Week 1: khnom kuu cia neakphsuapphsaaysaasnaaa (Translation- I am a missionary?)

 I miss and love guys so much! I don't even know where to begin... These last 6 days I feel like I have used more flashcards and studied harder than I ever did at BYU...(not that I didn't study) but I love it here. It is nothing like I thought it would be!!

I guess I will just go through my week! Saying goodbye was the hardest thing to do by far, but it was amazing to see Gods love for me and how he comforted me on the plane ride over. The guy assigned to sit next to me was a one week old RM!  He gave me a lot of tips and advice for a mission. Then all the women on the flight pampered me with love. One nice lady even gave me her business card to get a free pair of leggings from her! She said, "Free clothes always makes a girl feel better!" HAHA little does she know I can't wear leggings..... So If anyone wants free leggings hit me up!

Shout out to Halsey Anderson for picking me up and Mckenna Lake for letting her use her car! Love you guys.

So my roommate at BYU was Hailey Graviet who is Serving in the Vietnam Mission and she was my host at the curb!! What a tender mercy that was cause I felt so much better having her show me what to do the first day at the MTC. There was 700 new missionaries that day and all the new mission presidents were there and all of the quorum of the 12 was there the whole week! Basically this last week was crazy.

The most overpowering part of this last week was when they put this perfect black name tag with Sister Snooks and a bunch of characters that look like ramen noodles and she asked something along the lines of, "Sister Snooks, are you ready to become a full time missionary?" (That was the worst quote in the world... I'm so sorry I can't remember what she said) But I was overwhelmed with the spirit while she put it on me. It felt amazing. Had no idea it was going to be such an emotional experience.  That was also when I figured out who my companion was going to be, SISTA COOK!! I love her so much. We knew of each other because of Instagram, bless, and we work so well together. She is the cutest thing ever. She also makes me run all the time with her... like 6 mile runs... because I have to stay with her... so looks like I may not gain weight in the MTC. Holla.

My Zone is amazing. We cover South Asia and have the biggest zone in the Provo MTC, which means WE ARE THE BIGGEST ZONE IN THE WORLD! We are really proud of it. Sister Graviet is in the same zone and so is my good BYU friend Andrew Oaks! My district is hilarious. Basically all of them are 18 years old and have SO MUCH ENERGY. I laugh more than I talk I'm pretty sure... I remember people always saying that as a missionary you find everything a lot funnier that it is and I can testify that to be true. Also missionaries are very good at self entertainment. The Elders like to throw their plastic water bottles and try to get it to land upright... and when that got boring they would throw the bottle into a tree to try and get it to land upright... It's funny to watch... probably not as funny to read about. 

Soooo the language.... Oh boy. I have not heard my teacher say an English word yet. ISN'T THAT INSANE? but .....I'M LEARNING SO MUCH!! So I was the last one to arrive in my class due to having the last name that starts with an S and everyone else was in the class for an hour or more before me. The teacher kept asking me my name and I was so confused. It took a good ten minutes until I realized what he was asking but then I didn't know how to respond. Good times.  Now I can not only say my name but I can pray, testify of certain things, and give short lessons about certain topics I know the vocab on. Oh and I know a ton of random vocab words. It is amazing. So right now we aren't learning the ramen noodles script thing that looks impossible to read... we are reading a romanized version that helps us sound out the words using the sounds you use in Khmer. It's intense.  I think I've learned more khmer in the last 6 days compared to the two years of spanish I had... Actually, I know I do because I've had to give three lesson in Khmer so far! They are so funny! We have an investigator named ummm... I don't know how to type it on this computer but basically you say it like Baung Sophaul. She is this cute Cambodia and I love her so much! So a little background information about the "investigators" in the MTC. They can be real investigators that sign up to get to know about the Gospel or they can be members. Baung Sophaul gave it away by wearing her young womens medallion. Good try. But yes, Sista (That's how you say it in khmer) Cook and I have taught in Khmer. We plan our lesson out then study like crazy the vocab and sentences we have to say then give it to her. It's great, until the lesson goes completely the other direction and you haven't studied a ton about that topic. But the gift of tongues is real. Sista Cook and I were able to answer her questions and teach a completely different lesson. That right there let me know that God is right next to me every step of the way and that I really am just a mouth tool for him. As long as I do my part to put all these words in my head, even if i can barely remember them at times, he will help me and loosen out tongues so we can share his words. It is amazing! 

