At last the technology eating monster in Cambodia has consumed our ability to down load pictures from our camera. Until we can find a prince charming to slay the mighty dragon our blog will be without pictures. This is a great challenge for me. As they say "a picture speaks a thousand words". No pictures = a lot of writing.
This past week has been a rough one. Dale has been hit hard with his asthma and has been visiting the throne room frequently. We go into the office each day, but it has been a struggle. I think of young elders who are home bound when their companions get ill. It is not fun for anyone when such things happen. Dale has been faithfully taking his medication and we hope in another week he will have his health back.
Monday we went to work as usual. We had scheduled two students for interviews in the morning. As we were waiting for them to show up Sister Smedley knocked on our door and asked if we planned to attend Zone Conference. We did not know about the meeting and so said we would come after our interviews. Shortly after her visit President Smedley knocked on our door and apologized that we had not been informed of conference. I think it may have been on the calendar but the branches we visit are in two zones. We did not realize we were suppose to attend these conferences. Now we know and we will do better next time around. After our interviews we did slip into the meeting. Perfect timing on our part. It was time to set up for the luncheon. Sister Smedley had two and a half small bags of chips to divide among 40 people.She was commenting on how to ensure everyone got a small portion of chips. (I had one suggested to smash the bags and tell everyone they could have10 pieces). The solution however was in our office cupboard. We happened to have some small paper plates. In Cambodia plates are either BIG or small. Spoons are BIG or small... napkins are the size of two toilet paper squares and are 1 ply..I hope you get the idea. We were able to feed the multitude by putting about 5 chips on each small plate. On these plates it appeared to be a mountain of chips. It's all in the presentation. Sister Smedley ordered sub sandwiches from a place called "Fat Boys". She discovered "Fat Boys" by a flyer placed on the windshield of her car. For any future entrepreneurs apparently this method of advertisement does work. Sister Smedley ordered 40 sandwiches...that's a significant sale. We also had ice cream, toppings and a homemade cookie. One challenge in Cambodia is to eat your meal before the ants do. Our church building is full of ants about the size of grains of sand. Within a half hour ants will invade with fury any food item left uncovered. Timing is important. On this day we humans won the race to the supper table. I believe the score now stands at ants 10, humans 1. I'm reminded of that old childhood favorite..."The ants go marching one by one hurrah, hurrah..."
Our first two months in Cambodia were nonstop farewell and welcome luncheons and dinners. Other than our new mission president and his family coming soon and President Smedley and Sister Smedley returning to the states the airport commotion for us Senior Couples is very quiet. We are left to ourselves to conjure up fun off time things to do.
Tuesday evening we broke from routine and visited Elder and Sister Rhyne. We had ice cream with chocolate sauce, veggies and watermelon. The Rhyne's recently moved to a place about a half block from us. The layout of their apartment is very much like a house. Prior to this move they were living in the apartment where we were planning to live until we were given a second option. The Lord was watching out for us. We could have been living in an insect infested, hot, pipe belching apartment "in the hood". A big clue to the quality of the neighborhood is the elevator sign prohibiting prostitutes. Elder and Sister James are surviving this apartment complex presently. Unfortunately for them, their apartment is also their office so they gave no refuge except their car. They want desperately to move. They were informed they could not move until their contract expires in six months. When the Rhyne's received permission to move they had someone to take over their contract. After they moved that replacement fell through. The James' are stuck because the church does not want to develop a reputation for breaking contracts. The James' have stayed in a hotel simply to get a good nights rest. In 2003 when these apartments were first rented to the missionaries they were new. Since then more complexes have been built. In 2003 they were nice apartments for Phnom Penh. Not anymore. I think we all have seen this type of evolution.
A few weeks into our mission we were able to teach the gospel along with the young elders to a young girl named Anne. She is from Thailand. She only had three discussions before she went back to Thailand. She began emailing me and has kept me informed on her progress. She had planned to be baptized on May 27 but the missionaries want her to learn more before she takes that step. Her mother has started attending church with her. It is pretty cool to be able to share my testimony with her and to have this correspondence as she learns about her Savior and Heavenly Father.
We teach institute on Saturday evenings. This past Saturday We had 3 recent converts to the church enroll. They are refugees from Sri Lanka. They had to flee their country because of the civil war in progress. Their translator (not a member of the church ) also from Sri Lanka came to class. He is married to a Khmer lady and they have a little girl. He is interested in the church. He did not bring his wife and daughter to class but they all attend the International Branch together. We attend that branch one Sunday a month. It is the branch for expats and their families. It's membership is very small compared to the other branches. We all speak some sort of English. I say that because the members are from all over the world. We each listen intently to each other to understand our common language. In institute class we are studying about the final days of the Nephite nation. The men from Sri Lanka were very interested in what was being taught. The blood and carnage recorded in the Book of Mormon is very close to the situation they left behind them in Sri Lanka.
