Madeline in Cambodia: Zestful Week in Ta Khmau

Hello everyone!

First let me tell you how awesome Cambodians are at Christmas. On Saturday we had our branch Christmas party. So much fun. Curry was enjoyed, crazy romantic Cambodian ballads were a booming and Cambodian dancing was a happening (not missionaries sadly). Anyways, so much fun. Christmas time is awesome in Cambodia. Yes sometimes I wouldn't mind some snow, Christmas lights and an Elf movie night with my family, but Christmas in Cambodia is very special. It's fun to be in a country where the culture of Christmas hasn't been changed. Christmas is about our Savior. It's about Him. It's about saying "thank you" to Heavenly Father for our Savior. Also you better believe it I sang a most horrible solo with all of the missionaries at the party. Everyone just expects all white people to be good at singing. It's quite false.

So our investigator, "Sheilla" is still awesome. She brings a lot of light into my life. She wants to follow Christ with all of her heart. She is one of my great friends and we've only known each other for a few weeks. I feel blessed to know her. We gave her a Book of Mormon a week and a half ago and she's already read to Mosiah 15. Crazy. She wants to meet with us every day. Sadly we can't but it's so joyous when we do. I feel like she's one of those people that you would leave your family for 18 months and travel to a country half way around the world just to meet.

I would like to bear my testimony of our Savior. He loves us. He will carry us. He knows what’s best. He is our Brother. He is our friend. He is the GIFT. The greatest gift of all. Because of Him, we can have eternal life. How awesome is that? Because of Him, this life can be happy and after this life can be joyous. I hope all of you have a Merry Merry Christmas. Eat some spaghetti and syrup for me ;)

LOVE always and Merry Christmas and happy holidays and all else that is joyful,

Sister Mortell

P.S. Vienna Woods Ward--thank you for the video! It’s awesome.