Oct 26th 1998

10/26/98

                In Jon’s letter about San Diego trip he said that the wave put him in a washing machine.  That is kind of like my week, so much happened.

                We had an awesome Zone Conference this past Friday.  We gave the spiritual though again and sang #281.  “ Help me teach with Inspiration”. We also quoted Pres. Hinckley from his Ensign article “ Feed my Sheep, Nourish the Soul”.  Elder’s Tolman and Daniels gave their final testimonies along with the Olson’s. They are all going home and will be missed.  The Olsen’s started Seminary in Cambodia. We now have over 100 students.  I met the Tolman’s as they came to pick up their son. 

                The Zone Conference was Luke 22:32 and we talked about retention.

                This week Elder Brooking and I wired in an outlet for a generator and fixed the water pump.  I went to the power and water company today and I was on the phone with the landlord several times as our house has been without water and power most of the week.  To keep cool at night we camped outside with the mosquito nets tied to the railing. 

                I am moving on Friday to the new home of the 2^nd Branch.  The 2^nd Branch is moving from House 30 up North to House 210.  House 210 is in my area.  I will still be in the same area and with Elder Brooking but we will trade houses with Elder Heng and Hoare because House 17 is closer to their area.  I am so excited to have the church in my area.  This will really help a few of the investigators and inactives in my area to get to church. 

                I will still be a district leader but in a new house. 

                I interviewed two people for baptism for the first time on Saturday.  A man and his wife who have been taught by Elder Heywood and Lowman.  I was a little nervous but I really enjoyed the experience.  It is a bit difficult to ask some of the questions like abortion, prostitution, murder, and chastity.  I just learned some of the words. 

                The man did awesome and I passed him.  The wife however was unsure on a few points of doctrine.  I asked her to wait one more week, to meet with Elder Heywood and Lowman to help her study on those points and told her we would meet again next week.  She felt good about it and so did I . 

                Elder Brooking and I committed Seetha to baptism this week for Nov 8^th.  He is the younger brother of a member that watched the Christ video with us. 

                Tuesday we went to the Branch President’s house and had a home teaching visit with his family.  In the branch each set of Elder’s choose 3 families to go visit.  Other Priesthood holders where then asked to volunteer to go visit a couple of families.  Of those who raised their hands, we organized some more companionships and challenged them to go and meet their families. 

                Elder Brooking and I chose the Branch President’s family and then 2 other families that if we didn’t choose wouldn’t get visited.  We visited all 3 of our families and tried to get other companionships in our area to go visit their families.  They got about half done.  We are trying hard to get it going.  The visit with the Branch President was very fun as we sang and prayed and visited, and then I pulled out my Plan of Salvation Cards.  We challenged them to continue to read, pray and go to church together as a family, in order to go to heaven as a family.

                Elder Brooking and I have really been working well as a team.  It is fun to work with him.  We can fix anything.  We are setting goals to help him with the language and to get 3 baptisms for November. 

                Until next week,

              Love,

                Your Son, Brother and Missionary,

                Elder Rogers   

Oct 19, 1998

Clint Letter #39

                                                                                                                                                                Oct. 19, 1998

Dear Family,

               

                I had an interesting experience the other day.  It is common to see people throwing dish water, waste from lunch, etc. type environment out into the road.  I was cruising home for lunch when I took shrapnel up the side and back, the leftovers of some fish lunch.  The lady was pretty worried about it.  I just laughed and changed my clothes.  That is kind of how my week went as I was busy in all directions.

                First I want to thank you for the good e-mail report and postcards on San Diego, also the package themed Thanksgiving that I received this week.  I think I am most excited for the gravy mixes.  Please tell Grandma Talbot that I enjoyed her report on the back east trip, sounds like a great trip. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JON!!  10, that means I am almost 20.  Mom and Dad are getting old.  Lisha please fill me in after your state wide scouting report of Utah Education.  A Math teacher?  Yo Bood, how is life behind the steering wheel?  How is DHS Football?

                Hey Twins, have you taken a test in P.E.?  Speaking of Titanic Museum, we have the movie, t-shirts, shoes, wrist-watches, hair clips, all over the place here.

                Today was very busy but let me start with yesterday.  Snaa and Phet were baptized yesterday at church.  Snaa is 18 and Phet is 14.  Saat the father of Phet and uncle of Snaa was baptized 2-3 months ago and Elder Brooking and I worked hard to get these two young men into the water.  Their friend Tuan was studying two but as it got down to the wire, he asked if he could quit.  He didn’t have any family support and is the youngest at 15.  I was worried about it.  And felt good that he decided to wait.  However that means that we only have 2 baptisms for this month. 

                Phet and Snaa were sure excited about it.  We tried to get the dad, Saat, to baptize them but he has missed church the last few weeks and didn’t feel comfortable with it.  The 2^nd counselor in the Brach baptized them.

                This week I had a good interview and set monthly goals with President White.  I went on a whole day split with my zone leader Elder Harmon and had help me.  I asked him to help me ask better find out questions.  We also went over my house responsibilities, and I asked on how to ask some of the harder questions on baptismal interviews.  I have not yet done any interviews but looks like I will on the 24^th.  I am a little bit nervous/excited for my first interviews.

