Madeline in Cambodia: Perfectly Precious Period of time in Kampong Cham

So literally I am the luckiest missionary in Cambodia right now. I’m on my way to Siem Reap to visit Angkor Wat. Yesterday President and Sister Christensen came to KC for interviews. I told them I was going (on a bus by myself) to Siem Reap today and they said, "Wait we are going to Siem Reap too! Want to come with us?" AND during my interview Sister Christensen gave me a Dr. Pepper too. #blessed So, I'm just living the life with the Christensens. We stopped on the way to look at some rubber trees and pepper trees too haha. Also President Christensen is a little bit like my dad at Yellowstone when he's driving through Cambodia. I loved it so much.

As for this week, let me just tell you about Thursday... So remember Ming Ta and Kuntia like my favorite people ever?? Yes, so we went to teach her. She was planning on being baptized this next Saturday. We go to her house and she said "I'm sorry sisters. I can't learn anymore. It’s too much time and I don't have money and it’s causing problems in my family. But you can still come and hang out with me." MY HEART WAS CRUSHED. I was literally so sad. I just wanted to yell, "YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU’RE PASSING UP RIGHT NOW," so that was a heartbreak. Sister Dy and I were so so sad. We tried to talk to her. And help her. We are planning to go back this week to see what's up. BUT here comes the miracles.... so we were biking back to go home from the long bike ride from Ming Ta's. We were both so sad. As we were turning to go back to the main road I see this neakming, giving her daughter a bath, she yelled, "Hello, hello," I waved. Then we got to the turn and I told sister Dy, "Wait. I want to talk to her." So we turned around and we talked to her. I asked her some questions about her family. She said her husband died. I asked her how long and she immediately burst into tears. At first I felt like a jerk. And she said, "A year ago." I can not begin to tell you the peace and Spirit we both felt as we testified to her that she can see her husband again. She kept on answering, "But how? Can I see him in my dreams? Or for real?" So we taught her a little about the plan of salvation and we came back, biked the track up to Phnom (mountain) and taught her more and about God and prayer. So cool. We'll see how that goes. I think it's a miracle. God is in the details.

And I can't even begin to tell you about conference. AWESOME. The church is literally so true I can't believe it. WE ARE SO LUCKY. WE HAVE THE RESTORED GOSPEL AND THE BOOK OF MORMON. So good. I love it. This conference I was especially touched, along with Elder Anderson, by President Nelson and President Eyring heeding to the word of our Prophet, Thomas S. Monson. The Book of Mormon has power. I was also touched of the confidence, courage, love and faith of the messages we heard. The church needs true, firm believers in the restoration of the gospel and the doctrine of Christ and God's plan of Salvation. God needs deliberate disciples. And my mission has started me on that journey. I love this gospel and this church so much. As Jimmy Fallon would say, "SO GOOD!" So I'm signing off. Things are going well in KC. Ming KumOn is set for baptism and she's literally the best person ever. We are going to pray a lot and try and find those that are prepared for this glorious gospel. Have a great week!! Much love to you all.

Love always,

Sister Mortell