The Sweet Old Lady

Sunday April 16, 2017 at 10:48PM

Happy Easter!

Sorry for the late Happy Easter, but I hope that your Easter Weekend went well. Easter in Cambodia is quite interesting, especially since it falls on Khmer New Year and hah it gets pretty crazy. Last week and this week, many folks would travel to their provinces, so it was a bit quiet in the province we are in. We were suggested to stay inside the house and not proselyte as much during Khmer Year. My companion told me that they threw rocks at her last year during the New Year and drunk people trying to stop you from biking. For this year, nothing to that extend happened, but it was still pretty crazy. When we got back from the church service,  we entered this village, on the way, we saw a group of teenagers  in the middle of the road, carrying water balloons and baby powder. My companion was in front and these guys stood in the middle trying to hinder us from riding our bikes. One of the them grabbed the back of my companion’s bike and grabbed her face while trying to pour powder on her! It was quite frustrating, they finally let us go. It is crazy to think about it now.

Last week, we got to visit this sweetest old lady.  She has been trying to find a church to attend, since she has moved to Keansvay. Her story gives me shivers. She doesn’t have a house to live in and her children had all left her.  But a lady whose house we get to teach the sweet old lady at had mercy on her and provided her a place to live and took the old lady in to be her servant. When we first met her, she had this beautiful smile while running up to greet us. . She has such a light in her countenance; she makes me miss my grandmother. She started telling us how she got to know of Jesus Christ and many of her living testimonies. The sweet old lady told us how she has suffered from an intestinal illness and another illness that had caused her to need more blood in her systems. While at the hospital, she had no money, not much belongings, and the chance of getting her blood type at that hospital was very scarce. She told us how she got to the point when she accepted the Lord’s will and trusted in His plan for her.  Then, all of the certain a stranger came to her life and offered her the amount of blood and type she needed. It was such a miracle for her. Then,  she was faced with another trial of finding a place to seek refuge. Then a young lady had asked if she needed a place and a job. She started tearing down while telling us more miracles that the Lord had her experience. The spirit absolutely testified of her faith. She had prayed to the Lord to meet someone who would show her on which and where she could attend church, as so she is ready and willing to give God all she has and her life of service to Him.

Another story that helped strengthened my faith in Christ was with a young woman who had been struggling with this mental/emotional illness. She is the only member in her family , but her father is starting to learn about the Gospel. Her mother currently believes that her daughter had been possessed and is carrying some evil spirit. She doesn’t believe in medicine and other forms of help. It is so sad. The young woman truly needs help from the doctor. It is so sad to see her suffer. We are trying to get the branch members to find ways the young woman could receive correct treatment. She has been struggling with her illness for a while, however, ever since she started living the Gospel , she has been receiving much healing. Before, she would go in and out of her flow of consciousness of which is not consistent when were teaching her. We would talk to her, but she would just stare pass us. One day, her illness got really bad and she couldn’t eat and did not want to go outside or even drink water. She had asked the Elders to give her a blessing. Right afterwords, she had stood up and went to get some water and smiled.  It was such a miracle. Now, her family is still working on trying to get her diagnosed. I believe.

I could honestly say that being a disciple of Jesus Christ has helped me grow and to sincerely love people and to truly see their light from Jesus Christ, from a different place, one that is an ocean away from my home. It has made me appreciate life so much more. I was listening to a testimony from a missionary serving here and she has made me realize more and more of the worth of one’s life and the appreciation for everything around me .  I have grown and changed as a better person. Now, when I go out, I get to see much beauty around me, of vast untainted fields, of palm trees, of birds chirping, and flowers all over the place. I am just happy. (There is this movie entitled "Life is Beautiful" directed by Roberto Benigni.  When thinking about going out sharing the Gospel and even writing this letter, it makes me think of the movie. I hope you all do get the chance to watch it.)  As cliché as it is, I get to see how beautiful and I am grateful of Heavenly Father’s creation, all that makes my life worth living for because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ . For others to receive the Joy the Gospel offers them and how their lives have changed.

With love and gratitude,
Sister Sok

 

Hope you Have a great week!

