Sunday September 24, 2017 at 9:11PM
We had a sweet miracle that happened yesterday. We tried to meet up with the investigators we planned, however our plans feel through. As we were leaving the area, this huge chunk of fish jerky fell almost on me. I looked up and saw a young girl saying "Dang it, my fish jerky fell! Hah it was hilarious. I picked it up for her but then dropped it again because it was so slippery! I dropped it in the mud and man I felt so bad! Well she came down to get it from me and I remembered how we both laughed so hard. I spoke with her more and introduced ourselves. We had asked if we could meet with her mother and visit her apartment right then. She replied with such an inviting yes! We got in the room, and saw her mother sitting in the hammock. We spent a while listening to the stories of life and the burdens that she has been carrying. We spoke and shared the love that God has for her! We taught the truth of divinity of our living Godhead. As times passes by, she had set aside the things she had on her lap and even lowered herself to come down and sit with us! It was then when I felt most of her heart opening to receive our message! Her daughter listened intently while holding the Book of Mormon. The mother had told us that she had been looking for "plans" in her life and seeking to understand what it is she needed to do. The house was just only her daughter and her and she had been trying to make ends meet. I realized how in the midst of listening I started to feel this sincere love for her daughter. These are complete strangers we came across with but to listen to her and how open her heart was to the message of the Gospel. We invited her to church that very day and her daughter and her came! It was so sweet.
"For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole" -Mark 5
I remember reading a talk about drawing the power of the Savior in our lives by Elder Nelson and how sweet the message that was embedded in the talk was. The healing that Christ has performed wasn't just specifically for that woman, but it is a power that transcends and resonates to even today. For the woman who has been seeking to be healed for years, in her hopeless state, it is her last resort to seek for healing, or evermore so as stated, she reached for the savior's power of healing. I know this work to be true, there is such joy if we give our hearts to the Lord. I am, like those around me, realizing more about the Nature of God and as well as realizing how my own nature is changing in the act of giving my heart to those around me.
With love and gratitude,
Sis. Sok
Oh, the Places You'll Go! .........Sophia in Cambodia
Friday, September 29, 2017
The Miles to Church
Sunday September 17, 2017 at 11:09PM
Hello Brothers and Sisters,
I hope you are all doing well. I send my love to you all! Steung Meachey is a great area. We have been witnessing a few miracles here and there and much humbling experiences that touched many hearts all around. I just wanted to share a short but sweet testimony that Christ lives, everyday of my life, He truly does. I get to witness His living divinity everyday through the sacrifices of others and how their lives have changed! With my utmost conviction, lives are changing and it is a blessing to be a part of the experiences. There is nothing better than to share the Love I have for Christ and to spend this 1 year and half serving Christ each and everyday. It is a blessing that is so absolutely raw and natural, the blessing of being loved and being full of His love, the blessing of giving all of your heart and wanting nothing back, but the pure joy of those who received of His love. My companion and I were able to witness an experience where 3 groups of our family investigators, 2 walked miles to church after having one of the children experienced a painful accident in the morning and the other family still sacrificed to come even knowing that they are very sick. It brings me much tears of joy as we saw them crossing the road and us running to greet them and crossing the road with them. Christ's atonement and His absolute strength inspire many lives in this world! Truly, I was able to experience the verse in the scriptures "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. "-John 15:13.
1) A family we are teaching.
2) My new comp, Sister Thouk.
3) Saying goodbye to my old area in Toul Tompong.
Sorry if it is out of order.
With much love and gratitude,
Sister Sok
Hello Brothers and Sisters,
I hope you are all doing well. I send my love to you all! Steung Meachey is a great area. We have been witnessing a few miracles here and there and much humbling experiences that touched many hearts all around. I just wanted to share a short but sweet testimony that Christ lives, everyday of my life, He truly does. I get to witness His living divinity everyday through the sacrifices of others and how their lives have changed! With my utmost conviction, lives are changing and it is a blessing to be a part of the experiences. There is nothing better than to share the Love I have for Christ and to spend this 1 year and half serving Christ each and everyday. It is a blessing that is so absolutely raw and natural, the blessing of being loved and being full of His love, the blessing of giving all of your heart and wanting nothing back, but the pure joy of those who received of His love. My companion and I were able to witness an experience where 3 groups of our family investigators, 2 walked miles to church after having one of the children experienced a painful accident in the morning and the other family still sacrificed to come even knowing that they are very sick. It brings me much tears of joy as we saw them crossing the road and us running to greet them and crossing the road with them. Christ's atonement and His absolute strength inspire many lives in this world! Truly, I was able to experience the verse in the scriptures "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. "-John 15:13.
1) A family we are teaching.
2) My new comp, Sister Thouk.
3) Saying goodbye to my old area in Toul Tompong.
Sorry if it is out of order.
With much love and gratitude,
Sister Sok
The Door Happened to be Open
Monday September 11, 2017 at 12:08AM
Hello Hello Hello!
Whooff, I don't even know where to start! This week has been really good, full of miracles. The last few days in the area I previously served were remarkable, full of the Lord's tender mercies. It was the last appointment of the night and my companion and I took the leap to see our member at her house. She is the only member of the family ( she requested to not see her at her house). Well, we had this prompting to say goodbye to our member at her house (to say some last few words and thank her), even knowing that her family would be at there ,as well. We came to the door and thinking, well hah I am not sure if we are going to be chased with a knife or an ax, and so we braced ourselves! However, right as we got to the door, her mother and sister greeted us with the warmest of smiles and invited us in. We got to know more about her life and right away, a young woman came in and sat next to us. She asked that she wanted to learn more about Jesus Christ. She had had miracles in her life that testifies to her of Christ's living existence. We were in awe. We were so blessed to have the door be opened. The young woman explained how she had been saved by the Lord, how her life has been saved. It was so good to be there that night to hear of her testimony. Man, so good. We taught our member's mother and sister and the young woman about the message of the Restoration and the spirit filled us with such an inviting love.
