TENDER MERCIES AND MISSION MIRACLES (June 2026)

THE MORE CONSISTENT WE ARE IN MISSIONARY WORK, 

THE MORE MIRACLES WE WILL SEE.

(Elder Baden Francis)

-14-year-old LongHeng received the priesthood. (Our first young member of the teachers' quorum!)  After church on the first Sunday he helped with the Sacrament, he was in the kitchen washing each little plastic cup.  He didn't realize we just throw them away.  Ohh, what a sweet act of service!  He is trying so hard and has such a good heart!

-Jim as a great storyteller in Primary.  He really had their interest for "the sword of the Lord of Gideon!"  One tender mercy in Primary comes in some good reverence moments as I'm teaching songs - sing in a whisper, close your eyes, prepare for prayer.  We love being involved in nurturing the children.

-It is such a blessing to have met Sok Lim in our circle of friendship here!  She is Pres. Sea's mother (North Stake President).  She lives very far away from the church and cannot attend.  I love how she GLOWS with the gospel light!  Her loving and giving nature are an inspiration to be around!    She is truly "an example of the believers."  At our recent visit, we connected on Messenger (although I have never heard her speak a word of English, and I, of course, do not know Khmer!).  That night, she sent me the most loving voice message: "Helloooo....Good niiiight.....I love youuuuu, Sisterrrr....Good niiiight....Bye bye, Sisterrrr......"  Made me smile big!!

-It was a tender mercy to connect with Som Oun, who is completely homebound.  She is a long-time member who is inactive due to health issues.  (She has a urine bag attached to her all the time and cannot leave her home).  She lives in a little room at the back of a long row of connected places.  I think we brought some added joy to her!  We provided some reading glasses for her and her neightbor, which thrilled them.  We also sang, "Nearer My God to Thee."  She loves music.  It brings the spirit.

-Love being part of calls extended!  What a joy to see Vanaak and Soknem light up at their new responsibilities of service coordinator and primary teacher.  Serving is part of gospel living!!

-Inspection police came again, a little more intense and serious this time.  Only had 5 minute notice; thus, wet hair and no make-up. They looked in every room in our building and took pictures, and even opened up my wardrobe cabinet and each drawer.  They are on the hunt for scam centers.  The only things I saw them take a little more interest in were my pile of games, Jim's pile of receipts on the bed, and the bag of treats in the Primary room. :)  Oh boy, don't we look suspicious! Towards the end they asked for our employment cards (which we don't have as volunteers).  Then I pointed to my missionary tag, and the head inspector visibly relaxed and smiled.  He has had nice interactions with the young elders.  Tender mercy by having "the missionary tag" -  felt like they finally trusted us!  

-An incredible visit with Ben and Leakhana, who showed up at English class.  They are so eager to learn!!  They are a very elect family, wanting so much to absorb truth!!  Loved being a part of that first lesson.  A joyous moment!

-Met up with El. Phal for lunch.  Oh, I just love him!  He finished his mission early, and we wanted to for sure see him.  He is one of our Kampong Speu boys!! He was filled with joy and love and such appreciation for us. It was especially nice when he suggested we all share a favorite scripture together.  Very special moment.  We got some sketch pads and pencils for him as a gift. He was so filled with sincere gratitude for Kampong Speu and his experiences with us.  Ohhh, we had wonderful times together!!

-WOW!  Miraculous meeting with MakYeh (Ung Yun).  Felt prompted to go there that very day when we were in town.  She moved to Phnom Penh, and we wanted to find her!  It was just us; no Khmer help.  We had a location pin to a general area. We pulled up, and a lady just happened to be there on the street.  She knew our tags! After pointing and trying to tell us something, she just climbed into our car!  Good thing because we never would have found it!  She made a phone call, and MakYeh was out in front, waiting to greet us.  What a delightful reunion!  Lots of hugs with the four older women who live there (including our car rider!).  Sweet interactions via google translate. We sang "How Gentle God's Commands" and had a prayer.  Wow, wow, wow.  Meant-to-be visit!

