Week 5 in Kampong Cham

July 1, 2013
"I am super happy! The language is getting better, some days I feel like I know it well.  I have learned a ton in 3 months, and just think how much more I can learn in 3 more. So this week was really good with investigators. Yesterday alone we got three new investigators, and for the week we got four. And yesterday all our investigators came to church except for one, which is awesome, I was super happy about that. For the next few weeks we will have lots of investigator lessons, which are always the best. We are teaching one guy whom I personally contacted. We taught him at the church on Sunday. We shared a message about the Book of Mormon and the First Vision. Our branch church meetings were directly after the lesson, and he stayed for all three hours--awesome."

"Well, I bought a new bike. It is so nice, the last one I had was terrible so I just bought a new one, and it is super nice not to have to worry about my bike everyday! Super nice. 

Everything in Cambodia is going great. I bought some pancake mix and made some--yum! And french toast--yum! This week I am going to try to make some beans. Wish me luck!"

"Well this is the last week of transfers, and yes, I am staying in KC with Elder Mundt. Oh yes, I am healthy and happy."

Discovered this in the neighborhood while waiting for the bike to be fixed (again).

Between thunder storms on the way to teaching a lesson to a man who is scheduled for baptism next week.

Missionaries, young women from the branch, and folks for whom service was done.

Helped this woman repair her fence to keep the cows out of the field.

Hungry enough to eat a .......! Yes, mom, the stinger is gone.

About right here is a colony of red biting ants!

Taking a break on the old bike after fixing the fence.

Understanding the Language Better & A Good Samaritan

June 17, 2013 

"This week, was the first time I could understand the natives, not a lot, but sometimes I could actually understand whole conversations not 100% but enough to know what is going on. Before I could never understand full sentences spoken by Cambodians, but the gift of tongues is working and I am getting better at the language."

"I really like our investigators. Especially this one guy: Puu Oon, He is super awesome. It took him only a week to quit smoking, and it is cool seeing him improve through the gospel."

"A miracle happened this week. I bought some bread then was heading to our next item of business and a native on a motto about a couple minutes later drove up to me and got my attention, I stopped and she handed me my wallet! I don't know how it happened, if it fell out of my pocket or I left it there I am not sure, but truly a miracle. I am going to be super careful with it for now own. Wow God is watching over me. But that is the theme I have learned from this week. I know that God is with me, and He is answering my prayers."

"We biked a lot this week, we have someone we are working with to help him get the preisthood, and he is about 15 kilometers away (it takes about 50 min to get there, and 50 min back.) and we have a recent convert on the island with the bamboo bridge that we teach about 35 min away. So this week, I have biked a ton"

"We were helping these people clear away growth from their field. We were using machetes and sickles. It was very hot and I was sweating tons. It was good."
Elder Plothow

Kampong Cham...Settling in.

Bamboo bridge to an island on the Mekong River.

On the bamboo bridge. Edward claims he saw an automobile cross the bridge so he seems to think it is safe!

On the island.

Alternate forms of transportation. Go Tigers!

Edward and a lady on a scooter had a minor collision on a dirt road last week.  She suffered a bloody nose and wanted money from him, but was satisfied after receiving a supply of vitamins. He was not injured but had to replace the frame of his bicycle.