Flooding Houses

Elder Sok and I at Branch 5 building in Phnom Penh after Christmas.

So, we had several actives with our branch this week.  Our branch on paper is ready to become a ward, but spiritually it is very far.  It is not a very spiritual place, especially in sacrament meeting; there is not much unity as a branch, etc. It is a problem.  We are working on it.  So we had a fireside Sunday night with the Assistants to the President or APs (they are two young missionaries that are called to help the Mission President).  The AP's are actually in our area, but they do not do that much because they are AP's and are in the office.  So we had a whole fireside all about reading and praying together as a family. It was nice and pretty well attended.  We also had a branch FHE the next day on Monday.  It was also well attended.  Our hope is that they will become more unified and become more of a family.  Maybe in 6 months or so this place will be one of the strongest congregations.

I biked to kilometer 11 to meet a family of members.  They live right by/sometimes over the water (flooding) 

We have really been working with less actives and inactive members.  We have biked several times to kilometer marker 11 (we live at kilo 4).  We met with a member who used to be a soldier in Cambodia. His story is crazy.  He and his soldiers were walking across a field and they got blown up by a land mine. About 20 of them were walking together.  16 died.  His legs are really crippled now. He can kind of walk with two half crutches in each arm.  He is a really good member though – but very poor.  He lives right on the water in a house on stilts probably 15 feet high.  In Cambodia, if you live along the water, you are usually quite poor.  The reason the member and his unit got blown up is that the car that could detect mines had a low battery.  Also, we have been working with a woman, Boptha since I got here in September.  In 4 months, she never came to church.  She came for the full 3 hours last week!  It was awesome.  Yesterday, we went and taught her and did about 30 minutes of service.  She makes bags, book covers, pretty much anything out of mats, and we put thread through the bags.  I really hope she becomes an active member again.

This week our investigators our progressing well.  Rado and Rada, no they are not twins, are progressing well.  They are pretty young, 14 and 12, so it is a little harder to teach them.  They are trying though.  We went to teach last night, and we found Rado sitting on the ground reading the Book of Mormon.  It is really cool, and he is definitely trying hard.  The biggest problem they both have is understanding what they read.  I guess it is just hard to get used to the type of scripture language.  We have finished lesson one and gave them a baptismal goal of 1/8/12.  They should be ready and their parents are very strong too.  They came to church and actually stayed for an 8 year old’s baptism afterwards. (Emma I thought of you). Rado's face was full of excitement afterward.  He really wants to be baptized, and when I saw his face, I told him that his day was coming.  He remembered the date we had given him.  I am really excited about both of them.

This picture is supposed to be ironic.  I don’t know if you can tell, but the car is a really nice Mercedes.  It is ironic because I am standing on an unpaved dirt road in a very poor neighborhood near our house, but there is a very expensive car parked on the road. 

Chalina is doing alright.  She has gone to the hospital a few times but is very hard to meet.  She does not know what the problem is, but she is feeling better. They have one hospital in Cambodia, which is very nice.  We went one time because Elder Sok felt sick.  It was not like the US, but it was nice and clean, and I would feel good going there.  After that, I am not really sure.  I have not been to the other hospitals, but I imagine they are not good.  She is actually going to one that is an organization and is very far away.  I imagine the one she is going too is not nice at all.  It is cheap and that’s why she is going there.  In Cambodia, it is true that you get what you pay for.  So, we are waiting on them, but they are not progressing at all.  It is a bummer, but we are trying.

Luen is back!  We are really excited.  We went on Monday – not drunk.  And yesterday – not drunk.  He is back to his old self, and it is so nice.  We had some good lessons with him on Book of Mormon study and keeping the commandments.  He has committed to being better, and we gave him a new baptismal day to work for on 1/28/12.  We just need to keep him sober and find out if he is ready to be baptized. When he was having trouble, I did not really like to meet him.  He was different.  Now my love for him has been rekindled.  He is funny again, coherent, etc.  We also found out something new. He practiced Islam for 10 years.  I asked him to say a chant or prayer in Arabic, and he was pretty good. Hopefully, he stays sober and continues to progress.  

