Enjoying Cambodia

We were able to do Hong’s confirmation this Sunday, and I was able to be a part of that, that was a new experience; I have never been in the priesthood circle of a confirmation before. I am glad that we were able to have a confirmation on Sunday though, because church was a little grim; only 45 people came to church, and we only had one investigator at church who stayed for only the first hour. I have no idea where everyone is!  I had a fantastic week! On Thursday I did some service and pulled weeds in a like plantation where they grow beans. That was kind of fun. It was out by an old, abandoned airport. I noticed we were riding our bikes down this huge, long, open, straight road, and said, "This looks like it could be a runway for an airport," and one of the other elders told me it used to be one. Possible during the Vietnam war for the Americans. So that was super cool! By the place where we weeded was an old broken down building, and we went and checked it out. It was pretty tall and you could see forever. It's so beautiful here, so green. I love it! After that I was with Elder Thomas in his area for the rest of the day. Then we went to the rice paddies and went stoonging Friday morning. Had a ton of fun. Elder Hall and I have been busy at work too. Between 2 and 8 yesterday (covering 2 areas) we taught 7 lessons, and took 1 hour to teach English too. Super successful! It is looking like we will have a baptism for Sok Jia on Sunday! Yay! It's super exciting! He has come a long ways, and he is doing really well. I am excited for him. On Saturday we are having a fireside that we missionaries are putting on, and we are doing a play of Ammon and the king. It should be a lot of fun! I am excited.  Wow, I learned so many great things this past week in my personal study. In my studies in the Book of Mormon, I am near the beginning of Alma, and read the story of Ammon. He chooses to serve the king before he does any kind of teaching or anything else. His service that he rendered was enough to "win the hearts" of the servants of the king, and the king himself so much that they would "believe on his words." As I read this scriptures I thought back on a visit that Elder Connor and I had to a part-member family. We tried to sit down with the father, and talk a little bit about what the gospel is, and in the middle of it he started being very rude. He just walked away and was interrupting us as we tried to teach his wife. I was surprised by his reactions to us, but had hope that one day he may soften up a bit. The next day we came back to the house to help this sister move some dirt to another place in her yard. That one simple act of service changed his view on us, and while we haven't yet had an opportunity to sit down and teach the gospel to this man, he is now one of the kindest people I have ever met. I know that through our service we can truly touch the hearts of the people we are called to teach.