Settling In At Ta Khmau

We have 3 investigators in Ta Khmau. All are doing well. Our branch has a lot of less active members, so most of our work is strengthening the members. But we are also trying to find new investigators.

Last week the branch president told me I was giving a talk from the stand during sacrament meeting. But by the time it was my turn the time was up so I just bore my testimony and talked  a little about the sacrament. That was fun.

I really like our branch president he is super nice. My name in Cambodian is spoken like Plow-Tow. And in Cambodian Plow means street or way. And Tow means nothing but trow means correct. So everyone calls me Plow-Trow which means the right way. So I really like that obviously.

Living near the Phnom Penh is cool. I am on the outskirts so not really in the city, but last p-day we went to the city and rode our bikes around and it was really fun riding in Phnom Penh. We saw a lot of cool things, it was fun. My bike is super small, curse my long skinny legs!! But today we are going to get a taller seat so that will help.

The streets are a lot busier. Sometimes we park our bikes at the church and walk places. There are no cross walks, and when I cross the road I feel like Mulan's grandma when she has the cricket and crosses the street.

At an ancient temple site near Kampong Cham.

The Kampong Cham missionary district.

Baptism Day & Tranfered Next Week

"This week was pretty good! Two of our new investigators agreed to baptism, but we had to drop one because he is getting his masters and has no time. Sunday was pretty good. Two of our investigators were baptized. They are great! They are two great guys. The sisters in our ward had three other baptisms.  67 people attended which is huge for baptisms! Usually only about 20 attend. So that was great. 

So last night was transfer calls! I am going to Phnom Penh! Actually a little outside of Phnom Penh, about 30 min bike ride, called Ta Khmau (I think that is what it is called)." 

New Investigators & District Conference

This week was good, we got five new investigators! One was a son of an investigator who is already learning, and four others were from street contacting. The four are very interested in the gospel, and they want to learn more. They aren't sure if they want to join, but they are giving it a shot. So let's hope the Spirit touches their hearts and they believe what we say.  One of the lessons to the new investigators we had an awesome member present with us and he helped the investigator better understand what we were saying.

Sunday and Saturday were district conference. President and Sister Moon came, along with an Area Seventy, Elder Juan, (pronounced ron) It was pretty good. Last year there were 250 in attendance this year 350, so that is great. The church is growing, and that isn't even counting 30 people that live a ways out that usually come to church and wanted to come but the van that usually picks them up for some reason or another didn't come. After the meetings Elder Juan talked to all the recent converts and focused a lot on callings, because only 9 out of the 80 new converts had callings. 

Son of the branch president.

The tops of Phnom Pros & Pros Srei off in the distance.

It's not easy taking a self-portrait while walking on a berm between two rice fields.

It's not easy to take a self-portrait while riding down a country road!