Sunday April 9, 2017 at 10:53PM

Hello! I am doing well and things are going great in Keansvay and Chbar Ampov. I pray that this story will uplift you.

Her  Devotion to God

I had an opportunity to exchange with an incredible missionary. Her name is Sister Soem. I would describe her as silent dignity. Her story is similar to mine, in some ways they are. She is a pioneer in her family.

I remember sitting down after we got home and just talking with her about our conversion stories. She is so strong. The ambiance in the room  absolutely describes Sister Soem, Silent Dignity. If that makes sense. The room was filled with serenity. As the calm yellow spectrum of the sun's rays reflected off of our glass windows, my heart began to sink deep and deeper into the words my companion shared with me.  and I so remember the immensity of the Spirit of the Lord that lingered in the room.

Her Story: Sister Soem is actually from the Orphanage that I used to visit when I was serving in the city, Tuek Laah area during the 1st half of my training. One of the greatest trials she had to endure was the period prior to her mission. She is the very light for me. She shared her story to some of the missionaries. She described to me about  her journey of standing  as a witness of the Savior, in especially in the face of her  family members, who were non members at the time, I believe. As a young child, she went through some hard times with her family and came on her own decision to live in the Orphanage. The orphanage is run partly, by the church and many of the children there, are members of the church. She became a member of the church when she was about 16 years old and then on, she has had a strong desire to serve a mission. The week before entering the Missionary Training Center/mission, an unexpected tragedy had struck her. She received the news from her hometown village that her 10 year old sister had drowned in a nearby lake.  Her decisions were laid on the table:  to continue to get on the plane and go on the scheduled date or delay it or not go at all. As she conversed with the Lord, she felt that it was His will for her to go that week she is to supposed to go. Her resilience, along with unwavering faith has taught me much. I believe that one of the most important lessons I learned and strive to continue to learn as a disciple of the Lord is to listen and learn, and put them into actions. Just listen and Learn as much as I can about my companions, those around me and to open my mouth in times I am needed to. To embrace the opportunities to cross path with them.

I am learning and experiencing more and more of patience, patience in His time table. I remember my mission President had asked me to open the scriptures to James 1 and ponder in my heart the word divers as it pertains to what God would ask of me during that specific experience and the task he has assigned me.

As James explains:
"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this,  that the trying of your faith worketh patience.But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

My understanding of the verse continues to help me kneel to His feet and humble myself in times when God challenges me to stand for just another moment. To change the phrase divers to afflictions, to endure them with charity and patience. In every bit of my fiber, I want to hold on to these experiences. I remember the guidance from Sister Christensen in regards to God's plan for me. I often imagine God's children in Heaven and ancestors praying and begging me to hold on for just a little further. For a moment of pain is worth a lifetime of glory to Him who gives me life.  I've learned that the name I put on my chest everyday is the very one that shouts Salvation to those who come unto Him. Salvation for not just my family and but to be his instrument in opening the ways  to help the generations that will come.  I believe in God's miracles, because I have seen and experienced them through my own eyes, not ones of myself, but many because other's lives have changed because of His Divine Light. I know that I love the Gospel and grateful to have met the people here in Cambodia, to help them see that they lives are precious to God. That God loves them. I wish I could tell more, but  the important thing is I know that Christ lives and this is His true Church and Gospel. Thank you for all your support.

With gratitude and Love,

Sister Sok

The Banana Tree Jungle and New Areas and Comps!

Sunday March 26, 2017 at 10:42PM

Hello hello fam and friends,

I am now in the new areas. It has been crazy and I have never laughed so much in my love. I found out one of the provinces I am serving in. It is called "Ket Kondal". The areas are called Keansvay and Chbar Ampov. I am in a trio. It is soooo fun. The people here are so generous and they would give us food to eat all of the time. The two areas are still, about 80% in the forestry/ jungle area. THE SCENES ARE SURREAL!!!  However, we have to return home before it gets dark and the elders would have to take us home. For P-Days, we get to ride the tuk tuk (3 wheeler car) to the city. There is not an email place in the country-sides. So, one of the members would drive us in. It only takes about 2 hours. In the city, we could get bread and milk and other stuff they wouldn't sell at where we live. The bike rides are really fun. I am getting used to biking for about 10-15-18 miles. Serving in Battambang trained me to serve in the 2 new areas. hah! I love the feeling at the end of the day and when I lay my head on the pillow.

