Madeline in Cambodia: An Amazing Awesome Week in Battambang

So it was a great week in Battambang!

So you know the awesome Lookpuu Yuit and Yuan? The family we taught last week? They are relatives of bong Tii. Well anyways they are really great. I’m trying really hard to teach them and love them according to their needs. I just feel a super sweet connection with them. We taught them about the restoration and we brought the restoration video to watch the first vision. We also invited bong Tii to come and help us teach. We just had a great lesson. It’s such a privilege to testify of the restored gospel and of the Book of Mormon. It's true! Sorry everyone, its true! It's just that good! We came back later in the week with some reading glasses for the Lookpuu and we read in the Book of Mormon together. It has just been a special experience. I feel like I’m not rushing to teach them. I want to help them understand and to feel the Spirit. I've also gained a purer testimony of the power of the Book of Mormon. I am so grateful to have a scripture that not only teaches me how to be good and to follow Christ but the Book of Mormon has the fullness of the gospel. It is the way we can receive peace now and joy in the life to come. We can receive answers to lifelong questions of the soul by a little faith, reading and sincere prayer.

Anyways the Lookpuu came to the church! I was sitting by Bong Tii and her niece. Her niece (six years old) pulled on my arm saying, "Lookpuu Yuit came! Lookpuu Yuit came!” Sacrament meeting randomly started like 25 minutes late so he got there just in time for Bong Tii to be confirmed and to partake of the Sacrament.

Miracle (maybe sweetest moment of my mission): So let me just tell you about Bong Tii. She was a referral from the elders. They had taught her a couple times and then they referred her over to us. We taught her the lessons and have helped her prepare to be baptized. She is one of the most humble followers of Christ I've seen. She is funny. She is humble and she is caring. Her heart is gold. She doesn't take crap but she doesn't give it out. Anyways she is just a solid, loving person. I remember maybe the second lesson we had with her she asked me, "so can I pray to have a baby?” She hasn't been able to have any kids and she desperately wants to have a baby. So ever since, she has prayed, in every lesson, for a daughter. And ever since I have prayed, every night, for her to have a baby. And this past Saturday she was baptized! It was a great baptism. She was nervous and excited. And that night I remember praying very sincerely, "please give Bong Tii a baby. She can raise her children in the gospel." Also the elders that night told me they were fasting for her to have a baby. Anyways so then tomorrow comes, Sunday and she was confirmed. She was confirmed by Sister Chin's (my former companion) dad actually! He is from a different branch and doesn't know Bong Tii but he came because he's part of the branch presidency. Anyways he gave her a beautiful blessing and then said, "You will be a good mother in this church" then he hesitated a bit and then he said it again, "You will be a good mother." After he said "Amen" I erupted in a huge smile. I saw the elders and we exchanged smiles for a good 5 minutes. We couldn't believe what just happened. It was one of those moments like "what the heck!!!! It’s true!!!" That was something I’ll hold very dear to my heart. I couldn't sing the sacrament hymn because I was smiling too much. Also I started to tear up and bong Tii slapped me on the arm and laughed at me. A simple Lookpuu, who has faith and exercises his priesthood power just answered many prayers. I think she will be a great mother one day too. That was one of the sweetest moments of my mission.

Well there's not really much else this week. Assing and Thib (Ming Chon's granddaughters) are the cutest things ever. Ming Chon said, "Before they were scared of sisters but now they love learning. You are so funny and they love the gospel.” They are my little sisters!

I hope everyone has a good week. If you haven't asked God in a while, ask Him if the Book of Mormon is true or not. He will answer. He knows our names and our joys and sorrows. Stay bonded to Him through the rough and He will make you pure.

Much love,

Sister Mortell