Clint Mission 99 #35 8/30/99
Word to all of you it has been a great week. I am 100% healthy.
Last Monday Lucky’s had Pop Tarts from America. I bought a 12 pack and went eager to buy again this week but they were all gone. Lucky’s is strange like that every now and then they will get a good American shipment and we missionaries jump all over it.
This past week we accomplished two full days of interviews and other projects. I felt bad for the short letter last week and so I included some copied journal entries to help fill you in.
As you can see Elder Folsom and I got in the van and drove to 7 kilometers to Ta Khmau a smaller city south of Phnom Penh. We may expand there in October, it was a good adventure to go down and scout it out and talk to two good men.
We are going to have to start getting ready for the October new comers, eight more missionaries making our total 48 missionaries. Elder Folsom and I will need to arrange for 3 new houses, and must help make the decision whether or not we go to Ta Khman.
We have been working hard to prepare a training meeting for our Zone Leaders tomorrow. Saturday we met with President White about it and had a really good talk. I have learned so much from working with President White. Combined with his spirituality and strong faith he is a strong worker and a problem-solver. He is a great role model. At the end of our Saturday meeting President White took Elder Folsom and I out to lunch. We took the opportunity to find out more about President White.
He started out wanting to be a Neurosurgeon but really enjoyed lab research work and switched. He began working at South Dakota State but had too much teaching time and no time for research. He then got a job with the US Government for 16 years as a researcher before switching to Agriculture/ Biological project stations. He lived and worked in Government Posts at Guatemala, Holland, and India. He is strong in Biology and especially in entomology and would help with pesticide control. He and Sister White both know Spanish and he served as a sealer in Guatemala Temple. An interesting life he has had. A good lunch but better than that was the conversation.
Another good experience that Saturday was interviewing members of a family of 6 who had been taught by Elders Walker and Chbean. Elder Folsom interviewed the father and I interviewed the mother. It was a tough situation as the Mother was a little shaky on a few points of doctrine, yet her commitment and desire and faith were strong. The situation became a little difficult as she confessed of a sin which was of nature that I needed to talk with President White before making a decision whether or not she could be baptized. I finished the interview but before letting her leave I excused myself and told her that I needed to talk to President White before I could make a decision. President White counseled with me how to handle the situation. He also had a great idea how to help the mother doctrinally. I helped her better understand the process of repentance and also how Christ helps us through his atonement. I shared Alma 34:31 and I love the word immediately.
Alma 34:31
31 Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you.
After taking care of that I then called her husband in, following the council of President White, and we talked together and the husband helped his wife understand better and remember the points of doctrine she was shaky on. It was a great experience. I am so grateful for the atonement to see it work in the lives of others, and the miracle of repentance and conversion. Baptism interviews are a wonderful experience. I am also grateful for such a worthy Priesthood holder as a Mission President.
Sunday the family of 6 was baptized! There was 117 people at the church, and it is awesome to see the families there in church. Sam Sophon and family leading the way.
I have some news. I talked with President White this past week about what day I would go home. The MTC is only sending even numbers of missionaries out and in our group leaving Elders Hoare, Williams, and Rogers an odd number. So it works good for the mission to have someone go home early to avoid a threesome. You can come pick me up in Phnom Penh on December 15th or 16th. President White says that day is pretty sure and that you could go ahead and reserve the tickets.
Wednesday or Thursday----pick me up.
Then 2 days in Siam Reap either Thursday/Friday or Friday Saturday
Then back to church on Sunday and then fly to Hong Kong.
I hope this is enough notice, you will have to get going on your plans. I’ll be home for Christmas. It is scary how much time I have left. I have got to raise my performance, effort and spiritually.
Thanks for the good letters and support!!!
I love you all very much!!
Love your Son, Brother and Missionary Elder Rogers
PS Check put Alma 7: 23-25
Alma 7:23
23 And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.
Alma 7:24
24 And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works.
Alma 7:25
25 And may the Lord bless you, and keep your garments spotless, that ye may at last be brought to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the holy prophets who have been ever since the world began, having your garments spotless even as their garments are spotless, in the kingdom of heaven to go no more out