Letter #36

Clint Mission 99 #36

Dear Lisha,

                 Word, thanks for the E-mail last week I received after preparation day so I was unable to answer back.

                It was really good to hear a first hand report.  Sounds like you are struggling a bit but it will be a good growing experience for you.  No pain, no gain right?  Elder Folsom my new companion is very great and very spiritual.  I excel at the physical details, his strength is spirituality.  Anyway we were talking one time and said it would be awkward to get married and never have been on a mission because we have learned from both good and bad times how to live with a companion.  ( Reason # 1097 for why to serve a mission) I have had to learn to be a better communicator.  I use to like to walk around the house and not say anything.  As an assistant we are always planning or teaching together as a team and it requires constant open communication. 

                Elder Hoare is training Elder Kieng in the middle of the city.  It is a tough area and Elder Kieng  is having a hard time adopting to missionary life for lots of reasons but Elder Hoare is just what he needs.

                I’ll share a secret with you. You asked about homesickness. After the first Mother’s day phone call, after I hung up the phone and let the tears flow a bit and in the MTC I was so worried about it I was righteous enough to be a missionary that I didn’t worry about home. I think it would be easier to go on  a mission then to leave for school. The spirit helps us so much when we lose ourselves in the work that I don’t think much about home.

                Also to answer your question I know Maron Christenson and remember her. I consider her a friend. We talked often back in the Middle School days.

                I include you in my fast Lisha, to help you settle in. have you received any special help? I love you and know your doing great. keep it up. Here are some scriptures for you. Doctrine and Covenants 122:7 and 123:17

                                Say hi to Melanie, Megan and Ashley for me!

                                                                                                                Love Clint.

Dear Family,

                Hello to my dear family! How are all of you? Bood-funk-a-rama congrats on the big royal promotion. I never did hear who your date was. I’m sure you’ll tell me in the letter your going to write soon. Dad and Jon, I want to hear all about it. Mom Thanks for the good education week notes and good E-mail earlier in the weekend you probably had a busy one. I will try to have my collage stuff sent next week. Thanks again for all the support from home! Sounds like the Habans are a neat family. Ang and Ani, Wow I got some 1^st day of school pictures. Nice new clothes, fashionable haircuts and works! 8^th Grade. I would like to hear about your teachers and classes and other events. Good luck.

                Well let me tell you a little about my week. As I think back there are the 2 major events. First it has been kind of a tradition that when a assistant leaves Pres. and Sister White take him out to dinner as a reward, appreciation, and Thank you. We went out this past week. Pres. and Sister White, Elder Hoare, Folsom and I. We had a great evening. Good company and good food. However the best part was at the end before we left the hotel  we went outside down on the lawn where Pres. Hinkley dedicated the land of Cambodia. We just stood there and quietly enjoyed the peace and calm of the night and the significance of the spot. Then Sister and Pres. White began to tell about some of the blessings they have seen come as a result of that prayer. 2 blessings were the stabilizing of the political situation and out growing missionary and member force.

                If I could, I would describe  a little of how Pres. and Sister White  are in a social situation. In the car or around the table Sister White is the person who creates conversation or leads out with a good question that gets a good conversation going. She is very good at it. Pres. stays quieter but he adds comments or answers questions. Sister White is an incredible hostess. She guides the conversation so that we learn more about the guest of honor and makes the guests feel good.

