More visits in Kampong Thom

This family lives right across the road from the canoe man. He gave us a ride over here too, then picked us up and floated us until we scraped the bottom of the road. This family are active in the church. He is the Elder's Quorum President. They were challenged to start saving for the Temple. They agreed to do this. What a great family.

The branch president wanted us to go to one more home across from him. The further back we got the deeper it was too. Good thing I have good walking shoes! The funny thing about this home was that after we were seated outside on her bed/table, children from the neighborhood came over. They were screaming and looking in the water. I saw, what I thought was a snake but the Elders told us it was just a big leech. It much have been 6 inches long. I was thinking. Oh no, I need to get back in that water to go back to the car. Well, the only way was out, so I let out a little scream and jumped as far into the water as I could get.. . . .away from that leech. I made it back to dry ground with no leech and very wet feet and shoes.

The sweet branch president brought a bucket of clean water for us to wash off our feet with. It was a much appreciated blessing!

President Omyii and his wife and daughter and 5 of his grandchildren in front of his home. The machine on the right is a machine that grinds sugar cane into juice.

mpong Thom and the floods

On the 22nd of October we left for Kampong Thom for their branch conference. They had had many floods up there and much of the rice was destroyed. Scott wanted to go visit some of the members who needed to be challenged to come back and/or prepare to go to the Temple. Two of these members lived down this street. The further we walked the deeper it got until it was almost up just above my knees.

The branch President, President Omyii and his counselor escort us down the street. I added two of Scott's  phone pictures.  I wanted to make sure I had a picture of me walking in the flood waters! Elders Hill and Oleson are enjoying their walk.

We walked almost 3/4 the way down the street.

Well, if you can't beat it, join it. I loved how he made a homemade floatie device with empty pop liter bottles. Quite ingenious. He just laughed and waved as we walked by. Keep in mind that I am in my skirt, trying to daintily hold it up, but yet not too far so that nothing is revealed! I'm afraid those following me probably had to close their eyes.

The cows were calmly eating while the water was about up to their belly. You could smell that the water wasn't all that clean because I could smell the cow pies!

This young man came to save us in his canoe. So we all climbed in. It wasn't all that easy climbing into a canoe from a little over 2 feet of water and trying to stay modest. I finally had to say to the brethren: Please close your eyes. We had to sit totally still or else the canoe would sway back and forth and you felt like you were going to tip into the water! It was a great adventure. Elder Hill, one of our assistants, is totally enjoying himself.

The end result of this particular canoe ride was to the canoe guide's home. He is in the black in the background. He was challenged to prepare himself to go to the temple. He accepted the invitation. He lives with his inlaws and they are not members, but graciously let us come to their home.

Finishing Missionaries-October 21

Elder Rithy Huon walks the Red Carpet after serving an honorable 2 year mission! We enjoyed having him with us for his full mission.

Elder Ly also has served with us the full time of his mission. He is from Ho Chi Minh City and left on Saturday the 22nd of October for his home.

Elder Uch was a part-time missionary. He has his call to Australia Perth Mission and will be leaving this month. So he helped us out when we needed another missionary for 6 weeks. He waited to leave for home for 2 hours so he could walk the Red Carpet because when he returns we will be gone and so will the Red Carpet! He is going to be a terrific missionary.

Elder Haem walk the Red Carpet before he goes home.  He was one fine missionary and we loved him.  He was a Shiblon type missionary. Nice and steady. 

We took Elder Haem home second. He lives with his two brothers and sisters in this one room apartment with a loft. His sisters sleep in the loft. He was one of those steady hard working missionaries that we grew to love! We are happy to see him and Elder Huon as we visit the districts and branches. His older brother met us at the North District Center and rode with us to their apartment. Otherwise, we never would have found it. We wound in and out of alot of streets to get there!  First we took Elder Huon home.  What a sweet reunion with both of his parents. They were so proud of him and so are we!

We took Elder Huon home first. So we posed for a farewell picture. Please forgive my big hair. It needed a cut and that didn't happen for another week after this picture!

Elder Huon's Mom fed us this wonderful meal of sandwiches and fruit and for dessert pigs ears cookies. They aren't really pig's ears. I think they are made out of rice flour. They were delicious and she sent a bunch home with us to munch on.

Elder Huon' s family poses with us. They have a nice home with a tile floor.

Mom was so glad to see her son as was his Father. Sorry this is all backward. Like I said I will adjust in 10 days or so.

4th Branch Baptism

On October 16th, we made it back from Kampong Cham in time for this baptism. I had previously gone teaching with the sisters to teach the sister who is a member and her two sons after baptism lessons. Her husband would listen in. They own an electrical shop called Teresa's Electrical. We were in the back of the shop teaching, he would tend to the shop then come and listen, back and forth. His wife whispered in my ear, "Please talk to my husband."

After the lesson, I had an opportunity to visit with him. At the end of our conversation and after I had listened to his philosophies, I had opportunity to encourage him to listen to the sisters. I told him they were good teachers and I hoped he would listen so that he could be baptized and have an opportunity to go to the Temple and have an Eternal Family. He looked at me and said, "I tell you what, Sister. If the Holy Ghost tells me to be baptized, then I will be baptized." Great, I said, I will pray for that! After his baptism, his wife came back into the room to wait for him, she looked at all of us there, and lilterally clapped her hands and jumped in the air for joy! Now, they are on their way to being together Forever.

Brother Saphon and his awesome wife were able to be there for her sister's baptism. The Saphon's have taken in this little girl to watch over. They call her their daughter. Great family and we do love them.

October Floods

We had specialized Trainings in Kampong Thom. This road again was like traveling on an island. This was October 14-16th. I know I have blogged about these floods before, but it was just something that I had never seen before. Now, in December, everything is back to normal and much rice made it through this devastating flood in this particular area. In other areas, the rice was about totally destroyed.




Water, water everywhere you look!

I was relieved to see some rice that was going to live!

Arriving New and Arriving Finishing Missionaries

The Grimnes are our newest couple. They are absolutely wonderful and we are so grateful to them. They have been assigned Kampong Thom and Siem Reap. They live in a very nice home in Kampong Thom and travel up to Siem Reap every month, maybe twice a month. They are doing a wonderful job and are able to "roll with the punches" quite nicely!

Sister Poyi Sorn returned from serving in California to her family from Battambang. She is now home and adjusting well. Trying to keep up her English, help out at home for a while until she can get into the University. There is one there in Battambang. Poyi was a very successful and great missionary her mission president tells us! Way to Return with Honor Poyi.

The Flooding in Kampong Thom

October 22nd we headed up to Kampong Thom for their Branch Conference. There had been a lot of flooding up there. In one spot the road was even washed out. I did get a fairly decent video of that except it was so bumpy that I couldn't hold the camera without it bouncing too.

I thought I was getting video of all the cows on the road and had the camera knowingly on Standby on two of these videos. so they last maybe 2 seconds and the one on driving through the washed out road is longer! The people brought all the cows to the side of the road because in many areas that was the only dry spot.