The people in Cambodia are very kind and giving. I had mentioned to one of our PEF Students that I was looking for some clips for my hair. I purchased some at a market near our home a couple of weeks ago. I commented that I was pretty sure I paid too much for them. I told her that I do not feel comfortable shopping. I do not like to bargain. I like a bargain. I just do not like to bargain. The next day she delivered to the guard outside our church building hair clips to give to me. Today I commented on a small purse that one of the sisters in the branch I attended had. I asked where she got it. She said her sister brought it back from America for her. I said I was looking for a smaller purse to use on Sundays. She said she would get me one. I asked how much she thought it would be and she said "no sister I will get you one...you don't pay"..."you have come to help our people" ..."I will just get you one". I am finding I better not make anymore comments. I truly was just wanting know where a good place would be to purchase a purse and about how much they cost in order to bargain fairly.
The rain is coming down and we are safe in our apartment. Another week without Christening our "sewer boots". I am not disappointed. In fact I am grateful. Just like having a 72 hour kit. You have a kit but you really don't want to have to use it.
I have some Khmer photo moments but unfortunately cannot share them. I will do the next best thing.
On our water bottle. Brand: Steve "The Quality Drops"
A local ice cream shop. LECONE ICREAM ISWEET
Here Meas Sameth's daughter is doing what kids all over the world do when given the opportunity. Kids love their blankets, favorite snuggle toys, a snack and a good show. Meas Sameth is over the Employment Resource Center in Cambodia. His daughter is visiting his office.
Until next week may you find joy in life's simple pleasures.
A few weeks into our mission we were able to teach the gospel along with the young elders to a young girl named Anne. She is from Thailand. She only had three discussions before she went back to Thailand. She began emailing me and has kept me informed on her progress. She had planned to be baptized on May 27 but the missionaries want her to learn more before she takes that step. Her mother has started attending church with her. It is pretty cool to be able to share my testimony with her and to have this correspondence as she learns about her Savior and Heavenly Father.
We teach institute on Saturday evenings. This past Saturday We had 3 recent converts to the church enroll. They are refugees from Sri Lanka. They had to flee their country because of the civil war in progress. Their translator (not a member of the church ) also from Sri Lanka came to class. He is married to a Khmer lady and they have a little girl. He is interested in the church. He did not bring his wife and daughter to class but they all attend the International Branch together. We attend that branch one Sunday a month. It is the branch for expats and their families. It's membership is very small compared to the other branches. We all speak some sort of English. I say that because the members are from all over the world. We each listen intently to each other to understand our common language. In institute class we are studying about the final days of the Nephite nation. The men from Sri Lanka were very interested in what was being taught. The blood and carnage recorded in the Book of Mormon is very close to the situation they left behind them in Sri Lanka.
The people in Cambodia are very kind and giving. I had mentioned to one of our PEF Students that I was looking for some clips for my hair. I purchased some at a market near our home a couple of weeks ago. I commented that I was pretty sure I paid too much for them. I told her that I do not feel comfortable shopping. I do not like to bargain. I like a bargain. I just do not like to bargain. The next day she delivered to the guard outside our church building hair clips to give to me. Today I commented on a small purse that one of the sisters in the branch I attended had. I asked where she got it. She said her sister brought it back from America for her. I said I was looking for a smaller purse to use on Sundays. She said she would get me one. I asked how much she thought it would be and she said "no sister I will get you one...you don't pay"..."you have come to help our people" ..."I will just get you one". I am finding I better not make anymore comments. I truly was just wanting know where a good place would be to purchase a purse and about how much they cost in order to bargain fairly.
The rain is coming down and we are safe in our apartment. Another week without Christening our "sewer boots". I am not disappointed. In fact I am grateful. Just like having a 72 hour kit. You have a kit but you really don't want to have to use it.
I have some Khmer photo moments but unfortunately cannot share them. I will do the next best thing.
On our water bottle. Brand: Steve "The Quality Drops"
A local ice cream shop. LECONE ICREAM ISWEET
Until next week may you find joy in life's simple pleasures.
Debbie Thanks for the update. Sounds like a few challenges this week. We hope Dale gets feeling better soon. Jerry said he was very frustrated with having allergy problems. Health is where it is at now we are older. We thought it was money that was the problem when we were younger, we get wiser. We hope this week goes much smoother. I passed Dale's biking buddies the other day and thought of him. It is COLD here. Has Jenny had any luck with her adoption plea. Did the church not have any help pfor them? When is Jon's baby coming? I see Jay is still alive and well on facebook, I have not checked you tube lately. Missing you in Vancouver. I meet with Jennifer Godfredson today to go over myh new calling. Hope this works.
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