                The 2^nd event of the week was an opportunity to use the priesthood. I was on a split with Elder Hoare  for the afternoon. Elder Hoare was asked by a woman  in the 4^th Branch to come and give her niece a blessing. I was Elder Hoare’s companion and was able to go. we went to the hospital  that was built by the Russians. (Hospitals in Cambodia are a sad story and so many people are sick) we went right up to the 3^rd floor and into the Intensive Care Unit. There we found the sister of the 4^th Branch member who was standing at the bedside of her daughter who was in a coma. The daughter was a young 14-16 year old teen whose name is Meav Vichakar. To be honest, she looked scary she was so sick. I don’t think I ever seen someone in a coma. She was sick with a fever before, the tripped over or just collapsed  one day and was in a coma ever since. Well needless to say the mother was almost with out hope and she had faith in the Priesthood. We talked to the mother who is not a member or Christian but explained that the blessing was dependent  upon out faith in God. She desired the blessing and said she had faith. I had anointed the Elder Hoare scaled and confirmed the anointing and gave her a blessing. It was a special experience. Elder Hoare blessed her with a miracle and that she would be healed and she would have faith in God and always remember her miracle. Afterward we visited for a minute or 2 and gave the mother a Book Of Mormon and encouraged her to continue to talk to her daughter.

                I didn’t realize that we were in the intensive care unit until after we walked out and I looked on the wall. I was surprised with the ease with how we just walked right in and it hit home again the severity of her condition.  I included Meav Vichalkan in my prayers and also my fast after proselyting on a split Sunday I came home and got a call from Elder Hoare “Hey Elder Rogers she come out of the coma, she’s not all the way better but she came out of the coma” Wow what power there is in faith, prayers and the holy priesthood. The phone call made my whole day!
                Well that’s about it for me. We made the decision to go to Ta Kaman so this week Elder Folsom and I will head down to find a house for the 4 missionaries who will serve down there. (south of Phnom Penh)  Thanks again for the good letters and pictures. I got pictures of Home Sweet Home in Cedar City. It looks really nice! Have a good week and Much love from your son, brother and missionary,

                                                                                                                                                Clint

                Thanks for the good missionary stories last week dad!

                also mom, Elder Forsom and I really enjoyed the Tuna

                Pasta this past week, which I was saving for a day

                                 it didn’t rain. Thanks. 

Aug 30, 1999

Clint Mission 99 #35                                                                           8/30/99

                Word to all of you it has been a great week.  I am 100% healthy.

                Last Monday Lucky’s had Pop Tarts from America.  I bought a 12 pack and went eager to buy again this week but they were all gone.  Lucky’s is strange like that every now and then they will get a good American shipment and we missionaries jump all over it. 

                This past week we accomplished two full days of interviews and other projects.  I felt bad for the short letter last week and so I included some copied journal entries to help fill you in. 

                As you can see Elder Folsom and I got in the van and drove to 7 kilometers to Ta Khmau a smaller city south of Phnom Penh.  We may expand there in October, it was a good adventure to go down and scout it out and talk to two good men.

                We are going to have to start getting ready for the October new comers, eight more missionaries making our total 48 missionaries.  Elder Folsom and I will need to arrange for 3 new houses, and must help make the decision whether or not we go to Ta Khman.

                We have been working hard to prepare a training meeting for our Zone Leaders tomorrow.  Saturday we met with President White about it and had a really good talk.  I have learned so much from working with President White.  Combined with his spirituality and strong faith he is a strong worker and a problem-solver.  He is a great role model.  At the end of our Saturday meeting President White took Elder Folsom and I out to lunch.  We took the opportunity to find out more about President White. 

He started out wanting to be a Neurosurgeon but really enjoyed lab research work and switched.  He began working at South Dakota State but had too much teaching time and no time for research.  He then got a job with the US Government for 16 years as a researcher before switching to Agriculture/ Biological project stations.  He lived and worked in Government Posts at Guatemala, Holland, and India.  He is strong in Biology and especially in entomology and would help with pesticide control.  He and Sister White both know Spanish and he served as a sealer in Guatemala Temple.  An interesting life he has had.  A good lunch but better than that was the conversation. 

                Another good experience that Saturday was interviewing members of a family of 6 who had been taught by Elders Walker and Chbean.  Elder Folsom interviewed the father and I interviewed the mother.  It was a tough situation as the Mother was a little shaky on a few points of doctrine, yet her commitment and desire and faith were strong.  The situation became a little difficult as she confessed of a sin which was of nature that I needed to talk with President White before making a decision whether or not she could be baptized.  I finished the interview but before letting her leave I excused myself and told her that I needed  to talk to President White before I could make a decision.  President White counseled with me how to handle the situation.  He also had a great idea how to help the mother doctrinally.  I helped her better understand the process of repentance and also how Christ helps us through his atonement.  I shared Alma 34:31 and I love the word immediately.

