Clint Letter #39
Oct. 19, 1998
Dear Family,
I had an interesting experience the other day. It is common to see people throwing dish water, waste from lunch, etc. type environment out into the road. I was cruising home for lunch when I took shrapnel up the side and back, the leftovers of some fish lunch. The lady was pretty worried about it. I just laughed and changed my clothes. That is kind of how my week went as I was busy in all directions.
First I want to thank you for the good e-mail report and postcards on San Diego, also the package themed Thanksgiving that I received this week. I think I am most excited for the gravy mixes. Please tell Grandma Talbot that I enjoyed her report on the back east trip, sounds like a great trip.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JON!! 10, that means I am almost 20. Mom and Dad are getting old. Lisha please fill me in after your state wide scouting report of Utah Education. A Math teacher? Yo Bood, how is life behind the steering wheel? How is DHS Football?
Hey Twins, have you taken a test in P.E.? Speaking of Titanic Museum, we have the movie, t-shirts, shoes, wrist-watches, hair clips, all over the place here.
Today was very busy but let me start with yesterday. Snaa and Phet were baptized yesterday at church. Snaa is 18 and Phet is 14. Saat the father of Phet and uncle of Snaa was baptized 2-3 months ago and Elder Brooking and I worked hard to get these two young men into the water. Their friend Tuan was studying two but as it got down to the wire, he asked if he could quit. He didn’t have any family support and is the youngest at 15. I was worried about it. And felt good that he decided to wait. However that means that we only have 2 baptisms for this month.
Phet and Snaa were sure excited about it. We tried to get the dad, Saat, to baptize them but he has missed church the last few weeks and didn’t feel comfortable with it. The 2nd counselor in the Brach baptized them.
This week I had a good interview and set monthly goals with President White. I went on a whole day split with my zone leader Elder Harmon and had help me. I asked him to help me ask better find out questions. We also went over my house responsibilities, and I asked on how to ask some of the harder questions on baptismal interviews. I have not yet done any interviews but looks like I will on the 24th. I am a little bit nervous/excited for my first interviews.
We have been out of water for the last 3 to 4 days. We are not receiving any from the city. Do not know why. And the power has been off and on. Rumor has it that the lines are being switched etc. We went into fall conservative mode and have been showering with a bucket and dipper, (kind of fun) by candlelight. We use water from the city to wash clothes, shower, dishes, toilets. Buy drinking water. This morning, Monday, after a long weekend, I arranged with help from the day and night guards to get a water truck to come and fill the water tank on top of our house. $13 to have the big water truck come. Pretty cool huh?
Today I attended the funeral of May Din. She is the former wife of the Branch President of the new 5th Branch. It was P-day and we later met with Elder Earl C. Tingey for a few hours so it was kind of a sacrifice to go, but a neat experience. May Din would buy us Elders a cold pop every time we came. She was stubborn, she would make us sit down and drink it even if we only had just a message to pass on.
I remember just before I left the 5th Branch, I stood in a circle to give her a blessing since then she has gotten really sick. Her liver shut down. A tough time for the family and this new Branch President Nou Houn.
Buddhist tradition is to parade the body to the Wat for cremation with everyone walking behind. The family instead bought a small plot of land, and showed an awesome example of a non-Buddhist religion funeral complete with the Relief Society making lunch for the family and guests. I joined in the parade to the grave. I walked my bike with members behind the car with the casket. No Buddhist prayers, things were done and District President Johnson dedicated the grave. (Translated by Elder Daniels.)
It was also great to see the people of my home turf, although a sad occasion. Sopawn with the family about tackled me. Two of his sons have since been baptized and the Mom and daughter are doing well at work and will be baptized in November.
I wore my suit for the first time today as Elder Tingey made a touch and go visit. It was awesome to see him. Most of the time he took was opened up to questions. Some interesting things were talking about Christ’s Atonement and to be taught about the atonement from a G.A. Enonch Vision in Moses.
Also he announced that LDS Charities will be starting an English/Computer training center for 500 students next year. Shook hands and off he went.
Well I am out of time. I am so blessed and know that this is Heavenly Father’s work and that Jesus is the Christ. Thank you for your good letters, love and support!
Love your Son, Brother, Missionary,
Elder Rogers