Week 13: Three Reasons Why I Love Cambodia

Three reasons why I LOVE Cambodia:

1) No matter where I am, everyone says, "Helloooooo" to me! It is the cutest thing when you hear a bunch of little kids say it with their accent. It is also kinda creepy when older men say it too... hahhaha

2) It's not weird to just stop on the road and teach someone and ask about their family and kids. Everyone here is so willing to have a real personal conversation!

3) The way people exercise here. HAHA I have no idea how to explain it but hopefully one day I will get a video of it for you.

This week was slow but full of surprises, like always.  I ran into Botevy and Yaya! (When I came to Cambodia a year ago we stayed at their CICFO home!) It was so fun to talk to her in english AND KHMER. They are the cutest! Also, during english class Kasy and Ma walked in (two of the kids from CICFO home) and I freaked out! They are like my Cambodian Family. So fun to see them. 

We have a bapstimal date! It is the bishops mom, Ming Sokleem, who is a golden investigator. We taught her about tithing and fasting and she explained to us that she started doing these a couple months ago. Easy. So she should be gettting baptized on Oct 9! So excited for her! I know her son is also.

We have been working with the Young Women in the ward a lot with doing their Personal Progress! It has been helping us get the less active girls to come to church and get to know each other better the in the YW program. So, since I am helping them out, Sister Haddock and I are earning our YW Beehive Award! Yay!!

Something random that I don't think I've mentioned before is Sister Haddock and I teach piano class! We were both piano teachers before the mission which has made it really easy! Who knew that teaching piano before the mission was preparing me for this! (Shout out to my piano students!!)

I live with the Nam Sisters and I love them to death! They are both full Vietnamese but one is from Nam and the other is from America. The one from Nam is learning English and everyday she asks for a new word to learn. She knows a ton so I taught her the world metamorphosis. I'm super proud of her. <3 

 

Yesterday I saw my first baptism in Cambo! It was the elder's investigator in my ward! She is 15 and her name is PeeNaa. She was introduced to the church through a friend who was a member and is the first one in her family to join the church. After she was baptized she had an opportubity to tell us how she felt. She explained the peace that she felt and also the love from the members. She was sad that no one from her family had attended her baptism (she is the only member) but she was overwhelmed by the love and support from the ward and the young women. Almost the whole ward showed up to her baptism and supported this young girl!! I was overwhelmed from the love and support that these members have for each other. You don't realize how important member helps is!!! It makes such a big difference to feel loved and know that you have a ward family. Joining the church is a huge change in their life that will bring soo many blessings but it's hard! To have a friend to help make the adjustment easier makes all the difference.

I love this gospel so much and I LOVE  being a missionary. I have never been happier.
Sister Snooks