Christmas in Cambodia "Merry Christmas"

Christmas trees surrounding a Buddha shrine. Rather interesting, don't you think?

Isn't our little tree cute? We bought a hand made wooden nativity, a wreath, and a Santa stocking.

You can see Dad grading papers beyond the stocking. He said, "I put in 2 for 1 just grading papers".

We did have one of his students who is a member of the church, but hasn't been there in a number of years, attend church today. He was going to bring a friend with him, also a member of the dental class, but his mother wouldn't let him come.

See how Elder Morgan's garden grows.

We even have a small green peper and blossoms on the tomato plant.

Visit from Elder Garn for District Confernce

We enjoyed the visit from Elder Garn. He is still the kind, gentle man we knew while we were in dental school together. He is from the 2nd quorm of 70 and he presides over one half the worlds population. His council is for us to help the people be self reliant not dependent on the church. We have been asked to give generously to the various funds of the church, and give of ourselves to help the people know the Lords way.

Water Festival Cambodia

We went to a water festival which is a celebration of the end of harvest and the reversing of the river direction, offering to the water deamons, the end to the rainy season, and a parade of the provinces before the king etc. There were teams that came from the Cambodian provinces, and other near-by Asian countries. It was quite a show. We told you about Pchum ben days when everyone goes to the provinces, well this festival brings all the people from the provinces to Phnom Penh-between 2 or 3 million people. The boats contained from 25 to 72 men or women rowing their boats. They were dressed in very bright shirts and hats. This event went on for 3 or 4 days. This is a view of the Tonle Sap just before it empties into the Mekong Sap, a couple of the boats and a few of the people.

In the evening we watched some fireworks and then the float-boats of the king, parlament, and government agencies all floated by; it was quite a show.

We were cautioned about robbers and muggings, but we came and went in a tuck tuck without an incident.

Apsara Dancers

This young girl is a member of the church and a group of Senior Couples went to see her perform.

We had gone to the traditional dancing before but didn't take a camera. It is very beautiful and interesting.

Ox cart and pots for sale

I have been trying to get a picture of this ox cart pulling this wagon full of pottery through the streets ever since we got here. Everytime we have seen it, we haven't had our camera with us. The cart goes throughout the town selling pottery wares from it. Very typical of what it must have been like 75 years ago.

The Dental Clinic

These are some pictures from the five day dental clinic with 11 dentists. Most everyone was pleasant but a few felt their problems were more important than others. It was a challenge to accommodate everyone. The clinic saw over 600 patents and Elder Morgan pulled 60 teeth in one day including other services. It was a challenge but also rewarding. The services were all free.

Recent Rain Storm

This is our road in front of our apartment after one of our all day storms. It really turns into a river.

Mail to missionaries in "The Pouch"

Just wanted to let everyone know that mail to missionaries in "The Pouch" through Salt Lake is now to be a 11 x 8 1/2 inch page of paper, written on one side, folded to resemble a legal size envelope. The letter needs to be taped on the top and the addresses on the paper as you would address any envelope.
I was talking to some sister missionaries yesterday and they said that the pouch requirements had been abused, violating the contract the church had with other governments and that the missionary work had been stopped as a result.
If you need to send anything to us other than a letter as described above, the other address we sent to you gets here pretty well. It is also address to the mission office but goes by regular mail.
The end date for sending cards etc. through the pouch ended October 31st so all November, December birthday cards were sent early. Don't open until you birthday, ; )
Reminder of addresses:
Cambodian Phnom Penh Mission
PO Box 30150
Salt Lake City, UT 84130 0150
USA

Cambodian Phnom Penh Mission
PO Box 165
House 2B, Street 222
Off Norodom Blvd
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA

Reason for our trip to the Beach

I just wanted to let you know the conditions here in Phnom Penh two weeks ago, when we went to Sihanoukville. Our Driver wanted to go with his family to the province of his birth with his wife, daughter, mother, father, aunts, uncles etc. We were told and we believe that the city emptied starting Tuesday night until Monday the next week. As we were out visiting on Tuesday night we saw a 9 passenger van filled with about 20 people in it and so many we couldn't count on top of the van. We saw not just one van like that but several. We went down the street to visit the family, we had been down the same street before, it was nearly empty. The people we were visiting, had sold their only means of transportation to help a sick mother, the only reason they were still there. Many in the branches we work with were going away. It really was surprising how empty the streets became. So Elder Morgan and I decided we would let our driver go and we would go to the beach. It was very inexpensive, $6.00 per seat one way. So least you think we were shirking our duties, that is the reason we went at this time. We did have a good time, and tried to support the little business on the beach.

