Slow but Sweet Situations in Kampong Cham

Hello!

I don't really know what to say in this email. Nothing much happened this week. But things are good. The work is a little slow right now but we are trying our best. What counts is that we really try! This week we started teaching Pia. She is Tian's girlfriend. Tian is the older brother of Ceriya (11 year old girl that just got baptized). So that's been interesting. She's way cool, a little shy. We've had some good lessons with her. We taught about the Book of Mormon and prayer. We promised her that she could know for herself. She didn't have to rely on Tian, us or anyone else. But she could ask God. It's such a blessing that all of us can gain this testimony no matter where or who we are. God will tell us. 

A cool experience: so I don't know if any other missions do this but since Cambodia doesn't have maps or LDS tools and stuff like that this is how we gather information. For years the missionaries have gathered all of this information about members with their house, maps, children all this stuff. Now our mission is in the process of trying to have the members visit one another. It’s been a big change in our mission. A tough one and a good one. Anyways so we have all these papers so Sister Dy and I decided to find some houses because we didn't know what to do. We prayed that as we tried to find these houses we would find people. Because usually these maps are way hard to find. So we contacted on the road and asked people, "Do you know this person?" and they were like, "No, why?" great contacting opportunity. Anyways as we were trying to find this house, sweet little Sister Dy turned back and said, "That lady said hello to us." So we turned back and met this sweet little om who is way Buddhist but willing to listen. And she started crying. She has been sick for a while and we were there to comfort. It’s funny, it’s like people somehow know we are different. Like Ming Sroan she just confided in us and told us about losing her husband. And Om Leng she trusted us and told us of her struggles. It’s like they know we are different that the name on our plaques can help them. And Christ can. It’s a blessing to introduce people to their Savior. So we will see if she will progress. God has faith in everyone so I will too. 

We went on exchanges this week. And Sister Dy did get her patriarchal blessing. Woohoo. Exchanges were great. It was my last exchange #hallelujah I love/hate exchanges haha. We had a way fun time and learned a lot. Also super blessed I never served in the city city. I was always in the outskirt city areas or khets. 

Much luck to all of you. If you're not reading the Book of Mormon you probably should. Also family history is way cool even if you disagree you know you are wrong. Also God really does love us and Christ does too. 

Also I spoke in both branch 2 and 3 yesterday and played the piano. 

Love always, 

Sister Mortell

​Exchanges with Sister Peters, Sister Cook and Sister Dy in Phnom Penh

Fish foot massage

Regular Righteous Routine in Kampong Cham

So hello! This week was full of little miracles and some frustrations but all is well.

So our area is a little slow right now but things are picking up. Let's talk about some miracles. We met with a new member, Sophanara. She is 16 years old, never wants to pray, loves the missionaries, will always meet us but never wants to participate. She is a cute, little frustrating friend of ours. Anyways we met with her and reminded her about the blessings of the gospel. We committed her to pray for us. Pray for the missionaries to find new investigators. After a lot of coaxing and some begging she prayed. AND. literally the next 30 minutes we got two new investigators. What the heck! We left the church and were biking to our far area phnom. Sister Dy wanted to buy a grapefruit and we passed by one grapefruit stand and stopped to buy some. Literally the lady selling grapefruits the first thing she said was, "I want to learn about Jesus." Sister Dy asked her how much it was. I was like, "Wait did I just hear her right?" and then Sister Dy paused and was like, "What?" Then she said it again. "I want to learn about the gospel." What the heck. Her name is Ming Sing Ly. We are going to meet her today. AND THEN. as we were about to leave the grapefruit stand one of the elders called with a referral (turns out she doesn't want to learn, just English but still) So miracles. We called Sophanara and she was so happy. She said, “I’ve prayed every day since then." There is power in prayer. Even if you don't think so. 

ALSO update on Ming Sroan. We met her this past week. We planned to teach about the gospel of Jesus Christ but I just felt like we should teach about the Book of Mormon. So we testified and promised her she could know for herself. The room was filled with the Spirit. I just wanted to scream and dance or something because I was so pumped on the Spirit. I know that when we try it for ourselves and when we ask there is something inside of us that bursts with truth and the spirit. I know the Book of Mormon is true and I felt the Holy Ghost take a little of my testimony and place it in her heart and then my testimony was filled even more. I also learned sometimes we need to be patient when we teach. Especially in Cambodia. That's okay. Be patient and loving with those you teach, as a missionary, in the church, wherever we are. These are God's CHILDREN!!! ALSO MING SROAN CAME TO CHURCH AND MING KUMON IS HER BEST FRIEND NOW! I LOVE IT!

Also we went to Phnom Penh to get Sister Dy's patriarchal blessing and we called and planned it ahead in advance and reminded but he forgot so we literally spent like 21 hours on a bus and in Phnom Penh for nothing. We were a little salty but also laughed about it a lot. 

Things are good. Ending strong. Much love to you all and good luck!!

Love always, 

Sister Mortell

We went to this funky wat with a beautiful view

On our way to get Patriarchal blessing--super pumped!

When the Patriarch was busy, we hid out at this phsaa waiting for another bus

But, we bought baay kandang (this dried rice stuff). Super delicious, but not as delicious in KC so we stocked up!

one more elephant picture!