Alma 34:31

 31 Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you. 

                After taking care of that I then called her husband in, following the council of President White, and we talked together and the husband helped his wife understand better and remember the points of doctrine she was shaky on.  It was a great experience.  I am so grateful for the atonement to see it work in the lives of others, and the miracle of repentance and conversion.  Baptism interviews are a wonderful experience.  I am also grateful for such a worthy Priesthood holder as a Mission President. 

                Sunday the family of 6 was baptized!  There was 117 people at the church, and it is awesome to see the families there in church.  Sam Sophon and family leading the way.

                I have some news.  I talked with President White this past week about what day I would go home.  The MTC is only sending even numbers of missionaries out and in our group leaving Elders Hoare, Williams, and Rogers an odd number.  So it works good for the mission to have someone go home early to avoid a threesome.  You can come pick me up in Phnom Penh on December 15^th or 16^th.  President White says that day is pretty sure and that you could go ahead and reserve the tickets. 

                Wednesday or Thursday----pick me up.

                Then 2 days in Siam Reap   either Thursday/Friday or Friday Saturday

                Then back to church on Sunday and then fly to Hong Kong. 

                I hope this is enough notice, you will have to get going on your plans.  I’ll be home for Christmas.  It is scary how much time I have left.  I have got to raise my performance, effort and spiritually.

                Thanks for the good letters and support!!!

                I love you all very much!!

                Love your Son, Brother and Missionary       Elder Rogers

PS Check put Alma 7: 23-25

Alma 7:23

 23 And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.

Alma 7:24

 24 And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works.

Alma 7:25

 25 And may the Lord bless you, and keep your garments spotless, that ye may at last be brought to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the holy prophets who have been ever since the world began, having your garments spotless even as their garments are spotless, in the kingdom of heaven to go no more out

Aug 16, 1999 and Aug 23, 1999

Clint Mission 99 #32                                                           8/16/99

Dear Family,

                Hello and word-up from the best mission, for sure.  We received an increase of 25% this past week, 8 new missionaries:  Elders Cluff, Springer, Nelson, Kieng, Sorenson, Baird, Van Brocklin and the New and Improved Elder Bullard!!!  Yes, Elder Bullard is back.  It is a real miracle it is against church policy and habit to allow missionaries to return back to their original place of service.  However he is invaluable to us!  President and Sister White rallied us into a mission fast and prayer and would not let us change or make any back up plans just go as planned and exercise faith that he will be back.  It was extra special to be at the airport and welcome him back along with the pickup of our new Elders .  We rented a little bus to get everyone rounded up.  There is a special excitement to see missionaries come in especially when it is 8 Elders!.  It is mind boggling to think at what that addition of 8 more does to our work here.  We spent Wednesday helping deliver luggage to the houses and helping where we could to get them set up .  Those suitcases are so big and so heavy when they first come in country.  As I was putting an exceptionally heavy and  big suitcase in the van, Elder Fulsome says, “ I didn’t know that being 6 foot plus and able to throw around luggage was part of the job requirements.”  I laughed, size does help on move days.  Elder Fulsome is smaller physically but inside is a spiritual giant. 

                Elder Folsom and I are still in our apartment but I switched from the top bunk to the bottom bunk for a change. 

                On Sunday in church the first branch was packed with families it was great.  This past week Elder Folsom and I went to visit Sam Sophon and family.  They are doing great!  They referred another family of 5 and a cousin , and also Sam Sophon’s mother is going to study.  They know that she has seen the great change in the family and she joins them for prayer and things.  They ask her things like “ Grandma do you think you are ready to be baptized?  She agreed this week.  Laen also stood up and bore his testimony, he is the oldest boy.  It came right from his heart!  He likes to help prepare and pass the sacrament each week.  Also Ottung the oldest twin spoke he shared                                                                    Alma 34:27Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you.

and talked about how prayer in his family helped them receive blessings.  Again another excellent talk. 

