Dear Familia,
How are you? I am superb~and the
work is going great here in Teuk Thla!
This past week we saw off Pu Mony
and Ming Srey as they went to their home provinces to go and get their whole
marriage certificate worked out so that they can be baptized which they desire
with all of their hearts. Sadly, they came back empty handed because the people
that were to make the certificate were being "crazy" and there were
some issues that were brought up-because Pu's former wife had passed away 20
years ago, Ming had a former husband as well, money and stuff-honestly we were
confused on exactly the issue was and weren't sure but the branch president had
a talk with him in his office yesterday at church and we are going to talk to
him about it since he knows a lot more than we do about Khmae marriages and
whatnot. They were pretty sad and felt out of hope they said but we encouraged
them and talked about the Atonement and how the Lord would provide a way for them
and has not fogotten them. They are really such a special family and their
faith in Christ is incredible. They have changed so much! I remember Pu Mony
had issues with drinking and smoking and would sleep under their house in the
mud when he was drunk and I met him a couple of times when he was drunk-but 3
days after we taught the Word of Wisdom he stopped drinking beer and has been
sober ever since, and the smoking was more gradual but from what I understand
he's stopped that as well. They say that many of their neighbors have really
noticed his repentance and the change in him as well and they brought 2 of
their neighbor friends to church with them on Sunday! I love them so much and
all will work out. With the Lord on our side what need we to fear?
We have gotten some new
investigators this past week from contacting, one time when I was riding my
bike on the way to the church I was next to this young man and I felt impressed
that I ought to talk and contact him so I started talking with him and he was really
impressed that I spoke Cambodian and we stopped in front of the church to give
him a flyer for English which he had a very strong desire to come to; we have
since gotten in contact with him-his name is Renksay and he is studying
philosophy and is 21 years old-and started teaching him and he's great! The
sisters also gave us a referral that they contacted and when we met her one of
the very first things she asked was how to become a member of our church :) Her
name is Sophanny, she is 21 and studying accounting, she is very sincere, loved
church yesterday, and we see her getting in the water real quick :)
Also one more great experience with
our investigators Bong Narack and his wife Vanna-the one that flagged us down
as we were biking and told us she'd been praying to meet us. Well for Bong
Narack he has been really studying the Book of Mormon diligently and he was so
excited to tell us at church about a dream that he had; in his dream he and his
wife were dressed in the white robes of the Lord with a hood and how he had his
hands raised up in the air but then felt that it wasn't appropriate and then
put his arm to the square. Then he saw a war happening and tried to tell his
friends but they couldn't see what he was seeing until he told them again and then
they could see what he was pointing at. He was so happy and said that he just
had been so happy since he had this dream and that he really felt that it was
from the Lord and that it was his testimony. I have heard a lot about people
here sharing their dreams and they take their dreams very seriously here; the
Cambodian people are definitely a dreaming people. Cause for me I do not
remember my dreams too well at all!
Elder Fisher and I like to joke
around that we are being "too blessed" because we have so many great
people to teach that when we are scheduling them all during Weekly Planning it
seems a little tight-but miraculously seems to work out. I absolutely am love
being a missionary and yesterday was one of the best Sundays of my whole
mission. We just had some great lessons and had an amazing RM father come
help us teach Narack and Vanna and it was perhaps the most powerful Plan of
Salvation lesson I have ever taught. Sorry this is really long but I just want
to share a tad of the many blessings that the Lord is pouring out. The work is
hastening and what an exciting time to be a missionary and indeed a member in
His church! We have the most precious thing in the whole world, how blessed we
are. Everyone needs this gospel, Christ's Atonement and His Church can
solve ALL problems answer ALL questions and make EVERYTHING right. I know He is
our Savior and that He lives, it is true! Again how blessed we are to have this
pearl of great price! It is the greatest thing that we could possibly share
with others. May we not take it for granted and treasure it, live it, love it
with all our heart, and share it with others. I love you all dearly, until next
week!
Elder Garlick
PS. Here is your Khmae lesson of the
week; Perhaps you wonder why does everyone in Cambodia have the name of Pu or
Ming or Bong? If I was in your shoes, I would be wondering that too, but wonder
no more because I will tell you the reason :) Ba-oon means younger brother or
sister, Bong means older brother or sister, Pu means uncle, ming means aunt, om
means older uncle and aunt, ta means grandpa, and yay means grandma. So yeah
pretty much we call everyone brother, sister, aunt, uncle, etc and then their
name. We're all one big happy family!
Pics; I really wanted to send some
pictures but the internet is being to slow or something...
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