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.