So after we learn a word in khmer we are suppose to use it in our every day conversations. Sister Cook and I were saying a prayer and It was my turn at dinner. I went through the prayer and one of the lines was "Thank thee for all our many pooh while we have been here at the MTC." And sister Cook lost it. What I was trying to say was blessings which is "poo" but you say it like"pboo" and the whole sentence just was not the best. We were dying! 

A good way Sister Cook and I found to help with memorizing is to jump rope while saying vocab words and sentences. If you've seen the movie "The Spelling Bee" You'll know what I'm talking about. 

I had another cool experience with the help of my father. He sent me a dear elder that had the scripture Ether 12:6. If you don't know it, read it. It was exactly what I needed at the time. Serving a mission and being a missionary is hard. It is NOTHING like my old life. There has been multiple times where I thought to myself, there is no way I can do this, I can't speak the language, I can't do this for 18 months. But soon after I receive a tender mercy of seeing a friend, getting a scripture from my dad, or my companion or teaching saying something I needed to hear. Then those thoughts go away and I remember why I need to be here. We had a devotional where Steven Allen told us that Satan is very mad at us right now because we are missionaries and he is going to do everything to "push your buttons" to get you to go home. It is true. It's hard. But I know this is where I'm suppose to be. 

Oh my goodness family. I miss you so much. There is not a day to goes by where don't think about you or pray for you guys. I love you so  much. Thank you for all the little notes! I find one every single day! You guys hid those well in my bag! I'm pretty sure I'll find some when I'm in Cambodia someday! You are the best. The dear elder letters are the sweetest things in the world and help me get through the day to read them! Dallin and Jessie, I love getting the play by play of how your days go! Keep it up! Dallin, my district loves your letters! I usually read them a line or two of your letters. Do you write them yourself?? They are SO good! I'm pretty sure you have better  grammar than I do.. Best line of your letter was, "When is your pee day?" HAHAHAH ahhh I love you guys so much! 

Thank you Liv D for the cupcakes! They are heavenly! and Grandma I loved the cookies! So did my roommates and the room next door to me! You guys don't realize how much I appreciate you thinking of me and sending things like that. 

Well I love you all! Thank you for your support! Write me!!! Send me a Dear Elder! My information is below. 

Love you. 

Stay fearless-

SIsta Snooks

MOM, DAD, FAMILY!! I'M ALIVE!

MOM, DAD, FAMILY!! I'M ALIVE! This has been the craziest thing I've ever done in my life-but it has been the coolest thing ever! Hailey picked me up which was so fun! Then after, I was assigned to Sister Cook as my comp!!! AHHH I love her so much! She was one of the girls I knew before I came out!! Getting my tag was one of the most overwhelming and spiritual thing I've ever had. I will explain it more in my weekly email.. right now I have like 5 minutes to let you know that I made it and I'm happy! My pday is is tuesday. I have seen SO MANY PEOPLE HERE! It is a party. The khmer.... oh man guys... it's insane. Since the moment I walked into class till now the teacher still has not said a single english word yet. I think I've laughed here more than I've talked. Good news, I've had two days of Khmer and tomorrow Sister Cook and I will be teaching a lesson... IN KHMER!!!!!!!!! Whhhattttt??? We are going to kill it!! Tender Mercies are real by the way. We were studying outside and I was dying hot and I looked over at Sister Cook and said, "Wouldn't it be nice if the sprinklers went off?" and just like that, the sprinklers went off! True is true. Thank you mom for the jump rope! Sister Cook and I use it to remember words like in the movie the spelling bee.. Basically you have to be able to say a new word every jump. Okay guys I love you so much! Thank you for all the notes in my bag! I loved them! You guys are the best family ever! I think of you guys ALL the time. 

