Clint mission 99 #6 and 7
Yes!!!!! Finally Word from Son!!!!! Two letters on the same day!!!!! We received these two letters 2/20/99.
Dear Family, 2/8/99
Sounds like you know about the move. I am back in my old stomping grounds. My new companion is Elder Hodson. It feels weird to be back down south. It was hard to leave my 2nd branch area. I remember when I first went to the 2nd Branch I hardly knew anyone and missed 5th and 1st down south. However I have grown quite fond of the 2nd Branch. Still have never served in the 4th branch middle city. Also up north was rollin. Elder Badger had people comin out of the wood work wanting to study. This area is struggling in terms of people to teach and so Elder Hodson and I are digging in. This has happened many times on my mission so far beginning with Elder Heywood and I opening the Russian Market area. Work like crazy and when things get hoppin --- go to another area. Trading blue planners with the Old Elders and looking at the holes was hard. It seems like a mountain of work, and the flesh gets lazy. But we just bust in and take it one day at a time.
Elder Hodson has had a tougher family life than me. He has lived with his aunt and uncle since he was 12. He always has been a bit rebellious but made it out on a mission. He planned to go home he said during the MTC and then later planned to go home after 2 weeks in the country. We have been working together since Wednesday. I love him and think he is a great missionary. I want to help him, just as bad as I want to help this area. He said that he gave it all he had this past week. That he has never worked so hard. Also he kept track of how many times we crossed the bridge. We are working hard to find people, we also committed a young girl 16 the newest member of the Chba Ampov Girls Club.
I am seeing some old familiar faces. Sopawn and his family, Chba Ampov Girls Club, and others. Do you remember Caan? I baptized her a few months ago. She was so shy and lacked self esteem. Also she did not know how to read. What an awesome change in just a matter of months. She can read, she does her hair and stuff a little nicer, is helping to fellowship, and there is a glow in her smile and face. They are poor, work hard, and live in a rough place but are happy and strong in the gospel and can be found walking to church every Sunday. Also Srey Ning the girl with birth defects has been baptized. I marvel at this group of girls called by the Elders the Chba Ampov Girls Club!!!!
I live in house 109 which replaced 43233 when the lease ran out. It is near the mission home and church. I live with Elder Williams from Australia who is training an MTCer who came Wed. with Elder Brition, also Elder Folsom, who is 2 months ahead of me, is training an MTCer =Elder Marlow, Elder Lloyd is also here with his native companion for 1 month Elder Koam Tal ( I baptized him) Elder Harmon, Madden, and Lloyd all go home March 1 and are spending the last month with Native companions who are getting ready to serve full time. Elder Rotha and Elder Sang are also natives who have been called for 2 years to Phnom Penh. Trained by Elder Walker and Elder Heng ( the Cambodian Elder from America.) Elders Heng and Rotha are struggling and say no one will listen to them because they don’t have white skin. They have had some long days. I have been worried about them as their Zone leader. This past couple of days I street contacted one person who lives in their area, also past on another referral from a man member who came to church and his two brothers who want to study.
I am already working on my Zone Conference lesson, with Elder Sober the North ZL. I am also packing my road bag for splits with all senior companions in my area starting this week. Also get to play MTC teacher and teach two chapters out of the Missionary guide to Elders Rotha and Sang in their 3 day mini MTC. ( Good-bye to personal study time)
Mom I wear dress pants on P-days because they are comfy and cool. I fear wearing Levi’s would be hotter than Toby.
The other big news is all maids and guards are gone March 1. The maids are already using washers on our clothes. It is a time of big changes in the mission. Maybe I will come home with some homemaking skills!
The weather is getting warmer but still a nice breeze. No mangos yet, I will keep you posted. The word is march with the peak in April.
One of the perks of being ZL is meeting every Tuesday morning with Pres. White and the AP’s. It is great to spend time with President White.
