The people are awesome, my trainer is awesome, and being a missionary is awesome! Week #11

So it’s been a little over a week. Wow. Probably the fastest 7 days of my life. No joke. It's been full of funny, discouraging, beautiful, and spiritual moments. Lets just say I think I’ve felt every human emotion this past week! HA

Since I dont ever really know whats going on I rarely have any spiritual times, but on Wednesday I finally got one. We were teaching this recent convert over at the church and we had a couple of members helping us. After the lesson was over we were getting ready to leave-- then this member named Ming Vi came and talked to us. (by the way she’s like the coolest 42 year old lady I've ever met-- just loves life even though she’s super poor and a widow). She hopped on her bike and said "Hey! Come with me I want you to come and teach my friend." We were down so we pulled up to her friends house. We talked for a little and then taught the first lesson. I bore my testimony about how our message can help her and how much happiness it has brought me. We invited her to get baptized and she said yes!!! AHHHH I was so stoked! Once she accepted I just got so happy cause I knew how happy God can make her. It was so awesome!!!! 

Since we have two areas we travel a lot. The other day we were on this van with about half the country of Cambodia stuffed in it. We stopped because the driver wanted something from the store. So his helper dude got out and put a rock behind the wheel cause there’s like no brakes or something. The driver reversed and totally ran over the dudes hand. He flipped out and his hand was totally broken.  It was really sad but It was still funny ha idk. He hopped in the van just holding his hand and the driver dropped him off at his house. It was dang funny/sad. A van full of people with no brakes… Then on the way back I sat by this girl and she started to throw up right by me. The smell was just so amazing my body couldnt handle i. So, true to Smith form, I started to dry heave. I just couldnt take it. 

I was teaching this one member in Prae Choo and after we finished she looked right at my face and told me I needed to go to the hospital. Of course I didnt understand so I looked at my companion and asked what she said. Apparently she told me my skin was broken and that I needed to go fix it cause I had so many zits. What the heck? I have a normal human amount. I actually think I look pretty descent, but to her my face is worthy of going to the hospital and seeing a medical physician. Its all good she wanted to help me. I’ve learned a lot about giving someone the benefit of the doubt here. They're just so straight up. Its hilarious. 

We had church yesterday and we went to church with the Prae Choo members. There’s so few of them that its not considered a branch yet. About 14 people showed up to church. The speakers didn’t show up so Elder Brewer and I were next in line. I cannot express how scared I was. I had to give a talk in straight Khmer, no preparation, and this was the first time the members saw me so I needed to look good and confident so they could trust me. Well I started talking about how service was important and it looked like not one person was looking at me, ha but whatever I did it, I didnt do it well, but I did it. Ha. 

I love learning this language but sometimes its just really discouraging. I mean I've worked all day every day, day in and day out, hours on hours to speak this language for the past two and half months and sometimes I'll just start to talk and they'll just laugh or give me this pathetic face. I mean its funny and all the first times but after a while it kinda gets on yah. I think I knew how hard a mission would be physically but I never thought of it being so mentally hard. You just always have to keep a positive attitude or else the days are just hard. Im learning how to find happiness in small, simple ways. Its ALL good though. Im learning a ton and by the end of the mission Im going to have mastered the part of my brain of producing sad emotions. Im not going to be sad ever. Just a big ball of sunshine. haha I love it here. The people are awesome, my trainer is awesome, and being a missionary is awesome :)

P.S. If you have any avocados go and and make a smoothie with them. It’s way good.

 A ride on a Tuk Tuk with Elder Brewer (a cart hooked to the back of a mo ped)

 Crazy wires here

 Our sick area

 A view from an investigators backyard
#nofilter

Just a random sign