Our Trip to Sihanoukville Beach

2nd day at the breach below, notice that Sister Morgan is dressed. Soooooooo burned 1st day

Above, Elder Morgan and Elder Murray both getting burned on the 2nd day. The beach was wonderful. The water was warm, the people were friendly and talkative out in the water. Very conducive to burn, burn, burn. Our skin is pealing like crazy the week after we got back. The hotel was pretty but the staff wasn't very friendly or helpful. The hotel was a 5 min. walk to the water's edge. We are still wondering about stupidity in not putting on a lot of sun screen; it isn't our first time to the beach. We had a good time with the other senior couple and it was a nice break. We went to a very nice restaurant the first evening and had some nice fresh baked fish. We would do it again, only the next time we will use sun screen.

Visits to Our Less Active Families

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These are the Elders we work with in our two branches. They are all Khmei. They are good young men and we enjoy our visits with them. These pictures of people whose homes we have visited in the last two weeks. Some are less active and some are new investigators. The little girl sitting in a chair was pealing an orange. She sat there and patiently pealed that orange until she was down to the meat and then she gobbled it up and started jumping around. I could see why the parents had her occupied. It is the raining season and we often go out just after a storm and when we get back we have to take our shoes off at the door. It is a good custom that we take our shoes off before going into the homes. Some of the streets are paved but most of the back roads where we go to see these people are just dirt.

Gardening

We have been looking for tomato plants but couldn't find any. Hoping for tomatoes and green pepers, we went to the market and searched for the seeds and then looked for pots to plant in. When we got home, our landlord gave us some potting soil and Elder Morgan planted four pots. We have put them on our porch the goes around our apartment on two sides. We have no idea if we can grow these plants here. We can't see any reason why they won't grow, it's warm and moist with 90 degrees and 90 percent humity.

Line Dancing

We had a good time learning this line dance even though it was very hot and muggy.

We Celebrated Dad's birthdy in Style

We had a chocolate birthday cake and candles. Sister Sasser, pictured with Dad had a birthday on the 4th, so we celebrated both. We had all the couple missionaries here for Family Home Evening and we went up on the 6th floor to overlook the city. It was going to be a grand occation, but it rained a lot that day and people had some trouble getting here since our road was flooded. But it all worked out and we had pizza, soda, birthday cake. One of the couples that had served a mission to Zimbabwe brought a presentation of growing vegetables gardens. We did a line dance after that.

Another Dental Clinic

We still have patients that come even though we have been to the branch several times, but the line isn't as long.

We enjoy the people and they are so grateful. One little lady came in from the country to get a tooth pulled.

River Trip up the Mekong

Some of the Senior Couples travel up the Mekong River and saw another Vietnamese floating village, more cattle that look like they haven't eaten in weeks, a Wat and some silk weaving villages. We had an enjoyable little trip for about four hours. I bought two silk scarfs that were woven there.

Friday Elder Morgan and I stopped at the new church building that has a completion date the first of January '08.

Vietnam People Floating Villiage

When we went to Seim Reap we went on a boat trip that goes into the lake there. There is a whole village that floats on the river. We saw churches, schools, basketball courts, stores and of course homes. Some of the homes had flower boxes. Most of the homes were made of dried palm leaves. We saw some children coming out of a store with a treat. The jumped in the boat and were off. Just like walking to the corner grocery store.

Trip to Angkor Wat

The first picture with Dad shows the huge trees that have taken over in some of the temples. You can see in the background a tarp that is covering the reconstruction that is taking place on some of the temples.

We found this pink temple to be in the best of condition and with beautiful carvings.

Some of the temples are Hindu and some are Budist. It is a curious thing how this all got started deep in the Cambodian Jungles.

Branch 7 Family Home Evening

This was a food chart of various protein food, you will notice that spiders, larvae, eel, frogs, grasshoppers, fish, chicken, red meat are all good protein sources.
These two boys were doing their homework which consisted of English/Cambodian words in their work book.

















There were rice noodles, fresh cut vegetables, curry sauce and chop sticks. I ate all of my food with them. Even Elder Morgan used them to eat some of his food. It was very tasty. I hope my stomach "soldiers" agree and don't fight with we about what I had eaten.

Once a month the branch has family home evening at individual homes and have a lesson and food. We had a wonderful time with these good people. A lot of them are coming to my English class on Tuesday and Thursday. I really do love these people. They are good and we had a curry dish prepared by the sister in the flowered blouse.

More 24th

The young adults didn't have any trouble finding a hand cart- they are all over. The emphasis was on the Willy/Martin handcart companies. It was very enjoyable to participate with the saints here rejoicing in the gospel's preservation so they could enjoy it. They also realize they are pioneers in Cambodia and a lot depends on them. They enjoyed that we could do the Virginia Reel."