Hey guys

Family,

Well, let's just start of with most important things first. I AM NOW SERVING IN THE STUNG MEAN CHEY 3RD WARD, IN THE PHNOM PENH SOUTH STAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Woohoo!! This really is quite the big deal. Saturday and Sunday they held a Stake Conference in conjunction with becoming Stakes. (Is that how you use the word conjunction?) Elder Funk of the 70 came and presided over our Stake Conference. Most of what was discussed was becoming Stakes and also missionary work - especially family history work. It was really a good conference. I was really excited that on Sunday we had quite a few members from Trash Mountain attend! It helps that our Branch President arranged for Tuk Tuks to pick them up and take them there, but I'm not complaining! I hope they were touched by the spirit. The new Stake President will be awesome. He is younger, maybe like 30's? BUT he gets it. He sees the whole picture. And his second counselor is also younger, probably late 20's but he also will be awesome! I am so excited for this!

Also it was really awesome to see so many of the old mission presidents come back. I had the opportunity to sit by the very first mission presidents of Cambodia (the Whites) during the Saturday evening session. They were here 19 years ago!!! They are now 80+ years old. They were just AMAZED by the growth that has taken place here. I talked with them a bit and I am so grateful for them. Can you imagine what it was like to be them?! But mostly it gave me hope. Can you imagine what Cambodia will be like in 20 more years. Hopefully I can come back and I will just be astounded. I also saw the Smedleys! They just looked so happy to be back here! It was also fun to see that quite a few returned missionaries came all the way back over here for the creation of Stakes and the 20th year anniversary this Saturday. I even saw one of my MTC teachers! Cool!

Did you all realize that during this past week I hit my one year mark in this country?! That is a long time! I also think I'm finally adjusted. Evidence:

- I'm certain I eat at least 10 ants a day, and I'm really okay with that.

- I have begun to feel pity for the cockroaches that I kill with raid. Honestly, it is heartbreaking to watch them die... I'm a monster.

- I eat rice at least twice a day. And I can't remember what kinds of foods we eat in America. I know we don't eat rice but... what else is there?

So also, I realized during this past week that missions are really kind of cruel. They put you in this place that is far away from home, and then you learn to love these people here, and you are here so long that a whole portion of your heart is dedicated to this place, and THEN cruelly you are ripped away never to return, or if you do it won't be the same! BUT in the meantime your heart is also at home and for the rest of your life you can only have one or the other!!!!!!! This has caused a few tears for me during this past week. I realize that when I leave Cambodia, I really am gone. I hardly will be able to come back. When I do it won't be the same. There are people here that I love so much, and I just may never see again. And also I don't want them to think that I don't love them! How did you all deal with this???

I noticed something this week. Kids here don't suck there thumbs. I'm sure that is because of how dirty it is, but interesting, right?

Also, you know how people dye their hair so that it gradually fades from dark to light at the bottom. They call it a melt. WELL due to the sun, my hair has naturally done that. The ends of my hair are legitimately blonde. It looks kinda cool.

Transfer calls are coming up on Sunday. Can you believe how fast this transfer went? Honestly, I can sincerely say that I hope I stay in this area with Sister Khut for another transfer. And I think my chances are pretty good! Things have been going really well with Sister Khut this week. Also we have been seeing some small successes in our area, which is so exciting! We are still spending most our time in trash mountain, but we do have a few new investigators outside of trash mountain! I couldn't be more thrilled. Sister Kacher came and did an exchange with me this week, and I told her that I just needed her to humor me and spend time walking around the nicer parts of town contacting. I have rarely done that on my mission, but I'm desperate to get out of trash mountain. So we did, and it was awesome! We found a few people who said we could come back, and also one person who really seemed quite interested. (and just a heads up, when I say nicer part of town... it still really isn't that nice. But it is nice as far as this branch goes!) I'm hoping that I can convince Sister Khut to do some contacting like this with me again. She actually hates contacting and mostly refuses, so I do most of it. But that's not a problem, because I'm white and people are curious why I'm here anyway. She will back me up though, so that is good! Anyway, moral of the story, (1) I'm determined to see this Branch progress, (2) I hope I can do that with Sister Khut!

