Notes from Garrett's Mother's Day Call to the Family

He has a lot more room in his pants and shirts since he started his mission.  He is hot all the time.  Sweats 24 x 7.  He tries to drink a lot of water to compensate. 

It takes him 45 min. to bike to the internet café and 1hr and 30 min. to the mission home. 

It takes him 10 min. to get from one end of Sen Sok to the other.  It consists of 7 neighborhoods, and they really don’t have addresses.  You just go to the neighborhood and ask around for people.  Neighborhood #7 is built on stilts about 2 feet above the sewage.  They also work in small villages spread out through the rice fields.    Many of the Sen Sok inhabitants moved to the area after their homes in Phnom Phen burnt down in 1999.  Some believe the government did it. 

Crime is not too bad in Sen Sok because there is really not anything to take locally. So that type of people would rob other areas. 

 Sleeping on the roof when the air conditioning is broken

Sometimes the rain is so strong it feels like bullets when it hits them.  It typically rains hard in the afternoon.   

Their branch has a lot of issues with gossip.  They have considerable issues with unity.  Yesterday 67 people were at church of which many were small children.  They have a lot of in-active members.  They did baptize Botum yesterday, which made Garrett very happy. 

He said, “The local kids love me.”  They like to say hello.  They try to climb on the back of their bikes.  Everyone knows who the missionaries are. 

His bike seat is uncomfortable.  His left cheek has a callus.  He also thinks he is going slightly bald. 

He gets woken up at 5 AM by the roosters.     

 Under the nets when sleeping on the roof

He believes his speaking skills are good, and he needs to work on his reading and writing in Khmer. 

Elder Hem is one of his most favorite companions so far.  He is easy going, works hard, and doesn’t like to waste time.  They have had no real arguments.  That being said, Garrett said he has not had any big problems with any of his companions.   

Garrett did remember that KG’s birthday is on May 17^th.   

There is a large group of new missionaries coming in soon – 13 of which are sisters.   

His current mission president does not know Khmer.   

His favorite things about his mission are the people, the culture, and the language (even though it is hard), and the work he is doing for the Lord. 

He has been on really strong anti-worm medication three times.  He said he has definitely had something living in his stomach.  It creates significant diarrhea issues, but after a couple days of the medication, things are much better.  It saps his energy and desire to eat.  

Machine that takes the grains of rice out of the stalk

His scriptures are much thicker now because they have gotten wet a few times. 

1 ½ hours of internet usage costs between 75 cents and $1. 

Garrett keeps in touch with his previous area’s converts.  They are doing well.   

He says time is speeding by and going way too fast.  His release date is July 13^th of 2013.  He is not looking forward to coming home, as he really loves his mission. 

He eats a lot of oatmeal in the morning now.  He eats so much he feels like a horse.  He mixes it with peanut butter.   

It worked out so Garrett could listen to Mc’s call with us.  They loved talking to each other for a few minutes.