A Christmas Message from the Taiwan Taichung Missionaries

To view a Christmas Message from the Taiwan Taichung Missionaries, please see: 
At her next appointment, she came and had been reading quite a lot, and she stayed for the baptism that night telling us afterwards that she felt really touched.  We kept meeting with her and she kept reading and reading. Then she started bringing her children to meet with us too. She would always say, “Oh I haven't read that much.” (She is currently in middle of Mosiah).  She is just so wonderful and awesome and has so much faith, but she has always said she feels like it is coming slowly, and she isn't fully sure if the things we are teaching are true.  She says that she is choosing to believe, but she doesn't know it like we know it.  She had a baptismal date for the 24th of December, and we really wanted her to hit that goal. But we were a little concerned as she was still saying that she didn't feel like she knew God very well.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekfCYIbEnn0

Fang is an investigator I met one night on the way to visit a less active member.  We were stopped at a stop light, and we always talk to people at stoplights and try to get them to pull over and talk to us.  I remember having a slight impression that I needed to talk to her and not the mom and daughter in front of her.  I was surprised when she pulled over, surprised when she set up an appointment, and even more surprised when she came to her appointment. (We get stood up for many, many, many of these types of appointments).  It was a really good lesson, and she said she was willing to read the Book of Mormon and make a lot of effort to really study it.  

 

I remember biking back from her house and having a strong impression that we needed to help her hit her goal and that if we really prayed and tried and followed promptings with faith, she could make it. We went to meet with her on Thursday.  On Wednesday night, I had come down with the flu.  Not a horrible, horrible flu but I felt awful and my stomach was writhing in pain to the point where I had to keep looking away while my companion was talking to people on the street because as my stomach clenched, I couldn't keep the pain off of my face, but I also knew how absolutely essential this meeting was.  I felt good enough to go, and we just kind of didn’t have the going home option.  
We got to her house and were really where trying to listen to the spirit and ask the questions that would help us discern her needs.  The night before, I had felt that I should study a bunch of the ‘revelation by the spirit’ scriptures that they have listed in Preach My Gospel, and I had written down some possible ones that I felt like would be meaningful to her.  As we talked about her goal and we listened to the spirit to know what questions to ask, she said that she wasn't sure and that she only knew a little bit.  I asked her how she felt when we came to visit her, and she said that whenever she meets with us she has this special feeling that makes her so excited.  Also, as we read the scriptures in D&C 6:20-23 about speaking peace to your mind, she said that she feels peace and this has brought peace to her spirit.  She was acknowledging her feelings and talking about how much this gospel meant to her.  When I again asked her if she would be baptized on the 24^th, she said yes.  Well, she actually said yes to the 23^rd because on the 24^th her kids had a competition or something, but we still felt pretty good about it!  



So, it says in Preach My Gospel that in order for a spouse to get baptized they need their spouse’s permission.  Fang has been separated from her emotionally abusive husband for two years and after talking to our mission president about it, it was determined that she still needed permission.  We told her this, and she was concerned that he would not accept it and also felt really weird because she really hasn't talked to him in two years.  She will text him about the kids, but that is about it (the kids live with her).  We were concerned and didn't want a vindictive husband to cause problems, but we talked a lot about having faith and praying and seeking the Lord’s help. Her faith really grew as she pondered how to overcome this potential problem.     Saturday she had her interview with our district leader.  She came out and was so excited.  She had passed and later that day our district leader said she was just so prepared but because she had had an abortion she needed a second interview (as I have said in other emails, sadly, this is very, very common).  We already had her second interview setup because she had told us ahead of time that she had had an abortion.  
Sunday came, and she went into her interview. Afterwards, President Chen called us in and told us that he had talked and that as a servant of god he was telling us and her that she didn't need her husband's permission (that put a huge weight off of our shoulders).  He also said that he knew how much God loved Fang, but she needed a little more time and that in the middle of February he would come and interview her again.  

