Baptism, Thanksgiving, Too Hot for Christmas

"Yesterday we had two baptisms!  Testimony after the baptism was good. He said that his sins are now washed away, and that he knows he is supposed to follow the commandments for the rest of his life."

"Thanksgiving in Cambodia was fun! Every Thursday morning we do weekly planning, so we just did that then went to eat at the senior couples. They had ham sandwiches, jello and coleslaw, it was very yummy. We all shared what we were grateful for that we didn't realize we had gratitude for, but since coming on the mission we do. And I shared my awesome family! Obvious I was grateful before I just didn't realize how much I love you all so much!"

"Afterwards we just went out proselyting again, it honestly felt like a normal day. That night we shared the First Vision with a bunch of slightly drunk dudes who offered us beer. We denied but they kept offering then I said, actually we teach people not to drink beer, so then they gave us 7Up instead. But after we shared a little about Jesus and Joseph Smith they said we could come back a later day and share more, but not sure; they were a little drunk."
"What is going on? My mind is so confused! Why is it so hot in Dec? For me it still feels like July!  And actually Dec is like the coolest month, haha." 

Thanksgiving Day, 2013

The Adventure Continues

"Well, the adventure continues in Cambodia. This week was pretty good. Yesterday we had 3 investigators come to sacrament meeting! Whoot whoot! The highest I have ever had in TaKhmau. So that was sweet! The three were Bong Ciang, Lookpu Bora, and Sokran. And because of that Ciang, and Sokran will get baptized next week. Sokran is a 11 year old girl and her family is already members.  Ciang is good. He keeps our commitments, of the five weeks since he accepted baptism he has come to church 3 times the two times he missed was one he went to visit his parents a ways away, and the other was district conference in Phnom Penh which was kind of far."

"So we have this one area about 45 min bike ride south away from the church, that has about 7 families, that all live with next to each other. It is called Kauh, Ko (cow island) this is where Sokran lives. Well on Sat, when he went this one member gave us four people who wanted to learn about the gospel. At first I was stoked, 4 people, awesome! But then I started to realize they where all mothers with newly born babies, and that the lady talked about how the senior couple gave away free milk for babies and how expensive milk is, so I put 2 and 2 together and we have four new mothers who want free milk! Ugh..... I am not sure what we are going to do.  Because actually if you are an active member with a new child the senior couple will help you get milk. But I don't want to teach people just so they can get milk But I think we are still going to teach them, but just have awesome lessons so that they will truly be converted. "

New Companion in Ta Khamu

"Yesterday and Saturday was district conference, and that was great. Saturday was a huge focus on member and missionaries working together, and so hopefully the members will get excited to help the missionaries. And what was really cool was that two Area Authority Seventy's came. One that I don't know, but the other was Randy Funk, and he just spoke in general conference. So that was sweet. I got to shake his hand, it was a good experience. And this week on Thursday is zone conference! So I am pumped for that too."

Edward and his companion have three investigators who have baptismal dates. They are excited to help them progress toward those dates. Because Edward's companion is new to the area, Edward is responsible to plan the proselyting and teaching. He is looking forward to the challenge.

New companion, Elder Brittan.

Outgoing Ta Khmau district.

Staying in Ta Khmau. Receiving Elder Brittan

Yesterday for church our investigator came to church again! He really is our only truly progressing investigator, but that is okay, the others will start coming, I hope. But he is doing really really well. Last night we met and he said and I quote: "I love reading the scriptures" He also said that he had a great experience at church and he loved the testimonies of the members And he said that at first he was confused at everything we said, but now things are starting to make sense, so that is awesome!"

I am staying in TaKhmau, but Elder Decker is being transfered. My new companion is Elder Brittan from Idaho. I remember him from the MTC. He was one group ahead of me.  I really feel that Elder Brittan and I will just do awesome things, although I am a little nervous but I have a lot of responsibility now and I hope I will be able to fill up our schedule, but I bet Ill do fine.

At a buffet we visit last week.

The wound is healing fine.  Phew!

