Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015

សួស្តីបុណ្យណូអែល!,

          MERRY CHRISTMAS!! Just in case anyone didn't catch that greeting in Khmer! Hahaha! Hope everyone back at home are still enjoying this Christmas month and season already, it's been a another adventurous week as I serve continue to here in Cambodia in Ta Khmao Branch 1 and Bakou here ... are some spiritual/ adventurous experiences I had from last week!  I may need to make this post short and just to explain how'd this week went (I'll do my best!):

     Well, truth is throughout this week we pretty much keep on visiting members along with Elder Xiong on both areas taking care all we serve here.  This Christmas Party from last Saturday on the 19th was ginormous it was full of the entire East District of the Cambodia Phnom Penh mission along with those who are not familiar with Christmas! It was a blast even helping this district set this party up! Throughout last week we were visit our current investigator that's cousins with a very active member they took the invitation to come to the Chirstmas Party which was fantastic! Last Wednesday in Rean English Program in Bakou was okay just not too many attend English Class but I did share a spiritual thought about the atonement and why Christmas exist! Me and Elder Xiong are working as hard and we could. I had chances to meet certain member throughout last week that hasn't been active in the church for a long time. So we'll be doing some work on that. Plus, basically we're doing great! Me and Elder Xiong still are truly to go strong on this Christmas month! I think the highlights are more explanatory for this absolutely special posts! On the other hand!...

       *sigh* I am super excited for Christmas this year and spending it on the best mission here! I can't wait to Skype my family! I would love to bare a special testimony that Christ is truly our precious gift! I know that it's part of God's plan. And it's necessary for us to have a savior born on this earth to complete God's plan for all of us! I know that God cares for us and so does our beloved savior Jesus Christ! I am eternally grateful to have this gift, and I encourage you all who reading this post to feel grateful about this gift as well. Love your own family, have charity with each other, and don't forget about this wonderful and blessed holiday by remember our saviuors birth! My testimony has been build so much since I've been converted in this Church! I am eternally to keep sharing the Christmas love to my divine heritage and I won't NEVER....EVER....EEEEEEVER forget about the importance of this phenomonal holiday and my purpose serving here in Cambodia. I won't give up. I am HIS soldier and I will still keep serving with faith. I know that the church I am serving as a full-time missionary is absolutely true. I am about over 7 months into this mission and I will still keep working my heart out! 

   
                This is all I wanted to post for this super special post of this Episode! Just wanted to be short and sweet! May each of you stay blessed and fantastic as we all remember our true and precious for each and every one of us on this earth which is JESUS CHRIST! I love you all!



សូមជំរាលា!, 
 🎄❤ -អែឌើ ស់


 "But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call hisname JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." -Luke 1:20-23
ATONEMENT Scripture Reference:
"For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice.
Now there is not any man that can sacrifice his own blood which will atone for the sins of another. Now, if a man murdereth, behold will our law, which is just, take the life of his brother? I say unto you, Nay.
But the law requireth the life of him who hath murdered; therefore there can be nothing which is short of an infinite atonement which will suffice for the sins of the world." 
Alma 34: 10-12
I found some "Yellow Patties"! Yes! Hahaha! 


This is Elder Steadman.(He's currently serving in "Chbarr Ampoev".) He's about done serving in this mission along with his MTC companion Elder Quirante. Them and Sister Jepsen were
only group studying in the MTC together on their time! WHOA! Haha!

Me and Elder Xiong just want to wish each and everyone of you a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! Love you all!
(On the right is just some picture from the ginormous Christmas Party last Saturday!)

While we were in Bakou, we visited same family of members and we saw them doing something with Rice to make some kind of dough,
so we decide to try it out and help. Hahaha! I truly love this mission!  (On the left is just me, we were proselyting in Bakou and then we saw this random great site.)


Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015

ជំរាបសួ!
                    *sigh* I miss listening to the Grinch's theme song! Hope everyone back at home are still enjoying this Christmas month and season already, it's been a another adventurous week as I serve continue to here in Cambodia in Ta Khmao Branch 1 and Bakou here ... are some spiritual/ adventurous experiences I had from last week!: 
 
      Well, for this post about what I've done within this week I will be very simple about what I've done with my companion throughout that week, and so throughout this week has a whole lot of service, we've going all over the place for member, active and less actives spreading the message Christmas! On top of that me and Elder Xiong had few random service opportunities as we serve with each other for one example around Steoung Chro we helped an active member named Ming Pov on organize a bunch of tree branch so are thick and... some are spiky but don't worry we're good! Plus, organize some metal sheets around to help her just to help her be organize about what she's about to do with this this. (That was from last Saturday!) 

       Yesterday was huge blast, contacting several people at the East District/  South Stake Center about Christmas and the performance all were about to watch. Performance was phenomonal! I felt the Holy Spirit as me and my companion had the oppurtunity to attend a huge Christmas Occasion at the South huge church building!  Church in the morning at Branch 1 was excellent heard from an area 70 from Singapore! Plus, attendance in Bakou was much better. Also meeting up with a less active that came to church who wasn't feeling well but had the courage to come to church which is Ming Saruan! She was having a complicated time last week as we visit him and her son last week, that's also when even continue to teach Roattha throughout that last week! 
  
       So for this week's post: I just can't wait to celebrate Christmas, there are three things I love about Christmas, besides knowing that's the time of the birth our precious gift which is our savior Jesus Christ. So, this what I am about to explain is a plan that was out of the current Ta Khmao District that we just came up with which is to emphasize the ATONEMENT, FAMILIES, and CHARITY. Out of the three I just want to shared a swift spiritual thought about FAMILIES. For me I can't forget my honest spiritual experiences I had when my mother wants me and my older sister to gather in the Dining Room to just light up some candles, praying and read scriptures referencing about ...You all know CHRISTMAS, we done this throughout the month of December in some nights while I was having recess from Henninger High School! Honestly, I can testify that Christmas is also a time to spend with our own family members to just have love and unity with each other. I kid you all not. I am kinda trunky as I wrote this experience but this is why I LOVE CHRISTMAS. If we just take time to learn to love one another as an actual happy family. This is how anyone can make Christmas a special, sacred, time of there lives as Christmas comes every year! 

       Well, it's about two more weeks left until I Skype with my family soon. So I am excited, but I am just going stay focused and continue on helping the 2 areas as much as I can! You all know what whether if any Cambodians can understand this or not, even though I am born and raised in Syracuse, NY United States of America, I just can't stop admitting this: I just still  LOVE to serve my divine heritage by continuing to share this Gospel which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and SPREADING CHRISTMAS LOVE! So.... I will be shooting another Christmas themed post next week! I love each of you that's kept me in your prayers, each of you are the best! May you all still be blessed as we keep on remembering the true importance of Christmas! Stay fantastic! The series of Elder Ros still continues! 


សូមជំរាលា!, 
 ❤ -អែឌើ ស់
"And the angel said unto her, Fear notMary: for thou hast found favour with God. 
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring fortson, and shalt call his name JESUS." - Luke 1:30-31
"For with God nothing shall be impossible." - Luke 1:37



So me and Elder Xiong went out to help an investigator (Roattha in Bakou) get some Coconuts off of a tall tree, 
unfortunately we couldn't retrieve some off of one these these trees but it's was worth doing our best 
to help another!

Me and Elder Xiong did some more service for a family of members in Bakou by picking off some mini-pine-cones off of this wide amount of rice, then
placing all of this in some bags and place them in their storage! I love random or unexpecting service opportunities!

I'm so glad to see some Kampong Cham folks coming to the Christmas Performance in the East District/ South Stake Center. So, I just want to post this up to make
up from the urgent transfer. (Because I didn't tell them I need to leave quickly to my "new" area. Love these guys so much. (SO FAR, MAN they don't want to miss out "MONG"!) 