The things that happen here are wild and so memorable. We went to one of the investigator's houses, she literally said "sister, eat this" and I'm like " that's raw meat". " Yeah, eat it". Also, I took a bite and it was all raw. We went to get to know one of the member's houses. it is literally in the middle of the woods, no one else live by them. As we were teaching her, her husband said "you know Sisters, I used to carry around evil spirit before I believe in Christ". He asked "I have this evil stone that no longer has power, do you want to see it?!" Sister Sok: "No, thank you, lok pu". He then said "OK, I show to you". Hah it was a TOOTH looking thing. He started to tell us how he got it and then he realized we shouldn't talk about this. Anyway, the members who live in the woods would tell us frequent ghost stories. The bike rides back home give me shivers. haha. The Cambodian people are very visionary people and they believe in folk tales and such. Also, while we were teaching, this little kid came up to me and hit me with a bamboo shoot.

I would like to share a few accounts of what the Khmer people shared with my companions and I. We spoke with a very strong and faithful member of the church. She said that she got to meet with the missionaries through her son. Her son was picking up trash to make a living by this pond. The missionaries walked by and socialized with him. The little kid brought the missionaries into his house, and it was nothing but a little shack. His mom had nothing but all she could have at the moment and all that she could obtain was faith. She is now still living in a shack, but it's more improved. She said how tested so much, but held on to the very thing she knows is true. For her, that is enough. Her life is enough because of the Savior.

Another experience was when we were teaching one of the investigators. She is in her teens and her mother isn't a member (and is not learning with us..yet). I asked many questions about them. I asked about her husband and all of the certain she started tearing. I felt so bad, I didn't know her husband had just recently passed away. She told us how painful it is living without him and to raise her daughter without a father. She said how wonderful and kind he is. She said "if any woman had lost a man like him, it would cause her so much pain, because he is absolutely the love of her life."It was so painful to watch her describe her experiences. Her mother is the perfect candidate for me to share the Gospel to and bring her that hope she is needing. I listened to what God wanted me to do at the moment and there came a tender heart that whispered to me," Sister Sok, just listen". I didn't open my mouth and gave her a hug. It was such a powerful experience for me. I knew that she felt the love of Christ. I knew that the spirit touched her heart.  I felt so humbled to know this strong woman. I am really happy here and I am happy with my new companions.

I've had feel like a said before a part of heaven is with me here. It is a blessing to know the people in my new areas and one of the most important things, to listen to them and love them. We got to two churches and they are really far from one another. So we would have to split up and have two of us attend one church service in Chbar Ampov and the other attend the service in Kean Svay. Sister Gallaghad and I attended the church in Chbar Ampov. We got there and got to know many of the members. We then went to this jungle in the back of the house. The branch president saw us and ha at the pulpit during Sacrament meeting, he announced "We will be broadcasting General Conference in this building...and ohhhh by the way, you new sisters don't go in the jungle", there are snakes in there..we don't want you to die." It was way funny the way he said it and so embarrassing. Also when we were riding our bikes, one of my companions saw a wedding and literally asked if she could take a pic with the bride. The wedding photographer obviously was such a pro, because we got a picture of the dog trying to lick its behind. #photobombing.  I thought it was hilarious.

I love you all and May God Bless You!

