TENDER MERCIES AND MISSION MIRACLES (July 2026)

"...and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; 

and that ye LIVE IN THANKSGIVING DAILY, 

for the many mercies and blessings which He doth bestow upon you."

Alma 34:38

-Start with quoting 6 year-old granddaughter, Rue. ☺ Annie was talking with her about how some days you might wake up tired or peaceful or grouchy or....different moods.  Rue said, "I just wake up happy and think, something exciting is going to happen today!"   I will apply her philosophy to my life!  Good way to live!

-People ask how we are enduring the heat.  Honestly, one of the great miracles is that we haven't been weighed down with it.  In the Book of Mormon, Alma and his people were blessed that their burdens were lightened, and sometimes they couldn't even feel them.  That is how we feel about the hot weather here, and we know it is a blessing from above!

-I love being a part of SokMien's lessons. She is so elect!  I was able to bear testimony of the gift of the Holy Ghost, and I felt like we really communicated spirit to spirt.  

-Happy Independence Day!  Being in a foreign, underdeveloped country, makes me appreciate America's freedoms and progress all the more.  It is a promised land.  We celebrated by having a 4th of July dinner with the Elders, an American fare: grilled hamburgers, potato chips, watermelon, baked beans, veggie tray.....ending with root beer floats! 

-Jim prepares the spiritual thought for English class, and recently we have shown the videos about when Christ appeared to the people in ancient America.  It is incredible what a special spirit is there in just a quick few minutes.  One class members was in tears.  Afterwards, we shared Book of Mormons with any who would like one.

-The car fuel filter light came on right before a planned trip with the Elders up in the mountains on rough dirt roads.  Delayed the trip.  What if we had been stranded up there?  And....a damaged tire was discovered in the repair process.  Tender mercy to have that warning at the right time.

-My senior devotional message for the mission this round was on a big passion of mine, Primary music.  I felt very inspired on the direction.  Had lots of good feedback from the young missionaries. It was one of those "meant-to-be" messages.  I felt incredibly blessed in the flow of words as it was delivered.  I was excited to give it AND loved being done!

-A sidebar point of significance that I shared in the senior devotional was helping young newly converted parents download the church app and show them where to find Primary music, then encourage them to play the songs over and over again with children (and for themselves).  Could this somehow lead to the fulfillment of the line in my patriarchal blessing about helping the young, newly converted young mothers of the church have joy in their responsibilities?  Perhaps!

-A beautiful moment was witnessing some of our poorest members hand tithing envelopes to Jim:  Soknem and Vanack, Peab and Seenaa, Titchya.  So very tender to realize it's like the "widow's mite." Their sacrifice is not small; it is great in the eyes of the Lord.

-We had a senior missionary dinner in Phnom Penh, and what usually takes 1 hour to get to but ended up taking 2 hours due to some crazy market and construction traffic (and getting caught behind a garbage truck!). We had planned on running an errand beforehand but did not have time for it.  So glad we were guided to leave when we did or we would have missed most of the special gathering, a goodbye dinner for the Fongs and a welcome to Pres. Moon with the temple.  A tender mercy blessing to be prompted to leave so early!

-One of Jim's best white shirts had a big stain on it that did not coming out after 2 washes, stain stick, and oxi-clean rubbed in.  Jim soaked it in boiling water (hot water is a rarity here!) with a little bleach.  It came out perfectly clean!  A heaven-sent tender mercy.

-Love sharing the tree of life video and thoughts with the village recent converts.  They really understand it and shared crystal-clear understanding of how our journey along mortality is so important to receive the greatest gift, the love of God.  It is beautiful to witness of the transformation the gospel has brought into their lives.

-A visit to the twins sisters' home included a very warm embrace from their mom  (MaYuen and MahRuen). We really felt a special bond!!  And I also really connected with their little 10-year-old niece. She came with them to church the next day.  Loved sharing about the liahona and the small and simple things we do to build faith.  

-Jim and I have really been absorbed in watching, "The House of David."  Old Testament stories come to life for me in movies (I love visual learning!) and make me think of the possible scenarios that really could have happened.

-Our ice cream social was a huge success!!  60 people!  Our amounts of ice cream and toppings worked out just right.  Went through about 5 gallons of neapolitan ice cream!  We were inspired on the supplies and amounts.  Lots of fun interaction, especially musical chairs!

-One of best KPS church days! We achieved our transfer goal of 27 new friends attending church. The miracle was that 13 of them came today!!  This was a spiritual gift for our two departing elders' last Sunday here, El. Barron and El. Francis.

-Jim shared a pamphlet and church card with a lady and her two children at Wing bank (his usual Wing bank location was closed).  Jim said they had a special glow.  We share in our own simple ways!

-Jim and the Elders went on a wonderful hike to seven waterfalls, near Phnom Arial (Cambodia's highest mountain).  They said it was one of the most beautiful spots in Cambodia. There were lots of unknowns before - the weather, roads, difficulty level, etc.  It worked out perfectly!  Really watched over.  We wanted to get El. Barron's wish in for his last P-Day of his mission! 

-Nice farewell lunch with Leakhana and Navy (and families) and later a farewell dinner with Vut and Roet - what very special people!!  (Two elders leaving - one finishing mission).  These members are the solid core of this area!  They are filled with such love.  It is an honor to know them!

-Birthday dinner for SangHac.  The gospel gathers!  These people didn't even know each other a few months ago!  The gospel is also for friendship.