So... this is Elder Rom from Atlanta, Georgia! I feel less alone as a Khmer-ican now (OH and he did just fine at the Christmas performance.)...បាទ! 
#Khmer-icans

Monday, December 7, 2015

Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015

ជំរាបសួរ!
                    What's good everybody chilling at home drinking hot chocolate or egg nog,etc! Hope everyone back at home are enjoying this Christmas month and season already, it's been a adventurous week last as I serve continue to here in Cambodia in Ta Khmao Branch 1 and Bakou here ... are some experiences I had from last week!  Throughout that week me and Elder Xiong:

       In Tuesday, we focused on Branch 1 to help certains members to know that we're there for them as we continue to serve here. So in Branch 1 there just two particular areas I know or understand about this area. There's Chak Angre that's kinda on the way to Phnom Penh city and Steung Chro that's close to Branch 2's area where I already serve that's kind of close to Prek Ho! In Wednesday, in a Bakou day on this day that was interesting how's that so some of you may ask, see what had happen was as me and Elder Xiong traveled and make it to Bakou which is very far from Ta Khmau I had a slight bike accident on my front wheel, losing the wheel for my light and we came to a Look Poo for help to replace the wheel, after the fix Elder Xiong accidentally forgot our phone for the area and... the Look Poo stole it. However, throughout that day we still resume to our agenda by just showing up to some members homes to see how they're doing and share spiritual thoughts that's according to there spiritual needs. Rean English Program in Bakou was also interesting, (remember serving a group is a whole lot different than serving a Branch.) so we had English Class and there's nothing but women that came and wants learn English, so by permission and obvious reasons we just taught them English teach words that has "U"in them. Than I shared a quick spiritual thought about the importance honoring your parents! Just to slot a doctrine that it's a commandment from God that we need to honor our parents. Because some reason for some people they thought if they become a member of the church of Jesus Christ it's evil because you're honoring your parents and so I just make things clear that in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it's a commandment from God that we honor and love our parents.


     Thursday... After weekly planning session, we have to take care our stolen phone situation by getting a new one from the mission home... so unfortunately we had to start getting phone numbers around both of the areas. But don't worry we got this taken care of and we still all we served in these two areas! Besides that,we visited an active member named Ming Pov and then we taught an active member's cousins about the restoration, very simply, because they're over the age of when they can receive Baptism but it's important to be very simple with them. Hahaha! On Friday, we went to Bakoo again to visit an investigator that I mention from last post named Roattha she's still doing better discussed the 10 commandments with her and the importance of Obedience. (We also, gave details of why it's important to keep the Sabbath day Holy Ghost) After that we met with a guy named Piara, cool guy he's a member but it hard working, we read Enos with each other about the importance why we need to pray with real intent, and that's so we can receive true blessings, that's if we work on what we pray for! 

       So last Saturday we had Zone Training which was great! And had met up with some new missionaries, apparently there's a Sister in our Zone that came from Thailand that's Cambodian except she knows a whole lot of Thai, as I heard a closing Khmer/ English/ Thai prayer. That threw me off in a funny way but in actuality I felt the spirit strongly as we close our Zone training and resume to do all we can do to completely fulfill our purpose as missionaries as a Zone! We continued to meet with the 3 cousins to teach God's plan, and then meet up with more members to familiarize and befriend some members! Love it! 

      Sunday- or better yet yesterday, so Church in both area are good. However, what kinda sucked is in Bakoo there's not many members that attend church because the group leader of Bakoo's father pasted away and had a funeral on that day... so after me, Elder Xiong, the Meinzers and the small amount members that came to fellowshipped in Church, we went to the funeral to express condolences and love that we care for that family. Hopefully, they still remember God's true plan for all of us and most members will be able to attend church next Sunday!

