Teaching by candlelight Week #29 1/24/16

Missionaries in my new area

My new area Siem Riep

new companion Elder Choke

What a week. Well to start it off a couple of days ago we had a way cool lesson with the family we are teaching. First off, this family has it rough. Their dad has one leg but every day he goes and works construction to get enough money for food.  I've got high hopes for them. They live day to day. He works so hard for his family to take care of his 4 kids. Its amazing. Our new branch president came and helped us teach. The car battery they use for power was out, so they brought out these candles. We had a prayer and started teaching and reading from the Book of Mormon. We were sitting outside teaching on a homemade table and chairs, with the moon and candlelight helping us see each our scriptures. Just seeing this new member (our branch president) and the father of this home read the promises of the Word of Wisdom together was the coolest thing ever. The branch president testified about how much happiness he and his family have because of the Gospel and how much God wants to bless him and his family. It was just so cool. I'm super stoked for this family. 

We found 2 new investigators this week. I'm way excited for them. Its an older couple who have some real problems. They live in this rented housing that is like 12 feet by 15 feet-just a cement box with like 10 people living there. But they are grateful for shelter.

This area is way sad.  Its hard for me sometimes.  Theres always like 30 naked little kids just playing outside, tons of sick people, and drunk dads. Super rough area and when we roll in with our white shirts it looks a little out of the ordinary. Maybe because we're like the only people wearing clothes,  but if they keep learing and keep their commitments God is going to help them so much. I want to help them not to lose hope.  All in all it was a good week.

Well on thursday we have Zone Conference. So we get to go to Battambong. Those elders are in our zone so we're going over there. I've heard its way pretty, I'm way pumped. 

Love all of you guys. thanks for the birthday wishes. 

Elder Smith

I am being transferred to Siem Riep! Week #28 1/17/16

Deep fried tarantula snacks!

Hey guys so we had to move houses yesterday so we didnt get to email or do anything so thats why this is late.

Well this week has been a little kray kray as my main woman Ke$ha would say. Leaving Prae Choo was tough. When i got the call to go to Siem Riep i was way stoked, but then the last day hit and i realized I had to say goodbye. It was a lot harder than i thought it was going to be.

So my new comp is elder Choke. He's Cambodian. He's a little different and quiet. Ha i havent quiet figured him out yet so this transfer will be fun. But speaking khmer all day is fun. The language barrier isn't too bad so its all good. He just cant speak any English ha. 

ha the birthday was interesting. it was the first day with my new comp so it wasnt really a birthday. I struggled a litle bit not going to lie. I wanted some flippin cake ha. BUT i did buy some ice cream with oreos which was amazing.

So our area is MASSIVE. It got split i think a couple transfers ago. Its kinda like the armpit of this whole area ha. Not going to lie its tough. This week has just been tons of contacting and no lessons ha. I dont really have a whole lot to work with but its going to be good. I'm going to learn a ton BUT we do have this amazing family we are teaching. They have 5 kids and they really are considering getting baptized. I'm so pumped for them. The dad is named Luat. Super cool guy. He has one leg bytheway. He and his family came to church on Sunday and he was anserweing questions during sunday school, its was awesome.  Our area consists partly of village stuff and partly some factory/big buildings. So we're kinda just starting from scratch here. I'm excited. But I'm not going to be able to teach as much which kinda of a bummer.

FOOD wise i had some way good stuff this week. I had the beautiful opportunity to eat a 5 inch tarantula. It was big. Now its inside me. last night was a night to remember. This guy took me and my comp out for "soup". So we get to this place and this lady hands me this bowl and the meat looks like beef. So i began. Ha after a couple minutes of trying to understand this dude explain what I was eating in cambodian i finally understood, they took the brain of a cow and squezzed the brain juices out into the soup, chunks of brain, and then the took the knee of a cow and took the tendons and cut them. So i had cow brain juice with Cow ACL soup last night. Ha it was dope. At the end he had a surprise for us, he bought this massive leg bone of a cow and cracked it in half and started eating the bone marrow. He made me put my chopsticks in the bone and i pulled my hand out and it looked like a big bugger. Tasted like one too. Ha it was a ton of fun. Lots of laughs and a couple dry heaves too. 

A bag full of cockroach

Saying goodbye to this family was tough

One of the coolest member families!

With my man Om June--it was hard to say goodbye to him.  I hope he can continue to progress