I think that is all for this week. I love you all!! Please please please don't forget how amazing this gospel is and how much Heavenly Father loves us!!! I was reading this morning in Mosiah 2:20-24, and honestly, Heavenly Father loves us SO MUCH. We can never even try to repay Him. I truly "stand all amazed!"

Love,

Sister Homer

P.S. Sorry no pictures AGAIN...

It's me

Dear family,

I really think I officially stink. Literally. But I'm thinking we can send me through a car wash when I get home, and that should take care of things.

Other than that, this week has been pretty good! Actually maybe the best week I've had in trash mountain! We have a few new investigators, one that isn't in trash mountain!!!! Our Branch President and District President have asked us to stop working in trash mountain. They are just unstable and they move houses all the time and then we lose them. We can keep meeting with our members that are there, obviously, but they don't really want us teaching new people in that area. It's hard though because that is where the work is. Almost on a daily basis we have people saying they want to learn. But we also know they are all just kinda joining one after another and not really based on their own faith. BUT they do need the gospel, so it's hard to deny them. And outside of trash mountain, we have no work. Every day when we go contacting we contact outside of trash mountain, and we have yet to find anyone. :( BUT I know that they are waiting and we just need to keep trying and maybe be more dedicated in our finding efforts. The work will progress!!! I'm determined!! And guess what! Earlier this week I started having feelings that I like this area. That was so strange. But I really think I'm starting to warm up to this place!! It just took me a bit longer than usual.

ALSO this week we did go to the Young Ambassador concert thing. We took one of our investigators from Trash Mountain, which worked out really well because she now has opened up a ton to us since then. It was a really good performance and they are SO talented. But, when I left I just felt weird. It was so loud and so all over the place. And I was thinking about that. Even though it was a good activity, especially if I were at home, it was not really a missionary activity. And usually I'm doing things in which the spirit can be close to me, but that was different. It didn't drive the spirit away, but it didn't really invite the spirit either. It was such a weird feeling. I think that will be kinda what it feels like when I go home. I don't really know but, it gave me a lot to think about. BUT it was really good and really enjoyable!

I read a talk by Elder Holland from October 2012 general conference this week. It is called The First Great Commandment. It is SO good!!! I think you should all read it.:)

We were supposed to have one investigator get baptized yesterday, but there wasn't enough water to fill up the font. :( Soooo we will probably have to push that back for 2 more weeks. That was unfortunate. But, I think a couple more weeks can't hurt anyway.

On a day to day basis, I really love these people. They are so funny. They sometimes do the strangest things! I love building relationships with them. You know they like you if they tease you. So that is always fun! I wish you all could meet these people that I interact with every day.

I guess I don't have much else! Sorry, no pictures again this week... Hopefully someday I'll be able to send pictures to you again!

This week Cambodia gets it's first two stakes!!! WOOHOO!! STAKES OF ZION IN CAMBODIA!!!

I love you all!!

Sister Homer

Hey family

Dear family,

Well this week was something else. But there were good moments too. In good news the freckle comments are back! Our favorite! They really just can't handle my face here!

The work keeps going in trash mountain. There are SO many members there, but the hard thing is that most of them joined looking for benefits from the church. But quite a few of them actually developed some faith in the process! But it's still rough. Seriously there are like 121 recent converts in trash mountain. How crazy is that? Right now there is some serious drama there because they all are kind of being kicked off of the land. They all are stressing out about where to go, etc. The senior couple is working very closely with some NGO's (non-government organizations) nearby and the land owner to see what they can figure out. They are awesome! The landowner decided to let them stay longer and hopefully some NGO's will help out and we can get these people better living conditions.

 The senior couple really is amazing. Once a week they teach an addiction recovery class in trash mountain. Basically everyone there could benefit from it. They are really working hard to get these people better lives.

There is a lookpuu who just got baptized last week from trash mountain. He is an investigator of the Elders. He is so cool! He is this BIG guy which is so rare for Cambodia. And he is just pure joy. I guess he used to be a big drinker, but now he is just a big happy teddy bear. He is so excited to be a member. He is just beaming all the time. And, haha, I guess he misunderstood about fasting, and he was fasting EVERY DAY. He was only eating one meal a day and then he would start fasting again. But the thing is, he was so proud/excited to be doing it! I think they got that sorted out. ALSO he says that all the time his friends are calling him to drink and smoke and he just declines and declines. He has truly become converted! He is the excited that is supposed to come out of learning about the gospel! He gets it! I love seeing that!

