Surprising Week in Ta Khmau

Well, what a surprising, "What the crap?" kind of week I have had. So on Thursday, Sister Pace and I were biking home in the worst storm we've been in. I felt like I was in one of those hurricane movies. Ahhhh! Anyways we came home, soaking wet, ready to plan for the next day. We were sitting on our floor, planning when all of the sudden the phone rings. Sister Pace looked at me and said, "President" I thought she was joking. She answered the phone and gasped and looked so serious. She finished the call and then just screamed. EMERGENCY TRANSFER. AND I WAS THE ONE TO LEAVE AH. So I left my wonderful, dirty, trafficky, awesome, lovable birthplace of Steung Mean Chey to go to Ta Khmau. I'm now companions with Sister Kosal! She's the daughter of the Kosal family in Steung Mean Chey that I love so very much. I'm not going to lie when I found out I was leaving Steung Mean Chey I cried and cried. I did not want to leave Sister Pace, Sister Y, Sister Winder, the members, our investigators, our English class students. Oh I love them all so much. My heart still hurts a bit. It's just so sad that I didn't really get to say goodbye and I'll probably never see those people ever again. Ah my heart. But all is well. Sister Kosal is awesome. She is so sweet. Sister Pace was her companion before and told me all about her. She paints her nails about every 3 days. She absolutely hates banana and she makes salty food. So of course our first day together she painted my nails, I ate salty-ish food and offered her every banana I could. She screamed. Anyways she is so cute! I love her! It's quite difficult with the whole language barrier though. But I swear the Khmers have a talent of loving without speaking. That’s how Cambodians are. They push love on you. That’s the only way I can describe it. Oh my goodness, they are awesome. 

Also Ta Khmau is beautiful! It's more country-ish than Steung Mean Chey but still city. I think the economic gap is less balanced here. A lot of wealthy people who can speak English and live in mansions and a lot of poorer people who live in stick houses and can't read Khmer script. The roads are less crazy. Apparently Steung Mean Chey has the craziest traffic of the mission, so now I’m a pro. Anyways, I'm doing well. My Hand of God this week is my new companion. I love my trainer, Sister Pace so so much. You have no idea. I feel very blessed to already have loved Sister Kosal's family before I even met her. I'm excited to be friends with her too, just like her family. 

The senior missionaries here are from Utah and are in charge of LDS charities here in Cambodia. They are super awesome. Also, I actually really love our house here. It’s all a mintish blue green color - like everything - the walls, curtains, paint, and tile. It’s awesome. It’s so beautiful here. Our room has a balcony and the view is so beautiful. Cambodian skies are like no other.  I don't really know much about the area yet. Let me tell you my Khmer is going to improve these next weeks.

Oh and every Sunday, our senior missionaries make lunch for the Ta Khmau district. And two of the elders in my MTC group are in our area. So fun! Anyways, yesterday for the Sunday lunch we had cheeseburgers! What! Burgers with CHEESE! wooh! So that was a nice welcome.

Cambodia is awesome and so is its missionaries! I honestly think Cambodia is the best place ever. It’s beautiful, the people are so tender and nice. Yes it's dirty and quirky and far from home but I've gained a whole lot of more friends for the rest of forever. I love it!

The members here remind me of the early saints . . . so faithful and hardworking and such hard lives. It will be so awesome when the temple in Thailand is finished! It will change Cambodia!!

I’m excited to get to work and get to know the people here. I will so very much miss everyone but I guess that’s what missions are. It seems like when you get into your comfort zone you're ripped right out of it and plopped into another out of comfort zone scenario.

I love you all!! Enjoy Halloween and the leaves and all things Fall, I will be biking in the rain. Eat yummy chili and cornbread, I will be eating rice :)

Also a few days ago, I gutted a frog and salted a whole fish (inside its mouth too). I’m quite talented. haha

Happy Halloween!

Regular Week in Steung Mean Chey

Well it was another great week. Slow and fast and all the in-betweens. It’s weird, I’m sitting here to email and I can't really think of anything. Well let's see...