-Visit with Michael Heffner, our American friend.  We have had many visits and lots of fun texting.  We felt like we wanted to give him a Book of Mormon (and a Khmer one for his wife Pouv).  We also had some Canadian bacon to share.  Our timing was inspired....it was his birthday!!  Gifts well received.

-Jim felt it was a real miracle that he called Spencer at the very moment when he was in a problem crisis mode.  Had a big prompting to call him right then.  And a tender mercy that we had an open block of time right then, as well, so they could talk.

-A tender mercy is the loving interaction we feel with a lot of the older women in Kamboul.  We walk in the building, and there is this instant reaching out, hugs, and smiles!  And honestly, the young adult girls have the same reaction!  It feels nice to be loved, and we love them right back.  

-Jerrie, my dear, dear friend at home.  Ahhhh, her sweet text messages are so full of genuine love and  support.  I treasure her friendship dearly.  What a miracle that our lives intersected a couple of years ago and that we shared the journey of her return to the covenant path.  Her devotion to the temple and gospel living is so inspiring!  I just love her!!!

-A special tender mercy in our recent visit was seeing how Munan treated Jim with such high respect:  the way he greeted him and hugged him, the way he interacted with us - so full of genuine love and gratitude.  And he said he was in such awe of our relationship (Jim and me).  (We have actually had that comment a lot!) Amazing what our example shows without even knowing it!  Jim patted my hand, and Munan had such a delighted little laugh over that little action!

-Special spirit when we showed "Consider the Lilies" sung by the young girl, Claire Crosby, in our English class.  I saw several really feeling it while it played.  Loved sharing testimony of how Heavenly Father is aware of each one of us and takes care of us.  Marvelous miracles are happening in our English classes, especially with the spiritual thought afterwards that adds such an important dimension. Later in the week it was on prophets. We say over and over how the projector and big screen are such a blessing.  The students stay just to experience that!

 -Another wonderful visit with Lon and family.  He is getting so close to being ready to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood.  Heup's knee is slow to recover, they do not have electricity, and Lon's job is ending for the season....yet they see goodness in their lives. Took more rice, dried fish, and oatmeal cookies.  

-Lesson with SokMien - first 4 principles of the gospel.  Great preparation for a soon-to-be baptismal invitation.  She bore testimony that she knows the church is true!  Her sincerity and desires are so genuine.  Love being part of her faith journey!!

-Out of the blue, Michael (our American friend) texted us questions about baptism!!  Things about authority, immersion, remission of sins, etc.  And Jim's response was incredibly well worded and inspired!! He gave some real prayer and thought to it.  Simple in the basic foundation of the gospel, yet profound.  Miraculous!!!

-We saw another serious moto accident on Highway 4.  It had just happened.  I sometimes wonder if we have angels guiding our timing and direction to barely miss what might have been us in that accident.

-On the homefront, Rue had her tonsils and adnoids removed.  Oh, so tender so see that little girl lying there on the hospital bed with her teddy bear.  Lots of prayers.  All went well.

-A tender mercy is witnessing calmness with Soknem and Vanaak, our recent converts.  They are having extreme financial difficulties, yet they are hopeful and full of faith.  Jim was able to give a dedication blessing for their home, which really brought a beautiful spirit.

-Another wonderful visit to the village.  Peab described her increased understanding of the scriptures that seems to have happened lately.  (Gift of the Holy Ghost!).  Loved when she described that she felt the each scripture verse was like God had given her a $100!  

-One of the most tender happenings of the month:  the family who moved here recently from Siem Rep came to church!  5 people!  They literally gave their all.  They did not have any money for food or even the trip back home....but they wanted to get to church(paid for a tuk tuk) and took it on faith from there.  (We had Titchya help them get a tuk tuk ride back).  Their faith was so inspiring!