                This week is going to be busy .  It is zone conference week!  For the first time we are going to have two sessions. 

                Until next week, I love you all

                Your Son, Brother and Missionary    Elder Rogers

8/23/99

Dear Family,

                It has been a great week here in the CPP mission.

                This week has been extremely busy and enjoyable as for the first time ever Zone Conference was held in two separate sessions.

                This week started out a little rough as I woke up sick on Tuesday.  ( Diarrhea and terrible stomach cramps) I barely made it to the office on time and endured through a Zone Leader/ Assistant/ President meeting.  After which I asked for a priesthood blessing.  President White anointed and Elder Folsom my companion gave me a blessing.  It was a good one and I hit the fluids and took a few hours rest right there in the mission home and then went home on my bike that evening.  There was just too much to do this week to be sick.  I know the Priesthood blessing really helped.  The conferences  were great.  Fill you in next week.

                Love your Son, Brother, and Missionary,

                Elder Rogers 

August 9 1999

8/9/99

Dear Family,

                Phew. . . . !  The move is over!  Today was one busy day!

                How are all of you?  Thanks for the letter everyone.  I really do appreciate all the letters, support, prayers and packages.  I appreciate all of your great strength and I don’t mean to neglect any of you with the post.  Thanks so much for all the packages! 

                Today I received Lake Powell Pictures and I’ve got to say Word - up to Powell 2000!

                I have a new companion, Elder Jacob D. Folsom.  He is from the Wasatch front, and he is

a language master 2000 and a spiritual giant.  He is 2 months ahead of me and just an outstanding

missionary.  Our focus is going to be on helping missionaries increase their skills and thus bring more

 souls unto Christ. We have some of our physical work out of the way after today.  I look forward to being

taught by Elder Folsom and learning from his example.  We have had a special experience together

already as he was fighting a cold a bit and also newly called as an assistant and asked me if I would give

him a blessing.  I was grateful for the opportunity and again it was special for us both.  And from that

point on we are off and running.  All of our work for the last little while came to the big dramatic finish

today as the mission move day took place.  We made a small switch on Aug 6 to get  Elder Brooking,

 Pruett, And Hoare in their new areas so that they could be ready to train new Elders from the MTC come

Aug 11^th.  So Elder Folsom and I started from the 6^th and Elder Hoare is a free Elder.

                We moved everyone else today and also moved into 4 new apartments ( small 4 man houses)

Elder Folsom and I were in the car from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. We only stopped for a quick lunch at the

 Dog Restaurant.  The rest of the time we were coordinating moves, using our van like a pick-up, and just

 solving little problems.  Things went very smooth overall.  I am enclosing the move logistics that Elder

Hoare and I put together. 

                In the move Elder Lowman had some personal belongings mis-placed and was really worried.

  We worried that they were going to be permanently mis-placed.  He first asked the middle of the day and

 we referred him to the home where the truck went before the stop at his house.  The next time that we

 saw him it was late almost time to go in 6:00 p.m.  He still did not have his things.  We got on the phone,

 made the special trip and got Bro. Sears, one of our missionary couples and a good friend, also Phnom

Penh District President, so we could go out after 6:00p.m. We found the bags and then took them back to

 Elder Lowman.  His look of relief made the day all worth it.  I love to help our missionaries!

Mosiah 2:17

 17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.

I love you all!