                We have been out of water for the last 3 to 4 days.  We are not receiving any from the city.  Do not know why.  And the power has been off and on.  Rumor has it that the lines are being switched etc.  We went into fall conservative mode and have been showering with a bucket and dipper, (kind of fun) by candlelight.  We use water from the city to wash clothes, shower, dishes, toilets.  Buy drinking water.  This morning, Monday, after a long weekend, I arranged with help from the day and night guards to get a water truck to come and fill the water tank on top of our house.  $13 to have the big water truck come.  Pretty cool huh?

                Today  I attended the funeral of May Din.  She is the former wife of the Branch President of the new 5^th Branch.  It was P-day and we later met with Elder Earl C. Tingey for a few hours so it was kind of a sacrifice to go, but a neat experience.  May Din would buy us Elders a cold pop every time we came.  She was stubborn, she would make us sit down and drink it even if we only had just a message to pass on.

                I remember just before I left the 5^th Branch, I stood in a circle to give her a blessing since then she has gotten really sick.  Her liver shut down.  A tough time for the family and this new Branch President Nou Houn.

                Buddhist tradition is to parade the body to the Wat for cremation with everyone walking behind.  The family instead bought a small plot of land, and showed an awesome example of a non-Buddhist religion funeral complete with the Relief Society making lunch for the family and guests.  I joined in the parade to the grave.  I walked my bike with members behind the car with the casket.  No Buddhist prayers, things were done and District President Johnson dedicated the grave. (Translated by Elder Daniels.)

                It was also great to see the people of my home turf, although a sad occasion.  Sopawn with the family about tackled me.  Two of his sons have since been baptized and the Mom and daughter are doing well at work and will be baptized in November.

                I wore my suit for the first time today as Elder Tingey made a touch and go visit.  It was awesome to see him.  Most of the time he took was opened up to questions.  Some interesting things were talking about Christ’s Atonement and to be taught about the atonement from a G.A. Enonch Vision in Moses.

                Also he announced that LDS Charities will be starting an English/Computer training center for 500 students next year.  Shook hands and off he went.

                Well I am out of time.  I am so blessed and know that this is Heavenly Father’s work and that Jesus is the Christ.  Thank you for your good letters, love and support!

                                                Love your Son, Brother, Missionary,

                                                                                Elder Rogers

  

Oct 12, 1998

Clint Letter #38                                                                                                                                                                        Oct. 12, 1998

Dear Family,

                How was San Diego?  Hope everyone had a fun trip.  I received a Halloween package and a package of signed Book of Mormons.  Thank you very much!  I have already given the Book of Mormons away to special people. (Special because they were one of the lucky three.)

                We have been working hard this week trying to: help our investigators progress, prepare Snaa, Phet, Tuan for baptism 18^th or 25^th, inactive and finding people to teach.

                Snaa is 19, Phet is 14, Tuan 16.  Kloh Saat is a new member of about 2 months Phet is his son, Snaa his nephew, and Tuan is a friend.  These 3 young men are awesome and excited about the gospel.  Two problems are they struggle finding a way to church each week, and there house has got to be the noicest in Cambodia.  We have been trying to get Saat involved and unite his family in the gospel.  He has been coming and going from town tending some rice that he is growing.

                The house is built along a wall, they also run kind of a neighborhood restaurant.  It just so happens that there is also a hole in the bars right there at their house so that people can cut through.  With people coming and going for food and passage, it is like grand central station.  It is hard to teach.  This past week has been a little better as we too went through the wall and sat out in the open chairs.

                Again we are trying to rope them all together for a baptism on the 18^th or 25^th.

                This past week it rained every single day.  The pant legs from knee down get splattered with mud, shoes need regular attention.

                I had two neat experiences with prayer this past week.  I’d like to share them both.  About Thursday or so, the Blue Planner was empty in our morning slot.  I had been thinking and planning for this time the night before, but nothing came to mind or felt right.  We were getting ready to leave the house at 7:00a.m. and I again said another quick prayer as I was preparing the Japanese Red Rider.  Just after that Elder Daniels comes in the garage and says “Hey I got a referral for you.”  We went and found Soty and had a great first discussion.

                Saturday again all ideas used up.  Elder Brooking and I pulled over to the side of the road and said a little prayer.  We had an hour and ½ before lunch and asked that we might be able to find someone and teach the first discussion.  We went up the street 2 blocks and found Marady a man who attends another Christian Church but wanted to know what the Book of Mormon was.  We had another great discussion.

                Heavenly Father is taking care of us.  It is difficult to be in this new position of trying to help Elder Brooking learn the language and also be the one making sure the needs of the investigators are being met.

                I go out with my zone leader all day on Wednesday, Elder Harmon.  I’m glad for this as I can have him help me, also help me know what to do with a couple of investigators who are stuck between the 1^st and 2^nd discussion, and also Elder Brooking spends the day with Elder Pruett who has been here only

2 ½ weeks.  Elder Brooking will be thrown in the fire a bit.

                I also enjoyed the pictures I received.  The fountain in the pool made the party Mom.  Sounds and looked like a big success.  Jon I like the new cleats, how is the team doing?

                Well out of time for this week.

                I am almost through 2 Nephi in round 3 of the Book of Mormon reading since I graduated form High School.  This time I continue to build scripture chains and use the institute study I inherited from Elder Fernandez.  I love to read each morning.  I encourage all of you to do the same.  There is power there.

                I love all of you, and wait for a good report from the San Diego trip.

                                                Love you Son, Brother, Missionary,

                                                                                Elder Roger