Mom and Dad I love you so much!!! Kaden and Carson keep killing it in football! Jessie and Dallin- you are the best siblings ever! I love you sooooo much guys! Tell Missy hi! Have fun camping in Red Fish!!

STAY GOLDEN.

LOVE YOU-

Sister Snooks

Farewell Friends

For those of you who weren't able to make it to my farewell Sunday, I thought I'd start by posting my talk I shared in sacrament meeting...

(Cambodian Hi) everyone! I think I just said Hi, hopefully. I am grateful for this opportunity to talk to everyone before I go. Thank you all who are here to show your support. I have been called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the humble land of Cambodia.  Every time I say that I can’t help but smile. I am going to the best mission in the world! I am excited to serve these people who I already love so much. I know that there are people there who are waiting for me to act as the Lord’s tool and bring them unto Christ. As many of you know, I went on a trip to Cambodia and today is special because it marks one year from when I came home. Out of all of the places in the world we could have gone to visit, we chose Cambodia. I knew nothing about the country. People would ask me where it was on a map and I couldn’t even tell you what continent it was on, but I fell in love with the country, the culture, and the people during the few weeks I was there. I remember leaving the orphanage that we worked at having just promised the kids, and myself, I would come back one day. On the ride to the airport I started going through my plans for the future trying to map out when I could possible earn enough money and have the time to return to this country. With a mission in mind and college to finish and pay for, I was afraid I wasn’t going to have the chance to go back for quite a while.  This realization made me sick.  But, the Lord is having me return a lot faster than I thought was possible! It has been amazing to see God’s hand in my life and how he has prepared me for this next chapter. 

 I have been given the topic of how hope can overcome fear. When I got this topic I kinda laughed out loud and thought "This topic is perfect to go along with my mission!" I have a fear of of spiders, tarantula in particular, and in Cambodia they actually eat them. I have a fear of getting hit by a car and the driving there is insane! I have a fear of eating things that shouldn’t be eaten and as all of you know that follows Sam Smith’s Blog who is currently serving there, I will be offered some gross things. I have a fear of getting a disease from mosquitos, like Zika. I have a fear of not being able to teach someone this wonderful gospel due to the language. But I do have faith and hope that if I keep the commandments and stay obedient to the mission rules, the Lord will protect me as I am serving as a mouth piece for him. Like the scriptures say, “With God, All things are possible.” I LOVE this topic of Hope because it applies to everyone whether you are young or old, religious or not, we all go through times where we need to overcome trials, troubles, and fears by having faith and hope.  So today I would like to speak to you about the infinite power of hope.

The word hope is sometimes misunderstood. In our everyday language, the word often has a hint of uncertainty. For example, we may say that we hope for a change in the weather or hope for a call from a friend. In the language of the gospel, however, the word hope is sure, unwavering, and active.

Hope and fear are opposites. One can not exists the same time as the other. There will be times in everyone’s lives where you will feel darkness encroaching upon you. You may feel burdened by worry, fear, or doubt. And when life goes unplanned you have two options–you can face this trial with fear and despair while shutting down and not pushing forward or the other option is you can push through the hard times with faith and hope that everything will work out in the end. Obviously, one choice of action seems more desirable than the other, but for whatever reason, I would guess we have all found ourselves choosing the less desirable action at times even though we know what the best choice is. 

