HELLO KAMBOUL!

 HELLO KAMBOUL!

Sept 20-27, 2025

Kamboul - Many "Firsts!"

Sat., Sept. 20th

Today was our first real adventure on our own!  We drove out to Kamboul by ourselves.....and we did it without too much nailbiting!! Google maps is a lifesaver, turn here, turn there.  BUT our first drive led us incorrectly down some very remote dirt roads.  We had our eyes opened to the area!  Cows, dogs, and chickens everywhere, all looked very scrawny.  The roads became so narrow that we had to back down in reverse to even get out!

We finally found the "church," which is a gathering place on the main floor of the elders' apartment. The area is quite poor and rundown. Even the church place is not ideal at all...but it is a place to meet. I know the leaders are trying very hard to get another place, but so far, no luck. The missionaries there right now are El. Hallam (ZL - Iowa), El. Biado (Phillipines), El. Dousett (Orem, Utah), and El. Freeman (Houston, Texas). Sisters in the area are Sis. Kaitaller (Gllbert, AZ) and Sis. Miller (Federal Heights, SLC, Utah). They all have such a bright, fresh, dedicated feel about them!

They had a pancake social which El. Hallam headed up (he is quite the cook!). They mixed all the ingredients together right in the middle of the group. They were all so interested! And he made a delicious pineapple syrup.

We met our first "Cambodian" friends!! What a very warm welcome!! (including Danite who is getting baptized next Sunday, Kenyah and Patla who are just turning in their mission papers, etc.) So much fun to be mingling with the people! I am so glad many speak a little bit of English so I can survive!

Tonight we had a very lovely dinner at Pres. and Sis. Hoare's home. They live close enough we could just walk there! Sis. Hoare's mother was also visiting from Australia - loved chatting with her - and their 14-year-old daughter Emmeline who joined us. The Hoares are truly delightful people!! It was VERY nice to get to know them better - so happy, loving, and engaging!! It is a joy to hear Pres. Hoare's mission comments via messenger that he sends out frequently. He is fully in and I sense a real love for the missionaries and for the Savior. He is so present, too, and reaches out in many ways. And one thing for sure is that he is aware of his senior missionaries! I really feel blessed to be under their leadership.

Sun., Sept. 21

Our first Sunday in Cambodia!  Last Sunday as we were eating at Annie and Logan's home, we were trying to imagine what this would be like....now here we are!  

We met with with El. and Sis. Jones, who have been here nearly 3 1/2 years as part of the temple construction team.  They were another great way to orient us more, especially since they have been going to Pochentong and Kamboul for their Sunday meetings to support them. 

We first went to Sacrament Meeting in Pochentong.  What an impressive group!  "Julia" (Chan Taa) translated for us (great new friend!).  One brother KeNang shared in a talk how the very week he was baptized (just a few months ago), their 7-year-old son died from a sudden illness.  He showed amazing strength as he bore testimony that he knew that his faith was being tried. They also have a mute handicapped girl in the congregation who is very huggy and loving. All accept her in. That day we also met the PCT missionaries:  El. Adams (Morgan, UT), El Acton ( WA), Sis. Christensen (Gilbert, AZ, who looks a lot like Jana Sorensen!), and Sis. Ke (beautiful Cambodian),  ]

Inbetween meetings, Sis. Jones fixed a taco soup meal.  I get the feeling she feeds the masses!  Then they drove us by the new temple!!  It is absolutely stunning!!!  Maybe it will open sooner than later!!  

Our second Sacrament Meeting was in Kamboul, where we got to give our first talks!!  (translated, of course!)  It was nice to already know some people from yesterdays activity - walked into a group of friends!  2nd hour we went to Primary.  Two actual sisters were teaching who were actually just baptized converts themselves within the last year.  El. D. headed up "singing time."  Some aspects felt very, very similar!  

Mon., Sept. 22nd

Our first P-day!  The highlight of today was talking to all of our children!!  What a JOY!!  Ahhh....I am admittedly kind of homesick.  They are SO very dear to me!!!  And actually, I got to talk with Annie a couple of days ago as well.  Letti asked if we were all done with our mission now (it’s been 5 days since we saw them!), and Rue told me that she has grown taller - took me over to see the measuring stick on the wall. :) Boy, a lot happens in a very short time, apparently!

We cleaned (an extra good deep-clean scrub of everything) and washed our clothes (figured out the drying rack system). Just some nice quiet at-home time!

In the evening, we went to PCT for a ward social. It was for the holiday for those who were still in town (did not go back to their original provinces). What fun!! Most of the night was spent eating (BoBaa noodle dish), playing UNO, and karoake singing! Games are the universal language - so much fun and laughter!! And many new friends added to our circle!

Tues., Sept. 23rd

We attend our first district council meeting. It was the last day before transfer announcements, so they shared testimonies. I am so amazed at the depth of these missionaries' faith and their ability to express such important gospel concepts. Beautiful. Afterwards, they did "the chair stack" - how many chairs represents how many transfers they have left. Then they hold numbers (from the hymn markers) and take pictures. Fun!! And yes, we were included, too!

Afterwards, Jim and I drove around Kamboul and Kampong Speu to get more familiar with the area. We stopped at a place called Bayon Bakery for some treats. The girls working there were so delighted with us (and we with them!).

