Wet and Wonderful Week in Battambang

Hello everyone!

Well I have six months left which is super weird to think about! It's going so fast! Some days literally seem to drag on and some minutes are eternities but some weeks are a minute and some months a second. 

Well this week we had some very sweet moments with some very sweet people. We have an investigator Ming Kon. She is so great. She wants to continue to learn so badly. She said she wants to go to church every day. But her children and family don't want her to learn anymore. A lot of people here in Cambodia don't like "Jesus people." And she has been getting a lot of heat about that. So I don't know if we can come back to teach her. While we were with her I felt so much love for her and I know that God will provide her a way to receive the gospel. Now or later, but He will. Also funny moment with her neighbors: when we bike to her house we've become friends with this Om (grandma). She calls us to stop and we talk to her for a bit. She's claimed us her children and she gave us Khmer names. I suggested Srey Line :) So that's my Khmer name. She's super sweet and crazy. 

Another very tender moment happened this past Friday. During our companionship study Sister Lunsford told me this quote that says something like, "The most fervent prayer of a missionary could be, 'please send us to those who have ancestors waiting to receive their saving ordinances.'" So as we left the house, I prayed to my Heavenly Father to please help us find those that have ancestors who are waiting and waiting and cheering us on to find their family members. And so as we were biking to find a less active member's house I stopped at this little shop house thing and asked, "Do you know this girl?" They said no, but then my nose randomly started to bleed (my nose has started to bleed a lot now I think because it’s hot and then rainy anyways...it's fine). So we sat down for a while waiting for my nose to stop bleeding but we ended up just talking, me in very nasally Khmer. So we were talking to this sweet little neakming/om. She started telling us all about the Khmer Rouge. She was 20 years old. She told us all about the conditions, the hardship, the terror and the sorrow. She said she had to cut her hair, work all day, couldn't talk at all and had little to no food. She said her brothers were taken to be soldiers and her parents and sisters were killed. She said she was separated from her brothers in the camp and occasionally would see them from a distance but she couldn't even whisper anything to them. Usually I feel like people here usually brush over the emotional part because it was so traumatic. But she really opened up to us. I asked her, "Om do you miss your family?” She cried. We ended up crying and laughing and crying again together. It was a sacred blessing to testify of our Savior to someone who has seen so much terror and felt so much heart ache. And who knows? Maybe she was the one whose ancestors are waiting for. I don't care if she wants to learn or not, I am going back to her house. 

It was a really good week. Kind of slow and lots of plans fell through but some very sweet tender moments. And I know that every day if we even try, God is so proud of us. As for Battambang things are going good. Sister Lunsford is a sweetheart and I really love her. I'm trying hard to just be happy and to trust. I read a part of a talk by Elder Holland and he talks about faith-based optimism. No we don't need to be happy all the time. If we were we would be crazy. But I know there is true happiness, joy, hope, and love because of God and His Son and His plan. And I know as we have faith and stay close to our Savior and experience His healing and strengthening and changing power we can become happy saints of our Father in Heaven. 

Much love to all of you. I am so happy to be a missionary. This mission has changed my life and it will forever. 

Love always,  

Sister Mortell

ស៊ីស្ទើរ ម៉ូរធែល



Last P-day, we went hiking and exploring in the hills around Battambang. Awesome!!

Very Valuable Week in Battambang

So we had a cool experience this morning! We were proselyting this morning and we were on our way to visit our now recent convert Ming Chong and the road was way wonky from the rain a couple weeks ago and my bike got stuck and then I biffed it. My arm got scraped on this sketchy fence thing. It doesn't hurt but I decided I should go somewhere to get it cleaned and bandaged. So we looked for a doctor place (they have random doctor places everywhere) and literally saw none. So then we went near this big market and for some reason I remember praying while we were biking, "Okay Heavenly Father I will stop at the next doctor place I see," and I did. So the Lookpuu bandaged my arm up and cleaned it and we were talking and he said, "Yes I would love to learn. Can I call you? Here is my phone number." So who knows? Stuff like that is my absolute favorite. Plans of God. So I'll let the elders know about him.

This week was awesome! We had Ming Chong's baptism!! She was so excited. She is so so great. She tells me all the time, "I have changed so much I will never forget God." I love her so much! She is so cute. She was so happy to be baptized she said, "I just feel like there is a bright light in me." 

