Sewer Boots are in...

Hello faithful followers,
This past week was crunch time at the South District Center where our office is. Members were every where doing last minute touch up painting, etc. in preparation for Elder Oaks visit. Elder and Sister James and Elder and Sister Rhynes had active parts in the coming event. Elder And Sister James took photographers around Phnom Penh to shoot footage of  the area. The photographers used the 14th floor of our apartment to get some good shots of the area. They lucked out with sunshine because our days are routinely visited by rain storms. Elder and Sister Rhynes made welcome goody baskets for all the out of country visitors. I believe they assembled 6 baskets. The Rhynes were also in charge of ordering flowers for the Chapel. There efforts paid off. The Chapel was beautiful. The meeting was well attended. The young Elders took a head count. There were 1022 people at the meeting. It lasted from 4:30-6:00. The Cambodian members were told that in order to have a Temple in Cambodia the Saints need to commit to paying their tithing. Sister Oaks shared that she was a convert to the church and when she was first taught about tithing it was as if she had mud covering her eyes. With time she understood the importance of the principle of tithing. As she lived this principle she received the promised blessings. Elder Oaks taught the people of living righteously and avoiding situations that would cause them to stumble. The topic of the importance of the family was addressed. Other speakers spoke on the importance of husbands and wives loving each other and setting the proper examples for their sons and daughters. When their children marry they will respect their spouses and children. The choir was wonderful. One of the young Elders played the violin to accompany them.

This week was vacation time for many in Cambodia because of the Kings Birthday. We worked most of the week but decided since no one was coming in to see us we would take half a day to do some touring. We got a tuk tuk at 7:30 in the morning. The Rhynes went with us.We chose to go to The Choeung Ek Genocidal Center better known as "the killing fields.

This is the Memorial Stupa where the remains of the Choeung Ek's victims are reverently preserved.
The Stupa contains skulls, bones, teeth, and clothing  of the victims found in the killing fields. These remains are on shelves enclosed in glass. One shelf has all clothing, one all skulls, and it continues on each level in this manner. The entire Stupa is filled.
From our ticket: Choueng Ek Genocidao Center is an unique and special place which reflects the most barbarous cruel crime committed by the Ultra Communist Khmer Rouge Regime during 1975-1979. Here about 20,000 people including foreigners were executed and murdered. Obviously, 129 mass graves and about 8,000 human skulls at the site bear testimony to this unspeakable crime.  In order to remember the spirits of victims at the site and as well as over 3 million victims throughout the country, a Memorial Charnel was built in the center in 1988.

The audio tour is well done. We were able to hear the testimony of many people who witnessed these crimes first hand. We also heard testimonies from some who discovered these mass graves. One man was planting potatoes and as he was digging the soil to his horror he discovered one of the graves. There are several areas where remains have not been unearthed. Because of the rains in this area the soil is constantly giving up remains. On the path we were walking it had rained and I looked down and saw teeth that had been uncovered. We were told to expect such things and to respect the dead and leave them lay where they are. We were given a map of the grave sites which are spread throughout the provinces of Cambodia. This area where we walked is a major mass grave site, but not the only one.

 We said farewell to Elder and Sister Snyder who served as the office couple for 23 months. Elder Snyder is in the top photo and Sister Snyder is the sister on the right in the bottom photo. What great people. They were our connection with Cambodia when we first received our calling. They sent us the 101 most asked questions from senior couples anticipating living in Cambodia. They set up our Skype appointments with President and Sister Smedly. They found our apartment for us. They took us shopping for groceries and household goods when we first arrived here. They took us to several restaurants so we would know safe places to eat. They took us for our first tuk tuk ride and helped us understand how to bargain with the driver. We also were taught how much and when to tip people. They helped us understand khmae money. (Dale does anyway.) They showed us where to get shoes repaired, where "home depot" is, where the hospital is and the Bank of Canada ATM. Elder Snyder after hearing that I wished I had a compass and pocket khmae language book surprised me with both. They also kept us informed of all the current events that we were suppose to know about. They took us many places until we felt comfortable to go solo. We will be forever grateful.

Thursday and Friday this week we taught our second Career Work Shop for missionaries getting ready to go home. In fact these Elders were flying out Friday evening. I do the introduction to the Workshop and Dale does all the rest. He does a really good job and the missionaries report they learn lots and feel it is beneficial.(Elder Sanford, Elder Nebeker, Elder Vanfleet, Elder Nicosia, Elder Frank Elder Meier and Sister Meier)
Elder Vanfleet is from Cedar City, Utah. His mother is khame and lived through the Pol Pot Regime. Her story is recorded is in the book "Out of  the Killing Fields into the Light". When her son was called to Cambodia she was really worried because of her memories. Elder Vanfleet said he was shocked because he didn't even know there was a mission in Cambodia. His mission has been a blessing to him and his family. His family is in Cambodia right now. They chose to pick their son up in the mission field and tour Cambodia. Sister Vanfleet still has relatives here. We saw Elder Vanfleet in action in the Provinces. He dug dirt side by side with the khmae and did several other service projects. He is a great guy. Career Workshop is a highlight of our mission. Is so fun to work with people so full of life. A great two days this week.

What would our week be like without the rainy day experience. We were actually in Elder James' car. His car stalled and as these cars went by we could feel the car begin to float.

 Five boys came to our rescue and pushed us to higher ground. Elder James gave our heroes $5. They were so excited.

When Elder James tried to start his car he blew great puffs of exhaust into the face of the tuk tuk driver positioned directly behind us. He didn't seem to mind. I guess it is all in a day in Cambodia.

Saturday we visited Wat Phnom well known for monkeys. We thought we'd get some fun photos to share.

This is what we found....OO..EE..OO!

Cambodia...Cambodia...Cambodia...I'll let the photos do the talking.

These are called "sewer boots". Dale and I purchased them from our local market. It is not appropriate to share with you what went floating by me the other day when walking home in the rain.  I was highly motivated to make this fashion statement after my close encounter of the grossest kind.

Where we will go after dinner at Gasolina.

As we speak with the people here we each speak the "phrases" we learn in the respective languages. Tonight I said good night to the guard at our apartment. He in turn replied back "good night Madame and have sweet dreams". So until next week may you also "have sweet dreams".