We are finding our place and integrating ourselves in!

Wed., Sept. 24th

Today we accidentally took a drive on the expressway! Took a wrong turn and discovered this nice road system! Very contrasted to driving on the regular city roads. There were no exits for Kamboul, so we ended up in a different area of Kampong Speu. We drove around looking for landmarks to become more familiar with the area. This was an interesting turn of events because we both felt like we might indeed live out there. It was a tender mercy of personal witness to us.

Next, we drove back over to the elders' apartment for a minute. The timing was just right because shortly after that, the sisters called (knowing we were around) and asked if we might like to go with them to a hospital clinic to visit a member we had met last Sat. We were SO grateful to be there!! How eye-opening to be a part of this!! We were treated with so much respect, being foreigners and older.. They brought us water, brought over chairs to sit in, talked to us (even though the sisters were the ones speaking Khmer), etc. (And I got the "such beautiful eyes" comment again - this has happened so many times this week! I'll try not to be vain! Ha! Ha!!) We had a beautiful visit with TeeDa, and especially with her son (she was pretty sleepy from meds). I think some significant gospel seeds were planted with him. Jim was able to give a beautiful blessing. Such a nice spirit present. That was nice since there were others in the room, too, observing. As we left, several bowed their heads and raised their two hands to us.

The sisters then took us around their closeby market. What a place! And because of their language abilities, they were able to explain a lot of the happenings as we went. The more we are surrounded by native Cambodians, the more aware I become of all eyes on us as white people. We enjoyed our first sugar cane lime drink and a coconut peanut wrap. So fun to see those long sticks of sugar cane being squeezed through their hand press. Tasty!

After we returned, El Freeman and El Biado asked if we could help them move suitcases. Yes, transfers were announced today, and lots of changes are happening!! Moving suitcases meant helping them get to a shipping store, along with their bikes. They are literally shipped to their new areas!! And this time it was farther away, to Battambong. Interesting system!

We then took them to Little Caesars Pizza back in town by the Mission Office. They were grateful - Kamboul does not offer too much in outside food options! There are pizza places everywhere here! A kind I want to try sometime is with hot dogs in the crust. I must admit, today's pizza was much better than the Little Caesars at home! And the cashier said she had seen the missionaries on facebook ads! What a great "next seed" moment!

Thurs., Sept. 25th

We were privileged to have lunch today with the Hoare's, Mortensen's (who just arrived), and the Clark's. President and Sister Hoare are sure good with their senior missionaries! We went to "One More Restaurant," which was had a classy, very authentic feel. The food was fantastic, and we loved that the workers wore traditional Khmer dress. Loved the company! So nice especially to visit with the Mortensen's whom we met in the MTC. We are beginners together!

Today I did all the driving and drove both ways to Kamboul.  Whew!  Fortunately I am feeling quite comfortable with it and am a calm driver.  A miracle that we are both doing so well!  Big step forward!

We walked around our borrey a bit and saw a tent in the middle of the street.  We found out that this is the custom for weddings and funerals.  It stays up for a few days while people honor others.  Lots of visiting; lots of food.

A highlight today was visiting a Buddhist monastery.  It was marked with big Buddhist statues and little ornate pagoda temples everywhere.  We had a little group of children wanting to talk English with us. They followed us around, and we bought fish food from them to feed the pool of fish in the giant lily pad pond.  A stray cat attacked my ankle, but all was good. :)   A very peaceful landmark place.  

Fri., Sept. 26th

Big transfer day!!  Three elders and two sisters moved from our area of Kamboul and PCT.  Lots of moving around!  We were able to assist the sisters in the morning and the elders in the afternoon.  Fascinating to see other areas of the mission more downtown.  We were able to meet many more missionaries at the mission office as the exchanges were happening, including the first of the Eav cousins (close friends of Kyla's family). All were so friendly to us!!  I think a big part of our mission will be serving the young missionaries and helping them feel loved and supported!

We went to a pasta place for dinner with El Hallam and El Villar (new companion).  Good food everywhere we turn!  After we got home, we went swimming at the luxurious spa center in the middle of our borrey.  The Hoares gave us some guest passes.  Evening swim with low colored lights was very relaxing and peaceful.  

Sat., Sept. 27th 

We drove around new areas of Kampong Speu and were fascinated by one industrial area with dozens upon dozens of empty trucks lining the road, waiting for their cargo.    We also came to a stop on the main road when factory workers were leaving at the end of the day.  They were loading onto trucks to take them home.  I felt like I had gone back to rural China 30 years ago!  Literally hundreds of workers exiting out, all in matching t-shirts.  Each factory has its own color.

Well, two more "firsts" today!  We figured out how to order up a tuk tuk for a ride!  And what a ride!   It was definitely a new perspective to the streets as we weaved in and out of the traffic flow. It felt like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at Disneyland!  But what a system for personalized public transportation.  In literally a couple of minutes a tuk tuk can be at your door and take you anywhere you want for a very cheap price.  

Our other first was using Grab Food.  We order "Amaze Burgers" and had really good hamburgers and a full meal delivered to us via modo service.  Again, unbelievable low prices for such a feast! 

We are on a roll with firsts and being adventurous!