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!

Celebrating Pioneer Day & Laying Low During Elections

"So on Friday I had a pretty cool experience. I was able to commit someone to baptism. I have done it before once, but this time after I recited the commitment, I felt a huge rush of the spirit. It was super strong, and super cool. It almost surprised me how strong it was. And she said yes. We have four people who are committed to baptism right now. Three are scheduled for the 11th. They have attended church really well. I have no worries about them. Things are going well."

"We just learned that, because of the unrest caused by the elections, we have to go back to the apartment right after writing letters. But ya overall this week has been pretty good. Nothing super crazy happened."

"On the July 24th, Pioneer Day, we went to a district pioneer party. The Cambodians have a huge party for it. I would have never had thought that they would celebrate it like they do. But that was fun."

Celebrating Pioneer Day with the Kampong Cham District

Campaigning for the national elections.

Biking over the Mekong River.

Rice fields.

Buddist temple in Kampong Cham.

After a little elbow grease...a clean kitchen!

A Baptism, Ferry Ride, and Rice Harvest in Kampong Cham

"We had two baptisms this week."

"Many of the people we meet with live in small wooden houses on stilts. Sometimes we meet under the house and sometimes we meet in the house itself. The floor of the house in made of bamboo strips and we can see through to under the house. The foundation is the wooden stilts, just placed on the ground. And many times when we are teaching lessons, sweat is literally dripping down my face and it is just crazy. I am getting better with the language, one word at a time. I usually understand everything that goes on during lessons."
 
"On P-day and after district meeting we all eat together as a zone. It is usually super fun. We eat at this place called prambei bowen= 8000. Which means 8000 riel. And everything there is 8000 riel which is two bucks--pretty good. It is a lot like Bangkok grill in Orem. There is unlimited rice. And we order a dish. My favorite is this glass noodles, with pork and peanuts, but I also get pineapple pork stuff, and sometimes stir fried veggie, and sometimes soup. Honestly, sometimes I don't know what I eat. But that is all good."


 "This week a miracle happened, we went to the island (the one with the bamboo bridge) but with the rainy season the bridge is down and we have to take the ferry. We were coming back after a lesson and we made it on the last ferry back by less than a minute. It had actually already started to leave but came back to get us. But probably a minute later we would have missed it and been stuck on the island. God is really watching over me--remember the story of the people that brought me my wallet? And I am sure there are other things that I don't even realize. But God is taking care of me. It reminded me of the impression I received in the MTC, 'I am thy God and will still give thee aid' God is with me and is protecting me, that I know."

"It has rained almost every day this week. Remember I said it wasn't that muddy, well I take it back; this week has been super muddy, and lots of rain."

Waiting for the ferry--the only way to the island during the rainy season.

The ferry!

On the ferry, crossing the Mekong.

Harvesting rice with the Kampong Cham Zone.

Transfer 2 in Kampong Cham

This last week was good. Monday and Tuesday last week my companion went to the city for some training. And I went with Elder Hong, he is Cambodian. He is a super cool guy. Super nice.  Thursday we did some service. We may have a new investigator. I contacted him on Tuesday. Then we met him Friday. The first lesson was going really well, but then his dad came home and he said that we should probably go, but said that we could come back. Cross your fingers. We were supposed to have 3 baptisms next Sunday! But one didn't come to church yesterday, and he has only come once before that, so we will have to postpone him. But, oh well, most of our investigators came to church yesterday, so that is good. :) And two of them stayed for all 3 hours, I have high hopes for them.

On a split with Elder Hong in Kampong Cham over the Mekong River.

Kampong Cham traffic.

Elder Dilworth on July 4th.

Kampong Chan missionaries at Elder & Sister Dilworth's apartment on the 4th.

In Kampong Cham. The oft-traveled bridge of the Mekong River is in the rear of the picture.

A Good Week in KC

"Our church meetings are pretty good. We have a lot of inactives and semi actives. So each week is a roller coaster seeing everyone that came, and trying to get them to stay for all three hours. We lose one third to a half of the people after the first hour.  I am understanding the language more and more and trying to understand the main message people are sharing. Church is good."

At the church with Elder Warr from Salem, Utah who is his way home after an honorable mission.

Doing service...pulling weeds.

The little girl standing in front and Puu standing to Edward's left are being baptized. The branch president is pictured wearing glasses.