We on the other hand picked up quite a few investigators this week, but they're really fresh. Actually some of them really have potential, but they don't go to church. :( We meet with some really sweet people though! Hopefully I'll will have more to talk about next week.

I think I just realized something this week. Cambodia literally does not have public transportation. At least as far as I can tell. How weird is that? They have methods of getting around, but they are all privately owned. Wait, actually, there are like buses to get to the provinces, but I think those are private companies. I don't know. That really doesn't even matter, but just a random fact.

Love you all! Can't wait to skype next week!

Sister Homer

New area

Hey family,

So, it actually feels like it's been a really short week because I just got to my new area on Friday. It seems like it's only been 3 days or something. Saying goodbye to members in Tuk Tlaa was sad. Not like Kampong Cham, but SAD! I love that branch. It feels like it went so fast. There are members there I will remember forever!

But so, here I am in my new area! It actually has been okay. I still remember some main roads from when I was in Stung Mean Chey my first transfer. Obviously now I'm in a different branch/different area, but it's been helpful. I'm back in my same house though. It is actually nicer this time which is nice!

So this branch is good. There are really sweet members. The hard thing is that all the work is in this one area and President Moon/we don't want to be working in that area as much. But getting out is hard because we do still have to take care of the members there. It's just kinda crazy. But we are working hard!

My companion is super cool too! She just finished being trained and now she is here with me. She is super funny. We get along. She is different than my other Khmer companions, but I like her a lot! She is a really good teacher! Her name is Sister Khut. I don't have a picture to send you yet...sorry. :)

I'm the only American in my house ,so my Khmer is about to get better! (I hope.) But also I'm excited to help them with their English as well. My whole mission I have been so surrounded by Americans and with American companions and all of a sudden I'm with so many Khmers! It's crazy! I think it will be good for me! I'm excited.

SO yesterday they just announced that Cambodia is going to be getting their first 2 Stakes next month. WHAT?! That sincerely is crazy! All of us missionaries are still kind of skeptical, haha, but of course we don't need to be because Heavenly Father knows what He is doing. Actually Sister Khut just shared a scripture with me this morning in D&C 3:3 that I really like. Heavenly Father's work will not be stopped! So we know this is going to work! STAKES IN CAMBODIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And the branch I am in right now is part of the south district, will become a Stake!! I'm about to be in a ward!!

Sooo, I think that is all I have? I love you all! I'll be skyping you in like 2 weeks I think, but I don't know any details yet. Just probably plan on all being together the evening of Mother's day. :)

Sister Homer

Me and Melton

Me and Ming Sang

Ming Samantha - I LOVE HER SO MUCH!

My favorite Ming Slippy.  I love this picture!

Me and Stephanie!

Srei Tracie, the girl I love that now goes to another branch.

One twin

The other twin

Shaylie.  This member is amazing and ESSENTIAL!

House.  Sisters Thain, Ray, Me, Melton

Happy Easter!

Dear Family,

So like I told you last week, it was Khmer New Year. So for the first couple days this week Phnom Penh was DEAD. Shops were closed. Members were gone. BUT, we plowed through. Actually it was a really good week. Monday we updated a TON of our records. On Tuesday President Moon did some training for all the missionaries in the city. It was really good! He talked a lot about communication especially in our companionships. It was good! Then on Wednesday we had a cleaning day. We just DEEP CLEANED our house. Let me tell you, that was much needed. We clean every Monday, but not to the depth that it needs. So it felt amazing to just scrub our house clean. I just know you can feel the spirit more in a clean house. Sooo, clean your house! 

Thursday Phnom Penh started getting back to normal and there were a lot more people around. So we were back to being super busy. And it felt good to just work. I think I told you our mission president is pushing 10 contacts a day. I love this!! It seriously pushes me so much, BUT we have had some way cool experiences!!! We have gotten some incredible contacts. And I know I will be needing it coming up here real fast.

I am being transferred to Stung Mean Chey 3rd branch. This is different that SMC 1st branch which I was in my first transfer. But they are near each other. 3rd branch is kind of infamous for being hard. Also I will be whitewashing so my companion won't know the area. Also my companion just finished being trained. But she is Khmer, so at least she will know the language! Needless to say this is going to be an intense transfer. Please shoot some prayers my way!

