11-1-99
Dear Family,
We have been trying hard to sort though our investigators. We can finally see who is serious and ready to progress and those who are struggling. We are trying to make some plans. Some are not ready and have made a decision to wait.
When we meet a new family we try hard to meet the entire family. Sunday was a great example. We were approached by two younger people who wanted to study and we said we would love to teach them. We said, “ Let’s go to your house and meet your whole family.” After meeting the Father, Mother and Sister we began the first discussion. We visited and got acquainted with the family and we plan to go back this week and finish the first discussion. This is a confidence and a focus that I did not have in my missionary work before becoming an assistant. Elder Richards and the great success we had with Sam Sophon expanded my vision.
I hope that Elder Hoffman will be able to carry this principle with him his whole mission. He is going to be a good Elder. He struggles with the language right now, but he has the skills and attributes.
Well sorry so short, but got to run!!!
Love your Son, Brother and Missionary,
Elder Rogers
Clint mission letter #42 Nov. 9th, 1999
Dear Family,
Well I am going to be a slacker this week. We are just going to set here and watch a mission approved video. “Disney’s Alladin”
Last wee I was a little frustrated as we spent lots of time getting moved. We are now settled in and Elder Brooking and I had a very productive week. Things just really went well. Most of my letter is journal entries.
In the first of these entries I talk about a man named Luybanny. He has been suffering this past year from kidney failure. He had to go have his blood cleaned twice a week. It was quite a shock to hear today that he died on Saturday the 7th. In copying tonight I realized this was my last visit with him.
Sorry I didn’t get a full letter done. I haven’t received e-mail because Pres. and wife are out of town.
Have a great week
I love you all
Elder Rogers
#1 After almost two weeks, 3 trucks loads of hauled water. A trip to the water company, and communication by telephone and by meeting with the landlord, water was restored to our house today. They put a new water line in and out our old attachments until the landlord paid for the new hook-up. The bad thing was no one told us a thing it just happened.
Tuesdays are frustrating because of the D.L. work which cuts out of proselyting time. Even with this non-proselyting work the Lord is always helping me. On the way to the office I went across Shinock and down Noradom instead of the side streets like most other times. On the way I noticed that side street was blocked off because of construction. I also felt like we should hustle right back instead of doing another errand. Sure enough there was the landlord.
We were filling the generator and talking about oil and stuff, Sokhom our guard, Elder Brooking and I. I asked in Khmae the dumb question why does the machine need oil? Sokhoom asked back why do we drink water?
We watched a satellite broadcast from the MTC tonight.
#2
Met with Luybanny today and had a neat visit. Luybany’s kidney’s have failed and he must go get his blood cleaned twice a week. This gets expensive. I know he was upset with the Church because the Branch Pres. hasn’t been able to support Luybang, like Luybanny wanted. However as we met today he told me he wasn’t going to go to church anymore, because the members of the branch don’t have the love of Christ and lack of faith. He felt he could just stay at home. He has strong faith in Jesus Christ and an Atonement. His biggest struggle is his health. We talked about how the church was moving and this would be a new start, a time for all of us to recommit to building the Branch. I asked him not to give up on us but to come and help and be a good example.
We have electricity back on tonight and the AC is going. Boy Oh Boy is the AC nice.
#3
We slept outside on the deck last night at house 17 because of lack of power. It was our last night at 17. Elder Brooking and I are now in House 210. It was fun to camp out. We worked like crazy today moving. It was a long sweaty day. Our stuff was a piece of cake but all the stuff that goes with the church and the Johnson’s made it a long day. The Johnson’s run the canning and other charity projects plus President Johnson is the District President. Sister Johnson also does genealogy work for the members. They do lots of good work and they have lots of good junk. Sister Johnson reminded me a little of Aunt Natalie today as we were moving all the stuff. Elder Brooking and I ran stairs with a full handful of stuff, or desks, or beds, or cabinets, all day long. We were pretty dirty, sweaty, and pretty much beat.
Last night we saw fireworks from the top of the house. They were shouting them in honor of the 45th year of King Shinock in power as King. The streets were decorated with flags/banners on the light poles as the water festival starts this week. From what I hear the town is shutting down for a week of vacation.
#4
For Halloween this year I attended the moving of House 30 to House 210. It was scary. I am exhausted again today after more moving, cleaning, and set up in preparation of church tomorrow. I am excited to see everyone come to the big fancy new room. The room is great for Sacrament Meeting and is probably the nicest feature of the house. I am tired and feel like I am living in a hotel room. All of the house opens onto decks and so it feels like we are in the Budget Inn.
Today I met with Piaree, the lady who I interviewed last week and was unsure on the Atonement and the Law of Tithing. We started and read Mosiah 3: 7, 9. We talked about these scriptures.
Then, she reminded me that she needed to report what she had learned and without any other questions from me she explained about the Atonement and the Law of Tithing. I asked her if she felt that she was prepared, she replied yes. So did I
Fast Sunday tomorrow I am fasting for:
1) A fresh start and commitment for the 2nd branch.
2) Help for Rith and his family
3) Help for Elder Brooking with the language and more love and patience for me.
