision!

Then we kept walking and this little boy comes running past us just crying. I looked and he had a string tied around something and he was running with it. After the visit, I saw what it was he was pulling. It was this little crab, and on closer inspection I could see that it was still alive. I couldn't believe it had survived his dragging it. Then we saw the little crab boy in the doorway of his home, and his Mom said we could take their picture. i totally have never seen anyone playing with a crab like it is a toy before. I couldn't resist taking pictures of this event.

Visits for Central District Conference: 6th Branch Area

To get ready for Central District Conference, on August 28th, we went with President Trieu (not correct spelling) and his 1st counselor to visit the former branch president of the 6th branch. He lived about 20 minutes just out of Phnom Penh. The Central District is our Vietnamese District. They are growing and having baptisms.

His home is just beyond the home on the left. You can't tell, but this sidewalk sits at least 10 feet above the ground and these home are all on the stilts.

He was most gracious and kind to us. We encouraged him to attend District Conference and assured him that the branch members love him. He loved the tie Scott gave him too.

I think he wore his tie to the conference on Sunday.

This is another visit we made. He had 5 children and they are all members, and his wife too. They all go, but he doesnt' so much. So Scott also gave him a tie with an invitation to go to District Conference. He came to the Sunday session also, and stayed the whole conference.

This is some of this family along with the 6th branch president, President Trieu and his counselor. The young woman on the right is the 6th branch president's daughter. The little boys are just curious neighbors.

The current branch president lives just around the corner from the other brother we visited and he wanted us to come into his home also. I think Scott gave him a tie too.

Hi family are all active. He has a wonderful family. He is doing a great job as a branch president and President Trieu and his counselor are doing a magnificent work with their fellow saints.

Wall Quotes

I got an idea a couple of months into our service here to have some quote on the stair walls because they are bare and didn't seem really welcoming. Jessica Reid, my nephew Parker's wife,

did these and I had her send them to Varci. Varci brought them when her and Kali came. They helped me put these up. We got the above one all done when we noticed that we had accidentally reversed the words doubt and not. Jessica graciously redid those two words and I got them all fixed right before Elder and Sister Perkins and Brother and Sister Dalton came. Whew! They noticed the quotes and I'm sure would have picked up our "mistake." The above words are on the first set of stairs going up to our home.

On the first flight landing, we put this picture.

And this is on the second flight of stairs. These stairs lead to my office.

Going up a 3rd and 4th flight is this quote that our family (the Scott Smedley family have on our family flag at home in Layton).

4th flight of stairs.

At the end is this picture of Christ. The door on the right is the kitchen door. We keep all doors shut here to keep the room cool, and also, for me, to not let uninvited critters in. Sometimes, they come in anyway. We had a BIG cockroach and geckos ALWAYS find a way in! One was even in our M & M jar. I think I already put that on the blog how Scott about ate it with a bunch of M & M's, but it luckily got away! I found one the other day, nibbling at some sweets I had by the computer in my office. He left when I walked in the door and ran around behind the computer on the wall and stayed there until I left. As I put on an e-mail home, I punished him by throwing away the rest of the candy. Same thing with the M & M's. I sure let them know who is boss!!! :)

Anyway, we really enjoy the quotes and they add warmth and welcoming to our home. Thanks to Varci, Kali, and Jessica, my goal was achieved!

New Office Missionaries and Assistants

After assisting Scott so wonderfully well, Elder Sweeten, one of our assistants, went back out in the Field for his last transfer. Elder Matthews is our new assistant. Elder Murdock also went back out into the Field after serving so faithfully as an office elder for several month. Elder Salmon is here to replace him. We thank Elders Sweeten and Murdock for serving so well with us here and welcome Elders Matthew and Salmon!

Left to right: Elders Salmon, Ross, Matthews and Isabell. All, very good missionaries.

Sister Askerlund Departure

On August 27th, the proud and happy parents of Sister Askerlund greet her after 18 months away from home.

Congratulations on a job well done Sister Askerlund. Returning with Honor, Sister Askerlund gets to walk the red carpet.

She was a great missionary and we miss her already, but are happy for her to go ahead with a new chapter in her life.

A Visit from The Dalton and Perkins

Elder and Sister Perkins and Sister Elaine Dalton and her husband Steve came to Phnom Penh August 23-25. We picked them up at the airport, fed them at Java (a restaurant here), took them to their hotel, and and picked them up again to do two visits. We went to two different families to do Family Home Evening. We had two wonderful Family Home Evenings. It had been raining really hard which meant for slow traffic, so we arrived at the last home one hour late. At the first home was a non-member Mom and her and Sister Dalton bonded. Between her and Elder Perkins, they made such a difference through their expressions of love that the sister said she would study the gospel more so she could join the church and go with her family to the temple to have an eternal family. Of course, I forgot my camera. BUT, I did remember it the next day, August 24th. We had a morning with no appointments, so we took the Perkins and Daltons to the Killing Fields. This is always a sobering place to go and makes you think of all the needless suffering that one, very bad and wicked leader could cause a nation.

They are shining up this memorial Wat that houses many of the skulls and bones of those murdered on this ground. The holes above are where some of the mass graves were exhumed.

They have tried to make this place into a peaceful and restful place that will honor the dead.

We were there with them that day. Here is proof. We then went to the mission home before the

Young Women meeting where I fed them a luncheon.

That afternoon we held a meeting for the Young Women and their leaders. We had about 125 young women in attendance. Sister Dalton really encouraged Personal Progress. The Young Women loved her as you can how they have surrounded her. At the Young Women meeting Sister Dalton not only encouraged Personal Progress, but encouraged them to #1. Read their scriptures every day, #2 Pray morning and evening and #3 To SMILE! They would be surprised how smiling could make a difference in people's lives.

We got this group picture of many that were still in attendance after the meeting. The Daltons and Perkins stayed and mingled and let the young women take pictures with them.

We then met with District Presidents of the Auxiliaries and the Senior sisters who are their advisors for a Snack and Chat for about 30 minutes.

We then had a member meeting. Our sister missionaries along with the Elders in Phnom Penh were in attendance. Sister Dalton and Sister Perkins. loved our sisters and thought they were all beautiful and outstanding sisters. We brought them back to the mission home for a supper before we took them back to the Hotel.

We got a group picture when we picked them up at the Hotel to take them to the airport on their way to meetings in Thailand, then on to Hong Kong. Previously they had been in Taiwan. The Perkins and Dalton made a lasting impression on the members, missionaries and Young Women here in Phnom Penh.