Probably the coolest thing that happened this week was watching the Priesthood session from General Conference. President Moon told the sisters that he wanted us to take some time to watch it. So Sister Melton and I squeezed ourselves into a little booth at a dusty, noisy, smelly internet shop and watched it. We could barely hear what was being said, but we both were feeling the spirit so strong. I don't know if Priesthood session is always that good, but we were just blown away. It's amazing that I could feel the spirit in such a crazy environment. So neat! Plus also I have to marry a Priesthood Hero!!!!!! (Please see Eyring's talk.) 

Also this week we did an exchange with Sister Thain and Sister Ray. I had Sister Thain in my area. It was really fun to work with her. She has had a harder time with the language and doesn't feel very confidant, so I just spent the whole day trying to boost her confidence and make her feel like a million bucks. It was so fun!! And I think I was successful. And it turns out she really is not as bad as she thinks, so it was so easy to boost her up! I just know that she'll get out of this stage and she will be loving life. She is such a strength and asset to our mission.

This week the FUNNIEST thing happened. We went to a members house and there is really no way to explain where they live but it is kinda down this alley and after all these twists and turns you get there. Basically no one should be there unless they live there. So we are coming out of there and we come up on this guy who is just pulling in on his motto. He totally looks Khmer, but out of his mouth comes the words, in a southern accent, "Hey Elders! Can I help you find someone?" I can't describe the state that put us in. Dumbfounded? Flabbergasted? Literally speechless? Somehow I mumbled out of my mouth, "no we found them..." And so he just pulls over and says "just thought I could help." So then he pulled into his little house, hopped off of his motto and went inside his house. We couldn't move. We just stared after him for 2 minutes hoping he would come back out. It's against the law to knock on people doors, and since we don't know him we didn't really want to disturb the peace. So we just left. Which looking back is so stupid that we did that, but at the time we literally couldn't function properly because it was the craziest thing that ever happened! But needless to say, we are going to be heading back over that way and see if we can find him again. SO CRAZY!

So I guess that is all I have this week, but in the spirit of Easter I just want to share that I know our Savior lives. I know He loves us. I have felt His love for others so many times on my mission. It is so real it is tangible. I know that He knows us individually. I know that the Atonement is real. I know that we can do anything through Him. Happy Easter! He is risen!

I love you!

Sister Homer

Happy Easter . . .

ចូលឆ្នាំ <-- That means new year! And this picture was taken on Khmer new year!

Suasdei Chnam Thmei! (Happy New Year!)

Hey Fam,

Today is officially Khmer New Year. So yes, it is DEAD outside. We found a member who owns an internet shop who is letting us all email here. For big holidays pretty much everyone goes out to their provinces. So it slows way down here in the city. But we work on updating our CBR books and deep-cleaning our house. And actually there still will be quite a few members here. So we'll be meeting with as many people as possible.

Something President Moon started stressing is contacting. He wants us getting 10 contacts/day. You would think that probably would be normal, but it's not for us here. Anyway, so Sister Melton and I have put so much effort into getting these contacts and we DID IT!! I'm not joking, it took quite a bit of extra effort. But I have no doubt that somewhere this effort will pay off. 

Actually we did find some cool potential investigators this week. One we met while visiting Ming Slippy. She saw us go in and then she kinda followed us into the house and she started asking us so many questions. She is so interested!! But unfortunately she just left for the next few weeks for the holiday. But I have a feeling she is going to turn into a good one!

Also, we have a new method of contacting. We have this little card that is a picture of people getting baptized. And we just whip it out during our contact and be like "do you know what this is?" or "have you ever learned about this?" and people get pretty interested. And then we commit them to begin preparing themselves for baptism by learning with us. There have been a couple that have been quite interested. We are going to start using it more! It is a mission-wide thing we are implementing. Kinda fun!

I went on exchange this week with a sister named Sister Kohler. She is super cool. She actually finishes her mission in like 2 weeks. Sister Payne also finishes in like 2 weeks. Crazy! But my exchange was really good! I like exchanges because I get to know a lot of the sisters and I get to see different things they do. I felt the spirit SO strongly with Sister Kohler when we were teaching about the first vision. It was great!