As for our other investigators, it was a great week. We had two new investigators: Bong Sonna and her son, Mony. She is so great. We had a great lesson about the Restoration. I was talking about how there are so many churches but only one God and she literally asked me, "Well what do we do? What should we do?” and her angel (kind of) of a son piped in, "pray.” What the heck? We have a future elder on our hands. Anyway, so then we explained about Joseph Smith and it was awesome. She started reading the Book of Mormon randomly aloud with us. So she has some great potential.

Also Ming Kon who hasn't been to church for a few weeks or even in Battambang for a couple weeks randomly showed up to church. Woohoo! I just hope we can help this branch and help Battambang progress. This is a great area and a great mission full of miracles. This is God's work. It's His so no matter what we do, how bad we are at Khmer or talking to people and not being awkward or teaching or opening our mouth or whatever... we cannot mess up this work. God will do His work. I just hope we are all a part of it. 

Also my language skills are improving because I can fully understand all the banter and tension in Relief Society and Sunday School... Oh man. 

Anyways have a great week full of miracles and joy from our Savior. 

Love always,  

Sister Mortell
ស៊ីស្ទើរ ម៉ូរធែល

Ming Chong's Baptism

Building a house

We went to an alligator farm.



The elders literally dropped a live chicken and the alligators went crazy.

Unbelievably Uplifting Week in Battambang

Hello! Short email this week because I got to talk to my wonderful mom, sassy sister and musically talented dad this morning. So awesome. I really have an awesome family. For any missionaries that are going to leave soon: cherish your family. Hug your mom. Laugh and spend time with your family. They will carry you on your mission. I'm so thankful for mine. And for the many brothers and sisters that I have met here in Cambodia. 

This week was great. We had zone conference that blew my mind... again. President and Sister Christensen are amazing. I have felt a love from them that is indescribable. They have been the messengers and answers of some of my most sincere, heartfelt prayers. I came all the way to Cambodia to realize that I am a Child of God and that God Answers Prayers. It's actually true! Sorry to burst your bubble! The gospel is true and God loves us and Christ lives and loves us too.

Also this week we bused all the way back to Phnom Penh for a training meeting for a couple days for the new missionaries and trainers. It was so fun for the new missionaries to see each other again and for me to see my group too! I love the Elders and Sisters in my group. It was a great motivation to me to just love the work. We do not need to stress. But we can find pure joy through sharing the gospel. I'm in the process of experiencing that myself. 

As for our investigators Ming Chong is getting baptized this next Saturday! Super pumped for her! She is so cute and so faithful. I'll let you know about our other investigators this next week. This week was crazy with meetings so we didn't really have a chance to meet everyone. 

Cambodia is still crazy but normal life now. The people are still frustrating and super sweet all at the same time and the food is still delicious. I hope everyone is doing well. Thank you! Have a great week!!

Love always,  

Sister Mortell

ស៊ីស្ទើរ ម៉ូរធែល

After church we were served these delicious ice cream sandwiches--baguettes filled with ice cream.

Maddy was a little blurry but we could still see happiness and joy in her face!

Tip Top Week in Battambang

So it was a crazy week this week! I had to say goodbye to Sister Winder and hello to Sister Lunsford! She is fresh from the MTC and rocking it in Cambodia. I'm really excited to do the good work with her. So Sister Winder and I went down to Phnom Penh on Tuesday. I was in the city until Thursday when we picked up our koons (children). I got to be companions with Sister Benson and Sister Cook for a day. It was so so fun! They are great friends of mine. Also we stayed in Steung Mean Chey!!! Where I was born!! Sister Benson is white washing (both her and her companion are new to the area). So I definitely took that opportunity to show her around the area and we "happened" to go to Ming Rut's house! I don't know if you remember Ming Rut but she was one of my favorite people from SMC. Sister Pace and I would always go over to her house. When I was transferred from SMC I didn't have a chance to say goodbye so I got to see her again! When I walked in she just laughed and smiled, "Sister Holding Hands" SO CUTE! It was fun to talk to her because now I can actually talk with her and I understand what she’s saying. She also said I looked a lot prettier and "ceh duu" know how to be sassy and funny. That’s one thing I’ve developed on my mission. Khmer sass. Anyways such a happy time. Also the SMC house literally smells the exact same super weird haha. 