Love,
Sister Sok

Phnom Sompove (Ship Mountain), Monkey Stuff, Killing Cave, Jungle, Saying Farewell and Transfers

Sunday March 19, 2017 at 9:43PM

On P-Day, we went hiking on this mountain in Battambang called Phnom Sompov. It's surreal! There are temples on top of the mountains and some sanctuary sites, as well. We went through some jungle areas and saw many monkeys. Some were a little sassy than the other. That's OK. On the way up we stopped by some ancient sites and Buddhist  sanctuaries. There were many monks and Buddhist nuns there. They literally live on top of the mountains. The weather there was very cloud, but it was still humid and a little difficult to breath, but everything is breathtaking. We went in this cave. The Elders played a prank on us Sisters and made us run out of the cave. It was pitch dark, so I started to find my way back, this bug forcefully flew into my esophagus. I coughed it up , though. I guess I got to taste my protein of the day. After exploring the cave, we went to see the Killing Cave. During the Cambodian Genocide, the killing cave is where Pol Pot ( Khmer Rouge Leader) decided to perform a mass genocide in Battambang (one of the ways and places) is to push the Khmer people from this about 40 foot cliff into a cave. In the cave, they had set up sharp objects to pierce through the bodies, just in case if there were people who may still be alive. We were able to hike down and see the remains of human bones. While there, there was this complete reverence for the spirits. We could sense and smell the humid cool air while observing our surroundings. I went down further into the cave and sat there for awhile. Just to think 1,200 people have died here and a total of nearly 1.7 million people have died due to Khmer Rouge. Just to think, the souls who could have so many potentials and opportunities to make this world a better place. While sitting there and though as atrocious as the act was, I feel that a part of heaven was there with me. A part Christ's peace. A place of rest, a portion and even at the tip of an iceberg, in

Enos 1:27 " And I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest. And I rejoice in the day when my mortal shall put on immortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure, and he will say unto me: Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father. Amen.".To know that that it's a blessing to understand my ancestors and to truly know that God has blessed me with the work I am needed to do. That one day God has prepared for us a place to rest.

I have learned much about my companion and the love from the members and the people of Battambang. I am learning more to change everyday, to become a better person. I've learned to love a people from a different place, places where I've never been before. I remember sitting with my companion by the bedside. We both knew that neither of us understood perfectly (or even to the degree we had hoped) each other's pain, but we learned that it doesn't matter much. The most important thing is to love each other anyway. I realized why I am companion with Sister Sung. I know that this transfer has brought me closer to my Savior. It's been a blessing, it's been difficult, it's been tiresome, but it's been enjoyable. Many experiences have humbled me to plead for help and put me on my knees. I do believe whatever it is I am assigned to do, I know that continuous change and improvement are needed. I  strive to make a record of how I have changed and improved everyday. It is such a simple thing to say. However, even with the daily meticulous changes or huge changes, can bring forth the better person in me. I am learning to deliberately become a better daughter of God through the people around me and my companions. To be a light and to be there to share my conversion according to the Lord's timing.

Leaving Battambang has given me  mix of emotions. I love the area and the people. I became so close to them. They say " if you live in Battambang long enough, you will stick to the dirt." However, I am excited to serve in the new area and I look forward to meet the people God has prepared for me to share part of my conversion and testimony. The new areas are pretty cool. I am called to serve in these places called Keansvay and another one called Chbar Ampov. Most part-I think are still countrysides, rice fields areas, but they are closer to the city than Battambang. The chapel isn't established in those areas, yet. The church/worship is inside a normal looking house for both the areas. It's pretty cool! I am in a trio, with Sister Gallaghand and Chen. Well, that's all I have in the time permitted. Thank you and I pray that God will bless you all!

Love,
Sister Sok

2 of the best people in Battambang. This is when we went to this farm. You can't see them, but there giant pigs behind us. 

Bamboo Train, Tuek Umpov, Cheat's mother, and Viral Infection and long bus rides :/

Monday March 6, 2017 at 12:52AM

Hello Families and Friends,

Today is has been good. It is preparation day of course and it has been fun. This morning, after our studies and cleaning of our house, we quickly got out of the house to ride the Bamboo train again. I can never get tired of the train. Haha. It is the closest thing you can get to a roller coaster. It's a Khmer roller coaster..nah not really. The route goes through the forests, rice fields, and a few streams. At the end, they would souvenirs and really nice paintings of Angkor Wat and elephants. They are beautiful. There were many tourists  who were riding the train there though, which made me feel really weird seeing so many white people. Most tourists here are from Europe, not very many from America. Which is really interesting. Anyway, we then came back and went to shop for the week's groceries and supplies. Today is one of the hottest days. Cambodia is a jungle and gets really hot but super humid, as well.  So once we got to the streets market, we became roasted crickets. But we got to drink sugar cane water (tuek umpov) and it is equivalent to the satisfaction you can get out of drinking a really good lemonade out of a hot day.