New Transfer has just started and boy!!! so many learning experiences! The new area is called Steung Meanchey and it is known as a very busy area for people who are striving to make ends meet. It is one of the poorest areas in Cambodia, but but but FULL of many humble souls who are reaching out for the hands of the Lord! I believe missionary work here is going to be so amazing. My new companion is amazing! Her name is Sister Thouk. She just came from the MTC in Manila 4 days ago and she is doing so well! she is a native Khmer. My companion and I are doing very well. One thing I admire about Sister Thouk is that she is very inquisitive, but with sincere intentions for seeking truth. She loves to ask questions regarding all aspect of missionary work. She enjoys learning about the Gospel and growing in the Gospel, as well. I find that her hard work brings both of us to be unified together. It took me by surprise to how well she is doing, in adapting to the over aspect of missionary work. Last week was a bit rough, hah it rained and flooded so much. It was really hard to see the road and became very difficult to try to find one of our investigator's houses. The water nearly came to our knees and my companion rode into this huge rock and fell over. The experience was such a fun journey, though. We missed our landmarks hah and rode for the longest of time, until realizing that we were almost entering another missionaries' boundaries hah whoof!
I love the area, though! The lifestyle for the people here is so difficult for them, I get to see the destitute, poverty each and everyday and it makes me feel so grateful that I am so blessed to have what I have now and to know the many things and acts of love the Good Lord has shown me!
I know with my heart that Christ lives, that the Book of Mormon is true, I know that God loves his children and touches many lives all around the world. I know that my life has changed so much and continues so, because of the Atoning Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. I know this to be true.
With much love and gratitude,
Sister Sok
This is one of the pics with a woman who is learning to change her life for the better, Ming Vanak! She is so kind!
Hello Hello Hello!
Whooff, I don't even know where to start! This week has been really good, full of miracles. The last few days in the area I previously served were remarkable, full of the Lord's tender mercies. It was the last appointment of the night and my companion and I took the leap to see our member at her house. She is the only member of the family ( she requested to not see her at her house). Well, we had this prompting to say goodbye to our member at her house (to say some last few words and thank her), even knowing that her family would be at there ,as well. We came to the door and thinking, well hah I am not sure if we are going to be chased with a knife or an ax, and so we braced ourselves! However, right as we got to the door, her mother and sister greeted us with the warmest of smiles and invited us in. We got to know more about her life and right away, a young woman came in and sat next to us. She asked that she wanted to learn more about Jesus Christ. She had had miracles in her life that testifies to her of Christ's living existence. We were in awe. We were so blessed to have the door be opened. The young woman explained how she had been saved by the Lord, how her life has been saved. It was so good to be there that night to hear of her testimony. Man, so good. We taught our member's mother and sister and the young woman about the message of the Restoration and the spirit filled us with such an inviting love.
New Transfer has just started and boy!!! so many learning experiences! The new area is called Steung Meanchey and it is known as a very busy area for people who are striving to make ends meet. It is one of the poorest areas in Cambodia, but but but FULL of many humble souls who are reaching out for the hands of the Lord! I believe missionary work here is going to be so amazing. My new companion is amazing! Her name is Sister Thouk. She just came from the MTC in Manila 4 days ago and she is doing so well! she is a native Khmer. My companion and I are doing very well. One thing I admire about Sister Thouk is that she is very inquisitive, but with sincere intentions for seeking truth. She loves to ask questions regarding all aspect of missionary work. She enjoys learning about the Gospel and growing in the Gospel, as well. I find that her hard work brings both of us to be unified together. It took me by surprise to how well she is doing, in adapting to the over aspect of missionary work. Last week was a bit rough, hah it rained and flooded so much. It was really hard to see the road and became very difficult to try to find one of our investigator's houses. The water nearly came to our knees and my companion rode into this huge rock and fell over. The experience was such a fun journey, though. We missed our landmarks hah and rode for the longest of time, until realizing that we were almost entering another missionaries' boundaries hah whoof!
I love the area, though! The lifestyle for the people here is so difficult for them, I get to see the destitute, poverty each and everyday and it makes me feel so grateful that I am so blessed to have what I have now and to know the many things and acts of love the Good Lord has shown me!
I know with my heart that Christ lives, that the Book of Mormon is true, I know that God loves his children and touches many lives all around the world. I know that my life has changed so much and continues so, because of the Atoning Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. I know this to be true.
With much love and gratitude,
Sister Sok
This is one of the pics with a woman who is learning to change her life for the better, Ming Vanak! She is so kind!
The Dark Alley Way
Sunday September 3, 2017 at 9:33PM
Hello Hello Hello!
A particular experience that I would like to share is one of last week. At the end of a day, a couple of the lessons fell through. I remember praying really hard with my companion for the Lord to help us grow in the experience and to specifically meet someone the Lord wants us to share the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with. We felt OK to go on with the potential investigator we were going to visit. Then as I got on my bike and rode forward with our member for about for 4 secs, I heard my companion's voice to stop. She had felt that we needed to visit this lady's salon place, which was through this dark alley way. When we got there, her shop had already been closed for that night. The dark, gloomy alley way was not lit at all, accept for one house, one house at the end of the alley. There was a woman cooking fish outside of her house. She socialized with her for a bit and she invited us in her house to meet her husband, as well. I know that the spirit of the Lord was there. I bear my testimony that what had happened in the house in that dark alley had helped me build my testimony in the Lord Jesus Christ. I remembered the man asking us a question of which I myself in my knowledge couldn't answer, yet the Spirit of the Lord quickened my response. I know that the experience strengthened my member help and my companion, whether they did not accept our message of the Gospel.
