Dear Family,
Hey! "Suasdei Chnam Tmey!" Happy New Year! Right now it is the middle of the 3 day Khmer New Year which started yesterday at exactly 2:12am. The city is so quiet and it seems as though just about all the stores and homes are locked up. It's empty! But we met with some of the remaining members here and have eaten some great food as a part of the celebration :) I love rice! Even with most of our investigators and recent converts gone we've still seen some great things happen this past week.
One great miracle that we saw was a week or two ago we were going down the street and we went past this guy on a motto and he said like, "Hey Elder." We stopped and talked with him and it turns out that his name is Pu Chay and is a member from Ta Khmao that is living here in Tuek Thla because his wife and son sell food here and he is a moto dope. He has a phone but didn't know what his number was, however he told us the area that his house was in. We had looked for his home and didn't have any luck, but then we were over in that area again doing some finding and as we were biking we went past this house and he was out front and said hi to us. Miracle! We talked with him and met his wife and his 17 year old son and his 18 year old niece who sells food with them. Turns out they are preparing to go to the temple in Ta Khmao and pay tithing and everything out there. However, their son is not a member yet! So we were able to meet with them and their son and he is going to start learning with us now, which is really exciting! And hopefully their niece will as well. I am really grateful that we were able to meet with them and that their family will be closer to being all members!
This week we had the opportunity for doing service for a less active member who didn't go anywhere for the holiday. We had an appointment to come and meet with him and when we showed up he was busy deep cleaning his house; it definitely needed it. We asked him if we could help him and he kept saying, "No it's fine" "Maybe another time when I have a lot for you to help with" " No worries Elders" But we wouldn't take no for an answer and started helping him clean up his home. It was a very humbling experience wiping away dust and piles of rat poop and seeing a plethora of cockroaches crawling out of boxes as we helped clean and tidy up the house. It was just another big reminder to me of how blessed we are in America. So blessed. We have so much to be grateful for. I sometimes It was also great seeing how as we served him he started telling where to put things and we could tell he was happy to have us over. I love service and it really does soften hearts.
Yesterday was transfer calls; this transfer has gone by so fast! And Elder Pettit will be leaving and going to my "birth" area in Battambang! I am so jealous. As I was telling him about the members there and as I just was thinking about them last night I just felt this great feeling of love and great gratitude for the privilege that I had to serve among them there. I really love my friends there and I miss them so much. But, I am excited for Elder Pettit! We've gotten along really well and it's been a great experience serving with him. He is a stud, great at the language, loves the people, hard working, and just has a great desire to leave things better than how he found it. I am grateful for him and for the great friend that he is to me. I'm sure I'll miss him. Also, I was called to serve as a co-Zone Leader with my very good friend Elder Fisher! He and I were in the MTC together and are great friends. We are going to be serving here in Tuek Thla. I am very humbled and excited to serve as a Zone Leader.
Conference for me is this week and I am very excited for it. As more time goes on in my mission the more I love and look forward to hearing from our leaders.
Thanks for your emails, you always tell me what I need to hear and you lift me up an inspire me. Thank you for your Christ like examples. I love this work and what an exciting time it is to be a missionary. What an exciting time it is to be a member of the Lord's restored Church. I know with all my heart that this is the Lord's work and that He is very much a part of it. I don't want to miss out. I love Jesus Christ and I know that He lives.
I love you! Have a great week.
With love,
Elder Garlick
Pics; Frog at members house
Another recent convert Nary
Our investigator Sam On
Elder Pettit and I with a recent convert, Leaksmee, and her formerly less active sister Davy.
Sorry I'll try to send more pics the computer isn't reading my card.
No comments:
Post a Comment