Last Monday I taught a piano class. I play the piano every Sunday. Mission prep advice: practice the piano and listen to your parents that tell you to practice church hymns. Do it. Anyways, can I just tell you how difficult it is to teach piano to people that have no musical knowledge in Khmer. Hopefully they come back because I don't know, it was little rough. I tried to be funny and nice so hopefully they'll keep on coming. Wish me luck today. I'm attempting to teach them the notes for the left hand.

This week was hard to meet investigators. Everyone is so busy. Which honestly I believe. People have to work so hard here to have enough. Also people sacrifice so much to come to church. Converting to the gospel changes their lives. Good change and hard change. For example, there isn't a "Sunday” here. Sunday is just a normal day. Sunday is a day you go to school or work. I'm so amazed by the saint's sacrifice here. Anyways, Ming Tiikhia! She came to church! I thought that would never happen. She really believes, but it's so hard for her to change her cultural traditions. Converting to the church truly changes their whole lives. But I really think she's starting to know for herself of the truth. It's so cool to see the gospel in action. She’s so sweet. Also she always gives us nums. (cookie, rice stuff filled with yummy bean, sweet stuff). Delicious. I'm so proud of her. She is such a great example to me.

Yesterday was kind of a heartbreaking day. All of the people we visited yesterday just were going through struggles that I couldn't bear to imagine. Everyone here is so strong. For example, we met with Ming Phoan. She is about 55 and takes care of her grandchildren. She has no money and is always sick. She got hit by a moto a month ago and has had a hard time walking ever since. Her brother is close to dying. She has so many things to do. She was just so stressed and sad. Then we met Ming Vonna. Oh my heart. She was so happy to see us. We started getting to know each other and she started telling us about her life. She told us that her husband got into a fight with her brother. I expecting like a "yelling fight". No! she showed us pictures. He had a gash on his had all the way down to the skull with just a band aid over the top. He lost his job. They have no money. Someone stole their moto. She wants to come to church so badly. She told us "Sistee I love God so much, but it's so hard.” She broke into tears. And then asked told us to eat with her. She amazes me. Then when we were leaving she told me, "I want dimples like you," so I told her, "here take them and I put my fingers on her cheeks" she laughed for so long… oh so cute. These people are amazing. Most everyone here has had a hard hard life. Most everyone here has seen war, dead family members, heartache, poverty, loss, everything. And they are so faithful. They love God so much. And they are so generous and loving. For people who barely know who Christ is, or have only heard of His name for a few years, they are teaching me more about Him than anyone on this earth ever could.

I hope you all have a very good week. I know that God loves you! I know it! He wants us to be happy and He wants us to succeed. He wants us to talk to Him! He listens too!

Love always,

Sister Mortell

Random thoughts:

Language wise... I'm getting better. The pronunciation is really hard and reading and writing is hard but grammar wise I am thankful for Khmer. I think, for me, I’m getting better at reading. Lots of time we have to read in lessons because people can't read. Most of the time, the missionaries read better than the people we teach. I’m able to understand a lot more too. Everyone always tries to help me. I mean I don't think I’m horrible, it’s just hard not to be frustrated.

Scary things: I honestly think I almost died this past Wednesday. We were carefully crossing the street inch by inch so we wouldn't get hit my motos. We were with the elders. And all of the sudden this crazy moto comes zooming past and Sister Pace gets out of the way and I thankfully did too. But man, it was close. I was scared. Some other scary things: There have been people getting beat outside people’s houses. Oh my goodness and this week there was this boy in ward 1 outside the church with all the youth. He started having an asthma attack we thought. But he started shaking and he couldn't breathe. The elders were there and we tried to help them. We went to church and he was there but he couldn't speak! Part of his face is paralyzed I think.  I think he had a stroke and everyone just tells him to drink fruit juice. It’s crazy the difference from here and America. So yes those were scary things.

Quality Week in Steung Mean Chey

It was another great week! It actually really was a great week. On Wednesday, we had zone conference with President and Sister Christensen. Sister Christensen talked a little bit about the history of Cambodia. And can I just say, I truly think Cambodia is the coolest, most interesting little hidden treasure ever. Holy Cow. The Khmer empire history is crazy. It's so awesome. I love Cambodia. Anyways zone conference was so fun. We listened, talked, ate food, Asian squatted (my knees will never be the same) and just had a fun time.

