6/15/98
Dear Family,
I will skip the greeting and say instead—How was Lake Powell?
Can’t wait for the report. That week at the lake was probably the first time you really missed having me around. Are Lisha and Bood trained boat hands yet?
Word. My big news is that yesterday we had district conference here with the 3 Cambodian Branches and the Vietnamese Branch. It was at the 5 star Inter-Continental Hotel. Quite a shock for members and missionaries alike to be in a place so nice. The room was really nice and plenty big for all 489 members and investigators in attendance. I know the exact number of people in attendance because that was my job. I helped count. The Conference was a pretty big event. I was especially surprised and happy to see many inactivie’s out. We made special effort to get invitations to these people. Even old Bunrith from South Central was in attendance.
It is kind of a circus as there are 3 different language being used: English for the leaders, Cambodian and Vietnamese, and one for those who let their kids go for a tour of the Hotel. They especially like the automatic flush toilets. There are already plans for a kids room for the December Conference.
President White gave a great talk about how important it was to spread the gospel, he also had all those who wanted to be district missionaries stand. Sister White also gave a great talk on love your neighbor and forgive others. The Vietnamese Branch President spoke, as did Kim Chag. He just filled out his mission papers and is getting ready to serve a mission. Also Elder Heywood and Elder Clayton played a musical number. Elder Heywood played the viola and Elder Clayton played the piano. The number gave me chills and members quite liked it too. It was neat to see the Church in Cambodia gathered all together. The reason we rent the conference room is because it is the only place in town big enough. However, President White announced this morning at the mission breakfast the location of the property where the first building ever in Cambodia will be built by the Church. It will be awesome to see. It will also be stake center size we are told. It may be built in phases. We hope to use this as help and motivation for members to see how important it is to pay tithing and to see tithing in action.
Also I fasted this week for a young man named Sophaal who really wanted an answer to his prayers about the Book of Mormon and Church. As I fasted for him, and thought and prayed, I really felt
like his real struggle is just making the decision leaving the other Christian church he attends and following the feelings he already had. Sophaal, Elder Heywood and I met fasting, I waited as Elder Heywood shared in the scriptures about Jesus fasting for 40 days. I pulled out the flipchart and turned to the method which God uses to show us truth. We discussed briefly…….
Called Prophets: We hear or read their words.
Feelings from the Holy Ghost: Confirm the truth
We are invited to pray.
Then I went right to the concern. “ I know that as we have met and talked we have felt the Spirit.” I felt the Spirit strong this whole time. Then we talked about how hard it was to leave that other church. I then committed him to continue to pray and fast for his answer. Then we talked about are you willing to do what Heavenly Father wants and join this church, when you receive your answer? With the Spirit there we had this great discussion and helped him see that he needed to make his choice. We left it at that. He was not there at the conference. We meet with him tomorrow.
We really have a full teaching schedule. We have set the goal of committing 5 people to baptism this week. A big goal. I have really been trying to work on my prayers, and we are going to have to rely on Heavenly Father and the Spirit for this goal.
Well I am out of time,
Love you all!
Thanks for the Grad Nite, Graduation and Expedition photos.
Love your Son, Brother, and Missionary,
Clint