Hello sweet family
and friends!
So yes I have
survived in Cambodia for 11-ish days? And it's still crazy, but awesome! Naked
babies have been seen, crocs have been worn, coagulated chicken's blood has
been eaten, buckets of sweat (and some tears) have been shed, but most
importantly there have been loads of smiles and tender mercies.
Tender mercy #1: I
feel like my whole life I've been told "follow the promptings of the
Spirit." Sometimes that is hard. So this week I promised myself I would do
it. Two distinct times this week we were contacting and I felt a prompting to
stop. And do you know what I did? I kept on going. I thought "Oh it's too
late. I’m just a koon (means child in Khmer, but people call all the newbies
koons), and we already biked past." And do you know what happened next?
Both times, Sister Pace stopped, turned around and then talked to those people.
Wow. First off, boo on me for not stopping even when I promised myself I would.
Second, how amazing is it that God's ways always work out. We are not perfect.
Eighteen and nineteen year old Mormons who go on missions are not perfect. But
God is. And His work can't be stopped. I can't mess up His work, but I sure do
want to help Him with it. Also, the second girl we talked to came to our English
class and stayed for the spiritual thought at the end. And her name is
"mdaay." So we share the same name.
Tender mercy #2:
Since it was the end of the month this week we have been a little short on food
at our house. It’s also rough because the Americans get ripped off at the
markets. Don't worry I have never been hungry ever, let me tell you. (Khmer food
is so delicious). But again and again the Lord provides. On Thursday, we were
fed at the mission home, on Friday we were fed at the mission home, on Saturday
our investigator, Ming Tkhia, insisted on feeding us and on Saturday night the
we received leftovers from the sweet Kosal family and a ming (Aunt) at the
church fed us some yummy, yummy spring rolls (Like Sawadee but Khmer and in
Cambodia!). Obviously we wouldn't have starved. We could have bought some food
but because of the generosity of these people we didn't. None of these times we
asked for food, or even mentioned that we were a little worried about it.
It actually blew my mind. Oh and yesterday was fast Sunday so we literally had
perfect timing. And when I say we, I actually mean Heavenly Father. Now again,
don't worry (Mom, Dad, Grandma Tell) we would have definitely had food but this
just shows how sweet these people are and how loving Heavenly Father is.
So those two tender
mercies, amid so many more, really showed me this week that Heavenly Father
cares about each and every one of us. He cares "mdaay" and He cares
about me and He cares about you.
Like I said earlier,
we had two meetings at the mission home this week. Before we get to the sweet,
tender parts let me just tell you that it's kind of a long bike ride. I
seriously sweat so much and all the members and investigators love to point it
out. Anyways, I might be a little sore. Also the traffic here is crazy. Truly
crazy. I now understand why I had to drive through the Rocky Mountain parking
lot for four years. I am beyond so surprised that a tuk tuk has not taken me
out but somehow I'm safe. Okay so now to the sweet moments... we had two
meetings at the mission home for trainers and trainees. We learned so so much
that I hope I remember and live it. But what truly amazed me was my mission
president. During all these meetings and interactions I just felt like I was
meant to be here. Sister Pace told me "I think we're called to a specific mission
but also I think a specific mission president". And after this week, I
really do think that's true. I already love President Christensen. He actually
reminds me a lot of my dad. So I feel very blessed to have someone that I trust
and love.
This week I feel
very blessed to have a Heavenly Father. I might be away from my earthly family
for a short time now, but I can talk to my Heavenly Father any time I want. And
He listens. I encourage all of you to pray to your Heavenly Father. Ask Him for
help, tell Him what you feel. Be honest and don't try to hide your feelings.
Especially since He already knows. But He wants to listen to us. I tell people
in my broken Khmer that He will listen and answer their prayers but do I
believe it? That's what I'm working on. Anyways I love you all so much!
Cambodia is as crazy as it seems :)
Love always,
Sister Mortell
The new missionaries on arrival day
Lovely MTC sisters
Today we went to the
market. Oh my goodness it is so crazy and awesome. The ground is just full of
mud, guts of animals and vegetables and who knows what. Sometimes it smells so
delicious and then you walk two steps and it smells like throw up. Oh well, it’s
awesome. We had a delicious breakfast called "babaw". It’s this rice
porridge stuff with fish and chicken
(oh also the babaw
had coagulated chickens blood and it was sure delicious). You get to put all of these mixings in…so
fun. Anyway, can I just describe this moment. Here I am sitting next to this
old, wrinkled sweet lady, eating my babaw, sweating, sweating more because it's
hot rice soup stuff, a kitten is licking my leg (hopefully licking.. it was wet
so I don't know…cross your fingers), outside there are people killing fish with
a whack of the knife and smelly, spiky fruit being sold and all the Khmer is
being spoken everywhere. I don't know it’s just crazy. I thought to myself
"what in the heck did I get myself in to."
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