Monday was business as usual. During the day we experienced the typical power outages and slow to no Internet service. Monday evening we joined Elder and Sister Khols, Elder and Sister Johnson, Elder and Sister Westover, Elder and Sister Dilworth, President and Sister Moon and their daughter Mackenzie at Elder and Sister Tuck's home for dinner and Family Home Evening. The Tucks will return home just in time to celebrate the Fourth of July. Their first home in Cambodia was our apartment. Because it was located far from their assigned branches they relocated. They moved from a small apartment to a villa. They began accumulating stuff to make their house a home. When they discovered termites were eating their house and that their landlord refused to acknowledge there was a problem they moved again. There final home is new, large, modern and bright. It also is filled with stuff they purchased. It is all good stuff just lots of it. You must understand they chose to host meals for large groups of people like the young missionaries, and members they worked closely with. Because no one foresees a Senior couple coming to replace them all the stuff has to go. The Church will purchase items to fulfill the necessities to set up a home for a Senior Couple. Things beyond the basics are not part of the budget and need to be purchased by the individual couple. For example some couples chose upgrades in their appliances. Some of the sisters do lots of baking and cooking for their branches. As you can see from the long table, the Tucks have dishes that will serve far more than two to four people.
Continuing on...
For dinner Sister Tuck prepared a yummy curry. The rest of us complimented her curry with a variety of potluck contributions. We had watermelon, assorted fruit salad, a relish plate, jams, jellies and an assortment of fine bakery breads.
There was plenty to eat.
After dinner we gathered in the living room to share mission experiences. After the sharing time the Tuck's invited us all to take what we thought we could use of their things. It was like a huge garage sale where everything was free.
I zeroed in on office supplies which the PEF office could use. The office now has a 10 year supply of scotch tape. In the front of this photo is a black and white framed picture of the Sacred Grove. I claimed it for Meas Sameth's office. He has been saying he needs pictures for his bare walls. Sister Khols took it for me because she and Elder Kohls were going to be at our building. They brought it in their tuk tuk.
The Tucks were also giving away much of their food storage. We are to the point in our mission where we are purchasing very little packaged food items. We need to eat what we already have. I spoke with Sister Tuck later in the week. She said that they invited some of the young people from their branch over for dinner. She prepared Mexican food. When she went to open a can of corn she realized she had given it all away on Monday night. OOPS! Poor Elder Tuck was put on kitchen duty picking out individual corn kernels from a package of frozen mixed vegetables. Whatever works. Apparently there was enough corn in the bag to feed their group.
Walking home from work we were tickled to see these little boys on cloud nine in there oh so slick battery operated car. I know four kids born in 1975, 1978, 1981, and 1984 who would have given anything to have had such a luxury. Sorry kids. At least at age 16 when it really mattered you had wheels.
This week our building was very busy with members deep cleaning. The fuss was in preparation for district conference. I have never seen our building this clean. Even when Elder Oakes came a year ago it was not cleaned this well. It is the rainy season. As the sisters would mop the floor people would enter the building with their muddy shoes. We have to claim to be part of the muddy traffic the sisters had to contend with. They just smiled and mopped up after us.
Elder and Sister Kohls have been busy working on a first aid kit project for some of the branches in Phnom Penh. Wednesday they met at our building with a work crew of young people. They assembled hundreds of kits.While they worked we visited a bit. Elder and Sister Tuck also helped. The Kohls ordered pizza as a thank you for their volunteers. We reaped the blessings as we were invited to join the group for lunch. We had real pizza! Yum! I make pizza at our apartment using a Bisquick crust. When you don't remember what real pizza is like the Bisquick stuff works pretty good. But now we have had a taste of authentic pizza. We have been ruined. I still praise Bisquick, one of my best friends on this mission.
Saturday the Kohls, Tucks and Elder Capener loaded the assembled first aid kits onto a truck to be transported to the distribution point. We finished our work at noon. They were done by then too. It began to rain but that did not stop us from walking to Ma Ma's New York Deli for lunch. It was great fun sharing camping stories, motorcycle accident stories, children's wedding stories and more. We had great food and great conversation. We are so glad that we will be able to meet with the Kohls in the future. They live in our oldest son, Kyle's, ward in Fruita, Colorado. They are delightful people. Sister Kohls has had quite the week. While walking to their office they saw a lady throwing rice out to feed pigeons. As they were looking up to watch Sister Kohls did not see a bump in the road. She fell fracturing her foot. Elder Kohls is mister fix it in many ways. He taped her foot. When they went to get x-rays the doctor commented on the great tape job. The doctor said they were doing exactly what needed to be done. So she keeps on trucking with a taped foot. She said she has a high pain tolerance so it is not too bad. She is quite the trooper. It was so fun to hear their stories of family vacations. They did a backpack trip in which everyone did their part. Their youngest who was five at the time carried the candy. No slackers in that group.
Technology blessings bring us close to home. Face book photos and a blog have kept us up to date with our newest grand baby's adventures. He has been a very busy newborn. Our sweet Avery's first birthday was June 19. Her celebration was to take place this weekend. We are looking forward to seeing her pictures posted soon.
Dale spoke in Sacrament meeting at Tuol Thom Pong. One of our PEF students, Si Pheng translated for the members. It was a really good talk. One of the missionaries commented that it was the best talk he has heard in almost 2 years. Dale kept it simple but powerful. He bore his testimony in Khmer at the end.
The conclusion to this blog will be a photo trip of what was happening on route to church Sunday morning. The people are very busy in the morning.
The road crew is starting to smooth out 63rd St. The ride was a little less bumpy today. Not perfect, but getting better.
Remodeling is ongoing in Phnom Penh. Someday this stuff will be hauled away. Not sure which year though.
Trash truck to the rescue.
Monks walk from business to business and home to home seeking handouts of food, etc. They leave a blessing on those who share with them.
It is about 7:50 am. The vendors are open for business. This time of the year rain ponchos are a hot item.
People gathering for breakfast at an outside eatery.
Moving bricks.
Waiting for our tuk tuk to arrive to pick us up from church. This is Khlot Chan Pisey and Pong. Chan Pisey is one of our PEF students. She recently graduated. She is one of the young ladies who translates for me in Relief Society. We first met Pong in Kampong Cham before she was member. She was baptized in Kampong Cham and moved to Phnom Penh about a year ago.
Dale, Debbie and Chan Pisey at the Tuol Tom Pong Building.
Dale, Debbie and Vanny Tol. Vanny is a wonderful young lady. She worked for an NGO. She recently secured a different job. The NGO manager is so impressed with her work ethics that he is paying for her college education. She is a return missionary and lives the gospel she teaches. She currently teaches Sunday school.
Last picture taken on route home from church. Children playing in their front yard???
Can't say all is well. Dale is getting sick. I made kettle corn today. He broke another tooth. Back to Room Chang. He seems to really like getting crowned in Cambodia!!
Have a good one!
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