TENDER MERCIES AND MISSION MIRACLES (April 2026)

THANKS be unto God for His unspeakable gift. 

2 Corinthians 9:15

-We have been wanting to get a projector to use, mostly for our upcoming General Conference sessions with our Kampong Speu group.  Where to get one??  We were in an unfamiliar part of Phnom Penh and literally drove right up to a place that Jim just happened to notice admist all the other stores and busyness.  They sold projectors!....not a common product to be offering!

-Being part of a temple lesson with El. Barron and El. Jorgensen was such a strong spiritual moment.  The twin sisters accepted baptism two days later.  I loved being a part of that and being able to bear testimony!  It is such a privilege being in these lessons and feeling guided by the spirit on what we contribute.

-Loved being part of a lesson on priesthood authority and prophets on earth today with Soknam & Vanaak and their children.  They have such a thirst for learning!  They really want to know truth!!  Elder Draper and Elder Francis have such a wonderful way of teaching and involving us (and translating for us!).  Then El. Draper leaned over and asked me to extend a baptismal invitation to them!  Wow!  ME!!  What an opportunity!!  I guess he felt that Soknam was really connecting with me and that might be the best path.  They accepted!!  Happy day!!

-Wonderful visit with Rotah and Saran, who live 70 km from the church and cannot make it frequently.  They are such good people, which spiritual goodness radiating from them.  I felt an extra warm welcome and connection with Saran. What a loving hug!  They feel somewhat isolated, so we are truly appreciated for the trip out there to visit them.

-Sethera at the service center was one of the few still there on the Friday afternoon before the Khmer New Year week vacation.  She was who we vitally needed to see re: our visa trip the following week.  She had some documents we needed to take. Tender mercies abound!

-We went to Panha's English class  - what choice children!  Panha treated us with such respect!  We were very honored there.  We were blessed to come up with the right idea to share with them - Jim had a story (Ping and the Seed - theme of being honest), and I taught the song, "I Am Like a Star."  Great way to share a little bit of gospel without being too invasive!   She is not interested in learning the gospel right now, but they are such a golden family that we want to keep that connection alive.

-Wonderful tender mercy to have SO many show up to our Khmer New Year Party!   Loved that even our group of walkers from the borrey popped on in - they seemed to feel completely comfortable and accepted!  They even played the flour game with great laughter!  So wonderful!  All around happy success!!  And we were blessed to have just enough paper goods - whew!  And the blessing of blessings to have our new recent converts from the village head up the food.  They were here all morning preparing it and having a great time as they did it.

-Trip to Sihnoukville with Elders went like clockwork.  It was a BIG privilege, so a lot was riding on the line.  Driving back went smooth - arrived in a timely manner at 4:50; needed to be back by 5:00, ready for the mission devotional.  Felt blessed, too, because a low tire was discovered.  So grateful no flat tires or other car problems happened, especially when far away from home.

-We discovered the night before that our flight time to Thailand was different than we had planned!  We had the times down for the later May trip!  

-Tender mercy to discover a parking area at the airport that was only $4 for overnight.  The walk was not too far.  We were grateful!  The regular parking is pretty expensive, up to $150!  

-Just felt watched over on our Thailand run as we made our flight connection, Thai entry approval, Cambodia visa renewal, etc.  All went without a glitch.  I am grateful for those who gave us the right navigation hints and for my gift of organization so we could proceed without undue anxiety!  

-General Conference was such a spiritual experience with our new members and teaching friends.  We really worked to make it a great introduction.  The feeling was so reverent and respectful.  Having it big from the projector really made a difference.  The elders were wonderful to explain about prophets and church leadership.  We just played part of one session on one Sunday, and then the full Sunday morning session the next Sunday.  Just right.  They were attentively listening.

-I also was inspired in General Conference to set up a little children's coloring table in the back.  That helped!  In fact, one especially active boy stood next to me for 2 whole talks while I gently rubbed his neck.  He was perfectly still.  After that, he was calm the rest of the meeting!

-Soknam asked for us to pray for her faith to grow.  What a privilege!  And what sincere desires.  She had a big witness during general conference and was excited to share her feelings with us right after.  It is so thrilling to see her experiencing the spirit!