It was such an interesting and amazing experience.  We of course are a little sad that she isn't going to be able to get baptized right away, but in that moment, we felt so profoundly God's love for her.  I felt so specifically that exactly what had needed to happen happened.  We had felt prompted to help her set and reach for a December 24^th baptismal goal for a reason. She needed to have that second interview because President Chen, as a God's representative, was able to receive revelation for her, help her, and answer her questions in a very personal way.  I felt in a way I have never felt before just how much God loved this woman. I also felt in a way I have never felt before such a profound and deep love for her.  I am crying just thinking about it.  
I feel so grateful that I have been able to know this sister and have been able to see her heart change and her eyes light up when she talks about the Book of Mormon.  I have been able to see the Lord's miracles in her life and see how specifically how perfectly He knows her.  I know that the Lord knows each and every one of us in a profound and incredible way.  I am thankful for this Christmas miracle, and I am thankful that I am able to know this wonderful sister and help her continue to develop her faith as she heals and comes more fully unto Christ.  

Garrett Saw a Big Pig

Maly was confirmed this week.  I was surprised and a bit terrified when she asked me to do the confirmation – as she sat in the chair to be confirmed.  I assumed she would pick the Branch President or Elder Sok.  The Branch President quickly tried to explain to me what to say in Khmae.  I could do it in English, but I had never even practiced in Khmae.  I did it with some help from the Branch President.  He had to whisper some parts to me.  I tried to give a good blessing after she was confirmed and I felt the Holy Ghost, but it wasn't my best. The words were not flowing very well, and it just was not great.  I can testify though of what I felt in my heart.  It literally felt like someone was squeezing my heart and that my heart was so warm, almost hot.  I was very thankful for the spirit that I felt.  I was kind of disappointed afterward though.  I felt like I let Maly down because I did not speak very well at all.  For the rest of sacrament meeting, I kind of sat there frustrated and sad.  I really just wanted her to feel the spirit so much.  I do not know if she did, but she felt happy afterwards. And she is still really strong.  I know that the spirit can penetrate even the worst language, but I just wished I would have done a little better job.  I am grateful for the experience.

The two kids, Rado and Rada are progressing well.  Last night we taught about Joseph Smith.  I really love teaching them and I feel the spirit so strong. Especially Rado, he really listens and his eyes are
glued on you the whole time.  I feel really happy when we meet with them.  We plan on baptizing them on the 8th of January.  Our other investigators are doing well too.  A few of them have just dropped off
the map and this week if we do not meet with them we are going to have to drop them.  For the most part though, we have really good investigators.

Update on Chanlina and James.  We met with them for the first time in a couple weeks last night.  She has been working a lot and has not come to church.  She also has made several trips to the doctor because she is scared that she has cancer.  It was a sad meeting.  We are going to try to meet with them a couple times a week again and try and show them the blessings of church attendance.  In regards to her health we prayed for her, we gave her a blessing, and we can only hope that she does not have cancer and that whatever is afflicting her will go away.

We had 3 men given the Melchizedek priesthood this past Sunday.  That is really important as Cambodia definitely needs more priesthood holders.  Now we just need to make sure they keep paying tithing and stay active.  One really cool story is that we have been meeting with a less active man since we got here named Sim.  He has slowly started to come back to church and change.  He has started to laugh
again, he is happy to see us, and he has come to church for about a month now.  He is really progressing.  We came to teach another member who lives near his house and his wife, who was sitting outside, told us that Sim got quite upset with her when she tried to spend 1000 riel to buy a fried banana.  He told her that that was tithing money.  Yes!  I just hope he will see and recognize the blessings that he will receive from tithing and that he will continue to pay.

Last Saturday we met at Branch #5.  All the missionaries in the city gathered to help with the redrawing of the boundaries of the congregation.  They have some trouble with people going to different branches, etc.  So we met and had huge maps on which we tried to pinpoint people’s locations so that President can redraw boundaries. It is very hard as many of the "roads" that people live on are not roads recorded on any maps.  It was fun though, and we tried hard.  We had no idea who a lot of the people even were.  But it was fun to try and help in any way that we can to help Cambodia progress.

