Monday, May 18, 2015

Episode 8 - My First Market in P-day! Sunday, May 17, 2015

ជំរាបសួរ!,

     Well... I made it through a week with my new companion / step-dad Elder Child! Honestly, had a very... emotional, and stressful week at sometimes. Here's how'd it all go!:
     Last Tuesday: Had a unique District Meeting since there's been huge changes on Companionships. However, throughout this day I basically did took some time to contact for English Class for the next day coming up! It was fun like usual!
#រៀនភាសាអង់គ្លេសកុំគិតលុយកុំគិតម្លៃ!

Last Wednesday: In English Class, since there's only 2 companionships who can teach English Class (There's me, Elder Child, Sister Christensen and Sister Kimball.) we just united both Basic/Intermediate classes into one class. I was in charge of doing a spiritual thought... in English. It's easy for to say my spiritual thought in English, but I had to make sure that the volunteer translator can understand my English well, so I did the best I can to speak simply about the importance of prayer and the Book of Mormon. Elder Child taught a lot to those who attended this English Class session.   

Last Thursday: Most of this day me and all of the Takhmao missionaries re-organized the CBRs (Convert Baptism Records/ Area Books) due to the disorganization or mess some past missionaries done which makes it very difficult to keep true records of all member and investigators. Throughout this day me and Elder met a new investigator named Yu Lim, who's a student of English, who's interested in the church. A super nice guy, emotional, and very humbled. We just take the time to get familiar with him and he has lots of concerns about life and so we taught him the importance of prayer and relying on the Savior Jesus Christ and that God does helps us on our trials.  Oh here's the best part Elder Child and I invited Yu Lim to be baptized and be a member of the church someday and he accepted the invite!

Last Friday: On this day, me and Elder Child took sometime contacting and do the best we can to help each other get familiar with our area better. Elder Child came out with an idea that since our area's pretty much huge he just plots out areas we can do our best to contact throughout sometime if we can find anything to do as we proselyte! 

Last Saturday: We took time to proselyte by traveling to Kah Koh by using a tuk-tuk... with our bikes. Kind of a tight squeeze, but had fun traveling to that particularly far part of the area! As we visit a home of some members, we taught them about the importance of hope, and so on as we came to Kah Koh, we asked the members about some other members homes to know where they live so we can talk to them and see how they're doing. As the members helped me and Elder Child find a few other member's homes these members weren't home however that's alright because as I am doing my best to get familiar with my area, know where some other members live now, so next we can find them again and hopefully converse with them. So after the members shows us around other members home they want help us teach an investigator, which is Ming Kunthea! We re-teached the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ since she don't remember from the one time Elder McGavin and I teach her. 

When I teach with my companion about this lesson, I even recited "The First Vision" to her as we explained the First lesson again and we extend invitation for her to study the Plan of Salvation pamphlet we gave her before we meet her again.   

Yesterday: Church's been wonderful, even though there's some kids that like to... fool around in church and even the hallway. I do question the culture of parenting in Cambodia a lot at times. Disregarding that I had a very good day in church with my companion and enjoyed listen to talks from members and their perspective on the Gospel as they continue to learn. There were two investigators that we invited to come to church, but didn't attend. We were kinda bummed that they didn't come this Sunday.

Some parts of that week I was easily stressed out and traumatized in the inside because handling a area with a new Trainer is kinda tough. However, I love my new companion! You know, I love doing the best I can in my area with Elder Child. It actually made my missionary adventure more crazy and exciting. Watch how much I am going to hate leaving my area when I gave all I got with Elder Child after being trained. I still have great love for all I serve over here. I chose to never give up and will do my best to keep improving as,I do my best to be the missionary Heavenly Father needs me to be! I love you all who are reading this post! God bless you all! I am going to keep doing my best with much hope I have! God speed! 

Tell you all what, if any of you have any questions about my mission feel free to reply in this e-mail and I'll definitely do my best to answer in my next upcoming blog! 

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”


ជំរាបលា!
-អែលឌើរ រស់ (Elder Ros)
Sorry, there isn't any good pictures from last week particularly, but hopefully this week will be a lot better.
​Shout out for Syracuse University and the Syracuse Community! Hehehe! (May, 2 2015).