Thus far in the mission, I have learned that the certain trials in my life that have been accessed by the power of the Atonement become gifts/empowering instruments of experiences to use in the prospective challenges to help me grow. The past trials are molded as the leveraging tools for the next journey that I will take part in. The mission truly is the Lord's time and influence of your personal conversion. Whether the miracles that you have witnessed is to be accepted through others or not, whether the bearing out of your heart to fill others' is rejected or not, I believe that the process of doing so is the very testimony that Christ lives, the testimony that I know for myself. It truly is that process of how the spirit bears to me the witness of the truth and the process of the sanctifying change in myself, in offering up my brokenness, and partaking of the broken bread, and living water of Christ, so that I can continually be made whole.
We had just received our new transfer call last night. I am going to whitewash a new area, called Steung Meanchey and training a new missionary there. She is in the MTC right now, but getting ready to depart soon! I am really excited for the next journey! Oh the places we will go!
A family home evening with one of our investigators' fam.
Hello Hello Hello!
A particular experience that I would like to share is one of last week. At the end of a day, a couple of the lessons fell through. I remember praying really hard with my companion for the Lord to help us grow in the experience and to specifically meet someone the Lord wants us to share the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with. We felt OK to go on with the potential investigator we were going to visit. Then as I got on my bike and rode forward with our member for about for 4 secs, I heard my companion's voice to stop. She had felt that we needed to visit this lady's salon place, which was through this dark alley way. When we got there, her shop had already been closed for that night. The dark, gloomy alley way was not lit at all, accept for one house, one house at the end of the alley. There was a woman cooking fish outside of her house. She socialized with her for a bit and she invited us in her house to meet her husband, as well. I know that the spirit of the Lord was there. I bear my testimony that what had happened in the house in that dark alley had helped me build my testimony in the Lord Jesus Christ. I remembered the man asking us a question of which I myself in my knowledge couldn't answer, yet the Spirit of the Lord quickened my response. I know that the experience strengthened my member help and my companion, whether they did not accept our message of the Gospel.
Thus far in the mission, I have learned that the certain trials in my life that have been accessed by the power of the Atonement become gifts/empowering instruments of experiences to use in the prospective challenges to help me grow. The past trials are molded as the leveraging tools for the next journey that I will take part in. The mission truly is the Lord's time and influence of your personal conversion. Whether the miracles that you have witnessed is to be accepted through others or not, whether the bearing out of your heart to fill others' is rejected or not, I believe that the process of doing so is the very testimony that Christ lives, the testimony that I know for myself. It truly is that process of how the spirit bears to me the witness of the truth and the process of the sanctifying change in myself, in offering up my brokenness, and partaking of the broken bread, and living water of Christ, so that I can continually be made whole.
We had just received our new transfer call last night. I am going to whitewash a new area, called Steung Meanchey and training a new missionary there. She is in the MTC right now, but getting ready to depart soon! I am really excited for the next journey! Oh the places we will go!
A family home evening with one of our investigators' fam.
Friday, September 1, 2017
The picture book: The Maker
Sunday August 27, 2017 at 8:12PM
I absolutely love this labor. I love God and I am so grateful for the continuous Light He is bringing in my life and the lives around us. My growth in the mission each and everyday has been rooted from the pure and raw love of how the people here are willing to sacrifice because they love Jesus Christ. It is not stressful anymore when the small and simple things you do becomes so natural, because it is out of love. The beauty of God's plan is to feel His love, to feel, to see, and to sense all sorts of emotions to understand our divine identity and truth. My job is really to bring back the love that has been ostracized from years of oppression and darkness. To bring light through love. It's becoming more and more natural. All because of the power of God. One of my best friends had said that "true love is not about what others can give you, because you're empty, it's about what you can give others because you are already full, full with the pure love of Jesus Christ." Just to wake up everyday feeling full and to have that desire to share what makes you happy. God truly is good.
Recently we taught this wonderful woman and her grandchild about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My companion and I were always looking forward to hear her sweet prayer at the end of the lesson. Man, it is truly something. Every time she prays she puts repentance into work. She's start out with addressing Heavenly Father and then the second point would " I am a child of God". She would go on to ask God to continuously help her offer her sins, so she could change. AS she puts it "to wash me clean everyday as I do what you tell me to do". It was so sincere. I can't fully the describe the way she puts her words and heart into it. I mean we are talking about a woman who has lost everyone in her family, even her first husband. It makes me think about the story that Pres. Uchtdorf mentioned in his talk "The Hope of God's Light". I feel that the Khmer people are still suffering from that history darkness, where the expression of love is faded, where the light in their lives is so dim, where years and history of abuse dictates their destiny. It is so much that yes, in order to protect themselves, they rather choose to stop feeling. However, there is hope and hope brings back light and a freedom to choose for themselves to "pursue that happiness" and to understand our true worth and to realize that worth directly from our Maker.
I love you all and thank you for the love you have sent me!
With much love and gratitude,
Sister Sok
Attached is a pic of a senior missionary, Sister Jones. This is from a conference that happened last week. It was regarding international religious relations, where the Loas ambassadors and many other church denominations leaders came to visit our church. My mission president had asked me to do a quick exchange with another missionary to join in and be a part of the representatives. It was a really nice experience. I got to go in the Family History Center and showed them more about family history work. They toured the church building and it was a really neat experience to bring more of missionary work to the Loas people!
This is my testimony in the Khmer language!
ខ្ញុំស្រលាញ់ម្ដាយខ្លាំងណាស់! ខ្ញុំបានរៀនសូត្រច្រើនណាស់ពីប្រជាជនរបស់ខ្ញុំនៅកម្ពុជា! ខ្ញុំបានរៀនអំពីការបន្ទាបខ្លួននិងសប្បុរសធម៌។ ខ្ញុំបានដឹងពីការឈឺចាប់របស់អ្នកដទៃនិងវិធីជួយព្យាបាលការខូចខាតជីវិតរបស់ពួកគេ។ ប្រជាជនខ្មែរពិតជាអស្ចារ្យណាស់! ពួកគេបានបង្រៀនខ្ញុំយ៉ាងច្រើនអំពីសេចក្ដីស្រឡាញ់សូម្បីតែអ្នកដែលក្រីក្រឬអ្នកមាន។ សេចក្ដីស្រឡាញ់គឺនៅជុំវិញយើង!
