Sunday, September 25, 2011

Garrett's First Week in Cambodia!

Well....where to start?  Cambodia is pretty crazy.  The traffic here is crazy.  There are buses, cars, bikes, and motos sharing the road at the same time – with no apparent traffic rules or laws that I can see.  It is a little nerve racking when you have motos whizzing past you on every side and cars driving right by you.  It is fun to ride a bike in this city....pretty crazy too!  The other day I was sandwiched between a moto and a car.  Not sandwiched like being hit, but they got really close and kind of bumped me.  We were not going fast though, so it was no problem.  I know the Lord will protect me though, so I am not really worried – as long as I pray and am smart when I drive.

Garrett and some of his friends on their way to gym in the MTC.

So, my first companion is Elder Sok.  Elder Sok is a native Cambodian and is from a different area of Phnom Penh.  He speaks VERY good English. There is not much of a language barrier between us.  He is very nice and is a very hard worker.  I am very excited to work with him and learn the language, teaching skills, contacting skills, etc from him. 

We were assigned to Branch 2.  It is in Phnom Penh on the North Eastern side of Phnom Penh.  We are not really in the heart of the city – more on the outskirts.  The branch is actually one of the strongest.  It has about 500 baptized members if I remember correctly, which is awesome.  But we only have 89 people at church on Sunday.  It is okay. We will help them out.  The members seem very nice.  We have taught several lessons with members. It has been really helpful to see their support. 

I know this church is true and that it can help everyone.  I see people who need financial help, physical help, happiness, peace, etc.  I know the gospel can give it to them if they read, pray, and go to church.  I hope/pray every day that our investigators will follow through on their commitments because that is the only way that they will progress.  I know the Lord will help them just like he helps me as a missionary.  He gives me strength.  Even though the language is hard I know I have progressed so much with his help. I want everyone to feel the same happiness and joy that I do every day.  I have tried to tell our investigators and members that we have talked to that very thing. 


                               While still in the MTC, Garrett posed with a picture Emma has sent him.

As expected, the language is hard.  I can teach parts of the lesson, and I can help solidify what Elder Sok has taught, which is good.  I really wish I could speak better – especially regular talk.  I can understand a good amount of what Elder Sok is saying when he is teaching and what other members say when they are speaking about the gospel.  But when it comes to just talking to people, it is VERY difficult.  It is especially a bummer when it comes to contacting.  I don't really know what to say, and I cannot really understand what they are saying when I do throw out a question.  That is the most discouraging part – trying to understand people.  Everybody speaks a little bit different, and it is hard to understand people.  So yeah, the language is hard.  But I am studying and trying to understand what is happening. 

Funny story.  I asked Elder Sok yesterday if his food was crucified.  I was trying to say tasty.  Crucified is chkaang and tasty is chnaang.

Garrett's missionary tag in front of the temple in Provo, UT. (Garrett was really proud of the artistic nature of this photo!)

I really am enjoying myself here.  Even though it is hard, it is pretty exciting to go out each day and see where we will go and who we will teach, etc.  I have also already given four priesthood (the power and authority of God) blessings: one to a baby, one to another Elder, one to a grandmother of an investigator, and one to my companion.  I just do the anointing and I say it in English, but it is still really awesome.  I am excited to be here.  

McKenzie's First Week in the Field

The first night we stayed in the mission home. The next morning we went running with the Assistants to the Mission President.  They took us to a track where they timed our mile and asked us to make goals to shorten it by the end of my mission.  With my 10:30 time there is a lot of room for improvement! They then led this strength training workout which was very tiring, and I could not keep up.  The mission has a schedule where you run 3 days of the week and then do strength training the other two. On preparation day you can choose.  I think it is a good idea because it requires the missionaries to be really fit. I am struggling to get in shape, but that is ok.  Then we got ready and had this awesome Taiwanese breakfast – fried dough type logs.  I don't know how to describe them, but you dip them in soymilk. They’re really good!  


 My trainer (the first companion a missionary has in their country who helps them with the language, missionary work, and living in the country) is awesome! Her name is Sister Morey.  She lived abroad for most of her life in Taiwan and China.  She is so cute and so sweet.  She is so loving and so diligent.  I feel so much more confident with her at my side. She is so supportive and helps me evaluate every situation and work to improve.  She is such a powerful teacher and really in tune.  I said today she is like my mom: teaching me how to do things and helping me feel less and less scared to do things on my own.  

We then made some referral calls, and we set up some appointments.  (Referrals are when members of the church or people who are taking lessons from the missionaries suggest one of their friends or family members who they feel would appreciate contact with the missionaries.) When I call referrals, I normally say hello, ask them to meet. Then they respond, and I can't understand them. So I give the phone to my companion. We had two people set up appointments, which was exciting.  

After dinner one day, we decided to go tracting (talking to people about the Church and gospel on the street). My companion felt like we should turn down a certain street.  We did and talked to these people for a long time who I think in retrospect may have been a little drunk. (It was a Taiwanese holiday and everyone was at barbeques.)  We then talked to two people – me to a grandma.  We were talking about families, and then I asked her if we could meet. She said yes.  I, being ecstatic, tried to get her information. But she then told me she had no phone.  I said she could write down her address, and she said she had no home.  I don't think she was homeless – just not interested.  Anyway, my companion had started talking to this lady who was really interested.  She said she feels like her life has no purpose and agreed to set up time for today. (Sadly this morning she called and said that she is feeling sick and needs to go to the doctor. We were pretty sad, but we still hope to be able to set up an appointment in the future).  We felt really blessed that the Lord led us to her, and I felt really blessed that my companion listened to the Spirit and changed our plans to go down a different street.  

Garrett's First Area - North East Phnom Penh


General Information on the Area
Where is the Church in Phnom Penh?

McKenzie's First Area - Kaohsiung