7/13/98
Dear Family,
Hi, just came from the kitchen where we have been scrubbing Carmel off everything. Elder Fernandez has a trick where he boils a can of condensed milk in the tin can for about a hr. We were all in the other room and came in and saw the huge mess. Lots of things learned on a mission.
Yesterday was a great day ( as in lots of opportunity to see what can be improved) to start my Branch Elder job. Only the President and I were here for the meeting before church, and so that day we were kind of hurting. Yesterday I also had the great opportunity to baptize Caan, girl 15 and Roath 14 boy. These two have been studying for a while and we were excited to see them baptized. We went out to Chpam Pov (across the bridge of the Bassac) to talk with Caan’s friend Sokhoom. Her parents were against Sokhoom leaving her job and also a Buddhist belief, in order to go to Church. Sokhoom’s job is to peel the wrappings off of bulbs of garlic all day. ( Kind of like the nut cracking projects of old, all day. )
We also sent the couple, the Olsens with a member to talk with the Parents. Sokhoom came to the Baptism. I hope that it was a special day for the Chapam Pov Girl’s Club.
Routh is the 14 year old that said, “ I have been a member forever and still haven’t been baptized.” Now he is a member.
This week we have 22 scheduled opportunities to sit down and teach the gospel. Not counting some active visits and things. We continue to get goo referrals from the members and those who walk into the church.
Here are some numbers for you from this past week:
8 full taught discussions
11 partial taught discussions or specials ( reading in the scriptures)
6 hours of inactive visits
2 active member visits
3 visits with the new members
This is pretty busy. However this week looks even busier. With the people getting baptized we also have to teach them the new member discussions. In order to keep baptizing we have to keep teaching. We now have permission to go true splits with district missionaries. This will be totally new. We have a bunch of young men and women in the first branch who are ready and willing. They are being set apart and the district has also bought a few bikes for those with no bike.
Elder Fernandez is wise and experienced, we both want to use these young people to help especially teach new member discussions. We are going to have to, with 5 more people committed to be baptized in the next few weeks. One problem is we do not yet have these new member discussions translated into Cambodian. Some of these young kids like Tal know English better than I know Cambodian so that will help. But we want to train and teach New Member Discussions at the same time. Which also means I had better hurry up and learn how to translate these discussions.
Let me tell you a little about Sopawn. He is 47, has family in Salt Lake City, who helped him find the church here. Has such a strong desire to learn and has such faith. He bikes 10+ km just to meet us and go to church. He comes ½ hour early so that he can sit down, stop sweating, and be ready to learn.
Sopawn heard something about fasting and so we found out through talking to him that he has been fasting every time he comes to church. He just wants to make sure he is doing everything right. He is planning and saving so that he can bring his wife and 4 kids in from the countryside for his baptism on the 26th of July.
I want to thank everyone for the letters, love, support, and prayers. I am healthy and loving the opportunity to be taught, to serve, and to teach. Elder Fernandez is a good example to me and good companion. I am also the clock manager, so that when we are studying, planning, and going to bed we will be on time. It is my job to sound the 2 min. warning.
Thanks to the Hammers for the pictures, candy and kool-aid. Awesome!
I sure look forward to my E-mails.
That is the bridge and my area Dad where the war was fought. By the way, the river is rising like crazy. A member told me the other day that with the way the river has gone up in the last week or two, flood season is going to be a good one. Also the rain comes often in late afternoon or night. When it comes your wet. Often it is so loud in the house that you can’t talk to each other. However this has only happened in a teaching appointment a few times. Often we also study by candle light on the nights of heavy rain. I bought another brush to brush the mud off the shoes each time I come and go from the house. Lots of puddles and mud. A little weather update for you.
Thanks Lisha and twins for your letters, Love ya
Bood, Jon, Mom Love you too!
Love your Son, Brother, Missionary,
Elder Rogers
REMEMBER CLINT’S ADDRESS IS:
Pouch Mail The pouch leaves Salt Lake on Friday so you should have it in the mail
Elder J. Clinton Rogers by Monday to make the pouch.
50 E. N. Temple Street
Salt Lake City, Utah 84150-0001