Cambodia Phnom Penh: The Week of Gold! 2/26/17

Hi.

If you ever read any email, please just read this one. Because this was the best week ever and at the end of it, I testify that God lives and, man, is this his work or what?

I fell even more in love with Cambodia and missionary work this week.

Last Monday, we planned for a few lessons with some active members in branch 6. Sister Trinh and Davidson were still with us and all of our plans fell through and we ended up a little far from our area with so little time and so decided to head back home and just go contact in front of our house. We split up and I went to contact with Sister Trinh and our koons went to get a snack and contact as well. While we were walking, Sister Trinh suddenly stops and says "Hey, lets contact them" and turns to three neak mings/Cos and starts speaking Khmer to them.Sister Trinh told them about our free English class in Comkamorn. One of the neak mings said that her friend had just moved there and didn't know where that was. And so I turned to her friend and asked her where she just moved from and she said Kampuchea Krom!! So I asked her if she spoke Vietnamese and she said yes!!! And we said "wow! well we can come to your house by Wednesday and take you to English class if you want!" and then she said "why don't you just come by my house now?" So we walked with her a little down the road and went up some sketchy stairs into her one room apartment where her two daughters were sitting on their bed. And we told them all about what we do and even our free English class and Co Phien (the mom) says "I am so happy I met you two. I have been looking for something like this for so long!" We came back the next day with Co Xoa and taught them about the Restoration and it was just the best thing ever. We asked them what they understood and one of the daughters, Phung, said "If I pray to God and read the Book of Mormon, then I can have light in my life just like the 14 year old boy and I don't have to live in darkness any more!". We committed them to baptism April 22 and we're so pumped and so are they!!

They also said really great stuff like...

(Our third lesson)"Sister, I was reading in the BOM yesterday about baptism by water. Why does it have to be by water?"

"I am so happy we met each other. I am so lucky!! And I'm so grateful you are here to lead us to God. I've been looking for something like this for so long and now I finally found it! "

"Ok. SO on Wednesdays and Saturdays, we go learn English and then every other day you come here and teach us about Jesus? and then on Sundays we go to church!!"

(In church. Yes they came to church!!!!!!)"Are we about to sing, Sister? I can't sing. How am I supposed to be a Sister like you if I can't sing???""

"Ever since mom met you, she's been smiling and super happy all of the time and it's for no apparent reason. It's so weird!"

"Wait. I can pray whenever I want? I don't have to wait for you to come over to pray!!"

They're literally so good and so humble and so receptive. And I find it such a privilege to be a part of their journey. God really does prepare people and I WANT EVERYONE WHO IS OUT THERE ON A MISSION OUR ABOUT TO SERVE TO KNOW THAT!!!

We also went to teach a referral from the Elders this week. Her name is Ba Ut and she lives on a boat and we had to teach her on her rocky boat. Unfortunately her boat neighbors were blasting some really loud karaoke and we had to shout to her the whole time...she is already deaf in one ear haha. She kept complaining about her cough and that she was sick. We asked her she felt in her heart knowing that she has a loving Heavenly Father. She responded, "It hurts really bad. I haven't stopped coughing. I am so sick" hahah. Her boat also kept rocking back and forth and she thought it was so funny that I was scared and so she sat there rocking it. Hahah.

Yesterday, we had our Asia area conference and I really liked what they focused on. Families. Responsibilities of mothers and fathers. Temples. Conversion. Etc. Etc. I think it was everything that our members really needed to hear. I hope they got something out of it.

Last night, Co lien, a less-active, had us and the Elders over for FHE. She said "Anh Ca, Chi Ca!! I've been a member for years and this is my first time ever doing FHE!! I'm so happy you are here!" It was a really tender moment. She's been pretty sick lately and hasn't been able to go to work and make money for food for the 6 people in her home. So we made dinner and brought it over. After sharing a message with her, we sat and ate. I watched her grandkids just swallow the food whole and asked them if it was good or not. They said "Wow! Anh ca, Chi ca!! You make really good food. This is the first delicious thing we've eaten in so long!!" I asked Co Lien what they eat every day and she said eggs and MAYBE some fish sauce. And then I looked at them and immediately lost my appetite. The food was so good but then I thought about how privileged we are to have so much food to eat every day and how much we complain to have nothing to eat and how much they struggle. And so i put aside my portion and we just left the rest of the food for them.

I learned a lot this week. So it was probably one of my favorite weeks and it made me want to go home even less. There's not much I, personally, can ever do to help anyone. But I know that that's what God is here for and He wants all of us to just go around and spread that good news. He brings us so much joy and really does help us overcome a lot of grief and sorrow. What a blessing.

Sorry that was a novel. I love you all!! Have a GREAT week!!

Love,

Sister Nguyen