Missionaries can actually have fun! So this week was so crazy. We got 5 new investigators! Holy cow what! So awesome. We now have 11 investigators, some progressing more than others. But this week, Sister Pace and I truly worked hard. I think this was the first week that I truly worked hard AND I actually liked it. That's a lesson I have learned. If you don't have a desire to do something (read scriptures, eat healthy, do homework, serve, be happy...) you won't have a desire until you actually do it. So buck up and do it and then you'll find that you actually like doing it. Anyways, we truly worked hard. We tried to be more obedient, call members to help us, serve, use all of our time, be happy, prepare good lessons. . . and it paid off. We stuck to our goals this week. Let me just tell you a little miracle. We had a goal to have four investigators come to Sacrament meeting. We invited everyone and it seemed like everyone would come. We tried so hard. Then Sunday came. And we called people to remind them about church AND one out of our four said they could come. We then continued to call our other investigators and Ming S (Buddhist lady that is so sweet but also very much opinionated) said she would come. I thought to myself "out of everyone, Ming S??" We had a teaching appointment before church with a recent convert, Bong Niam. AND guess what? She brought two friends, we taught them and they came to church. So, lo and behold we had four people come to Sacrament meeting. Now I know it is never about the numbers but we truly worked our hardest this week and God helped us all along the way and more. So cool.

Saturday we had probably the most fun English class ever. We teach English every Wednesday and Saturday to people 15 years old and up. It's so fun. Anyways, we were teaching direction words and phrases like "on the right hand side" "continue straight" etc. So we had the genius idea to make a scavenger hunt around the church (thanks mom for inspiring me from your many scavenger hunts). Anyways it was so so so fun. Also the prize was a bunch of candy and some Book of Mormons (oh so missionary-like). English class is one of my favorite times of the week.

Sunday was so happy. Usually Sundays were really hard. The church culture here is just very different and it's so hard to understand what anyone is saying. But, this Sunday was so happy. I just felt so much love for everyone we met and talked to. Also the members here are so kind and sweet. They just give hugs all the time and tell me I have dimples. Also my favorite English class student, Bunna, was at church (he's in a different ward). He's learning with the Elders! And he was wearing a white shirt and tie and he just looked so happy. So so awesome! Also can I just say that the members here are so amazing. Yes, the culture here is so different but these people are so faithful. Most of the people with big responsibilities and callings have only been members for about five-ish years. The church here is so new here. Sometimes it's easy to get frustrated but then I think to myself. "Let's see if I had a years’ worth of knowledge of the gospel, had to work every day to have food for my family, change my whole life, culture, would I do it?" These people change their whole life for this gospel. They have to change from their country's culture and everyone else. It truly is amazing. For example, I'll share one of my favorite members story. Her name is Sokcia. She is awesome. She said when she was around 20, she was learning in Phnom Penh and living with her sister. She began meeting with the missionaries and going to church. When her sister found out that she was going to church, she stopped sharing her food. Sokcia was left with $1.50. Her sister said if she stopped going to church she would share food with her again. Her sister then told her parents all these lies and bad things about Sokcia. Her parents said, "If you stop going to church, we will pay for everything for four years." And Sokcia chose church. She somehow got a job, continued to study at school and she still went to church. She said that was the hardest time in her life. She said now she has great relationships with her family. They tell her that she is lucky. They see how happy she is with her husband. They thinks it’s so great that her husband doesn't drink. She is such an example. The church here reminds me of the early saints. The church here is as old as me, 19 years old. I get the privilege to meet some of Cambodia's pioneers. It's a gift I am so grateful for.

Sometimes missions are hard. Sometimes I feel alone. Sometimes people laugh at me when I speak. Sometimes they laugh at me when I don't speak. Sometimes it stinks so so bad (literally Cambodia smells so bad sometimes). But I love it. It’s awesome. We can find joy in every circumstance (queue President Nelson). Anyways, have a great week! Much love and prayers to you all!

Love always, 

Sister Mortell

Random thoughts:

My fish burn is almost all gone. It’s just a little red mark now.

