Siem Reap Floods and Teaching

Sept 24-26th we went up to Siem ReapWe were in Siem Reap on September 24th-26th for Branch Conference, branch leader training, and missionary interviews/chats and a specialized training. We also like to go out with the missionaries as often as we can wherever we are. It's always an adventure and a spiritual high. This is the rainy season in Cambodia and all parts of Cambodia have seen more rain than normal it seems. There are floods in many areas. In Siem Reap as in other towns, in some places it is floods and other places in the city it is fine. But wherever you go whether it is flooding or not, there is water all around. We went out to Sra Srong with Elders Christian and Hem. They have several investigators out there and a member they are trying to reactivate. The members told us that we would have to go through about 20 meters of flooded road, but then their area was dry.

This was very true, however it was more than 20 meters and when we came back it was worse. As you can see from where the Elders are, they are pushing the tuk tuk. This brave driver went through at least foot high water just pouring across the road. Big trucks and other cars were coming and causing more water. What we didn't know because the water was too deep was that in the area right behind the Elders the road was washed out leaving big deep ruts. Our tuk tuk got in one of those and tipped over almost taking our tuk with it. I was on the side that would go into the water first. I wasnt' worried about that because it wasnt' that deep, but I didn't want the tuk to fall on top of me. So I hot footed it over by Scott and I was ready to jump out. But he woudn't let me. The Elders got out and helped right the moto and the tuk and a young gal came by and helped also and pushed it along with the Elders until we got to a little more dried ground. The moto had water in it and they tipped it up and eventually it started up. The ladies were helping the moto driver figure out why it wouldn't start. They were just walking through.

The homes were in dry ground for the most part. The first family we went to, I have had them on the blog before. They went through the temple last year and now he serves in the branch presidency. They couldn't get to church that day because they had a flat tire on one moto and the flood water the night before coming from the training meeting ruined the other motos. But they greeted us with warm hearts and dressed for church. We were there to teach their little friend in the blue dress. She was very shy. The sister has 3 sewing machines in her yard int he shed by Elder Hem. I think Elder Hem is one of the most bowlegged people I"ve ever met. He is a good missionary ! I think his shoes dried out when we got home.

To get to the home where we taught by this little light, we had to walk through alot of mud. I tried to stay the high ground and walk on grass, but to no avail, I fell in the mud. Luckily just one side got a little muddy. It was a soft landing! I had my "walk in the mud shoes on", so I wasnt' worried about that. The home we went to was the first one that Scott and I went in here in Siem Reap. My first memory was coming into the home with the branch president and the Elders were already there teaching. The family of 7 was gathered around on the mat with their Books of Mormon out learning by the light of this little burner. So, I finally got a picture of it, to remind me of such wonderful loving people. There were about 3 families or more here because we ran out of time, and they had to combine their member and investigator lessons for the day. The flooding slowed us down quite a bit.

I had to mark that my shoes were extremely wet because when we left the family with the little light, we had to go quite a ways in the water up above my ankles to get out to the road where our tuk tuk was waiting for us. The way back was just as bad as the way in, maybe worse. The tuk tuk moto fell again. This time Scott got out and walked along with the Elders. I got to stay in the tuk. It really wouldn't have mattered because my shoes and feet were already soaked anyway. Ask me why I wore my beads out to the homes where we went? The answer is, I dont' know. I just didnt' think about what we were going to walk in, I guess. It was a wonderfully great adventure and spiritual high because I felt a great spirit in the home with the little burner bearing testimony of the truths of the Gospel.

I ordered some fried rice for supper and lo and behold it was a HUGE plate and they put it in the shape of a fish. Can you tell?

This was going back to the airport on Monday after the trainings. Water was just all around us. I was happy to get home. We usually have water that drains pretty good. Sometime in front of the mission home like last year when we had a massive storm, the water came almost up to our steps. But this year, we have been fairly dry out front!

A Missionary Pic and Elder Chum Leaves

Sister Sparks and her companion, Sister Yen that Sister Sparks is training. Sister Yen is from one of the Viet branches here in the city. WE are grateful to have her here with us. The other new Vietnamese sisters (3) are also being trained, but will return to Vietnam Oct 21st. These two sisters were in the mission home, I had my camera and just decided to take their picture. They are great sisters.

Elder Chum left for home on September 19th. We had him for a special lunch and devotional afterward. Then he walked the Red Carpet. However. . . after walking the Red Carpet, he decided he wanted to know what it would be like to be rolled in the Red Carpet. So. . . . he got his wish!

President Smedley said, Okay go for it. So Elder Chum laid down and he got rolled up. He thought it was great fun!

Then we took him home in this massive rain storm. Luckily his home is right off one of the main roads in Takhamao. It's hard to describe what it looked like, but it filled the tubs up with water within minutes. Elder Chum's cousin kept walking over and playing in it as it came off the tarp from their home. His Mom doesn't have a front door and the tarp keeps the weather out.

When Scott went to sit down, he got up fast and gave a little, OUCH! In closer examination Elder Chum's Mom had sat a hot teapot full of water and Scott sat right next to it. So they are laughing at him. In fact we were all laughing, it was quite funny. Elder Chum poses with Elder Elder. Elder Chum was one of our Zone Leaders and a very good missionary. He now has to find a job, not only for school, but to help his Mom. When he gets a job, he can apply for a PEF loan. We just love this young man. He also has great English skills.