Also we have another new investigator this week. His name is Sean. He is like 22-ish? Not sure. He is renting out a small part of a members house and so he wants to learn/is maybe being forced to learn. But he is a cool guy. He is acting really sincere about it. He is actually very smart and has really good questions. He also speaks English so well. I think he has a lot of potential. We are excited about him! 

Our investigator Ming Slippy who I have told you so much about is simply amazing. She is so cool. She just keeps plowing through her kids Book of Mormon. She took it with her for the holiday so she can ask all her little nieces and nephews to help her read. She went to the women's session and loved it. She just is so good. I just am so not sure what to do to get her baptized cause her weird situation, but the gospel is definitely changing her life. It is so fun to watch. 

Also we have been meeting with this long time member, she is an old Relief Society president. Now she is just so old and sick and can't really go anywhere. She also is quite deaf so has no idea what we are saying. But she is so sweet. She sees us and just calls us right in and then just talks and talks about the Church and old times and how she can't go because of how sick she is. It builds my testimony because in her heart she is still so so loyal to her Father in Heaven. She prays so sincerely. I just feel touched by her testimony.

Now last, but not least. Conference was amazing!!!! How blessed are we to get to have Conference twice a year?!?! How do people live their lives without it. I absolutely loved Elder Holland's talk. Power. Seriously, why would anyone expect God to just let them run around and do whatever they want?! That is bad parenting! I was just blown away. Also I loved Stevenson's talk about the Olympics. Our life on earth is so short. So short! We have such a small time to perform our best, and it affects everything! Cool concept. There were really so many amazing talks. And something Sister Melton and I were talking about this morning is that we can't forget them. Seriously I feel like Conference comes, and then pretty soon after we just get back to normal life and we don't apply what we learned as much as we should have. These are the words of the Prophet and apostles! This is scripture!!! We need to be doing everything to embed this stuff deep in our veins. I am going to try really hard to do that. I invite you to join with me! I will be following up. ;) Haha, I'm such a missionary...

Well I love you all! I hope you have a great week!  

Sister Homer

Amazing American food we found.  So good.

Farewell party for a member in our branch who is going on a mission.

After exchange:  Sister Kohler, Me, Sister Davis, Sister Melton

Straight hair! So long! And this is my Khmer-style skirt that I have.  It's cool.  You'll see it sometime.

This is me and my companion and me near this massive pile of garbage which is standard at our little market where we buy our food. Someday I will shop in only grocery stores again. Woohoo, garbage!

Greetings Earthlings

Hello family,

Another week has come and gone, and I have yet to see a lawn.

I hear conference was all the rage, my week was good without a wage.

Life here is really the hardest, but the field is white already to harvest.

Yeah... I was going to keep going with that for my whole email, but I just was not meant for poetry.

Sooo, instead I'll tell you about this really cool talk that I read this week. It's from the June 2006 Ensign magazine. It is by Hugh B. Brown and it's called "The Profile of a Prophet". No seriously, I need you all to read it. It is incredible!! Make it your FHE or something. :)

Also get this, Sam Christensen's picture is definitely on our transfer board!!! Crazy!!!!!!

So as far as proselyting this week, it was kind of super normal. Actually, we had very limited time because we had leadership meetings, and other meetings, and our Khmer New Year Branch party, I don't know. But we still did teach quite a bit! We also went on exchange this week. I was with Sister Chuong in my area. She is a Khmer sister. She is so sweet. And she has just this tiniest little voice. Literally, it sounds like a mouse is talking. So sweet. She is awesome. We had a good time together.

I also saw Sister Mok this week!!! She randomly showed up at our Branch party. I saw her and I literally almost burst into tears! It was so unexpected!

I think I have strep throat right now. I don't know how to spell that. I think that is why this email is turning out weird. I'm having a hard time focusing/thinking. But don't worry! I'm really okay! I will be getting it checked out today!

I love you all! I hope you all just feasted at Conference! Don't forget to do missionary work!

Love,

Sister Homer

Nancy, Srei Connie, and Srei Leigh. LOVE THEM!

Members Reagan and Ming Karen

Srei Tracie! I love this girl!

Sister Chuong and I