       So for this week's post: I just to bare a simple testimony that Christ's the true gift, I invited you all reading this post to read in the beginning of Luke and know the importance the precious gift each and everyone of us have which our true Savior Jesus Christ! I know that my redeemer lives and His Gospel is true and helps each and everyone us on Earth become more happy spiritual, and so this all I just want send today. I love you who's read this post and it's in my prayers that you'll all receive the blessing and remember the TRUE importance of CHRIST-MAS! God bless you all stay fantastic



សូមជំរាបលា!, 
 ❤ -អែលឌើរ រស់

“Because He came to earth, we have a perfect example to follow. As we strive to become more like Him, we will have joy and happiness in our lives and peace each day of the year. It is His example which, if followed, stirs within us more kindness and love, more respect and concern for others." - Thomas S. Monson 
Here's a random picture from last week when I got to a slight bike accident in Bakou. No worries me and Elder Xiong are good!

While waiting for Roattha, our investigator in Bakou... Hehehe (Just Elder Xiong trying to catch some fish for a bit.)
Such a tall bamboo fishing pole. 

I would like to introduce you all to one of the most terrifying looking fruit I ever partook in my life! It's called a "Quat". And they're all in season for Cambodia
to harvest these particular fruits..... YEEEAAAH!!!

I love to give a shout out for the few of the Syracuse Stake Youths that sent me some stuff!
You guys are fantastic! I love you all! Hahaha! ❤

Sunday, Nov. 29, 2015

សួស្តីបុន្យអំណរគុណ
        ម្តងទៀត!,








Hope everyone's had a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving last week! I surely did as me and Elder Xiong continue to serve in Branch 1 of Ta Khmao and Bakou! Well I'll be short and brief about about how did last Thanksgiving went!:         
      So, as me and Elder Xiong go out to keep doing what we're suppose to be doing in this mission. Me and Elder Xiong continued to teach an investigator named Bong Ritha, who was a referral in Bakou! She's doing fantastic, and a very nice woman who's learned a whole along with Elder Lambert. She's so cool, throughout the week when she's aware of church she calls us to let us know if she can make it to church in Sunday or not. We've been teaching here a lot already about God's plan, and Temples! Yep! Super fun stuff!

      Throughout last week me and Elder Xiong came across very unusual people as we contact around the river side of Ta Khmao, unusual as in some homosexual people, which is the most unusual and odd moment of contacting, but we just do a lot of contacting about the REAN English Program and talk around people about who we are and what we do everyday. So I admit around last week was the first I ever contact homosexual people about the Gospel. But hey the Gospel is for everyone here! Hahaha

    On the 27 of November me and Elder Xiong had participated in a huge feast at the Tonle Bassac II restaurant... so much food...probably gain a Kilo from feast a lot from that time and yesterday feasting with the Senior Couples the Meinzers. 

     In this post, I would love to share one of the most spiritual experience I've experience in the mission so, yesterday me, Elder Xiong, and the Meinzers had a appointment with a very nice neakming to discuss about God's plan for all of us, and we share this lesson with her because one of her closest people that she considered her mom had just past away, while teaching I shared my personal experience when and where, I've done family history work to prepare my family or ancestors for me to do ordinances for them in the Temple. I had experienced so much of the Holy Ghost so much that this lesson has touch her heart as well as she felt the reminder of how God's plan is very true, and how we that God's mercy is so real! On that Sunday yesterday, me and Elder Xiong has done a lot of translating for the Senior Couples which was super fun! So grateful to have their help to teach along with me and Elder Xiong meet the members in Bakou! In this post, I declare that I can't ever deny this spiritual comforting experience I had to share how important God's plan is for all of us to know! 

     In this Thanksgiving holiday, I like share that I am truly grateful to know of the Plan of Salvation! I know that the Plan of Salvation has always been true since I converted into this Church. I knew that this Church where I am serving as FULL-TIME missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is TRUE! I've built this testimony high up as much as I could that I remember how important my calling is as I serve my heritage here in Cambodia! I love each and everyone of you who's been praying for and in my heart I pray for each of you back and along with all those I served here so far. I've seen so many miracles as I serve here and I knew there's more to come. As I am serving continuing to serve in this mission in Ta Khmao, I will treat each and every transfer as if it was my last, with a smile in my face. I chose to stay happy, no matter the hardships, including developing my Khmer! 