These couple of weeks has been pretty rough but I have grown a lot. I ate something from the market and I think it was from the raw veggies, but I might have gotten sick from something else as well. But the next day and 7 days, I got really sick. I was told I got a  viral infection.

However the couple of weeks was a miracle.  I got to see a recent convert's mother. It was an amazing experience, a reflected mirror of my life. The recent convert's name is Chearta. Like me, she is a pioneer and wanted to serve a mission, but her mother was really against the church and does like it when Chearta goes to church. Her heart has been softened lately, though. So one of the branch members and the senior missionaries decided to plan a visit/ lunch with her family. I was so thrill, because this is such a great opportunity for me to have. But the night and day before the visit, I came down with that high fever from the infection.I had worms in my body and my throat was so much in pain. I was half conscious. I started coughing up- clots of blood and the sickness was beating me inside out. I really needed Heavenly Father's help. However, I really wanted this visit with Cheata's mother to happen, I wanted to meet with her mother. It's like if I don't have the chance to teach my mom, God is allowing me to share my experience and help this girl out. To really help her family come to know the Gospel. To help my family in Cambodia whether it is blood-related or not. So out of exhaustion, but with complete sincerity, I placed my head on my pillow and prayed to Heavenly Father. The next morning was a miracle. I felt better, still weak, but enough to walk and enough to speak and to go out to meet with Cheata's mother. I believe that God gave me enough strength to help this girl out. I do believe in miracles and it was God's answer to my prayer. After that day of our visit with her mother, I got another fever, but I am better now. The week after, my companion had to take an immediate trip to the closest province to a secure hospital to get her illness daignosed. We took a creepy taxi to Siem Reap ( They literally packed as much people as they could in a car, there were 2 people sitting in the driver's seat! One trying to drive the car!). Once we got there, we found out that there wasn't a specialist at that hospital. So we had to take the bus the next morning to the city. It takes about 6 to 8 hours to get from the (countrysides--known as Kets) to the capital city. But my companion was a trooper and endured through it. I waited for her and went in to hear the results. To be honest, I felt really scared as I waited, but all is good now. She had her illness diagnosed and she is doing well now. She is ending her mission soon and is so strong. So this week felt pretty strange. We are now back in the ket.  Sister Sung's health is normal now and as a matter a fact we both rode the Bamboo train this morning. It is very strange to take everything all in, hah! But it is what it is, you have just have to make the best of it.

Sickness is not an abnormal thing in Battambang or just Cambodia in general. So many memebrs and less-actives here are sick. Some have grown closer to Christ and some have grown weaker. I feel the most helpless here in Battambang, mostly when I first got here. It hurts really bad to know that they are dying and I wish I was a doctor. I just want to be in a corner and be in a fetal position. I keep telling myself, it is OK. But it really isn't. Seeing people on their last breaths and watching them in pain is not an easy thing. It is painful. It is something I am trying to accept.  However,  I've learned that the healing power is love. It may sound really cheesy, but it is the best medicine to help one knows of their worth in this life and the eternity to come. I have learned so much  about love when I am on this mission. To love those around you in every circumstance. It's so weird to say it out before my mission and believing in the word you say then is different now..on my mission. However, to have experienced what you believe and what your faith holds unto give you a deeper perspective and strengthens your faith in Christ so much more.  


Love,
Sister Sok


Some recent pictures and bamboo train

Why isn't the fish dead?!!!