Dad asked last week if people ever give us problems.  I remember after I wrote about one man who both the Vietnamese elders and Elder Sok and I saw during our last transfer.  He was an American, a complete bum, and was just walking down the street.  He told Elder Sok and I, "go back to Utah you sons of.....".  He called the Vietnamese elders some names that I won't write.  It was kind of weird but kind of funny.  I just figured I would tell you because I remembered that after I wrote you.

McKenzie's Update

The work is continuing well.  This week was great we have three awesome new investigators.  On Tuesday the Relief Society president asked us to go find these people in this remote place at the top of our area that we don't even have a map for.  We had a lot of time on Thursday so we decided to head up there.  We biked for forever into this remote area of our area that no one ever goes because it takes like two hours to get there.  We are standing on this deserted road while my companion is trying to look at this tiny map and a girl pulls up on her scooter at this intersection, so I start to talk to her and we set up an appointment.  This is our standard form of contacting in Taiwan, when we stop at stop lights we start to talk to people and then try to get them over to the side of the road and set up an appointment.  I have never had a ton of success with this method.  People will set up an appointment, but then almost 99.9% of them don't show up and don't answer your phone calls; however, we do it anyway to be diligent and because .01% of the time it works. Anyway this girl shows up to her appointment and is completely awesome.  She told us how she has always felt that there is one truth and as we showed her the book of Mormon she wanted to know if this book would help her have a happier life.  I love when people ask that question!  She started to cry as we walked out to the parking lot and talked about how she hopes so much this will help her life.  She then came to church the next day and was only able to stay for sacrament meeting because of work.  It is just so amazing because this sister doesn't even live in the area where we were that day in the middle of nowhere; she lives in the other ward but the Lord knew where we were and he knew where she was and even though it was in the most random location ever He sent us to her.   
  
I have felt so blessed because I was pretty stressed when Sister Morey left because I am the one who kind of has to know what is going on with everything, but I just have felt the Lord's help.  I have been able to understand things more in the language, and I am overcoming fears I had in the past where I always waited for sister Morey to take the lead and then I would happily follow.  I am learning to take the lead more which is nice because I think there is a different feeling about a senior and junior than between a trainer and a trainee.  It has given me an opportunity to be pushed, and I have felt the Lord's support where I feel confident taking the lead in the lesson more than I did in the past.  I still wish I could understand more but it is so much better than when I first got here.  The Lord truly gives missionaries the gift of tongues.

The Happiest Moment of Garrett's Mission

This week has been kind of crazy.  First, I will talk about Luen.  He was drunk for about 4 days straight, so we obviously did not baptize him.  We had a really good meeting with him yesterday, and he told us that he know Satan is tempting him and that he needs to follow Christ.  We recommitted him to be baptized on December 25th.  He also committed to stop drinking.  I think I told you about his knee before.  It got really injured in one of the wars and is looking really swollen, and I think that he may have started drinking because his knee hurt so badly.  He is slowly returning to his old self.  Yesterday was the first time he was not drunk, so he was the same Luen that we know and love.  We will see how he keeps progressing.  

 

Garrett fell off his bike and is showing off his wounds. 

Maly was baptized though.  She was very nervous leading up to the baptism, but she was really excited too.  When it finally came, her father baptized her.  He is a recent convert too (he was baptized in August).  It was really amazing to see her afterward.  She was just so happy.  I do not want to use the word giddy, but I am going to go ahead and use it.  She was giddy.   

 Maly and family on the day of her baptism.