-We had a wonderful reunion with Sokaneen (from the Pheakday group).  Oh, we just love her!!  And what a warm welcome from her family!  And they had a beautifully prepared lunch for us.  A first to be at her home!!  (She had always been hesitant about having her family know she was learning about the gospel).  We feel so blessed. Such a wonderful relationship!  Sokaneen is a very choice young lady!

-Often feel prompted with what to say if I am just willing to start contributing in a lesson or when the elders ask me a specific question.  Recently, I felt strong promptings in the Sabbath day lesson and the temple covenants lesson.  The flow just happens, and I can feel a sense of witness as I am able to share and bear testimony. This is more than just a nice thing....it is miraculous how thoughts and experiences can come to mind right at that moment!

-Felt prompted to share about miscarriage experiences in Kamboul with young adult group.  Lesson was on bitter and sweet - holding on in faith for blessings.  Loved the warm response afterwards.  I felt a new level of relationship deepen with them.

-The group unity in Kampong Speu is so exciting - love hearing of them getting together as friends now, people who didn't even know each other a few months ago. Just what it should be!  Working and playing together.  Funny to sense FOMO on our part because they are having so much fun together!

-Sis. Wymer's ring was found in the North Stake Center chapel.  I had just prayed (and I'm sure others silently did, too), and the ring was found within that minute.  God is mindful of little things!

-Jim was able to get the Khmer subtitles for "Gethsemane" (the children's choir in General Conference) to share in English class.  There was an incredible spirit there!  I felt tingles go up and down my arms as it played.  

-Jim's senior devotional was especially good.  He shared about Moroni's final words focusing on spiritual gifts, what Heavenly Father has given us (not something just developed on our own).  Beautifully presented and deeply inspiring.  

-Nice tender mercy at home - Jon was accepted into the BYU Master's Program!  Woohoo! It was what they were really hoping for and working towards.  They are doing so many right things in their lives - they are very watched over for their righteous efforts.

-Minor but a tender mercy to me!  Just being directed to the right place to get my hair cut and colored has been a blessing.  This is a relief!  And Jim has found his favorite little shop and barber over in the Kamboul market!  Woohoo!  These personal grooming things do need to happen!

-Avoided an accident? On our way home from a visit, we turned around to help a man on the side of the road by his moto that looked like he had run out of gas (not that we could have communicated, but we could try!).  However, he was gone when we got back.  We went on our way, and then saw a serious accident just minutes later.  Would we have been it that??  Was that time delay just enough to miss it?? 

-Ants discovered - shudder!  I practically missed seeing them and nearly sat on them!  Just happened to discover them going across the bed and down around the nightstand and wall perimeter.  They are so tiny that they are easy to miss.  We had commented on little scratchy pokes the night before but didn't see any evidence of bugs.  What if went another night of little nibbles?!....and big bites?!  Ugh!   The thought!

-English class has so many students coming!!  It just keeps growing and growing!  There is happiness in it!  What a fun thing to see this blossoming in so many significant ways!

-SangHac blessed the Sacrament for the first time - what a joy!!  He is handicapped but has wanted to do it for so long.  He comes here to the church and practices over and over and over.  It brought tears to my eyes, considering his earnest efforts.

-How do I begin to tell the feeling here in Kampong Speu?!  There is a wonderful spirit that has descended upon this area, for sure!  Something unique and special is happening here!!  It's hard to describe, but we feel like there is truly an extra endowment of the spirit.  People are ready for the gospel, and a center of strength is beginning to be developed.  They are being drawn to it!

-I reconnected with Wallace Lam, a man from Hong Kong whom I helped teach the gospel to 44 years ago!  Unbelievable!!  He recently served as a stake president. What pure joy to receive his sincere gratitude and to hear of his love for the gospel.  And his family is actively involved with the church.  He was only 14 when we taught him.  Oh, this was a blessing of blessings to see the fruits after so many years!!  

-I just feel an extra sense of joy lately, an abundance of happiness and settled peace.  I feel like we are at the right place at the right time, doing exactly what my heart has desired for so long.  It is very satisfying to feel this sense of my will and the Lord's will so aligned.  Serving a mission here in Cambodia is a life dream!  I'll take ants and heat and garbage anytime to be so integrated with serving the poor, visiting the pure in heart, sharing my testimony with earnest seekers of truth, uplifting young missionaries, being an example to family at home of my solid beliefs, being one in purpose with Jim.  Is a mission worth the sacrifices?...yes, yes, YES!!!!