In the scriptures it clearly states the importance of Hope in our life.  The Apostle Paul taught us the scriptures were written to the end that we “might have hope.” With Hope, there is a power to fill our lives with happiness but when it is absent, our lives become dark. It is the Hope that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the power of His resurrection, we will have eternal life because of our faith in the Savior. But this does not come easy. We have to choose everyday to have Hope in our Heavenly Father's plan of happiness. This is one thing I love about this gospel– the hope it brings to my life. I am happier knowing that if something were to happen to me today, like a trial, that it is only a small glimpse of my eternity. If something were to happen to me or my family, I know I will see them again due to the plan of Salvation.  Living my life with this knowledge has blessed me and made everyday more enjoyable. 

As I’ve been preparing for my mission, I’ve also been studying the scriptures as well as the history of the country of Cambodia. During Moroni’s time, he witnessed the destruction of his people-and yet he still had hope. This reminded me of the people of Cambodia. From 1975 to 1979 the communist Party of Kampuchea in Cambodia orchestrated a Cambodian Genocide known as the Khmer Rouge. They wanted to transform Cambodia into a rural, classless society in which there were no rich people, no poor people, and no exploitation. They deprived everyone of their human rights. The Khmer Rouge believed that only pure people were qualified to build the revolution. Soon after seizing power, they arrested and killed thousands of soldiers, military officers and civil servants from the Khmer Republic whom they did not regard as “pure.” Over the next three years, they executed hundreds of thousands of intellectuals (anyone who knew English, who taught, who had a business, or simply wore glasses; city residents; minority people such as the Cham, Vietnamese and Chinese; and many of their own soldiers and party members, who were accused of being traitors). Many were held in prisons, where they were detained, interrogated, tortured and executed. The most important prison in Cambodia, known as S-21, held approximately 14,000 prisoners while in operation. Only 12 survived. If you weren’t in a prison, you were helping with what the Khmer Rouge called a “Four-Year Plan”. Cambodians were expected to produce three tons of rice throughout the country. This meant that people had to grow and harvest rice all 12 months of the year. In most regions, the Khmer Rouge forced people to work more than 12 hours a day without rest or adequate food. The Khmer Rouge was one of worst human tragedies of the 20th century. Nearly two million Cambodians died from disease due to a lack of medicines and medical services, starvation, execution, or exhaustion from overwork. Tens of thousands were made widows and orphans, and those who lived through the regime were severely traumatized by their experiences. Several hundred thousand Cambodians fled their country and became refugees. Millions of mines were laid by the Khmer Rouge and government forces, which have led to thousands of deaths and disabilities since the 1980s. A large proportion of the Cambodian people have mental problems because their family members were lost and their spirits damaged. These factors are one of the major causes of the poverty that plagues Cambodia today. Yet, they are happy people. Anyone who has been there would agree with me. I recently received a letter from my mission president and I’d like to share a part of the letter with you. He said, “ The most important doctrine you will teach is the atonement of Jesus Christ. You are coming to a country that has known too much of war and despair in recent years. Many of the people you will serve have lived through experiences difficult to describe and they desperately need the healing love and hope they can find as they allow the spirit of Jesus Christ into their lives. Do all you can to study and feel that same love in your own life so you are ready to share it with others. “ I am so excited to share the atonement with these people to let them know they are never alone. That there was a God who loved us all so much that he send his only begotten son to atone for us. 