-Pisey and Srey Neat's baby, NaRee, has been sick - lethargic, won't eat, blood in urine, fever, etc.  They went to the health clinic, but they didn't treat it seriously.  They then went to a second place and were given some medicine, but parents felt like it didn't do anything. They are the poor of the poor, our shack family.  The anxiety and worry was heartbreaking. Jim and the Elders gave her a blessing.  Later that night, Pisey called and said right after we left, she starting eating and playing again.  He said it was a miracle.  We feel that, too.

-Several highlights this month have centered around lessons with SokMien, our 24-year-old teaching friend.  She is so elect!!  She has such an open, learning heart!  And she already seems to really understand it.  In one lesson, we talked about the doctrine of Christ, especially with 2 Ne 31. I was proud of myself for basically understanding the flow and being able to contribute when called upon!  In Khmer, they asked me to share the next step, and I understood from context that they were at the part about receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Whew!  I did feel prompted on my contributions.  Another lesson was about "pressing forward and enduring to the end."  Her beginning question was about the very verse that the elders were going to start with for the lesson!  What a "coincidence!" And during the lesson, I was prompted to share my experience with John Van when he asked me what made me so happy. (That conversation led to much involvement/lessons with the YSA ward.)  She loved it!  This experience was tied to radiating the light of the gospel and sharing it with others.

-El Francis' last lesson in the last half hour he was here was with SokMien on the temple.  I feel honored to be a part of her process of learning!  She brought us each a special gift - a little lighted crystal globe with an etching of the Savior and our names engraved on the base.  So special and given with such love!  She will be baptized in August.

-President asked us to help run two of the departing missionaries to the airport, El. He and Sis. Wymer.  Even though we didn't serve directly with them, that is an emotional final good bye!  Such faithful service!  It was a tender mercy to just share those closing moments of their mission with them.

-Jim had a vivid dream that Vut asked for a blessing, and Jim answered "Yes, absolutely!'  Just a couple of days later in real life, Vut did request a blessing. It was so nice to have the reassurance that this was something Heavenly Father wanted!  

-On the home front, through the wonderful gift of today's technology, we were able to watch Andrew's baptism.  What a joy to see our oldest grandchild take this step on the covenant path!  So beautiful to see Jon and Andrew dressed in white.

-Had a fantastic day with the Kamboul elders, El. Rigby and El. Freeman, visiting far-away teaching friends/recent converts.  We marathoned it from noon until the end of the day.  Some of these people had only been taught via zoom before.  Whole different feel in person! Every single visit was guided - such promptings in what to share!!  We were all flying high by the end of the night.  

-One of the above visits was to Raen at a food kiosk, within an hour after she had been praying that missionaries would come.  She got very teary and said it was a miracle that we appeared when we did. She is so tied to her work area and cannot leave, making it nearly impossible to ever go to church. She is very isolated and often feels lonely. Her hug was meaningful and heartfelt.

-Prompted to sing "I Know My Father Lives" with a sweet little family.  As we started singing, the three little children stopped playing and came over to be a part of that.  Music draws and can instantly bring the spirit.

-Our Pioneer Day activity was so successful!! 75 people came, including many teaching friends!!  The food and activities were great.  Even finding hats that kind of looked pioneer-like was a blessing - we used them for centerpieces.  Loved the interactions of the members together, especially the Relief Society sisters who were preparing and serving food together.  Such happy chit chat!!  I got to share a thought about who pioneers are and why that is important for us as a church.  Jim found a clip from a pioneer movie that brought it to life.

-I was asked at the last minute to give a Sacrament Meeting talk Kamboul.  So blessed to already have something prepared from the Pioneer Day activity the night before!  On our drive over, I was able to add to it just a bit more to make it a little more substantial.  I focused on how important it is to always remembering our legacy of faith. Went well!

-Just wanted to list some of the cooking of the month: oatmeal raisin cookies for Kamboul social and a couple of visits, peanutbutter kiss cookies for district council, Nutella pie (El. Driver's going-home treat), gourmet baked beans, almond chicken rice casserole/homemade rolls for elders' dinner, pulled pork/pineapple coleslaw for elders' dinner, delicious salmon for us!  It is really many tender mercies to find all the ingredients at different stores in Phnom Penh and then cooking in a little toaster oven to make this happen.  It is a way I love to share.

-We decided to drop by Ben and Leakhana's home with some oatmeal cookies (they live quite far away, not in our regular path).  It was just a moment to say hi!  I felt like it was a great moment of connecting! Prompted to do that!!  A little visit can go a long way!

-Our driving experiences are full of miracles over and over.  We are so watched over!  This time it was making it through the flooded streets of Pochentong to get elders to a bus station to return to Shinoukville.  We have never seen it this flooded!!  Google maps also took us down some very narrow streets, which were practically rivers.  We were thankful and glad when we got safely home!

-Excitement is building for the temple opening next month.  Many lessons are focused on preparing members, including recent converts, to have a temple recommend.  There is such an anticipation for the open house visit, as well as the dedication. The church is providing buses for both events to help them get into Phnom Penh.  Munan was one who received his temple recommend.  Such happiness glows from him!  Now they are ALL ready to go (village converts)!  Such joy to see a temple worthy family together!!  I love how El. Paletu'a puts a temple sticker on the back of their phones when they have the recommend in hand.

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