    I can't believe it's already about to be December or Christmas!!! AHHHHHH!!! Hahaha! Remember the importance of our Savior everyone! Jesus Christ he's the true gift for all of us! I testify that in the bottom of my heart! We'll gotta peace out and keep up serving all who are spiritually in need!   

សូមជំរាលា!, 
❤ -អែលឌើរ រស់

"Giveand it shall be given unto you; good measure,pressed down, and shaken together, and running over,shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withait shall be measured to you again." - Luke 6:38

Here's a random picture of a huge mushroom... oreo cloud thing after proselyting around Bakou last Tuesday!

Yesterday Ming Pan or Phan! Has been officially baptized now next week she'll be receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost soon! 

Mmmmmm.... I didn't miss too much for this Thanksgiving Holiday hahaha! (Thanking the senior couple the Meinzers! The stuffing and meat w/ gravy was fantastic!)

Me and Elder Xiong proselyted in Bakou along with the Meinzers yesterday it was super fun but kinda weird to sit in a actually car to proselyte. Hahaha!

Monday, Nov. 23, 2015

សួស្តី
បុន្យអំណរគុណ!, 

     Happy Early Thanksgiving everyone! For this weeks post I'll just explain how'd last week went in a nut shell!:


     From Tuesday to Wednesday - Had to say bitter-sweet good byes to those I serve around in Kampong Cham Branch 2. Oh it sucked so much because I really hoped those I invited to come unto Christ along with Elder Hunt and Elder Hall, has appreciate the efforts we've done to help this area. I really loved and missed those I served in Kampong Cham. Plus, I missed serving with Elder A. Hall in Kampong Cham Branch 2. 

     So on last Thursday I had a slight exchange with Elder Cook visiting members and contacting around Chaktomuk which was fun because there's many people here. I met Elder Rom in person also on that day, he's a Khmerican just like me, except he's from Atlanta,Georgia and does knows Khmer and has know how to speak from the start so it was super fun to meet him! We had lunch together at MAMA's as I and Elder Hall came back to the city. Some of you may wonder how's Branch 1 like, so here's all I can explain. It's doing fine, still needs work, but it's worth doing and I am down with it! Visiting Bakou was a super long bike ride it's three times as long as Koh Koo from Branch 2, which was fun, but a long bike ride! Meeting some members of Branch 1 and Bakou has been really fun, they're all super nice. Throughout the weekend I caught a cold on the way to start serving Ta Khmao Branch 1, but no worries I'll be fine!

     Well, I basically want to be very brief on this post because just making more time to still keep up the work like a .... guy pushing a boulder but is actually succeeding! I am one that doesn't call God a liar, as I am called to serve here. My love for own heritage by sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ is ENDLESS! And I will be willing to live that standard why? Because that's what makes me happy. I had seen miracles as I keep serving here. I love each and every one of you that has kept me in your prayers. You guys are the best and are fantastic!

    Side Note: Funny thing is members in Branch 2 are so happy and surprised I came back to serve in Branch 1 and Bakou, on top of that I don't look the same as I returned back to Ta Khmao. I feel very warm-hearted and happy to be back here to serve in the 1st Branch of Ta Khmao! And the group in Bakou!!!! Need to get back into the reality of missionary work but I am happy to keep it up! Stay fantastic! Can't wait to feast on Thanksgiving around the 28th. Have a blessed Thanksgiving everyone love you all! (Bakou has very nice members over there by the way! I love them all!)

សូមជំរាលា!, 
❤ -អែលឌើរ រស់


"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." - Philippians 4:13

I missed this District already! Ahhhh! Haha!

Here's a very chill dog laying around the stairs around the Bakou Church Building... Yep! 
Reminds me of my Pomeranian Dog "Prince" just by the way this dog chills in home. (Don't worry I
am not that trunky. Haha!)


So this is what a Bakou (Group) Church Building looks like in Bakou!

And... this is what Elder Xiong looks like! I am going to great with him! No worries!