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.