#5
I have been reading in the Book of Mormon about the people who listened to the final words of King Benjamin and by the power of the Holy Ghost received a change of heart. A change that made them lose all desire to sin but to do good continually, Mosiah 5:2. I want to bear witness that I have this change of heart in my life. I remember getting ready for this mission. I prayed hard for a remission of my sins, I read my scriptures every night and I looked forward to that time at the end of each day. I began to change. I have a warm happy feeling each time I make a good effort to read my scriptures or pray. My heart beats quicker and I really feel at peace. I know that these are feelings and changes that come from the Holy Ghost. I have had them with me and also a strong desire to good and not sin ever since I began to use my faith, pray, and read my scriptures everyday, and feed on the goal of being a worthy missionary. I had to do it myself. I had great encouragement, exhortation and examples, and support and love from my parents. But I finally had to decide to do it on my own.
I see it now with my investigators. Those who read and pray and come to church gain strength and begin to “catch on fire” or become really motivated and hungry for the gospel. It is because of the light of the gospel. As we follow we receive more light and want to continue to receive. We are willing to promise Mosiah 5:5 and take upon us the name of Christ and through faith an his name become his sons and his daughters, Mosiah 5:7
#6
First meeting this morning in the new 210 building. The big meeting room is fantastic! We had a pretty good Fast and Testimony meeting. Danit a district missionary gave a good testimony about repentance. He had stole some pens and things and then confessed to Sister Johnson. He talked about how he felt before and after.
Met with Saran today at 4;30, he also came to church. Sarum is the father of our Golden Family . We are only able to meet once a week. He reads most of Alma this week and really understands the doctrine about accountability and needing help from Jesus Christ. He told us today that he has received the ability to see clearly between right and wrong. He said he knows that what he is doing is right as he talked about studying with us and reading, praying, and going to church. I am excited for this family.
#7
We bought a sweet Whirlpool refrigerator for the new House 210 today. Rith, Elder Brooking, and I went shopping for it.
I have wanted to go to the water festival ever since I first heard about it. We pushed our way through the crowds and watched the boats come down the river. The boats were pretty cool but the mess of people was difficult and kind of scary.
#8
We received the video’s of Conference and watched the Saturday afternoon session. It was great. There was 2 main emphasis family and the importance of a prophet. Much was said about our great Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley.
Because of the holiday we were able to find Saran and his family home and meet with them. We usually can meet only once a week. We caught Navey, the wife up to the rest of the family as she was absent. I love meeting with this family.
#9
Today as we taught Seethaa the fourth discussion and about the Word of Wisdom we asked him how he felt about it. He said “ I praise God for it “ and will follow.
A difficult visit with Klock Saat today. Saat is the father of Phet and Uncle of Snaa our new members. He hasn’t been to church in a long month or two. He did come to Phet and Snaa’s baptism but haven’t seen him after that. I didn’t really know what to say. We pulled up as he was smoking a cigarette with his relatives from the Kaet or providence’s. He certainly has a large family and trying to support them all. They run a little neighborhood restaurant and most of the customers are leaving I owe you’s that are not getting paid. I listened hard so that he could tell me all of these things. I just listened and focused to understand, I don’t think Elder Brooking understood much. It is difficult for him to listen for a long time. After listening I just wanted to cry. Truly many difficult struggles. Yet in my mind I could see his family kneeling in prayer with all these problems swirling around them. I tried to leave this picture and encourage to pray, read, and go to church.
Water festival is like Christmas, the biggest Khmae Holiday.
#10
Last night I stood outside and watched a big Thunder Storm instead of writing in my journal. Wind, rain, and so awesome Thunder and Lighting.
Met with En Khon yesterday. He referred himself after watching members come to church. He decided that he wanted to come see too. As we shared the Joseph Smith story with him I had a good feeling in my heart. He kept talking about the picture and things. I asked him okay aside from the picture what about in your heart is there anything you feel in your heart? He said yes there is a good feeling.
#11
A great day today!!! My only regret is was Elder Brooking was kind of lost all day when it comes to language. Had three great visits I felt the spirit. In all three of these visits I felt the Spirit. It was so fun to see Rith get excited about the Plan of Salvation and see the wheels turning in his head. Elder Brooking and I talked about how pure in heart he is also he is very dramatic, it is obvious when he is excited or confused. We talked tonight about doing baptisms for the dead and Rith said that he was the only one in his family that was a member. We talked about him being able to do the work for his ancestors. I almost cried as I told him that he would not be the only member after doing the Temple work. It hit me strong as I thought about the uniting of his family through the temple.
We pedaled all the way to Stung Mean Chey only to find that Sopiap and Naroo weren’t home. Sopiap’s wife Srey Mom asked if we could meet with her. I kind of knew that Sopiap and Naroo wouldn’t be there and I was kind of upset at myself for even going that far. However , we sat outside and talked to Srey Mom. We caught her up as she was unable to join in the last time that we met. We talked about the Atonement. She told us that she had really been trying hard to read and to pray. She believes Heavenly Father has helped her already as she had prayed for her baby who was sick and is now doing better. Her baby is so cute! A fat baby boy who usually just wears a shirt and has the biggest brown eyes, He laughs when we come. I was again almost brought to tears as Srey Mom talked about her mother that she never knew, and we talked about the resurrection.