I absolutely love this labor. I love God and I am so grateful for the continuous Light He is bringing in my life and the lives around us. My growth in the mission each and everyday has been rooted from the pure and raw love of how the people here are willing to sacrifice because they love Jesus Christ. It is not stressful anymore when the small and simple things you do becomes so natural, because it is out of love. The beauty of God's plan is to feel His love, to feel, to see, and to sense all sorts of emotions to understand our divine identity and truth. My job is really to bring back the love that has been ostracized from years of oppression and darkness. To bring light through love. It's becoming more and more natural. All because of the power of God. One of my best friends had said that "true love is not about what others can give you, because you're empty, it's about what you can give others because you are already full, full with the pure love of Jesus Christ." Just to wake up everyday feeling full and to have that desire to share what makes you happy. God truly is good.
Recently we taught this wonderful woman and her grandchild about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My companion and I were always looking forward to hear her sweet prayer at the end of the lesson. Man, it is truly something. Every time she prays she puts repentance into work. She's start out with addressing Heavenly Father and then the second point would " I am a child of God". She would go on to ask God to continuously help her offer her sins, so she could change. AS she puts it "to wash me clean everyday as I do what you tell me to do". It was so sincere. I can't fully the describe the way she puts her words and heart into it. I mean we are talking about a woman who has lost everyone in her family, even her first husband. It makes me think about the story that Pres. Uchtdorf mentioned in his talk "The Hope of God's Light". I feel that the Khmer people are still suffering from that history darkness, where the expression of love is faded, where the light in their lives is so dim, where years and history of abuse dictates their destiny. It is so much that yes, in order to protect themselves, they rather choose to stop feeling. However, there is hope and hope brings back light and a freedom to choose for themselves to "pursue that happiness" and to understand our true worth and to realize that worth directly from our Maker.
I love you all and thank you for the love you have sent me!
With much love and gratitude,
Sister Sok
Attached is a pic of a senior missionary, Sister Jones. This is from a conference that happened last week. It was regarding international religious relations, where the Loas ambassadors and many other church denominations leaders came to visit our church. My mission president had asked me to do a quick exchange with another missionary to join in and be a part of the representatives. It was a really nice experience. I got to go in the Family History Center and showed them more about family history work. They toured the church building and it was a really neat experience to bring more of missionary work to the Loas people!
This is my testimony in the Khmer language!
ខ្ញុំស្រលាញ់ម្ដាយខ្លាំងណាស់! ខ្ញុំបានរៀនសូត្រច្រើនណាស់ពីប្រជាជនរបស់ខ្ញុំនៅកម្ពុជា! ខ្ញុំបានរៀនអំពីការបន្ទាបខ្លួននិងសប្បុរសធម៌។ ខ្ញុំបានដឹងពីការឈឺចាប់របស់អ្នកដទៃនិងវិធីជួយព្យាបាលការខូចខាតជីវិតរបស់ពួកគេ។ ប្រជាជនខ្មែរពិតជាអស្ចារ្យណាស់! ពួកគេបានបង្រៀនខ្ញុំយ៉ាងច្រើនអំពីសេចក្ដីស្រឡាញ់សូម្បីតែអ្នកដែលក្រីក្រឬអ្នកមាន។ សេចក្ដីស្រឡាញ់គឺនៅជុំវិញយើង!
"In Christ Alone"
Sunday August 20, 2017 at 8:54PM
Hello Hello Hello!
Cambodia has been such a blessing in my life. It is beautiful in many ways, ways I can't even express. The humility of those around me is astounding. I just want to be with them for as long as I can.
On Monday, we got to teach this down-to earth young woman. She used to live in New Zealand and obtained her education their. However her uncle had passed away, from a hiking accident,
making it not possible for her to stay in the country without his support. She came back and a few months later, he brother had passed away. When we entered her house, I can't quite explain it but there is this overwhelming love in the house. We were teaching her on the restoration that evening. She had her bible and had opened to James 1:5. While turning to the pages, I realized that there was a picture of her uncle standing on top on the snow mountains of New Zealand. It was a memoir/ program for his passing away. We asked if we could take his picture out of the scriptures and to look at it. I decided to place it on the center of we were sitting on the floor. More and more, we felt this great peace around us as we continued to teach her about the profound truth of the Restoration. It was like the spirit of her uncle was there, right there with us, touching his niece's heart to greater truths. At the end of the lesson, I glanced at pamphlet program of her uncle's and realized that the closing song was in "In Christ Alone". Oh my, that is one of my favorite songs. We asked her if we could sing together. An even such a greater spirit entered our hearts. The room was gloomy and so peaceful. I learned more that day, that love is kind, it is all around me, all around us. I know that Christ lives,with all of my heart. I know this to be true.
Every Wednesday, we'd go on a quick visit before lunch to this cute elderly woman's house. Man, she is the sweetest! She does not have any family members and lives in a house all by herself. She has this crazy cat, that has the same name as my last name. Crazy. But she is one of the strongest members of the Gospel. Well, last weekend, we went ahead to do her dishes and help her clean the house, man she got feisty, but in a cute way. We left and came back the next week to her telling us how mad she was that we served her by cleaning her house. She told us that she is a capable independent woman and the one thing she is not capable of is reading. Her eyes are not as clear, making it difficult for her to read.
She told us that we serve her enough! She wants to be independent and the only request she wanted from us missionaries was to read the scriptures for her. It amazes how this old woman, in her 90s is able to take care of herself and is able to work and make a living. She is so inspiring and all that she ever wanted us to do is for us to share the Word of God with her. That would fulfill her life! She doesn't need us to clean dishes, not the house, or feed her cat, nor cut up potatoes for her to sell, but to just sit down with her and read the plain and precious truths to remind her of her divine identity,as a daughter of God. That is all she ever wanted once a week. It was so cute.