Love to all, Elder Rogers
Dear Family, 2/15/99
Yes, that is right it is the Chinese New Year, and we have been dodging fire crackers all week. Haven’t seen any that make whistles or colors, only the plain generic fire cracker. It sounds like gun shots and I always think about an experience Elder Brooking and I once had. ( This must be one of those things you don’t write home about? ) The actual Chinese New Year is Feb 16th, 17th, 18th. Most of the town will shut down on these days. People will be coming and going so it will make an interesting week. There is a lot of good luck and religious traditions going on. The big one is to put a meal on your doorstep and put incense stuck in to the duck or pig and then let it burn for awhile. It is usually some fruit, some little cakes, and then a roast duck or pig. Also a lot of Buddhist ceremonies going on. The stores were giving little presents. Our maid says that our landlord should bring his renters of his house a good luck present. ( usually a fruit basket) for the new year.
This past week the couple missionaries and President White and Sister White made Valentine cookies and brought them around to the Elders. I also was able to attend as President White took the group of Elders out to a buffet dinner for a reward. We went to the Friday Night Seafood Buffet. Grandpa Hafen you should see the size of the shrimp over here also for the crab they provide a metal cracker and a special fork. It is good stuff! It is also quite educational as there are many things like sushi, raw fish, squid, octopus, etc. PS no mangos yet. . . .son. I’ll keep you posted.
This week I went on a full-day split with Elder Williams and also Elder Pruett. I called and talked to these Elders a few days before and they chose area they wanted to work on. I have a few days to prepare and then we go out for a full day. I try to help, fill out an evaluation form, and try to provide an example. Also try to encourage them to do good. I had a great day with both. Elder Williams is a new trainer and a district leader. We talked about these and then went out and had a great day. The highlight of the day was a discussion with a young man who said he wanted to know if there was a God. I do not know if I can remember the spirit being there as strong as it was that day as we taught of Joseph Smith. It was awesome! Elder Williams and I were amazed not to mention the look on the investigators face. There was no doubt in any of our minds that we were feeling the power of the Holy Ghost.
Elder Pruett has just been made a Senior Comp and was somewhat stressed with his new assignments. He is also building up his area trying to find people to teach. He wanted to work on follow-up however the follow-up appointment did not show. Hopefully I was still able to help him somewhat. I remember as a new Senior I looked forward to help from my Zone leader.
I was really proud of Elder Hodson this past week. The first week in this area was rough. We set a goal after teaching only 3 discussions to work hard and teach the mission goal of 9. I left the area twice, on a full day split with Elders Williams and Pruett. Elder Hodson kept that determination and taught 4 discussions in those 2 days. We taught one more on Sunday before church to make 9 for the week! I like Elder Hodson, I see a good missionary in him. He is a little rebellious and has a tendency to lose focus, but he is doing good.
Well that is all from me this week. Elder Lloyd will be returning to Southern Utah- Parowan, soon. Homecoming is March 14th at 2:50p.m. in the red chapel off main.
Also he would be happy to come and maybe do a little show and tell with all of you. Have him cook you some food, and share a few stories. I never have been his companion, but I have been on splits with him and lived in the same house twice.
Thanks again for all of your love and support.
Love your Son, Brother, Missionary,
Elder Rogers.
2/22/99
Clint mission 99 #8
Great pouch mail service this week.
Wow another week!! Time is going so fast! The highlight of the week was definitely our zone conference. The theme was Mormon 9:27 “ Doubt not but be believing”. I think it was the best one I have ever been too. There were many firsts. Elders Harmon, Madden, and Lloyd gave their final testimonies. They have spent the past month with companions who all want to serve but have not turned in their papers. ( Kongkea, Touch, Tal) Elder Roatha and Elder Sang have been serving for a month as full-time Elders. Touch just received his call to serve in this mission too. It was the first time that we have ever had to translate this zone conference meeting. We had the most people that we have ever had in attendance. It was the first time that I have ever been so involved. Elder Sorber and I prepared the Zone leaders lesson on the inspired questions. These questions help you get to the bottom of a problem and find out what is keeping someone from making or keeping their commitment. They work great.