​Shout out for BYU even though I may not attend there! Hahaha! (May 4, 2015).

There he is! My "step-dad" Elder Child. Here's a funny story, he's actually met my family before before I came into the mission field. He was unaware for a while on the start of the transfer until he explained that he met a family that came to Cambodia that's from Syracuse, NY and met him and my family told him I will be serving here! So, throughout last week I told him... that is my family! Hahaha!

Elder Child and Me! Looking fantastic!

​From this morning on P-Day, me and Elder Child went to a Market in Takhmao and it's my first time going there... this is what part of the Market looks like!


Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Episode 7 - Training at Level 2. Sunday, May 10, 2015

ជំរាបសួរ!,

     Happy Mother's Day! Had an opportunity to Skype with my mother and family throughout this P-Day! Shout out to my ម្តាយ. This week was a doozy... but I say its fun and kinda tough one! I'll just explain this week very briefly. 

Last Tuesday: Had a nice District Meeting that's centered on a testimony meeting since Elders ខៀវ', Jarvis, McGavin and Sister Lindley will be leaving Takhmao to transfer! We visited members homes and continued to teach!  

Last Wednesday: English Class's a bit different for this week we just transitioned from having three classes into 1 class teaching all who attend! We just helped all who attended pronounce some words and understand sentences using English words they all remember! It's tough but doable.

Last Thursday: The final day when Elder McGavin bares farewell to everyone in TaKhmao Branch 2! At this time I honestly looked up to Elder McGavin, (despite his flaws) that he does have some love to those he serves even though it's different than how I show it.

Last Friday: As I remain here still working in Ta Khmao Branch 2, I officially transitioned (transferred) from having Elder McGavin (my "Dad") to having Elder Child! (my "Step-dad"). It was a interesting time because I had to begin leading the area and oh man how tough it was. 

Last Saturday: Went to "Cow Island", to help Elder Child to be familiar with his new area! (Had my first flat tire ever with my bike... got it fixed quick.) On top of that visited members there and a investigator (MingGunThea) over there!  We just help and encourage her about the importance of Prayer and invited her to pray everyday and we gave a Book of Mormon for her to read in her spare time.  Note: She's the only investigator I knew in the entire area that is constant I knew no one else at the time.

Yesterday: Very nice session of Church in the Takhmao Branch 2 dedicated for Mother's day! New changes in the Branch Presidency! Just guided Elder Child more of the area and leading some lessons! (Note: I don't even know what I am doing I just try to take the leap of faith to try my hardest despite my language barrier with my own people tagging along with Elder Child's experience. 

I find this change of companionship tough, just because new things will be happening in the entire branch. However, it will be fun! Please keep me in your prayers love you all! So long! This transfer's going to be fun and interesting! I'll miss Elder McGavin so much, but hopefully I'll do awesome with Elder Child! 

     
"Yea, know that am nothingas to my strength am weak; therefore will not boast of myself, but will boast of mGod, for in his strength I can do all thingsyea,behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever." - Alma 26:12



ជំរាបលា!, 
-អែលឌើរ រស់ (Elder Ros)
Here's some pictures of some of the members I've been serving in Takhmao Branch 2!

Have I mentioned that MingNarry has a pet Monkey already? Well... there he is!

Me with MingNarry!


Me with MingTuan's family! (Look Poo's still investigating the Church.)

​Me and Elder McGavin with MingChantha and PooVanna's family! On the right is one of our Branch Missionaries SearLong! 

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Episode 6 - Clueless Service in Black Grandpa. Sunday, May 3, 2015

ជំរាបសួរ!,
      Whoo! It's been a super fun and I say a busy week! Here's how last week went everyone! I'll need to be super brief to explain! 
      

     Last Tuesday, me and Elder McGavin and all Ta Khmao Missionaries went out to do service for a NeakMing who's a member of the church, we did our best to help her build up a Phteah! However, corrupt police in Cambodia ruined it since day. The NeakMing even has papers that says that she owns the Land to build her home...