Last Sat., we felt this prompting to call a potential investigator. We tried to call her again and again, but she never answered her phone until that morning. We found out that her husband had
to be emergency transported to Vietnam, because he had suffered a stroke. She was crying on the telephone and we couldn't hear her clearly. We asked if we could visit her before she goes to Vietnam to see her husband. She accepted the request. When we got to her house, we found her looking so frail and scared. We sat down and literally the whole lesson, she was begging for God to heal her husband. She was so desperate. She did not have enough money to go see her husband, let alone find enough money to save his life. She was so desperate to find enough food to feed her children. My heart broke. I just didn't know what to do. We sat there and looked at her beautiful eyes, as
they were constantly filled with tears. We shared her a message of hope and prayed together. Right after, she told us, Sisters I feel that God is telling me that everything is OK, He will take care of my husband. Man, there was this sweet relieve that entered my heart! My companion and I were so overwhelmed of that experience! The Love of God is great!
This is all that I have for this week! I pray and hope you have a wonderful week!
With much Love and Gratitude,
Sister Sok
Attached is a funny picture of our mission Family. Me, sitting right next to my companion, Sister Smith (in the long white dress at the end of the row)
Hello Hello Hello!
Cambodia has been such a blessing in my life. It is beautiful in many ways, ways I can't even express. The humility of those around me is astounding. I just want to be with them for as long as I can.
On Monday, we got to teach this down-to earth young woman. She used to live in New Zealand and obtained her education their. However her uncle had passed away, from a hiking accident,
making it not possible for her to stay in the country without his support. She came back and a few months later, he brother had passed away. When we entered her house, I can't quite explain it but there is this overwhelming love in the house. We were teaching her on the restoration that evening. She had her bible and had opened to James 1:5. While turning to the pages, I realized that there was a picture of her uncle standing on top on the snow mountains of New Zealand. It was a memoir/ program for his passing away. We asked if we could take his picture out of the scriptures and to look at it. I decided to place it on the center of we were sitting on the floor. More and more, we felt this great peace around us as we continued to teach her about the profound truth of the Restoration. It was like the spirit of her uncle was there, right there with us, touching his niece's heart to greater truths. At the end of the lesson, I glanced at pamphlet program of her uncle's and realized that the closing song was in "In Christ Alone". Oh my, that is one of my favorite songs. We asked her if we could sing together. An even such a greater spirit entered our hearts. The room was gloomy and so peaceful. I learned more that day, that love is kind, it is all around me, all around us. I know that Christ lives,with all of my heart. I know this to be true.
Every Wednesday, we'd go on a quick visit before lunch to this cute elderly woman's house. Man, she is the sweetest! She does not have any family members and lives in a house all by herself. She has this crazy cat, that has the same name as my last name. Crazy. But she is one of the strongest members of the Gospel. Well, last weekend, we went ahead to do her dishes and help her clean the house, man she got feisty, but in a cute way. We left and came back the next week to her telling us how mad she was that we served her by cleaning her house. She told us that she is a capable independent woman and the one thing she is not capable of is reading. Her eyes are not as clear, making it difficult for her to read.
She told us that we serve her enough! She wants to be independent and the only request she wanted from us missionaries was to read the scriptures for her. It amazes how this old woman, in her 90s is able to take care of herself and is able to work and make a living. She is so inspiring and all that she ever wanted us to do is for us to share the Word of God with her. That would fulfill her life! She doesn't need us to clean dishes, not the house, or feed her cat, nor cut up potatoes for her to sell, but to just sit down with her and read the plain and precious truths to remind her of her divine identity,as a daughter of God. That is all she ever wanted once a week. It was so cute.
Last Sat., we felt this prompting to call a potential investigator. We tried to call her again and again, but she never answered her phone until that morning. We found out that her husband had
to be emergency transported to Vietnam, because he had suffered a stroke. She was crying on the telephone and we couldn't hear her clearly. We asked if we could visit her before she goes to Vietnam to see her husband. She accepted the request. When we got to her house, we found her looking so frail and scared. We sat down and literally the whole lesson, she was begging for God to heal her husband. She was so desperate. She did not have enough money to go see her husband, let alone find enough money to save his life. She was so desperate to find enough food to feed her children. My heart broke. I just didn't know what to do. We sat there and looked at her beautiful eyes, as
they were constantly filled with tears. We shared her a message of hope and prayed together. Right after, she told us, Sisters I feel that God is telling me that everything is OK, He will take care of my husband. Man, there was this sweet relieve that entered my heart! My companion and I were so overwhelmed of that experience! The Love of God is great!
This is all that I have for this week! I pray and hope you have a wonderful week!
With much Love and Gratitude,
Sister Sok
Attached is a funny picture of our mission Family. Me, sitting right next to my companion, Sister Smith (in the long white dress at the end of the row)
"All that my Heart Desires"
Sunday August 13, 2017 at 9:42PM
Hello,
Life in Cambodia has taught me much, every single day. I get to see new faces and work with different types of people, of different types of life backgrounds, and it is interesting to see how their upbringings have made them the person they are today. Traditions and religious backgrounds have such an influence on a person. It influences their choices in life and each facet on how they want to live their lives.
I got in contact with and taught this woman. She has been raised as a Buddhist for all of her life. Different forms/ branches of religious practices from Buddhist traditions have had such an influence in her perspective of respect and change. If that makes sense. Her past traditions has been instilled in her mind for so long that it becomes really difficult for her to have that change of heart to feel free. She had told us how afraid she is for change and that she is too old to change her life. It is so sad. However, what I have noticed here is that though the older generation of people ( back from the Khmer Rouge era), have a difficult time to change their beliefs, they still want their children to learn about the Gospel so their lives can be better than what their ancestors had gone through. It is quite interesting.
Sunday was so amazing. Cambodia has just dedicated a new stake. We now have 4 stakes in the country!