1) How do you feel about 2) How important is it for you to find out. . . . 3) What do you think you can do. . . . 4) May we share a passage of scripture with you 5) How will doing this help or bless you 6) Is there anything else 7) If I understand you correctly 8) You have made the right decision ---encourage 9) Seek the Lord’s help through prayer
When I was a new Elder this lesson was given, everyone younger than me has never heard it, which is a lot of new Elders. All the talks and testimonies were great! However I think it was all over showed by an announcement. Our mission has been granted an increase. The number of Elders will be bumped up from 20+ right now to 52 missionaries. Also the mission is going to be visited by Church security later this month. They are going to evaluate things here and if things go as planned we are expanding our to surrounding areas of Phnom Penh and the Kompong Cham Province! Kompong Cham Province is northeast about a 2 hr drive, we went there on P-day. It was an awesome town. It was much cleaner and more relaxed than Phnom Penh. Give me 20 min. to pack and several boxes of Book of Mormons and I’m there. I would love to open that city! ( Special note --- the church security checks stuff out first before they let them in. That is comforting. ) Elder Pruett and I have this standing joke about going up and being part of the first group that goes. I’ll keep you posted. It might be real slow to get mail through in and out of Kompong Cham.
We have worked hard this past week trying to get two people ready for baptism. It looks like Aeng will be baptized Feb 28th. Aeng is 17, and is the newest member of the Chbom Ampov Girls Club.
Vereya is 14, a young man, who has a mark on every page of his Book of Mormon. He is also the one who brought his English teacher to church. It was an older man from England who said he was a member of the Anglican Church of England. He was curious, and had heard about “Mormons”. We never hear the term Mormons. ) I translated the meeting for him through the translation equipment. I was at first a little leery because of another white guy wanting to come to church. Vereya asked if it was okay first. I said yes. However I remember that one time when that guy stood up in the 16th ward and then had to be “escorted” out. I did not want to have to do any “escorting” in our little branch. I met him at the door step and found that he was very nice and just curious, ( Probably because he wanted to know what was causing Vereya to be so excited) President White was also in attendance and President and the English Gentleman had a talk outside afterward. President gave a Book of Mormon. I told Vereya he ought to invite him back for the baptism.
I also went on a split with Elder Heng. What a great missionary! I learned and was helped by him lots more than anything I did to help him. I thought I could talk to the people. Nope I understand but I just can not talk like Elder Heng can talk with the people. He has a rough time too. The people straight forward. It is hard for them to find people who truly want to listen, if they do they truly want to listen. Us whites are on the opposite end everyone wants to talk with the talking frenchie, but how bad do they want to study? We both need help finding the elect. One example: We pushed a doorbell on a gate and a guy comes out of the house and says what is your business? Elder Heng starts talking the guy says I’m busy and starts to turn. I pipe in and say wait and give my two bits. This stops him for a minute but after I bear my testimony he says I’m sure it is great for kids but I’m too busy. “when saying kids he looks at Elder Heng. I told him actually it is great for all ages.
I have been hearing about some of these struggles but was really impressed with Elder Hengs attitude and faith. It has also been a good experience for Elder Rotha the new native Elder. A little shock too probably that missionary work is not easy.
Elder Hodson is from Sandy, Utah. Spend some time in Cedar City too. I forgot to ask where his real Dad lives. His real mother has passed away. He has lived most of his life with his Uncle and Aunt Sorenson, who live in Sandy. Also Uncle Sorenson has something to do with Tuachan. ( Does anyone know who this is?) President White calls him a “diamond in the rough” which he is, a good missionary. He has been in the country for 5 months.
As of the 26th the maids are gone. Too much money, lazy Elders with no homemaking skills, also we will all be moving to smaller housing and getting out of the mansions. We have washing machines now, but no dryers, just clotheslines. ( and ironing boards to get the wrinkles out)
We have not had a night guard for a month now. We still have curfew at 6:00 p.m. There are 4 companionships that live here, but that will change soon. Elder Lloyd is leaving and they are looking for smaller housing. I live straight west of the mission home on the west of Monivong Street. The street number is 991. The maid change is going to be hard for us all including the maids. I am going to miss the food, plus the fruit all cut up peeled and sliced ready to go.
The Johnsons will be returning to Benjamin, Utah in April. I’m not sure who will fill their place. They are here with LDS Special Services. I think that the cannery has been turned over to the University here.
Well love to all, Elder Rogers