IT'S 1830 SOMEWHERE IN THE WORLD

                                      

 

Nov. 7 - Kampong Speu Opens Up

Elders are here in Kampong Speu!!  BIG DAY, BIG BEGINNINGS!!  KPS is official!  We were sent some of the best of the best missionaries!!  So very happy that El. Madrid was sent to follow us out here!  His companion is El. Draper, along with El. Weiss and El. Phal.  So impressed with all of them.  Let's start the miracles happening!  What a team!  It was fun to see things through their eyes - driving on the coveted expressway, "firsts" for their new apartment and our church building, comments on the general feel of the area, etc.  After picking up luggage and a bike from the shipping store, we all went out for dinner at the Charcoal Barbeque.  Great food that we cooked on the burner and hot pot right on our table.  Lots of stares at these new "brangs" (white foreigners) in town.  Fun way to start all together!!

Sat., Nov. 8 - Diens

The Dien family drove to our church building tonight.  As soon as they heard a church was opening up in Kampong Speu, they just had to come!!  They have waited for over 10 years for a church in this area (lived here 10 years; members since 2009).   Sis. Dien (Navee) was nearly in tears with gratitude and anticipation.  They are solid members in the Pochentong ward (branch president, bishopric, then high council; R.S. presidency), but it was such a long, long drive for them.  They are willing to drop it all to become pioneers in this area!  I am moved by their absolute joy. They want to tell their friends!  They caught the vision.  This brings reality to the situation - this is THEIR church!! They really are pioneers in their own right!

Sun., Nov. 9, 2025 - CHURCH!

FIRST SUNDAY IN KAMPONG SPEU!!!  4 members, 6 missionaries.  We felt it's significance today!!!

We scrambled around last night to have the sacrament ready to go and a few chairs set up.  Bro. Dien found little plastic cups from a food vendor.  We had a white metal tray to serve the bread and water on.  The biggest find......we needed a tablecloth for our little make-do sacrament table.  I remembered that last week we had bought a new flat white sheet for one of our beds.  It was still in the package!  Perfect for our needs!  That was definitely an inspired prompting, both to purchase it originally and then to remember it for our need that night.

Jim and I both gave talks, followed by anyone who wanted to share thoughts.  I spoke on how the Lord loves new beginnings - from repenting and changing to brand new days with hope to brand new weeks with taking the sacrament and starting again.  We can feel the vision of great things ahead.  Jim also talked about new beginnings and tied it to the church in 1830.  At that time, there were just 6 members; today there are 17,000,000.  The church in Cambodia opened up in 1994 with 6 members; today there are 17,000.  Where will Kampong Speu go?  This truly was one of the most sacred Sacrament Meetings I've ever experienced.

First Sacrament Meeting in Kampong Speu, Nov. 9, 2025

First Primary - Dien Boetisac and Sister Duffin

In the middle of the 2nd hour, I felt prompted to start a "Primary" class with our one little boy, Botisak Dien.  Oh, what a cherished moment!  He is SO precious!!  And fortunately his English is very good, impressive for a little 9-year-old boy!  We sang "I Am a Child of God," and at the end of the adult class, we sang it for them and had all join for the 3rd verse.  We also talked about stories in the children's Book of Mormon storybook.  He loved it!  I am so grateful we had a copy available out in our car.  I gave it to him to take home and enjoy.  He is one who will treasure it.

In the evening, the Elders came over for a White Chicken Chili dinner. This was the first time to our giant wood table for gathering.  Perfect ending to a perfect day!!

Tues., Nov. 11 - The Font

WOOHOO!!  The church set-up team arrived to get our facilities more effectively in place!! What a morning!! 

I feel like it was personal revelation to suggest having our district council meeting at 7:00 a.m. (instead of noon, in order to accommodate us for our other meeting in Kamboul).  We had a prayer to begin when the team came at 7:10 to unload!  We were told it would be around 9:00!  Fortunately, we and the Elders were all ready to go, in our places!  None of us would have wanted to miss a single moment!  They helped unload, and most exciting, were there to help with the hoisting of the baptismal font up to the 3rd floor.  A crane lifted it, and they balanced and guided it over the edge.  Pres. Tay, the head church facilitator, is absolutely amazing.  He proactively makes things happen!!  It was excitement through and through to see things put in place - the sacrament table, the sound system, the pulpit, the water dispenser, the tv, etc. - all kinds of little details that make a chapel come together.  

This is a great blessing to see the beginnings of important things to come!!!  I imagine coming back to visit here in a few years and seeing the expansion of the church in this area. I feel like we are little seeds, nurturing the process, and knowing that beautiful fruits will flourish.