So then on Thursday our new companions came and we separated ways. Sister Lunsford is my new companion. It feels like just a month ago we were spending our first weeks in Cambodia but it's almost been like 9ish months. So crazy!! Anyways Sister Lunsford is great. She's super sweet. As for our area things are still going great. I'm really trying to have all of my studies and everything else focused on our investigators. I really hope they will continue to progress and receive the many joyous blessings of living the gospel. The gospel has a power like no other to change people. What I realized this week is I need to live the gospel too. We can change and repent every day. Live what you preach. Gain a testimony of the doctrine and then go preach it. 

Also our branch missionary leader, Lookpuu Buansvey, is awesome. Usually the branch missionaries are less active members, but this one is a recent convert and he literally talks to everyone and invites everyone to church. He’s given us like 5 referrals in the past few weeks. He invites everyone to church and then calls us and says, "Sister I have someone at the church that wants to learn about the gospel" So let's all be Lookpuu Buansvey and fear no man! Have a great week everyone!! Much love to you! 

Love always, 

Sister Mortell 

MING RUT from Steung Mean Chey! I love her to pieces!!!!!

Sister Cook :)

haha--a returned missionary drove us to the airport. This is his tuk tuk. Don't worry, I'm staying true to the blue!

 

Sister Winder and Ming Chong

 

Greeting the brand new missionaries

Sister Lunsford

Sister Lunsford, fresh from the MTC

 

 

Super Sweet Week in Battambang

ហេឡូបងប្អន ទាំងអស់គ្នា

So it was quite a week here in Battambang. We came back from Siem Reap zone conference. We literally rode a tuk tuk right past Angkor Wat. It blew my mind. Anyways zone conference was really awesome. Elder and Sister Funk and President and Sister Christensen spoke to us. It was one of the best conferences we've had. So we packed up and left our weird little Khmer hotel and came home to our Battambang. Also the Siem Reap church had ping pong and it made me so happy.

What else happened this week other than a bunch of miracles in the making? Well Sister Winder and I declared war on our nightly visitors... Rats. No worries. Everything is taken care of. But let me just tell you this. We most definitely trapped one rat on this sticky trap thing. It was behind our washing machine (super lucky that missionaries have washing machines) anyways I was planking on the washing machine with my feet in the air and literally smashed a huge rat with a fire extinguisher. Really gross. So on a happier note...

This week was full of miracles! We have 5 new investigators! Three of them are from our branch missionary leader. He literally shares the gospel with anyone. He’s so awesome. I want to get him a nametag or at next zone conference he should teach all the missionaries about finding people to teach. So awesome. So two of those investigators are a couple. Ming Aat and Puu Kem. They are literally so adorable. They are kind of shy and a little hesitant to try new things but they are so humble and so cute. They are super pumped about the church. They came to a baptism and came to church yesterday. I love them a lot. I pray and pray that they will continue to progress. I can just see their family having so much happiness because of the gospel. The gospel truly changes peoples' lives whether we notice it or not. The gospel allows us to change and become whole, filled with love that is not of men but of God. We can find peace and solace because of our Savior. That's something really easy to believe and know for someone else but for some reason really hard to know for yourself. As we stay close to the Savior we are promised joy beyond our own. 

Our other investigator Ming Chong is also doing great. She wants us to meet her like every day. She is super excited to be baptized this next week and a half. I'm super excited for her. 

Also we have a new investigator, Vonate. She is a niece of Sister Ren (a returned missionary in Battambang). She is 16 and super cute. A little shy but super cute. Also her favorite movie is Harry Potter. Also a different member Voneat told me I looked like Emma Watson and I basically died because she is my favorite and laughed because Cambodia is doing me in appearance wise. One day I will not sweat all the time and I can wear my hair down. One day. 

Anyways super great week. The church is so true I can't even handle it. 

Have a great week! The love of God can do anything.

Love always, 

Sister Mortell

ស៊ីស្ទើរ ម៉ូរធែល

 

Glossary of terms

on: younger than you

regular name: same age

bong: men and women older than you

ming: women around your mothers age (age 35-50)

puu: men around dads age 

om: grandpa or grandma age

Also, they call us "sistee and eldee" 

 

Zone Conference

We are making cement and building a brick wall for a house for our investigators. Super fun!
(really ugly picture of me.)