Also on Sunday, we planned to teach an investigator whose sister had just been baptized. We had planned to meet her at the church, but got a phone call saying that they are trying their best to get ready for the lesson and church but could not get everything ready on time. We offered to come to their house and help them prepare. Oh man, it was the cutest. Just the 2 sisters living together. Makes me think of Mary and Martha. Well anyway, we helped them build a rat trap and cleaned up a bit before we taught the younger sister a lesson. I felt really happy helping them getting ready. It was just really neat.
Also, we recently visited family who used to learn about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Some of the children in the family got separated and only one of the children is a member and she had moved away. We tried to find their house, but found out that they have moved to another area. The neighbor directed us to their new house. Turns out, the wife ( who is a member of the church) in the family had recently passed away due to an illness. We were invited in and the father has just walked in (from work). He is so humble. He sat in with us and for the first time in a while, he prayed with us. He even invited his children to pray with us. We met up with his daughter the next day. I remember asking her a question and I remember how her response had touched my heart deeply. All that that young woman wanted was to feel of her mother's love ,again. That was it. That was all of her desire. oh my, I remember how the light of Christ starts to shine out as she prayed with us. She walked away, and by the corner of my eyes, we saw an old woman sitting at the edge of a wooden bed. She had told us how hopeless the family is ever since her mother of the family passed away. I remember the old woman telling us how hopeless they are. Man, we are going to give it our all to help this family. I love that the start of a conversion is absolutely through the brokenness of one's life, from a state of hopelessness to hope again. To ask the Lord : What is it that I can offer to mend the shattered past so I can start a new life?
“And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart …, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost"(3 Nephi 9: 19-20).
With much love,
Sister Sok
Hello,
Life in Cambodia has taught me much, every single day. I get to see new faces and work with different types of people, of different types of life backgrounds, and it is interesting to see how their upbringings have made them the person they are today. Traditions and religious backgrounds have such an influence on a person. It influences their choices in life and each facet on how they want to live their lives.
I got in contact with and taught this woman. She has been raised as a Buddhist for all of her life. Different forms/ branches of religious practices from Buddhist traditions have had such an influence in her perspective of respect and change. If that makes sense. Her past traditions has been instilled in her mind for so long that it becomes really difficult for her to have that change of heart to feel free. She had told us how afraid she is for change and that she is too old to change her life. It is so sad. However, what I have noticed here is that though the older generation of people ( back from the Khmer Rouge era), have a difficult time to change their beliefs, they still want their children to learn about the Gospel so their lives can be better than what their ancestors had gone through. It is quite interesting.
Sunday was so amazing. Cambodia has just dedicated a new stake. We now have 4 stakes in the country!
Also on Sunday, we planned to teach an investigator whose sister had just been baptized. We had planned to meet her at the church, but got a phone call saying that they are trying their best to get ready for the lesson and church but could not get everything ready on time. We offered to come to their house and help them prepare. Oh man, it was the cutest. Just the 2 sisters living together. Makes me think of Mary and Martha. Well anyway, we helped them build a rat trap and cleaned up a bit before we taught the younger sister a lesson. I felt really happy helping them getting ready. It was just really neat.
Also, we recently visited family who used to learn about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Some of the children in the family got separated and only one of the children is a member and she had moved away. We tried to find their house, but found out that they have moved to another area. The neighbor directed us to their new house. Turns out, the wife ( who is a member of the church) in the family had recently passed away due to an illness. We were invited in and the father has just walked in (from work). He is so humble. He sat in with us and for the first time in a while, he prayed with us. He even invited his children to pray with us. We met up with his daughter the next day. I remember asking her a question and I remember how her response had touched my heart deeply. All that that young woman wanted was to feel of her mother's love ,again. That was it. That was all of her desire. oh my, I remember how the light of Christ starts to shine out as she prayed with us. She walked away, and by the corner of my eyes, we saw an old woman sitting at the edge of a wooden bed. She had told us how hopeless the family is ever since her mother of the family passed away. I remember the old woman telling us how hopeless they are. Man, we are going to give it our all to help this family. I love that the start of a conversion is absolutely through the brokenness of one's life, from a state of hopelessness to hope again. To ask the Lord : What is it that I can offer to mend the shattered past so I can start a new life?
“And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart …, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost"(3 Nephi 9: 19-20).
With much love,
Sister Sok
Ring the bells that still can ring, Forget your perfect offering, There is a crack in everything, That’s how the light gets in.
Sunday August 6, 2017 at 9:41PM
Hello Hello Hello,
It just gets better everyday. I love it here! My comp, Sister Smith is wonderful. So willing to improve, so humble and to change! That is our goal! This week has been so amazing, it was rough but the relief from the exhaustion makes the pain and the trying all worth it. Just miracles after miracles as we strive to consecrate ourselves to our potential and how other's lives are affected by the light of Christ. I love the members are our new area. Last P-Day was filled with a breath of love. My bike broke, because I kept riding it through mud. No wonder. The chains kept breaking down. My comp and I were just riding the struggle bus in trying to find a place to fix it. No one could fix bikes in the area. The miracle of it is that two of the member of the church, sacrificed so much of their day to help us find somewhere I could get it fixed. They are such angels. As hard as we tried, we could not find a place to fix it at a normal price range. We were a bit exhausted going back and forth and getting no result. We then went to this little alley way and prayed. Right after that, we still could not find anyone. I remember my comp and I praying in our heart to just let it be good enough (the bike) to make it through proselyting hours that night! Miraculously as we parked out bikes at the apartment right before going out to proselyte, I started noticing that my bike stopped making the weird noises and the things that seemed to be broken showed no signs. I was able to ride it just fine! There wasn't any that we really did to fix it physically! We were both so amazed. Man, the Good Lord has given us much.