An After Church Visit

This brother used to be the branch president of the first branch. His work takes him to Kampong Cham. He comes home for 3 days on a weekend about every other weekend. We just went by to let them know we love them. Scott gave Rithy his tie.

They are both returned missionaries. She is a hard worker. They have one little boy. Besides doing another job, she also does this sequin work on wedding dresses. It is all hand work and very time consuming, but they get paid a good price for doing this work. Her Mom and Dad also help her with this. This is the home where we had some great food, and we had what we think were bees and crickets maybe cooked in with the food. It just gave it a little crunchie taste to the food. Very nice people. They didnt' know we were coming and they pulled out this great meal to share with us. I hope it wasn't their supper, so I tried not to take much, just in case they gave us their food.

A Little More on the Seminar

What does this picture in Disneyland Hong Kong have to do with this wonderful group of mission presidents and wives that we came out with? Well, it's just a very slight connection. We saw so many of these Halloween figures at Disneyland that on the next day of the Seminar which was our last morning there, President Grimnes saw my necklace and thought it was of all the Ghouls we saw there. In actualilty it is a necklace made out of some kind of Cambodian seed and the maker of the necklace put brown and white silk material over the beads and then knotted around each bead. So, I guess from a distance it looked Halloween. So there you go!

We came out with these 5 other couples. This was our last seminar all together. The mission presidents meet in February for training without their wives. All are remarkable and devoted to their callings, their families, the missionaries, the people of their different countries, and the countries they are assigned to. From Left to Right: Elder and Sister Clark serving in Singapore also covering Malaysia, President and Sister Smith serving in Thailand/Laos, President and Sister Jackson serving in New Delhi, India and also cover the branches in Pakistan, President and Sister Chan serving in Hong Kong, us, President and Sister Grimnes serving in the Taiwan Taipei Mission. Thanks for your great examples of service!

Elder Subandrio comes in for District Conference

We enjoyed having Elder Subandriyo with us for the Central District Conference. We did visits which I've already posted. We took him to the airport always having enjoyed his stay. He is a very pleasant person and always has a smile. The Cambodians love Elder Subandriyo!

Sept Mission President's Seminar

The mission President's Training Seminar was held in Hong Kong. We were gone from Sept.12th to the evening of the 16th. We had a great mission president's seminar. We got there a day and 1/2 early because Cambodia is a little remote and there was only one plane going to Hong Kong on the time we needed. So we took a ferry ride in the evening over to the Kowloon side and looked back on the city from there. This was at the end of the light show. All the buildings on both side light up at different times and orchestra music is played and the lights go to the music. So that's why there were so many different colors. WE went in to a restaurant that not very many white people go in, just where the locals go. The food was delicious,but they had some very interesting napkins. . .toilet paper. Whatever...it worked just as well as a napking!

On the way back on the ferry we could see the full moon. The Asians celebrate the full moon at this time of year with what they call Moon cakes, made with different things in them. We had one that someone gave us and it had some kind of bean in it. The one they gave us on the airplane was pretty good. They are Highly fattening because they are made with lots of butter, I understand, so I just had a bite of mine. The city looks pretty good from the walk way going to a shopping center near our hotel.

We went to the temple at 7:00 a.m. and then had the seminar at the church across the road. I have had a picture of that on my blog in February. Then we got in a bus and drove to Hong Kong Disneyland! WE had quit ea good time and I enjoyed seeing Mickey Mouse floating on top of the whale. It is a small Disneyland, but still fun. They are adding two more "lands" on. This Disneyland was built out over the water. They filled in the lake with sand and built out on it. They had a Halloween theme and pumpkins and other related themes were throughout the park including gombies dancing on the street as we left! We were surprised to see a Cambodian type statue in the gardens of the park. We felt right at home!

We had a nice little guide who took us to Tarzan's treehouse, a 3 D orchestra show with Donald Duck which was alot of fun, and also to the Lion King musical which we really enjoyed. Then we ate and had about an hour or so of free time.

From the Tarzan tree house you can't see much of Disneyland because of all the trees. I quite enjoyed the reenactments of the show Tarzan as we walked through the house. Some of the mission presidents and wives enjoyed having their pictures taken on a seat of skulls and President Smedlye and I acted like we were two skulls. Scott's hat is his pride and joy from Australia. It helps his head not get sunburned in the Asian sun.

The 3=D glasses were fun to wear. This is the Jakarta mission president and His wife. President and Sister Groberg. I really enjoyed not only the music from Lion King but all the costumes, voices, and decorations and props. We all had a great time. By the way, Scott and I were introduced to the Buzz Light Year ride and found that we quite enjoyed trying to lazer the targets. I didn't do so well, but Scott did.

Sept 10 Central District Conference

Always before a District Conference we do Visits of the less active to invite them to come back to church and attend the District conference. Many of them do come back for the conference and some of them actually stay active. The young man in green would like to get ready to go on a mission, but the red head, not too bad. We visited a Dr. but her son isn't too active and she wanted us to visit him. He wasn't there, so we left him a note with some scripture to read. The sister above does come sometimes. She is a tailor also. That is the woman in the top picture.

We visited Sister Kim Loan who has been suffering from Cancer. She is responding very well to the Chemotherapy treatments. So much so that they cut the last dosage back by 2 days. We think she will totally recover and she did have a blessing telling her of that also.
I posed with some members and missionaries after the conference. The Vietnamse are great to work with and we surely do love them. Iit was one of the best conferences in the District this time that we have had. They are having baptisms in each branch and our missionaries are working very hard.