Sunday February 19, 2017 at 9:35PM

Hello,

I hope and pray that you are all well. This week has been crazy good. We went to visit a member who needs some spiritual uplift  from the missionaries. (The members love to give us food for the missionaries. They are so kind). Her house is literally in the middle of nowhere and we always feel so bad when she gives us food, because she is so skinny and her house is so poor. However, it is very rude that we don't accept the gifts or food they give us. Most of the time, they don't even ask us if we wanted the stuff, they just give it to us. hah. Anyway the lady gave us live fish and hah she bagged it up. So they were moving all over the bag while I was riding my bike. It was a very hot day and we parked our bikes to teach one of the recent converts at a school. We heard some noise in the back where we parked our bikes, but did not bother to pay any attention to it. We went on teaching. After the lesson, we found our bag that was full of fish to be half full with fish and a huge hole in the bag. We only had 2 fish left.  The rest escaped. Then we went on with the rest of the day, biking and teaching at peoples' houses in the hope that the fish would die. We got home and one wouldn't die. So we had to wait until its last breath until we cook and eat it.

This week,  we wen to visit a less-active. She is very sick and we were so grateful that God has prompted us to see her that very day. We rode to her house and her neighbor asked if she was even inside at all. She locked the inside of her house and we couldn't get in to see if she was OK. The whole  village crowded to find ways to get inside. My companion opened her windows and saw her laying half conscious on the bed. She could barely open her eyes. We quickly called the branch president and the elders to come to  help. She is now a bit better, but that experience was pretty scary.

Things are going good here. I really enjoy my Khmer companion Sister Sung and her presence again. She was my trainer, but now is just a regular companion. So weird and interesting.  My Khmer vocabulary has increased and it feels different when people actually think I live in Phnom Penh and I am not an American. So I am adjusting to the culture pretty well. One of the memorable things Sister Sung has taught me about the Khmer people is that the idea of religion and the concept of "doing good will give you good" is very predominant. However, yes any religion has its good part, however what the Khmer and the way of the Khmer Buddhism is missing a part of is the crucial TRUTH of SALVATION. That yes in terms of the natural law of the land, if you do bad, there will be consequences and such. However, the pursuit of reaching higher, higher truth is skewed in their religion here. They are missing that ascending truth that they can be saved for eternity through Jesus Christ. The idea that they can be saved.

Things are still good, hard and exhausting, but I am doing OK and I am healthy. Thanks for all of your help and love. There is much for me to learn and I'm trying to take it in and accept it. I am trying very hard to keep the spirit alive and to do all that I can light up the purpose of why I am called here, to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

With love and gratitude,
Sister Sok

Below are pictures when Sister Sung first trained me (and when I was fresh out of the MTC) and hah now together again.

Over the Battambang Bridge: His strength for her limbs

Monday February 6, 2017 at 12:13AM

This week has been a good week of progress and the start of changes in missionary work. I'm really excited and I love the Branches I am in. I am still in Battambang and transfers just happened. My companion, Sister Luke ( who was ill with narcolepsy) has to be transferred back to the city where she can be close to the mission home. Sister Sung is my companion again. I was her companion during training. My health is good even though there are weird things happening to my body. However, I am still able to function well.

The lifestyle here is so different from what I am used to in America. Just the way people speak, markets, the humidity, culture of the church here, our schedules and timing, the over all culture. Usually, people here take showers 3 times a day and they eat dinner really late. So little Sophia's body is like a twig with skinny arms, legs, and face, but I am starting to see a little pouch of rice pack.  I look a little like an alien, to be frank. For exercise, I love to run. We'd wake up at 5:30 and go on our daily runs at the church and we get to see the sunrise in the morning. 5:50 is the prime time for sunrise, so that's always been a blessing to see. Lunch is a challenge sometimes. Usually since some of our areas are far out, we'd just pack lunch and eat it at the riverside on the grass with the member's help and hah also with the cows and horses by the water. It is so beautifully green. My ex-companion has narcolepsy, so we usually go back home to have her rest and study language. She finally got her medicines! So now it is just a matter to see if they work. She's a trooper. I have learned a lot on being patient and this young woman has taught me many lessons. She's is such a chill companion and her nature helps me so much when I turn into the uptight, work, work, work sister Sok.

There are other strange but hilarious stuff that goes on here, as well. Like the other day, when riding our bikes. We passed this half-naked guy on his Moto (mo-ped) with his whole family and his wife trying to arm her kids from falling off the moto, while picking lice off her husband's hair. All happening when this man is trying to ride his Moto. Man, I wonder where they were going!