I’m teaching a piano class! haha who would have thought! So fun!

We always ride our bikes. We only ride tuk tuks if there’s a weird situation or if we were at the mission home or something and it’s too dark to ride back.

Most of the young people that are members just hang out at the church every night. They play soccer, talk, whatever. When we have a lesson at the church, someone always wants to join in. 

Look who's not the shortest!

Zone Conference pictures--thanks to awesome Senior missionaries!

Precious Week in Steung Mean Chey

This week was so long but also awesome. Who knows, time is so confusing. This week was super fun because in missionary life, general conference is kind of like Christmas. We invited everyone to conference! So so fun! We also biked so so much this week. We had transfers, meetings, general conference, training all in the city. We had a few sweet tender mercies and miracles this week.

First, let me just tell you that houses in Cambodia are impossible to find. We were attempting to find this less active's house and we accidentally entered into a Watt (a Buddhist, sacred temple area). After being chased by crazy Cambodian children, we were left hopeless so we decided to contact for English (hold a "free English class" sign in front the church, also most of the tuk tuk drivers decide to go to the bathroom in that general area, yay) anyways we were just kind of down a bit. And then we went inside the church and one of our recent converts was there. She said, "Sistee can we meet now?" Her name is Danae. Wooh! We had a super sweet time talking with her and THEN right after we finished that lesson there was a girl in the church that come up to us and said, "I would like to come to English class and learn about Jesus Christ" Woah! Okay. That's so awesome! The plans of God, let me tell you!! We are meeting with her tonight. Her name is Srey Line (like Madeline kind of, but Khmer).

Okay second miracle. I think this was Friday? All of our plans fell through with our investigators and we were again hopeless. I said a sincere prayer in my heart. I really prayed with faith, it took some heart. I asked Heavenly Father to help us follow His plan. I asked for a miracle. We then pulled out our backup backup plan and visited this less active family. They were so awesome! So sweet and kind. As we were biking from their house this lady stopped me, grabbed my arm and starting rattling off in excited Khmer. I understood some of it. She said she had seen people with those tags about three weeks ago. She said that some boys with tags like that helped her carry her wagon through knee length rainy flood water. Then I remembered Elder Walker (in our district) talk about that experience. So we found the lady they helped. She took my arm and hurried us to her house. She and her daughter want to learn with us. We are meeting them later this week. So so cool. While we were walking to her house I just though "God is so so good. He is so loving and merciful and just so good." God answers prayers. I know it.

Another miracle. We called sweet Ming tiikhia a few days ago and asked if we could meet her. She's been having a hard time keeping commitments and really having faith. She told us that she doesn't think she can come to church. She says that Buddhism is her country's religion and she doesn't think she can change that. BUT, on Sunday morning we got a call from Ming Tiikhia. She said, "Sistee I want to come to church, what time is it again?" We told her that it was general conference this week, so Ming Tiikhia most definitely went to general conference. So happy! I love her so much even though I’m still kind of an awkward lump of an American that is trying to speak Khmer.

So Saturday and Sunday we biked to the South Stake Center in Phnom Penh (a 40 minute bike ride away) and watched General Conference! So so good! I especially loved President Uchtdorf and Nelson. I just felt such an inspiring feeling of joy. We can have joy now. Through Christ, we can have joy today. I love that. Also the Plan of Happiness. It is so joyful! How can we not be excited? Also after conference we biked through the most intense rain storm yet. Bring it on.

It was a good week. Life as a missionary and life in Cambodia is definitely strange, hard, awesome, comfort zone-less, and so so sweet. I have felt God's love for me and for others so much in just a quick, long six weeks. I know God loves you too! And He wants you to have JOY.

Much love,
Sister Mortell

Random thoughts:

Before we can email, we have to clean, go to the market, study and clean the food. To clean the food we wash it, then bleach it, then dry it. It surprisingly takes a long time. Sister Y just skinned some fish and cut the guts out of some frogs.

That kid that told me I looked like a boy said I look prettier than before.

We made snails. They were delicious. I am so excited to cook you all Khmer food when I come home.

