Moist Week in Steung Mean Chey

Rainy season has probably most definitely officially started. Woah! I didn't know rain could hurt so much. The first really huge rainstorm happened a couple days ago. Once it starts raining, everyone hides inside, the streets are empty and the poncho selling goes crazy. So here we were, two lone missionaries wearing a blue and pink plastic poncho bag thing, preaching the gospel to all the people on the flooded streets of Cambodia. While all this was happening I couldn't help but sing inside my head "CAM-BOD-IA THE LAND I CALL MY HOME!" (instead of the pair juggler it's a mother on a moto with 8 kids—a little Princess Diary moment). So yes that's awesome. It's actually raining right now.

So I want to share a sweet little story. We were visiting one of our less actives, Ming "Arut.” She makes quilts out of random fabrics for about 17 hours a day. She sits in her little house, cutting clothes and fabrics, surrounded by piles and piles of random clothing. She is so so sweet. She wants to come to church so badly but she literally can't afford the time or the transportation. We visit her about every week to uplift her and encourage her. We just try to show our love for her. So this week Sister Pace challenged me to come up with a message I could share with our less active visits. I thought and thought and then I had an idea. I remembered a story of my mom. I wrote down the story and then did my best to translate it into Khmer. Here's the simple story: When I was four years old I started going to school. I was so so scared. I was scared to talk to my teacher and the other students. I didn't want to leave my mom. I was scared of change. I cried every day before school. My mom tried to help me. She tried a lot of different things and then had an idea. She took some paper and scissors and made me a cut out of my family. This is my dad, Tom, my mom, Stephanie, my sister, Allyson, and me! My mom told me "put this in your pocket, and every time you start to worry or get scared, put your hand in your pocket and remember your family". So I followed what my mom said. Every time I would get scared I would remember my family. For Heavenly Father, He is the same way. He gave us families so we wouldn't be alone. He loves us and He doesn't want us to be scared or fearful. We are a part of His family!" and then I would say whatever else I wanted to say. It's a simple version. So I did my best to share this message with Ming Arut. The Spirit was so strong. As part of the lesson, I brought my own little cut out of my family (I call them "persons") that my mom made for me before I left on my mission (sentimental reasons, I stopped crying before school don't worry). And I just felt so much love. And as I looked down at my "persons", I had a thought "You should give this to Ming Arut". And I thought "No, my sweet mom made this for me". But I thought that again. So I asked her, "How many sons and daughters do you have?" She said "Two sons and two daughters". So I picked up some of Ming Arut's well used scissors from the ground and chopped off part of Allyson's skirt. Now my little family changed to Ming Arut's family. And it was a simple piece of paper but it was just a tender moment. After the lesson Sister Pace said, "When you gave her your family cut out she said, 'it's like Heavenly Father is holding their hand.'" TENDER. Anyways sorry mom for giving away my persons. I made some new ones.

A random picture of me with my cute little wall and my Cambodian soccer jersey that I love so much. It seems like half the population of Cambodia under the age of 28 wear them here.

This is Sister Pace and Om Im. For some reason my picture with her won't load but I wanted to show you all how cute she is!!! PRECIOUS!

Chilee (our investigator, ten years old, green striped shirt) and some of his friends. Can we all appreciate the little dude on the bike? I promise I’m not that scary.

We did a service project on Saturday. So much fun! A couple days ago, we were trying to meet with one of our potential investigators, Srei Leak, and we found this Ming and Lookpuu struggling to move this sketchy electricity chord over this giant truck hill of dirt. So we helped and then offered to help them move the mountain of dirt. So we definitely did. We basically just tried to move this huge pile of dirt over like ten feet. But it was fun. We made a decent sized dent. And of course these cute little kids helped us with our task. The Cambodian kids here are so so adroable. So cute. Anyways they loved to help us and sings songs with us. At one point I was attempting to carry this huge cement rock and I yelled "cooey". (which actually means "to help" but it worked) and six cute little hands immediately helped me carry the rock. They are precious. I tried to teach them "I am a Child of God.” They taught me some Khmer words and I taught them some English words and for the times I didn't understand what they were saying I just laughed and smiled. I do that a lot. Anyways I just felt like myself.

During some free time I tried to write some of my family members' names! I’m pretty sure they are all wrong. I’m 98% sure the "groberg" I wrote is actually pronounced "groberah" oh well.

Ming Tiikhia! (one of our investigators) She’s awesome!

This is a great blessing to be in Cambodia, to learn this language and to meet these sweet, inspiring, quirky, cute people. Thank you all for your prayers and love.

Sister Mortell

P.S. Here are a few random things.

I have not found my shoe. Every time we go to Chilees house I hope and pray my shoe is in some dog's mouth right outside their door.

Khmer food is so so so so so so so delicious! We eat Khmer food all the time. We go to the market to buy stuff.

One of the elders that Ally met in Siem Reap (Cambodia) last month is in my district. He remembered you and that you told him to help me learn Khmer! He said, "You look like each other. I help you learn." haha so sweet.