So this week: I've seen so many progress of working together with members! Miracles have happened and we were so blessed to witness them. Missionaries in this mission only get to teach people of their same gender. There is this family investigating the church referred from a member. So we got to teach the female in the family. They are such a blessing to my life. Their mother's name is Oum Vannie. She is around her 70s and a very faithful seeker of Christ. I don't have much time, but I will tell you of a miracle that she shared with us. Oum Vannie could not walk straight due to an illness she had. It is a struggle for her to get up and walk off a normal distant for an average person. She has really hard times riding her bike. So, one morning at church, we were waiting for her presence. Sacrament meeting started but we didn't see her. All of the certain, we heard the door being opened and there she was rushing to sit by us. we could just see the sweat pouring out of her pores down her entire face. I could feel the exhaust and heat lingering around her frame. I was like Oum, what happened?! She said, sister "I biked to church". She later on told us: Sister I believe I truly believe! God gave me strength to get here. Her house is pretty far from the church and there are hills on the way. I mean, we are talking about an old woman who could barely walk, let alone ride her bike!

She talked about how she had to stop every now and then to regain her strength. In every fiber of her limbs and spirit she prayed to the Lord to provide her the strength to get to church! She had to cross this famous Battambang bridge, but she could not have any strength left to carry her through. She described" I humbly prayed to God with all of my total dependence and all of the certain, a burst of energy overcame my feeble body and forged me to go onward. I got off my bike and walked it over the bridge! Description of what happened does not do it justice. You would have to be in the lesson to see the change of heart and spirit of resilience, of the Lord she brought INTO her heart.

Her husband and her whole family have changed. The elders had to teach her husband. Her husband went from lying half conscious on his bed from over dose of alcohol and smoking to a complete 180 changed man. One night, the elders called me saying that they would visit him for the last time and would prob drop him, but as soon as they saw him neatly and nicely dressed with buttoned up shirt and good pairs of pants on welcoming them inside, they were so surprised. Oum Vannie had been a light to him. He saw how his wife changed and started coming to church with her. I think one of our most powerful lessons was when he saw his wife cries, he left the lesson and went to the back of his house and started sobbing. The moment was nothing but divine silence for a bit. My companion and I truly cherish those moments. The video attached is of that day when the spirit was so strong. Her husband had joined in the lesson. Haha, we had to teach them both. I had a feeling to pull out my camera and recorded that moment.  We always start out the lessons with singing "How Great Thou Art" to her. It is a tradition, they love it. Their relationships have grown and they are one of the cutest couples! Actually, I am going to just share the video!

I can honestly say that my life is being converted (even if it is refining process) to come closer and closer to Christ. I don't have a set game plane of the person I know I will be, but I know who I once was and how I have changed. I would only hope that my conversion would continue to grow. I have learned more about having charity this past transfer and I hope to continue to attain more of this very attribute. No matter what I do, this love of Christ is what I can offer. I have learned that one the hardest things I am experiencing thus far and will  be is sacrificing and offering up my desires and the agency of self-centered desires on His altar and completely trying my best to understand and do God's will. To do what He asks of me even if it makes no sense. I have learned that you do it anyway despite the outcome or the circumstance you are in. I read a letter written by an inspiring missionary. You probably may have heard of him, His name is Ricchardi:   "The mission experience is to do what you are told, when you are told, to go where you are asked, and know that the blessing comes from enduring what I ask of you. This is not about you; it is about opening your mouth at all times in all places. Doing my will without thought to the end result or consequence… this is what serving a mission is."

I am striving, striving my utmost best of what I have to serve Him. I know I fall short, but I nevertheless I love Him and I know God loves me. I cherish it every single day, to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. I hope that my letter has uplifted your day and have made you feel closer to Christ. I know that the Gospel is true and I am glad I got to know you!

On P-day, we got to ride what is called "Bamboo train and we got to go to this waterfalls place!" It was way beautiful. 

Love,

Sister Sok