Madeline in Cambodia: Jump for Joy in Kean Svay

Hello and Happy Sunday or Monday or whatever it is!

I hope everyone had a great week. It has been an exciting couple weeks for Kean Svay. Two weeks ago, we had 3 investigators in Kean Svay and now... we have 13! It's all because of the great members and new members here in Kean Svay. They have courage like no other and share the gospel to everyone.

This week I had so many tender mercies and hands of God in my life. First of all, Sheilla (recent convert in Ta Khmau) is moving to California to go to school! What! Anyways we got to see her this week. She said goodbye. She leaves this Wednesday. Good news: 1. when I go home it will be more of a possibility to see her. 2. there is a temple in California. Lots of them. Wooh! I pray that she will find great friends and find the church in California. Don't worry. I helped her find one 2 minutes away. So I hope she does well. America is very different from Cambodia but the gospel is the same. Also she can go to the temple in about 11 months and I get home in about that time. Mortell family lets go to San Jose and get Sheilla to the temple! Anyways... Another Hand of God named Ming Srey. She is one of my favorite members here in Kean Svay. She has such a hard life. Her home isn't the safest place (don't worry I’m fine but there’s just sometimes shady stuff going on), one of her children was taken away, one is in jail. Her parents were killed during the Khmer Rouge and she was left to take care of her three younger siblings at age 8. She has a hard life. Harder than I can imagine. We met her and she just started crying and saying she didn't want to live but that she would live for her children. I just sat there not knowing how to help. So I just explained to her. I said, "I don't know how to help. I can't understand your life, your problems, your heart. But Jesus Christ does." It's so true. Sometimes I feel so helpless here. People in Cambodia have hard hard lives. It's heartbreaking. Sometimes I feel silly saying that we have a message to share with you when the people I'm teaching might not have food for dinner. But. It's true! Jesus Christ understands. He knows and He loves us. And I believe that all will be made right through Him and His loving, infinite atoning sacrifice.

This week has also been very sweet to see the changing power of the gospel. Last week we met this girl, Bong Phat. She is 21 years old. Since she was 13 years old she has had nightmares. She says evil spirits tempt her and treat her badly when she sleeps. That is really scary. But the gospel has more power. We started to teach her. She wanted a Priesthood blessing so the Elders came over. It was a sweet blessing. We then came back a few days later and she looked like a totally new person. And I’m not just saying that. She truly looks different. She's eating more, she's more confident, she smiles more. She truly has changed. I asked her "have you been reading the Book of Mormon?" I already knew she had. No change could happen without the power of the gospel. She reads the Book of Mormon all the time. She came to Stake Conference. The Elders saw her and couldn't believe that she was the same person. I'm so grateful to be a part of this work. The gospel changes lives. If you apply the principles of the Gospel. It may seem too easy or like we don't qualify for the blessings of the Atonement. But God only requires us to try. To believe, repent and to try again. So awesome. Everyone can have a mighty change in their heart through our Savior.

Well that's about it. I hope you all have a great week and a happy day.

Love always,

Sister Mortell