I have seen many miracles and many lives have been changed because of Christ. I get to see their lives changed. I get to see how hopeless people were to how hopeful they are now, all because they know that they can receive help from God and change to become better. We meet with people whose lives are in the state of despair some due to loss of family. We were teaching a potential investigator, and one of the members in the lesson invited the woman in. I mean we have this elderly woman who does not have anyone in her life at all, her immediate family have all died. She is the lone survivor in the family! The member help straight up asked her to sit down with us. She listened intently. Then tears from her eyes started to pour down and she poured her heart to us, to God. Later that week, we sat down with her one night and told her of what she needed to hear about the Plan of Salvation. As soon as we shared to her that she can meet with her family again and that we can return back to God, there is this hope, Man! the hope that radiated from her that just made me want to to cry because I saw how happy she was. Her life is now filled with light. I know with my heart that there is actual power that comes from God to heal a person if we allow ourselves to choose righteously, to have hope and faith as anchor to the soul, to live for tomorrow to allow the light to shine forth from the cracks from the past, and God will take care of it. I am happy. I am happy to serve those around me.One of the neatest sights to see was when as were going to that area where most of our investigators and the woman live to prepare them and help them get to church, they were already getting ready to go. We owe our thanks to our members who helped our investigators be prepared. It was so beautiful to see her and her grand daughter locking up the house and putting on her flower hat on, getting ready to get on the moto to go to church!
On the way we were so amazed by this member ( the same who introduced us to the elderly woman) she is handicapped and on every Sunday, she would wheelchair herself to church), which is pretty far from where she lives. She would stop every now and then under the shades to rest, but would be so determined to keep going to make it to church on time. It was a miracle for her on that day, because she was so sick the night before, but she felt better that morning and was able to find enough strength to lift herself up onto the wheelchair and to go forth!
Funny Side Story: We have this grandpa who is a member of the church. He would hang out at the stake center all the time and would take baths in the baptismal font. I don't even know where he got the keys to get in! One day, he walked passed us and he was just sooo soaking wet. Haha he always shook our hands and demanded (nicely) that we have to print the pictures he asked us to take with him. It is a little weird!
But anyways, that is all that I have for now!
With much love and gratitude,
Sister Sok
Hello Hello Hello,
It just gets better everyday. I love it here! My comp, Sister Smith is wonderful. So willing to improve, so humble and to change! That is our goal! This week has been so amazing, it was rough but the relief from the exhaustion makes the pain and the trying all worth it. Just miracles after miracles as we strive to consecrate ourselves to our potential and how other's lives are affected by the light of Christ. I love the members are our new area. Last P-Day was filled with a breath of love. My bike broke, because I kept riding it through mud. No wonder. The chains kept breaking down. My comp and I were just riding the struggle bus in trying to find a place to fix it. No one could fix bikes in the area. The miracle of it is that two of the member of the church, sacrificed so much of their day to help us find somewhere I could get it fixed. They are such angels. As hard as we tried, we could not find a place to fix it at a normal price range. We were a bit exhausted going back and forth and getting no result. We then went to this little alley way and prayed. Right after that, we still could not find anyone. I remember my comp and I praying in our heart to just let it be good enough (the bike) to make it through proselyting hours that night! Miraculously as we parked out bikes at the apartment right before going out to proselyte, I started noticing that my bike stopped making the weird noises and the things that seemed to be broken showed no signs. I was able to ride it just fine! There wasn't any that we really did to fix it physically! We were both so amazed. Man, the Good Lord has given us much.
I have seen many miracles and many lives have been changed because of Christ. I get to see their lives changed. I get to see how hopeless people were to how hopeful they are now, all because they know that they can receive help from God and change to become better. We meet with people whose lives are in the state of despair some due to loss of family. We were teaching a potential investigator, and one of the members in the lesson invited the woman in. I mean we have this elderly woman who does not have anyone in her life at all, her immediate family have all died. She is the lone survivor in the family! The member help straight up asked her to sit down with us. She listened intently. Then tears from her eyes started to pour down and she poured her heart to us, to God. Later that week, we sat down with her one night and told her of what she needed to hear about the Plan of Salvation. As soon as we shared to her that she can meet with her family again and that we can return back to God, there is this hope, Man! the hope that radiated from her that just made me want to to cry because I saw how happy she was. Her life is now filled with light. I know with my heart that there is actual power that comes from God to heal a person if we allow ourselves to choose righteously, to have hope and faith as anchor to the soul, to live for tomorrow to allow the light to shine forth from the cracks from the past, and God will take care of it. I am happy. I am happy to serve those around me.One of the neatest sights to see was when as were going to that area where most of our investigators and the woman live to prepare them and help them get to church, they were already getting ready to go. We owe our thanks to our members who helped our investigators be prepared. It was so beautiful to see her and her grand daughter locking up the house and putting on her flower hat on, getting ready to get on the moto to go to church!
On the way we were so amazed by this member ( the same who introduced us to the elderly woman) she is handicapped and on every Sunday, she would wheelchair herself to church), which is pretty far from where she lives. She would stop every now and then under the shades to rest, but would be so determined to keep going to make it to church on time. It was a miracle for her on that day, because she was so sick the night before, but she felt better that morning and was able to find enough strength to lift herself up onto the wheelchair and to go forth!
Funny Side Story: We have this grandpa who is a member of the church. He would hang out at the stake center all the time and would take baths in the baptismal font. I don't even know where he got the keys to get in! One day, he walked passed us and he was just sooo soaking wet. Haha he always shook our hands and demanded (nicely) that we have to print the pictures he asked us to take with him. It is a little weird!
But anyways, that is all that I have for now!
With much love and gratitude,
Sister Sok
Oh man I am falling in love with Cambodia!
Sunday July 30, 2017 at 10:22PM
Hi oh my hi!
Things are going really well here!