Love your Son, Brother, and Missionary Elder J. Clinton Rogers  

August 2 1999

Clint mission 99 #30                                                                           8/2/99

Dear Family,

                Saturday, July 31^st there was a great big district Pioneer Day.  The young men and Young women have been practicing pioneer square dancing.  The Khmae Young Women performed a traditional Apsara Khmae culture dance, the Vietnamese performed a culture dance too.   The children had a little march and in English they sang “Pioneer Children Sang as they Walked and Walked.”  They sang only that one line over and over and over.  It was awesome.  One of the Branch Presidents, Nou Hoan, wrote a poem and shared it for the event.  There was a little narration performed that talked of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young and the Pioneers.  Elder and Sister Bryan Richards made a quick trip from Hong Kong to see the event.  It was great to see them again.  They were very excited and stressed that the 500 in attendance were modern day pioneers.  It was the first real big excitement I have seen in the leaders they did most of the preparations.  They united and worked together and put on a district activity that was very impressive. 

                Elder Hoare and I also had a 30 min. opportunity to sit down with Elder and Sister Richards and report about how much our mission has changed since the last time he was here and this has come about mainly by following ideas and counsel from them.  Elder and Sister Richards praised and encouraged us and as we left Elder Richards gave both Elder Hoare and I a big hug.  Like I said a month ago Elder H. Bryan Richards is my favorite General Authority.  I hope he speaks in Oct General Conference so you can meet him too! 

                In a small devotional after Pioneer Day, Elder and Sister Richards spoke to all missionaries.  The thing that stuck out to me was a question, “ Why do you choose to ride a bike, sweat, study, and be a missionary? Or to relate the message to all of my clear supporters reading this “ Why do you choose to serve in the church, pay tithing or live the gospel?  What is the reason behind our sacrifices?  Elder Richards then shared Helaman 5: 12

                Helaman 5:12

 12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

Christ is the one sure foundation upon which if we build we can not fall.  If this is our reason for living the gospel we will stay on course and be able to overcome all troubles, and weakness on our way back to him.  We can’t have any other motives or reasons we must be focused on Christ.  I have thought about this much since then.  I what this to be my reason for my mission and the rest of my life.  Our actions must be motivated by sincere faith in Christ.  Ether 12:4 comes to mind especially the line “ Always abounding in good works”, if our motives come from faith in Christ.

Ether 12:4

 4 Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.

                A sad thing happened too.  Elder Michael Lonnie Bullard went home to Salt Lake City to be treated for kidney stones.  He passed 6 stones in the past 2 weeks.  Elder Hoare accompanied him to Thailand and saw him off, Elder Hoare was his companion over night.  I spent a day and ½ working with Elder Burnham who is Elder Bullards’s companion.  Pres. White cried with the loss of one of his Elder’s but news from SLC is good.  We hope that we can get him back here in our Viet zone. 

                Thanks again for all of your love an support.  I hope that you can all feel of my love for you

and also my love and testimony for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter

Day Saints!

Love your Son, Brother and Missionary—Elder Rogers

July 19 1999

Clint Mission 99 #29                                                                                           7/19/99

Dear Family,

                Tell Mitch I know about the slow mail.  I finally got a letter that had a picture of the new truck dated 4/1/99.  Sometimes for some reason the mail just has problems. 

                I don’t have much time. 

                We have been busy this week on housing and also the carrying out of Zone Conference.  This zone conference was the last one we will be able to have in the White House all together.  When the 8 new missionaries come in August we will be too big. 

                Elder Hoare and I talked about the importance of teaching by the spirit and committed the mission to remember to identify the spirit in teaching situations. 

                President White gave a great talk.  He took a 10 ft. ladder and pasted attributes and missionary skills to it.  At the very top was Godliness.   And the rest were spread out on the different steps.  He talked about personal preparation.  We all come to the mission or life on different steps or levels.  The most important and our goal should be to decrease the distance between the top and the step that we started on.  Remember the top is Godliness.  Alma 12:24.

               

Alma 12:24

 24 And we see that death comes upon mankind, yea, the death which has been spoken of by Amulek, which is the temporal death; nevertheless there was a space granted unto man in which he might repent; therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state which has been spoken of by us, which is after the resurrection of the dead.

                Love you all --- got to go

                Love Your Son, Brother and Missionary,

                Elder Rogers

                Journal entries:

A whole week has gone by since I was able to write in my journal. 