Optimistic Week in Steung Mean Chey

So another week in Cambodia. Weird. It was such a good week but honestly I can't really remember what happened...

Let’s see. Remember last week when I said "rainy season has officially started". Haha. No. Now rainy season has officially started! I have officially biked through a lake, also known as a road in Cambodia. It's kind of like Peter walking on water but me attempting to ride a bike in Cambodia. Also when it starts raining, everyone puts on these rain poncho jacket things and rides on their motos. And somehow they always look like quidditch players. 

So on Saturday it was a big Cambodia holiday. It sounds something like "bon mawshoom." And during the holiday mostly everyone goes to their home khite (country, province thing) to gather with family and friends. So it was a pretty slow week this week. All of our investigators were out of town this week and mostly everyone else was busy with family and the holiday. Usually we meet around 5 or 6 people, usually 1 or 2 investigators, 2 or 3 less actives and maybe one member each day. So this week was a lot of house finding, biking, and empty streets. It was actually such a relief to bike on the street and not have to dodge people, cats, trash, cars and motos. It was almost an eerie feeling. The streets and markets which are usually so busy looked like ghost towns. Because no one was in the city, my mission president had us deep clean our house on Friday. It was actually super fun. And we also got to watch a movie! Wooh!!! Ephraim's Rescue. We gathered with our stake (south stake) and had donuts and watched a movie. So so fun.

Also I told you about Bunna right? He's the fifteen year old boy who always comes to English class. He comes twenty minutes early every time. He’s so awesome! And he has started learning with the elders! Wooh! Anyways on Saturday, the holiday, we "had English class.” We thought no one would come but low and behold BUNNA! and the Relief society president (she is so so so so sweet and always gives us coconut candy). So we had a blast on Saturday learning months of the year, colors and times of the day. I love English class! I’m thankful for my sweet little Khmer friends. 

Also a sweet moment this week. We have this recent convert, Bong Mom. She is so so sweet. She has lots of struggles and hardships in her life, but she is so faithful. She asked the elders to give her a blessing. Elder Palmer gave her the blessing. He had been randomly transferred to Steung Mean Chey for two weeks and we were all confused. But when Bong Mom asked for the blessing she said, "you were the elder that baptized me.” She thought that was the coolest thing. So maybe his two week random transfer was for her. I also learned another lesson from her. At the end of her lesson she prayed specifically for answers and help. She prayed with faith that those answers could be immediate. That really touched me. I think growing up in the church I’ve heard so many time "answers will come, but only God's will.” And yes, that's true. But also God has the power to give us help now too. These people I'm teaching have so much faith. I learn from them more than they could ever learn from me. I want to have the faith to ask for immediate answers and have faith to continue until then . . . just something I was thinking about. 

Anyways I love you all! Thank you for your love and prayers. This gospel is so good and Cambodia is awesome. 

Love always, 

Sister Mortell

Random thoughts:

My cultural shock is okay. I don't think I’ve had too bad of cultural shock. I mean sometimes things are really gross and they smell horrible and so many naked people but when I do have those cultural shock moments I just think "of course that would happen. I am in Cambodia” but really everyone here is so sweet and friendly. I am very blessed.

The language is hard. Last night I read one whole chapter (22 verses) in 38 minutes. Usually I can read about 7 lines in 2 minutes. So much brain power! But my pronunciation is getting a lot better.

The sky here in Cambodia is probably the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Every time you look up, it's different. Sometimes I look up at the sky and I know everything is going to be okay haha.

We get to watch conference next weekend. The mission has made me a lover of all things church. General conference is like Christmas for missionaries. We are all so excited.

There are so many butterflies here.

In Cambodia everyone just touches your arm and gives you side hugs and is so friendly. Everyone here makes me feel so special.

Also everyone loves my eyes here. 

  Spiders that Sister Y made. They were delicious!

(once you get over that you're eating a spider)

 cute Sister Y :) I love her!

 a little road

 

This is my attempt of taking a picture while riding a bike. This picture doesn't do it justice.

It is so so pretty!

 another attempt of a random road picture

a selfie outside the internet café to show you that I'm alive and well and always

 "Reppin the Y"