The best part was two days later we went and watched Finding Faith in Jesus Christ (a Church made movie) with her.  Every time Christ healed someone she got really excited – the way that an American teenage girl freaks out when they see a movie star or something.  It was really funny.  Afterwards, when we were discussing it with her, the Spirit was very strong.  She told us she felt the Spirit very strong and that she knew that God loved her.  Maybe this is cliché or a bad way to describe it, but her face and eyes literally were shining with happiness and light.  You kind of have to see it to understand.  She had some tears in her eyes and was just truly happy.  I can honestly say that that moment was the happiest moment of my mission so far.  Elder Sok and I were so happy.   

She has changed so much.  She used to not want to learn, never focus, never pray.  Now she loves God, and she knows that He loves her.  It was the best moment of my mission by far.  She was so happy, and I was so happy as well.  I love this gospel, because when those moments come there is nothing better.  Maly kept telling her older brother, "You’re next." He is ready to start learning, and we will commit him to start learning this week. 


Thanksgiving in Cambodia was pretty good.  We met at a senior couple’s apartment.  The food was good, but not nearly as good as Mom’s.  Oh well, it was fun though.

McKenzie Has a New Companion

Well, there have been some changes in Gaoxiong.  Sister Morey left me. I am so sad!  We were expecting that she would be transferred though because she has been here for a really long time.  She is actually opining an area where they have never had sister missionaries before, so that is super exciting for her.  I have a new companion.  We have only been together for a little bit, but I already like her a lot.  She is super awesome and seems to be really on top of things.  I am more than a little stressed about being the one who is supposed to know the area and what is going on.  I’m especially stressed about getting from place to place.  As we all know, directions are not my forte.  Add Chinese characters and a huge area into the mix, and we have a little bit of a problem.  I am trying to remain calm and make it appear like I know what I am doing even though I really kind of feel like I have no idea.   
  
This week has been good, a little bit slow, but still good.  We had a cool miracle this week when we were English proselytizing.  Every week we are supposed to do an hour where we tell people about an English class we teach.  We were putting fliers in people’s mailboxes when a man came out of his house.  We started to talk to him about the church, and he politely declined saying he was Buddhist. We asked him if we could put a flier in his mailbox, and he said ok and drove off.  We went to put a flier in what we thought was his mailbox.  I was trying to figure out how to open it when I accidentally rang the doorbell.  Someone answered, which is surprising because it was the middle of the day, so I said I was Sister Gibson and that we were missionaries.  Almost immediately she said, “Ok. I will come down.”   

She came down and was just the sweetest, most wonderful lady.  We talked about God being her loving Heavenly Father and how He truly does know her. We told her that she can pray to Him.  As we were talking, she said she felt like the things that we were saying weren't coming from us.  It was amazing she was so in tune and was really feeling the Spirit.  We set up another appointment and asked her to keep praying daily until then.  She told us that she farms corn and that we would have the meeting in her corn field.  So we met her at an intersection and we followed her to her corn field.  It was very small and there was nowhere to sit so we just stood and taught her a first lesson (about the Restoration of the Gospel).  It was kind of a funny location because where I live is a pretty urban area and not a place where you would expect to see a lot of corn fields.  It was just this empty lot with corn on the side of the road.  When we met, she told us that she had prayed and cried when she prayed and that she feels this is really good.  When we told the Joseph Smith story, she said she felt really touched.  It was so wonderful, and we were so excited.  However, when we asked her to read the Book of Mormon she said she has no time and that she can't read it.  She wouldn't even take it.  It is so frustrating and sad when people feel the Spirit and acknowledge that it is good and makes them happy but aren't willing to take the actions to change.   

We had invited a person that we met on the street to church, and she came, which is another tremendous miracle.  After church, she said she felt so happy and felt it was good, but she refused to meet again saying that she has no time.  Awe man...but I guess that is life, and I guess these people don't know fully what they are saying they don't have time for. But we do, and it makes us so sad because we know it could make them so happy. 

We had a great week this week with one of our investigators, Ting.  She is someone that I met at a stop light and remarkably showed up to the appointment she set up (most of the people don't show up when they give us their information on the street).  But, she did and has been progressing a lot.  She has gotten her kids involved too, and all three of them came to church. They loved it!