Cambodia is so great! I love it so much. The people here are wonderful! Each day in this country makes me think of how blessed I am. Each night that I'd kneel down to pray, I can see the growth of love the people we teach have for the Lord. It is so great! My comp and I have been going in houses where we rarely don't even have enough room to sit together on the floor. We went to this cute grandma house,Mak Yey. Oh man,she's the cutest. She has a cat who has the same name as my last name. So it gets a little confusing in the lessons to differentiate if she is yelling at me or the cat. The room is as small as my closet back home. Yet,I am blessed to see the smile she has every time as she sees us entering her refuge!
The ward and its members are very helpful in assisting us in missionary work. The BM member/group are wonderful. They are full of light and are so eager to assist us in whitewashing the area. One of the return missionaries in the area took us to the bishop's house and we introduced ourselves to the family. We plan and hope to have a family home evening with one of the BM's family members (who are promising potential investigators).
The first time we arrived in the new house, we decided to go through the CBR and teaching records that the previous missionaries prepare for us. We were both so amazed at how much preparation the previous missionaries had put in to help us get more acquainted with the members, the investigators,and less-actives. There were updated information that helped ease us in the work. So for that,we are very grateful! For the first hour of being at the house, we decided to start calling the BM members and the bishop to introduce ourselves and what we look forward to in the work in which we both needed help with and the plans we hope to achieve to help establish the church in Toul Tom Pong. The whitewashing is going great!
We have been shown to many members' houses and as well as the roads to potential investigators by wonderful ward members. Some of the challenges that we face, well at least for me is that, I am no longer in the khets areas, where people are always home and the time and places to meet the people we teach our very convenient. The city area is quite different in terms of their availability/schedules. The people here work, go to school, and try their very best to juggle their lives in a balance manner. Thus, their opportunity to attend church lessens. We have been trying our best to figure out ways to improve our teachings to better attend to their needs,in helping them attend church. We were so blessed with the Spirit inspiring us to perhaps have our investigators attend the sacrament room and sit in to feel the Spirit of the Lord there. We sat there for a few minutes silently listened and tuned in to the serene atmosphere. We sat there and had her close her eyes on the things she wanted to improve on and to repent. I felt the prompting to ask her: " Bong, how do you think you can prepare yourself to feel these sacred feelings more abundantly and what is keeping you back from receiving the baptismal ordinance? It was right then and there where she immediately and without us having to say anything, that she realized she needed to sacrifice to attend church. I believe and hope that her conversion was during the process in which she prays mightily to get some time off from her boss to attend church. Moments before the church,she had given us a call to say that her manager rejected her request. However, at her last remark with the phone call with us, she decided to ask again and to pray that her manager will soften his heart and he absolutely did.
The effort in planning to help our investigators attend church paid off. Moreover, for this young woman, she was able to see and treasure the blessings that come from the power of prayers in strive to sacrifice for the Lord.
With love and gratitude,
Sister Sok
Pictures of a traditional Khmer dance,for Pioneer Day in Toul Tom Pong !
Pictures of past area in Tahkmao!
Hi oh my hi!
Things are going really well here!
Cambodia is so great! I love it so much. The people here are wonderful! Each day in this country makes me think of how blessed I am. Each night that I'd kneel down to pray, I can see the growth of love the people we teach have for the Lord. It is so great! My comp and I have been going in houses where we rarely don't even have enough room to sit together on the floor. We went to this cute grandma house,Mak Yey. Oh man,she's the cutest. She has a cat who has the same name as my last name. So it gets a little confusing in the lessons to differentiate if she is yelling at me or the cat. The room is as small as my closet back home. Yet,I am blessed to see the smile she has every time as she sees us entering her refuge!
The ward and its members are very helpful in assisting us in missionary work. The BM member/group are wonderful. They are full of light and are so eager to assist us in whitewashing the area. One of the return missionaries in the area took us to the bishop's house and we introduced ourselves to the family. We plan and hope to have a family home evening with one of the BM's family members (who are promising potential investigators).
The first time we arrived in the new house, we decided to go through the CBR and teaching records that the previous missionaries prepare for us. We were both so amazed at how much preparation the previous missionaries had put in to help us get more acquainted with the members, the investigators,and less-actives. There were updated information that helped ease us in the work. So for that,we are very grateful! For the first hour of being at the house, we decided to start calling the BM members and the bishop to introduce ourselves and what we look forward to in the work in which we both needed help with and the plans we hope to achieve to help establish the church in Toul Tom Pong. The whitewashing is going great!
We have been shown to many members' houses and as well as the roads to potential investigators by wonderful ward members. Some of the challenges that we face, well at least for me is that, I am no longer in the khets areas, where people are always home and the time and places to meet the people we teach our very convenient. The city area is quite different in terms of their availability/schedules. The people here work, go to school, and try their very best to juggle their lives in a balance manner. Thus, their opportunity to attend church lessens. We have been trying our best to figure out ways to improve our teachings to better attend to their needs,in helping them attend church. We were so blessed with the Spirit inspiring us to perhaps have our investigators attend the sacrament room and sit in to feel the Spirit of the Lord there. We sat there for a few minutes silently listened and tuned in to the serene atmosphere. We sat there and had her close her eyes on the things she wanted to improve on and to repent. I felt the prompting to ask her: " Bong, how do you think you can prepare yourself to feel these sacred feelings more abundantly and what is keeping you back from receiving the baptismal ordinance? It was right then and there where she immediately and without us having to say anything, that she realized she needed to sacrifice to attend church. I believe and hope that her conversion was during the process in which she prays mightily to get some time off from her boss to attend church. Moments before the church,she had given us a call to say that her manager rejected her request. However, at her last remark with the phone call with us, she decided to ask again and to pray that her manager will soften his heart and he absolutely did.
The effort in planning to help our investigators attend church paid off. Moreover, for this young woman, she was able to see and treasure the blessings that come from the power of prayers in strive to sacrifice for the Lord.
With love and gratitude,
Sister Sok
Pictures of a traditional Khmer dance,for Pioneer Day in Toul Tom Pong !
Pictures of past area in Tahkmao!
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