South District Conference Visits.

Scott and I went with President Mok Mai to do some visits in his branch. He is the 9th Branch President and also in the District Presidency. He's quite the leader! We also met up with Elder Chen from Singapore. Elder Watson went in a tuk tuk, which he loved by the way to visit in a different area of the district. Both he and Scott taught any Priesthood brethren how to consecrate oil and how to give a blessing in their home. The first family was the Relief Society president of the 9th branch. She has been a member along with her sister for 10 years. She herself has never married and lives with her sister and her family.

This brother had one of the nicest floors that I've seen. He just moved into this home and I guess it is an upgrade from his former home. He is being blessed! He is being taught how to give a blessing. Elder Schiefer, an assistant is doing the translation, if needed.


He gave a blessing to his daughter. It was the first time she had received a blessing from her father. They were thrilled. The tie he has on is one given him by Scott.

Off we go to finish up our visits. It was a good conference and I only had to give one talk and one training.

Khmer Dancing at the Titanic

May 13th, we went to a Restaurant with some of the Senior couples. Elder Watson was here for the South District Conference and wanted to take the couples to eat. We went to a restaurant called the Titanic. We had never been there, but the couples had and this is one of their favorites. It over looks the Tonle Sap or maybe the Mekong River (they join each other near there). It is a great senic view, the food is good and they have this Cambodian Entertainment. These girls were very good and the young man plays an instrument similar to a xylophone. The tones are Asian tones as far as scales go, that is. At least that's how it sounds to me. We all had a great night.

Zone Council and Leadership Training

Making fire without matches as an object lesson. I guess it was to show that as a leader, sometimes it takes time and patience to light a fire under the missionaries they lead. They had been sitting for a bit, so I gave everyone an all day sucker. They were all quite interested in knowing how it would all work. Tay Phirun, our Administrative Aid came and blew the kindling that President Smedley had worked with to get some sparks going. The fire went so big, that he dropped the lid and got a slight burn! Oh, Oh. :)

Some of those suckers sure lasted a long time!

Stops 3-5 on our Trek to Take Missionaries Home.

We drove down a beautiful lane, went quite a distance in Takha Mau, down a distant lane in farm country to find Elder's Um's home. He was greeted warmly by a family delighted to have him home. They were able to build a larger home while Elder Um was gone. One of the blessings they received from him serving. They invited us to go up in the home and wanted Scott to offer a prayer. So we did. The family made a Returned With Honor sign for Elder Um. He is standing by it.

The sign says: Elder Um Returned With Honor after Serving his best to the Lord. Welcome home. They made the sign on what they had. No big banner, or poster board messages. It was a simple and sincere welcome home. I loved it. Signs of growth in the Church when families start making signs, right? Elder Um, I believe is in the Elder's Quorum with Elder Samat.

Our 4th stop was to deliver Sister Vo. Sister Vo has no living family. Her Mom died years ago, and her Father died last year while she was serving. Her good friend and former trainer, Sister Mai, invited her to live in her home. She gladly accepted. She was thrilled with this home. Sister Mai was on a trip to Vietnam, but had the home clean and welcoming for her. We got the key from the branch president who lives just around the corner. So we went to their home to thank them. Their daughter has received some assistance for surgery that has saved her life and they were happy to see us.

Sister Vo is doing well. She comes to the mission home about 3 times a week to teach Elder Snyder Vietnamese.
Our 5th and final stop was to Elder Long's home. He has a very nice home and beautiful yard with lots of fruit trees also. They served us a Cambodian special dish of Curry and also some fresh mangoes. We were still hungry and enjoyed the food they gave us. Elder Long's family are not members except for one sister and a brother who had to go to work before we got there. He has a great family who are proud of him and his service.

We returned home about 4:30 p.m. after leaving around 9:00 a.m. It was a great day and we felt very rejuvenated to deliver all of these special young men and women to those that love them!

Taking the Local Missionaries Home.

May 7th we got the mission van and started the rounds to take the 5 local missionaries home. Sister Sok was our first one. Her Mom lives up in Battambang and isn't a member. So we went to the Church for her to have her badge removal from the District President. She was greeted by many friends. I think about 7 more joined us later. We then took her to a friend's home. She is now living in a home owned by President Sophan, one of Scott's counselors, and looking for roommates! She is doing well.

Our next stop was Elder Samat's home. We were thrilled to see his home because he has so many beautiful trees around it. They bear fruit. He said they even have pineapple plants in their yard. They served us some wonderful Mangoes and a fruit that you dip in salt. Can't remember the name of it. They also gave us some bananas. I was starving and it all tasted terrific! Brother Samat showed how he can climb a coconut tree! Then Elder Samat thought he could still do it after two years. Then Scott wanted to try it. He got about 6 inches off the ground! I guess he will leave climbing coconut trees to those more experienced!

Elder Samat is also doing well. He has been called as the Elder's Quorum President and is organizing Home Teaching. Way to go Elder Samat.

Transfers and Farewells

The new missionaries got off with their companions on May 6th. I like transfer day. It seems like there are alot of happy people. Like Elder Sanford and Elder Son (say sung), Sister Robertson and me. Sister Som tells her companion, Sister Sok goodbye. Yes, I think they are happy about that too! They grew to really care about each other.

Sister Wu's Father came to pick her up and joined us for Dinner and a Farewell devotional.
Those leaving us were: L to R Sisters Wu, Sok and Vo, Elders Long, Samat, and Um. All very good missionaries. Elders Long and Samat were two of our great Zone Leaders.

They love walking on the Red Carpet. We've tried to explain why we do that, and I think most of them feel like it is a privilege to walk on the Red Carpet, only if you Return With Honor! So far, all of our missionaries have said goodbye walking the red carpet.

Newest Group of Missionaries

We met this group and their tutor, Kunthy Chhoeun, at the airport when they got back from the MTC Manila Phillipines. Sister Phan is from Hanoi Vietnam and is the first sister from that branch in a long time to serve a mission. The other Elders are all from here in Cambodia, Elders Phan, Aan, and Hem. Our assistants were also there to greet them.

The Elder taking the pictures took one of us a couple of times and we didnt' know he was taking it, but I liked how Scott was making Elder Hem feel at home.

Elder Aan is from Kampong Thom. He is the first missionary to serve from that branch. Kampong Thom branch is about 4 years old, I think. He is a very good missionary and we are enjoying him. Well, all of these missionaries and the sister are excellent and doing well in the field. They arrived from Manila May 5th and so have been out working now for close to one month.