Great Investigator, "Special" Meat, & Wound Recovery

I went on an exchange with Elder Vore. Saturday night we biked an hour away to this place called Bah Kuu, and it was very pretty. I'll send some pics. Oh, and there I ate dog...a lot. I didn't know it was dog till afterward. The dog was actually pretty good, not of the missionaries were touching the bowl the dog was in, and I was like to myself, "well, I guess I'll just eat it", and it was good so I ate most of the bowl that nobody else would touch. Afterwards they told me it was "special" meat, that is what they call dog meat. haha

 This is the awesome miracle story of the week. We contacted a man about a month and a half ago and he said we could come back and share a message. When we first started teaching him he said that he could never go to church but we could teach him. He owns a little shop where he fixes bikes and sells food and treats. Whenever we teach him, during the entire lesson we have to stop and and he goes helps customers and then he comes back and we continue. (shows that nobody is too busy to learn) I love this guy. Elder Vore and I taught a killer Plan of Salvation and committed him to baptism. I honestly didn't know what he would say, there was a very very big chance he would say no way! But he said, "yes, I believe what you teach me, and want to do what you say", then said, "what do I need to do". We said, "go to church", and he said, "what time does it start?" And we told him, then we left. I was super happy, but a lot of people have told me that they will go to church and haven't. But yesterday he came!!!!!!!! Miracle. Shows the power of the Holy Ghost, there is no way he would have come without the Holy Ghost. Him coming to church was really a miracle. I always thought he could do it, but I knew it would be hard. So happy about him.  

Bah Kuu, about an hour's bike ride from Ta Khmau.

I am actually supposed to clean it myself every two days, so today at night I will clean it and replace the bandage. But this is a lot smaller than it was at first. and the white stuff is the anti bacterial stuff they put on. (I think)  And yes, it is a little scary, I wasn't  worried at all (I thought the doctors were taking way too many precautions) until about now (ha, ha) everyone is making a big deal. I'll definitely be very careful with it.

New Investigators, Cyst Removal, Hamburgers and Donuts.

Right now we have four progressing investigators, which is great! Before we had about one. So the work is getting better. 

Conference was great! It felt like I have 3 preparation days in a row. All the talks were great. My favorites: both of Elder Uchtdorf's talks and Elder Edward Dube (not just because he has my name hehe). Well, honestly I liked a ton! I can't name them all. But a lot of really good talks.  I really felt the Lord loves for me. He knows my weaknesses. Even though I can still do better and I am striving to get us working harder. I felt the Lord accepts my covenant. I just felt full of hope, that the lord will fulfill his promises to me. 

This week I went to see the doctor a lot. The first time they drained all the puss that was inside the cyst. And they cut it open a little more and drained it more. But it wasn't the classic doctors visit. Usually at the doctor everything is super professional. This one for Cambodia was honestly really good, but sometimes my doctor (a small asian woman who could speak english) would ask the nurse for supplies and the nurse didn't know what the heck the doctor was talking about. What was really nerve racking is when the nurse brought over the cutting equipment and just dumped it on the little table next to me. The nurse looked like he had no idea what he was doing, and the doctor kept having to tell him what he was doing wrong or kept telling him to get things, that he didn't know existed. So to begin the doctor gave me a shot to numb it up, but she was the worst shot giver ever, she stabbed it in and was moving it around in my leg, it hurt so bad! And it really didn't even work because when she started cutting my leg a little it hurt a ton! She saw me flinch so she gave me another shot which hurt like crazy. That one finally worked though because it only hurt about half as much afterwards. But honestly everything went great. I have to go in and the clean the wound and redress it every other day, probably for another week, cause now I just have a big crevasse on my leg. But the good news my stupid big cyst is gone. Tell Sam he'll be happy, he hated that thing. 

Pretty scenery near the home of a member of the brach.

Clean study desk.

Saturday we found this place that is called USA Donuts. They sell hamburgers and donuts. And I had a hamburger and it was like an classic American hamburger it was delicious! And the donut too! It was a taste of home. And on Saturday I got a haircut, like dad and Ethan, but they left the top way too long. But I thought it looked fine, but that night I hated it, so I grabbed a pair of scissors went to the bathroom and cut it. And now it looks great! Obviously not a movie star haircut but it looks good. 

Good Investigator to Church, Companion's Birthday, and a Sore Leg

Yesterday we had one investigator come to church, so we are still kinda struggling with our investigators but the one who came is a new investigator and is very interested. She is a niece to another investigator and listened to our Plan of Salvation lesson, and then she came to church, I was super surprised to see her there, and super happy. 
This week is that I went on an exchange with Elder Stanley. It was in my area so I was pretty much senior comp. We met with a few people, and we found a really old member who has been inactive for over 10 years but his kids might learn. And at the end of the day I was able to do all the tasks that missionaries are supposed to do, meaning my language skills are now good enough where I could be by myself and still do everything I do now. So with the language I feel pretty good. But still working hard so I can speak clearly.

Elder Decker's birthday was this week and we had pizza. It was really good. There some nice restaurants in Cambodia. 

Remember my old cyst on my leg. Well, it is getting bigger and is red and it hurts really bad when I touch it.  I'm going to ask Sister Moon, the mission president's wife, today.  I will probably have to get it removed.