I’d like to share the first paragraph from a pamphlet the missionaries use. “God is your father in Heaven. He knows you personally and loves you more than you can comprehend. He wants you to be happy in this life and in eternity. To accomplish this purpose, Heavenly Father provided a plan called the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Son of God; His life and teachings are the guide to peace in this life and joy in eternity.” I am so excited to share that with the people of Cambodia. Since Christianity is uncommon there, I will be introducing many to God, whom we call Heavenly Father and teaching them how much he loves his children. God also sent his Son, Jesus Christ, so that we can return back to him. It amazing and such a humbling thought for me.  The prophet Moroni taught, “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, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God” (Ether 12:4). What an amazing promise the scriptures give us! That no matter what our lives look like, if we have hope and faith we can have hope for a better world. I cannot wait to share that. We all hear that the atonement is for us to repent so we can become clean but it is much more than that. Jesus Christ went through every heartache, despair, fear, and sadness. He knows exactly what we’ve gone through. We are never alone. I will probably never, hopefully, be able to relate to what the Cambodians have gone through. But I can promise them that there is someone who understands. That through the Gospel they can have Hope in their lives because the Savior of mankind promised us, “ I am the light of the worlds: he that followed me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” This also applies to all of our lives but I would like to single out the youth here today. You’ve all heard this same advice from an adult or two but maybe it will mean more coming from someone who is close to your same age. Living in our world today is tough. We fear that we aren’t good enough, pretty enough, strong enough, cool enough, or whatever.  No one wants to be left out, called a Molly Mormon, or be different. At times we will feel like we are alone because you feel as if no one can fully relate to you. I can promise that you are never alone throughout this life. God never intended for us to go through this journey alone. Christ understands and will always be there for you if you let him.  There will be times when darkness may seem unbearable. It is in these times that the divine principles of the restored gospel we hope for can uphold us and carry us until, once again, we walk in the light. As some of you know, I had a blast in college-but not a lot of people realized how often I struggled. There was multiple times I had a hard time finding friends I connected to the way I did with my friends from high school. I didn’t have a family to fall back on when I didn’t have plans. There was one time in particular where I called my mom and explained that I am doing all these fun things, surrounded by people, but I don’t feel like anyone really cares that I am there. It was the first time in my life that I truly felt alone. What helped me through this time was when I figured out how to use the atonement and realized that Christ knows and understands what I am feeling and that I will never be alone. Once I utilized and took full advantage of this gift I started becoming closer to my Heavenly Father and my confidence grew. The blessing started unfolding. After this, I met amazing people and had a great experience at BYU. 

We have all heard of the story of when Christ walks on water. I came across this different approach of the story and thought I would share it with you all. While at sea, the ship full of disciples comes into fierce winds and begin getting tossed to and fro around the sea. Jesus defies convention and walks out on water to where they are struggling. When the disciples see a man walking towards them on water they assume He was a ghost and panic.  When Jesus realized they didn’t recognize him he responded in a gentle way.  I will read now from Mathew 14:27-31

27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Peter was one of those fishermen who immediately dropped everything and followed Christ with the bid of only a single sentence. “Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” He gave up everything he had in the service of the Master. He knew He was the Son of God. Peter had exceeding faith. If there was any mortal who could be bidden to walk on water, it would be Peter. But yet, even after his initial faith to join the Savior on the water, after a few confident steps he began to sink as his faith quavered. The Savior then asks him, “Why, among the waves and winds would you ever doubt or fear or panic that the Lord would not save you?” Life hands us plenty of reasons to panic or fear. Even Peter, one of Christ’s most faithful servants had his moment of fear. It is normal. It is a mortal test to see through the trials but be able to feel the peace anyway. Through the troubling times, the Savior’s beckon remains the same as long ago. “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.”

Panic and fear do not need to accompany our lives as we get close to the Savior. The waves will be boisterous, the experiences uncharted and unfamiliar, but the Lord is here to save and to teach, not to let us drown. His repeated message throughout the scriptures is “Believe in Me, believe in you.”

The message the Lord has sent through his angels before is, “Fear Not.” He can say that because he knows more than we do. He sees what we cannot see. He knows what is coming, and in the eternal scheme of things, it is not as bad as we may think. He knows we can handle it with his help because he knows how to strengthen us. Most of all, he tells us not to fear because he knows that fear will paralyze us. It will keep us from knowing and doing his will; accepting his blessings, his love, and his light and fulfilling his purpose.  

The Lord has a reassuring message of hope. To all those who are suffering and feeling discouraged, sad, or lonely, I ask you to never give up. I can promise you there are brighter days ahead of you with the knowledge and hope of the Gospel.