     Last Wednesday, I teach in the Advanced Part of English Class on that day! Very fun to talk to my own people in English so I can help them speak English! You know it's great to selflessly share the language you already know to your own people! It's amazing how so many of my own people wants to learn the English language! The student or the people who wants to learn loves to do whatever they to communicate in English! We even discuss what some English words mean and interpret them with the Khmer language. Kinda tough, but sabbay meen teen! 
      
     Last Thursday, I spent a day doing an exchange with a native Cambodian Missionary named អែលឌើរ ខៀវ! Unfortunately, on half of the day I had a in-grown toenail so I need to go to the hospital with him to get it checked out for a bit. DON'T WORRY! I am getting better than! We communicated with each other fine however, we're communicate with all we go to make sure we fulfill our missionary purpose for the day! As did Companionship Study and Prepare for the day we just did serve the same NeakMing in the same area to help plant Banana Trees... and then corrupt police just don't let her to have her own land....just ridiculous. Later on me and Him taught a progressing investigator who's referred to me and Elder McGavin by Elder Jarvis and his companion Elder Chuuk!  His name's Huey! We taught him the importance of the Law of Chastity and the Words of Wisdom and committed him to live them and even explained the blessings in details! Elder ខៀវ's an awesome guy. We really done a lot to make sure we understand each other throughout that day. 

     Last Friday, Zone Training! Just being taught how to really commit investigators to do what they need to do gain a stronger testimony from Obey God's commandments, and reading scriptures and explain blessings in details of what would happen when we commit investigators and invite them closer to Christ! Then me and my Trainer done weekly planning and proselyte to the guards of the Church and members around there like usual!

     Last Saturday, did contacting in a area a close stoplight close to church using new English flyers! Woo! Motos drivers grabbing flyers here and there! On top of that we taught another investigator! Woo he's a golden investigator in my missionary perspective! This guy's named Roat!  He's just getting familiar with church and shared very honest concerns with his life. We just read the introduction with the Book of Mormon and commit him to read and pray if the Book's true, and remind him that within his concerns we remind him the importance of free agency and it's his choice to pick which church he feel's right to go. Plus, so on we also testify and explain our experience o the church and the importance of studying, pondering, praying, and know things personally. This individual's a super nice guy and can speak English super well... so I taught him with Elder McGavin in Khm-English. (We also had a Branch Missionary to come and help us teach him!)

     Yesterday, that's been an awesome Sabbath day because not only we had a Stake Conference for the Asian Area, but there's another Baptism done on that day! The new member's from Sister Lindley and Sister Kimball as they teach the little guy and his family!  Plus, on top of that day I taught a recent convert named MingNarry who has a pet Monkey! I taught her many times along with Elder McGavin with Branch Missionary of our branch! Then we went to two more teaching appointments!


      Well, throughout this upcoming week I will be having a new companion named Elder Child. My gosh.... I am so going to miss Elder McGavin (Love you "Dad"!) so much when he moves throughout this week... he's moving or transferring to Kampong Cham! So I will be working with Elder Child my "Step-dad" Ta Khmao! Super awesome last week! Well, mother's day is coming up I hope to be able to talk to my mother soon! Can't wait until I keep teaching my new investigators with my companion, hopefully me and my companion will be able to baptize them, if they choose to members of His Church! I love my mission so much, there tough parts and fun parts in this mission! I miss my family,  the Syracuse Ward, the Syracuse Community! I am not that homesick anymore, but I love my family while I am gone! Keep me in your prayers everyone! I love fulfilling my purpose as a missionary! Language's coming and growing slowly, but I know that gift of tongues is going to keep helping me a lot in this mission as I always depend on it and the Holy Ghost! (All the glory goes to God as I do His work!) GOTTA BLAST AGAIN I AM GOING TO KEEP THIS WORK AND FUN UP! SO LONG!



                    
“Bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; … mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life.” Mosiah 18:8–9
ជំរាបលា!
-អែលឌើរ រស់ (Elder Ros)
Me and Elder McGavin doing Service when we're about to build a Phteah! (Last Tuesday!)

