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.
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