Baptisms in Battambang

We had a District conference on December 19th in Battambang so that Scott could reorganize the presidency. Elder Reynolds is going home next month and a new presidency was put it. President Bunno is the new District president. Afterwards, there were 5 baptisms. Four convert baptism and one child who turned eight. The brother at the top left had one of his legs blown off by a mine. At first he was not interested in the church and unfriendly as the sisters taught his wife. The longer the sister came and taught, the more interested he got. They said he is a totally changed person. He is so happy and now all his family are members. His 2 children were also baptized this day. The sister in the bottom 2 pictures is the one we went to with two of the missionaries to help her learn to forgive and ask forgivness. She has been waiting for 2 months until Scott got back up here for her baptism interviews. These are her children. Her son was the first member, then her husband and now her. She willb e a good faithful member. The top right picture, I can't remember which baptism she was, but as you cans ee, she is very happy. Elder Weller is excited to be in the picture (see background).

The new church building here is making good progress. They are supposed to be finished by the end of February. It will be a nice sized building with room to grow. There is quite a bit of property here so there will definitely be room to grow.

In between the two roofs is the main lobby and entrance area.

December 18th Finishing Missionaries

Elders Wagstaff, Thinh (going back to Vietnam), VanLoo, and Ross walked the Red Carpet the morning of the 18th of December. Three heading back to the USA and one to Vietnam. The USA Elders flew, of course, and Elder Thinh went on the bus to Ho Chi Minh.

Our final pictures with these three outstanding Elders. They all three worked hard and had been leaders at one time or another in the mission. Elder Ross had also been an assistant. He was released two transfers early in order to help build the missionary work in the 9th branch. He and his companion had great success and have established a good foundation for others going to that branch. Thanks to all three of you for outstanding work and spirituality!

Elder Ross has on his Dad's suit that he wore on his mission. As you can see by the looks of the jacket, it needs a little repairing as the lining is loose. He wears this suit with pride and honor, knowing that his father wore it with the same characteristics. What a tradition!

These three young women, from the 12th branch came to say good bye and just missed the missionaries. They did get to see and wave to them as they went up the elevator.

To Market to Market to Buy...some ties

On the way to the market we saw this guy carrying a bunch of live chickens. I'm always quite fascinated by how they do this. I think it's a gift on how they can tie them all up and they stay alive!

Sister Synder went with me to Russian market to buy the ties. Ties here are very, very inexpensive. We got them to fill in for a few gifts for mainly local missionaries who otherwise wouldn't get anything. One of our former senior missionaries wanted to do something for these young people, so they sent a box of goodies, and someone else gave me a few things before they left for home, so we just filled in a little. They were all gifts from SANTA. The Khmer missionaries loved it.

This is what everything looked like when we got it all wrapped up. Someone else that lives here, brought over the white bags as gifts for 9 of our local missionaries because they knew them, so we just added the tie to round things off. The Elders would come in and find out they had a gift and be so surprised. Some of them picked them up and hugged it!

Hanoi Young Adult FHE

We were invited to a Young Adult FHE the Monday after the new District was organized, December 13th. There were two young women heading off to college, one in the USA somewhere and the other I believe to Austraila to a university there. I believe they both have scholarships. Sorry, I'm not good with names. I just know their faces. They all brought food typical to Vietnam and fruit and the wonderful Talbots ordered Pizza also. The food was delicious and the company wonderful. There were 10 investigators in this group. Sister Talbot, top right photo, is one of our Senior missionaries. Her and her husband were the LDSC country directors for Vietnam.

The whole group attending the party/FHE. The young man next to me has his papers in to go on a mission. We look forward to his coming. We assume he'll be sent here. But who knows! The Talbots, top middle left to go home last week, December 27th. Replacing them are the Michels. We look forward to meeting them soon. We hear from one of our Vietnam missionaries that they already speak Vietnamese good. They have been studying it before they came!

They are doing a little dance. I will post it as a video so you can see it. It is about a duck. Great group of kids who definitely need each other. Most do not have families who are members. Two of them there had mothers who came as kind of advisors. We were meeting in the Talbot's apartment.

Taking Elder Mae Home

Elder Mae had been ill for six weeks. We got him well enough that he could function, but he went home to get fully better. His best friend whom we call Elder Bun stayed with him and helped him while he was still a missionary. This helped us so it didn't keep his companion tied down for 6 weeks. Elder Bun is the one of the left top picture. Elder Mae is the one in all three pictures along with his very sweet Mother and his little nephew. Elder Mae can come back and finish serving as he feels better. He is doing well right now, taking his medicine, seeing his Doctors, goes with the full-time missionaries to teach, is active in the Church, and got a job! We are so grateful he is doing so well and getting better all the time! He is a terrific missionary and teacher and we miss having him here.

Starr Bakery

Towards the first of December, 2011 some of the Senior Couples and I, (Scott was in interviews) went to this bakery. We were there because LDSC had donated equipment to help them have a practicing restaurant, this included tables and chairs and other equipment. This is a kind of school where the students learn one of three things or all three: bake breads, cook restaurant food, and be a server of food. They take kids off the street who don't have any opportunity to go to school because their parents do not have money to send them to school. They live at home and work here during the day. Each day the bakery bakes over 1000 loaves of bread. They send some home with the students so their families will have something to eat and the rest they give to people on the street, etc who do not have food. They sold me a loaf for $1 and it was some of the best bread I've tasted here. The restaurant is right there in this warehouse, so it has alot of "atmosphere". Mainly that I could smell and see all the bread they had baked. That's why I wanted to buy some along with the meal we each bought to help the students.

The head chef was so appreciative of us coming and also for all the equipment donated. He told us thanks and then told us what they do, which is what I've written above. The students did a great job of waiting on us. The food was delicious, although very small portions and they gave us free dessert because of the help from the church. It was a very rewarding afternoon.

Christmas and New Years.

A PRE-CHRISTMAS SERVICE FOR PRESIDENT SMEDLEY

Elder Son and Elder Ly in Hanoi help Scott track down a shoe lace guy just walking by the Church. They wanted to make sure he didn't get his socks dirty, so they found a leaf for him to put his foot on. I thought it was very thoughtful!

A two week before Christmas dinner for the Hanoi missionaries. They weren't coming in for Christmas, so it was great to take them out here. The Talbots are now back home in Snowflake Arizona. We wish them the best and welcome in the Michels.

I hope you all have a wonderful New Year, starting today! And I hope your Christmas was bright and Merry. We had a great one here. I will post pictures, hopefully tomorrow afternoon!