                The housing project is taking all of my time.  This week we signed the contract on 2 more houses.  We now have 3 houses on road 410, the couples big house, our little apartment and now another apartment.  We have a little community going.  We saw the sign, but didn’t think that we needed another house in this area.  Then one day Elder Hoare said, “ We should look at that house”, and we both felt like it was right.  Our real estate agent tries to help us, but it is always the spirit that directs us to the houses. 

                We were really frustrated this week as the pink house by the bridge did not work out.  We worked on it along time, but the landlords were unwilling to make the changes that we needed.  Looking back, we never quite felt good about it. 

                When  I get back, I am not going to be a real estate agent!

                There is a real difficult situation happening in our mission today.

                Always before the Elders have been heavily involved in all aspects of the work here.  The District has been weak  and the branches depend too much on the Elders.  The Lord is preparing the way for the District and branch leadership to become less dependent on the Elders.  This is putting strain on things, or growing pains.  We now have excellent helping hands of 4 couples:

                Calls:  Church Education  Seminary and Institute

                Seares:   Mission Office

                Blodgetts and Ripplingers:  Resource Center   English and computer training

               

                And also our local leaders are getting better and better.  Yet they are not doing things like financial, membership, reports, etc.  They depend heavily on the Elders to do these things.  They do excellent in running a sacrament meeting but need much more training.

               

July 12 1999

7/12/99

Clint Mission 99 #28

Dear Family,

                Live from Phnom Penh Kampuchea it is time for the weekly report.  I’, glad that all of you tuned in. . . .  I can’t believe it is Monday again already.  Pres. and Sister White are gone to Laos so I have not seen your letters. 

                I am including my journal pages again.

                Elder Hoare and I are working on the 4 new apartments that we need by August.  We should hopefully sign the contract on 2 of them this week.  We saw another one that we liked today so maybe we can get that one signed too.  Playing real estate agent is not satisfying and enjoyable like teaching a family.  Yet we are trying to get set up so that the missionaries can move into a nice little house in or close to their area and not have to worry about housing but focus on the work.  By the time we get to August, with the downsizing from mansions to small housing ND AN INCREASE OF Elders, Elder Hoare and I will have been responsible for the locating, negotiating of 9 out of 10 missionary houses.  It has been a major project and a big responsibility for Elder Hoare and I.  It has fallen on us pretty much because the office couple and President are busy, and we know the language and the locations needed. 

                I don’t know if you caught it from my last letter but , we no longer have our own proselyting area.  In my journal entries I have given an account of where our time has been spent this past week.  The best part was going out with the Elders on splits.  We spent Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday  afternoons out on splits with the Elders.  We do it two ways. 

                AP is an observer/helper with both companions  or AP with split companionship

                This week was very educational as we got out and worked with the Elders and found out and saw lots of things.  We have great Elders and they work hard and yet we saw areas where we could improve. 

I also learned things from working with them.  Before all the time we worked as assistants  we never got out and worked one on one and one on two like this before, there is a real need for us to be doing this kind of thing more often to help our Elder’s improve their effectiveness in order to bring more souls unto Christ.  Especially now as our mission gets bigger.  As President White says we have to ”decentralize”.  He has really put his trust in Elder Hoare and I as we have made so many major changes to the mission and also given the role of assistant to President in the CPP Mission a whole new job description.  District and Zone leaders all have to step up and take more responsibility.  When Elders Hoare, Williams and I first came our addition made 20 Elders.  Right now we have 32 and many months from now we will have 52 missionaries here.  Our theme for Zone Conference on Friday is Jacob 5: 61-62 “ Prepare the way”

                Jacob 5:61

 61 Wherefore, go to, and call servants, that we may labor diligently with our might in the vineyard, that we may prepare the way, that I may bring forth again the natural fruit, which natural fruit is good and the most precious above all other fruit.

Jacob 5:62

 62 Wherefore, let us go to and labor with our might this last time, for behold the end draweth nigh, and this is for the last time that I shall prune my vineyard.

