Success

It has been a great week, and things went really well. We had two baptisms this past Sunday, and that was great! The Lord is truly bringing about His great work, and changing the lives of so many of His children. I also had the privilege of baptizing an 8 year old girl of one of our recent converts in Kampong Thom.  This past Sunday was a great day at church as well; we had a really good attendance, and many less-active members were able to attend as well. 

Well, as you may know by now, transfers took place this Friday, and I will be training a new missionary again, here in Kampong Thom. I am super excited for the opportunity to train again, and I am also excited to remain in Kampong Thom. I really love it here! It will be interesting because that means that I will probably spend 5 transfers here in KT, and that is really rare in our mission; usually only 3-4 transfers in an area. It will be cool though because that means that I’ve spend a different amount of time in each area; Kampong Cham 3 transfers; Siem Reap 2 transfers; The Office 4 transfers; and at least 4 transfers (hopefully 5 in Kampong Thom).

Last week we went and visited Ming, who was baptized when I first got to Kampong Thom. We were talking with her, and I asked a few questions about Pol Pot and what her area was like. She shared a story from when she was young. She said that her a few other kids were herding cattle with the main herder, and they had always been told to watch out for tigers. (Kind of like sheep and wolves, but Cambodia takes it to a new level with cows and tigers!) One day, they were herding cattle (not too far from her current house) and a tiger was spotted. She said that her and her friends had to all take off and run up small trees; ones that were too small for the tiger to climb. When she got up the tree, she saw the tiger attack the cow from behind. It jumped on its back and then bit its neck, threw it over its shoulder and then carried it off. So crazy!

I really love working out here in Kampong Thom. It is so peaceful and the members are incredible.  

The missionary work here goes ‘forth boldy, nobly, and independently.’ It is amazing to see the rolling forth of the gospel, and the incredible happenings brought about by the hand of the Lord. 

Only 6 months left!

I am so excited for conference, especially hearing all of you talk about it! I have to wait until October 20 and 21 before I can watch it though! Oh, so far away! It’s because this upcoming weekend is the Pchum Bun Holiday, and the chances are that attendance would be very low if we showed it this weekend.  

On Monday I loaded up into a Toyota Camry with Elder Mornh and a member from Kampong Thom and headed up to Phnom Penh. I was privileged to be able to translate for the interview with President Moon and this member, and it was an incredible experience. It was an interview for the Melchizedek Priesthood, and President Moon said something that I’ve heard a few times before, but this time it really stuck out to me, and has been on my mind ever since. He said that the 10% that you pay for tithing is something that you may need, and it’s not important to the Lord or the church, but you can’t make it without the blessings that come from paying it. His quote really struck home, and its application in all of the commandments from the Lord. How many blessings we truly do receive from following His commandments, and those blessings are so essential to our lives. 

Well, it was my 18 month mark. Can you believe it? I sure can’t. I’ve been on my mission for a whole year and a half, and it has gone by so fast. I have learned so much though. Probably changed a lot, and certainly have grown in my testimony of the gospel. What is probably even harder to believe is that I only have 6 months left. I don’t know what I will do when I go home; it will be strange! And it will probably be cold. 80 degrees is comfortable. :)  

Last week went great! We had our investigator interviewed for baptism, and she will get baptized on this Sunday! We are so excited! She is happy as well; she has been investigating the church for a long time.  

We have a member in the branch who has just become this gospel-sharing machine! She gave us 11 referrals last week! It was so exciting! We’ve been super busy with all of our current investigators, so it will be a challenge to fit our new investigators into the schedule, but we sure will make it work! We are super excited to have so many people to teach.