From last Tuesday, helping a member or Neakming build her home when later on corrupted police destroyed
it....Well, I still find it worth doing service to others! ..Right?!


New member baptized by Elder McGavin! Man, so excited! Hopefully, he'll grow up to be a awesome Aaronic
Priesthood holder! 

Living the Missionary...FUN!

Episode 5 - Blessings > Luck . Sunday April 26, 2015

ជំរាបសួរ!,

     Quick note before I begin!: Okay everyone! So sorry about my excitement or I type too quick that I didn't make sure! I want to explain that when I mentioned the "South Stake Center" that's actually the the East District Center in Phnom Penh! My apologize from my thought of the ginormous building to be a Stake Center! (Perhaps the North and South Stakes are A LOT MORE HUMONGOUS buildings than I really thought! Since there are only 2 Stake Centers established in Cambodia so far.)

     Well, well, well, I am officially a month in the field however I am 3 months and 6 days in within my mission. Okay, so how'd last week went. Well, last week was decent, we just continued to teach our members within our Branch, and Less-Actives to share messages about the true importance of praying daily with real intent, studying the scriptures diligently, and attending church every week! We keep explaining mainly that if they do these following thing they can have a stronger testimony, faith and understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Been (acid) rained on a lot through that week.

     Last Wednesday, from English Class has been a fun experience as I teach young children, and some adults new words. After, English Class Elder McGavin shared a Spiritual thought about Baptism usually the Elder/ Sister who gives a spiritual thought picks a translator. (Usually someone who knows English very well and participated in English so much!)

     Last Saturday, I did an exchange with Elder Jarvis to work in the 1st Branch of Ta Khmao. While we were proselyting, we take time to contact people within the area about the Weekly English Class we do every Wednesday Night in the Church building! Honestly, I was kinda shy because I was nervous about rejection, however I just exert and rely on the spirit and just talk to my own people and just allow the spirit to help me contact and invite. Turns out I do love greeting anyone! (Hopefully, I'll do that a lot more often. Hahaha!) Later on, we attended a adult session of District Conference! Many adult members in the East District and the missionaries gathered on that day to discuss about Branch and Family counselors within the District and how to maintain unity and help families within the District. 
     
     Yesterday, was a excellent Sabbath day, there was the East District Conference for all members on that day! While, biking on the way there, me and other Ta Khmao missionaries quickly slip our ponchos on realizing we're about to face a WHOLE lot of rain on the way. It was fun, wet and crazy. My shoes were so wet and so were my pants. As I arrived at the East District Center I had to squeeze out my socks to get rid of the water that was soaked in to my shoes. Anyways, as I showed up with all missionaries in the East District to conference, we heard amazing remarks from many Presidents within the District that includes the Mission President and his wife. I sure hoped that the entire congregation who showed up are definitely excited about the new Temple in Thailand as the mission president mentioned that in his remarks! 

     Well, as I conclude this post I just needed to say the following. I don't really believe in "Good Luck" as I am doing the Lord's work, however I do strongly believe in Good Blessings. I know there's such thing as great blessings because as I am doing the Lord's work, I know there are individuals who would truly appreciate my invitation to them come or continue to follow Christ and His example. Not only me and Family will receive blessings from me doing missionary, but many who I invited will appreciate them eternally as well! Well, gotta blast! I won't give up hope, I keep pressing on and invite many to come to Christ as much as I can! Love you all!


“Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast. Ether 12:4
ជំរាបលា!, 
-អែលឌើរ រស់ (Elder Ros)
The   ផ្សារ ថ្មី  (New Market) in Phnom Penh, I visited this place in Last P-day! 

Me and Elder McGavin just getting Lunch after last week's district meeting.

My view of a river while I was doing an exchange to work with Elder Jarvis for the day! (We were taking time contacting 
individuals about English Class me and the Ta Khmao District teach in every Wednesday Nights in the Church Building!) 

Just me on my poncho resisting the ....acid rain as much as I can as me and other Ta Khmao missionaries 
travel to the East District Center in Phnom Penh for the East District Conference!