Love your Son , Brother and Missionary,

                Elder Rogers

Journal Entries: 

                After the Killing Fields, we went to the Royal Palace and Sam Saphorn was our tour guide.  Saphorn is a great member who serves as counselor in the District Presidency and also as a side note he was just recently married.  We toured the palace for an hour.  There are many nice buildings and lots of gardens.  It is very beautiful.  I have been before but last time I went to the Coronation  Hall it was closed. 

It is very interesting to see where they crown the Kings of Cambodia.

                Following the Royal Palace we went to the Hotel Sofitel Cambodiana and held a devotional out on the back lawn.  We stood in a circle around the spot where President and Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley stood on May 29, 1996 to give the dedicatory prayer for the missionary work to begin in the nation of Cambodia. 

                We sang “ We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet.” President White then talked about a few of the highlights in the dedicatory prayer.  Elder Folsom then gave a special prayer to help us all be more dedicated to the cause here in Cambodia.  To end the half-day excursion we went up to a room where we a light buffet was prepared for us.  It was a great activity.  I think my favorite part was Elder Badger’s performance of Alma. 

This week Elder Hoare and I have been doing only Assistant work.  We no longer have an area.

                Tuesday:  In the morning we had a Zone Leader Training meeting where we went with the Zone Leaders and President White.  We talked about building bridges to the future, some of our ideas about expansion.  We tried to expose the Zone leaders to a little of what is happening. 

                The rest of the morning we spent translating for Sopia and his Uncle from my old proselyting area in Stung Mean Chey, they had their moto stolen from 2^nd branch and had come to demand reimbursement from the church.  Obviously we can’t reimburse him, and the meeting lasted almost 2 hours as they tried to talk  President White into helping them.  Elder Hoare and I were taught a great lesson as President White patiently took time to listen to them. 

                That afternoon we went out with our real estate agent to look at some houses.  This is probably our hardest assignment right now, trying to replace one more big house that we are still using house # 19 and at least 2 new four man houses are needed for the new Elders coming in.  A total of 3 to 4 new houses that need to be rented by August.

                Wednesday morning we helped move Elders Sorber and Crookston and Elders Heng and Richardson into their new house #165p near the American Embassy.

                Afternoon was spent working in the office some and also going out to look at the houses that we had seen with Elder Seare, to have him judge whether or not it was appropriate housing. 

                Thursday morning we did some foot work by ourselves out looking for houses.  We were on our bikes going to a few houses which we remembered from our travels.  We talked to a few people who had no intention of renting their house minutes before, but then see the white guys come and get excited about an opportunity to get some money and say yes I’ll rent you my house how much will you give me for a month. 

                Later in the afternoon I worked with Phanith on our “small project”. He is the branch clerk and we have been helping him fulfill his calling by getting the membership records sorted out. 

                Friday today we went out with our agent, Bonna again.  We first went out and talked with the Land Lord of a 3 story pink house near the Chbar Ampov Bridge.  We want to rent the 3^rd story.  We talked about some of the changes that need to be made before we can talk about a contract.  We also went looking for a house in my old Kampuchea Krom Area.  

                In the afternoon we went for a split.  Elder Hoare went with Elders Miller and Hodson.  Elders Lowman and Sea were my companions.  This is one of our first splits as Assistants going out with the missionaries in their area.

                Elder Lowman’s planner said “finding with Elder Rogers 3:00- 6:00 p.m. They had no plans.  I ask them if I could show them some former investigators.  I had thought and prayer earlier about who we could go see. 

                I felt best about a man I met on his bike. He invited me to his house and we gave him a book of Mormon. We met him once or twice but he then got a job at a hotel. So that was my idea to go and see him again. We crossed the Chbar Ampov bridge. I noticed the water was high, the river was full. coming into Chbar  Ampov the road from the market to the wood factories were paved. I couldn’t believe it, that used to be the muddiest and worst road in Phnom Phen.

                We found the man who remembered at his house. They welcomed us with smiles and invited us to sit down. They looked at me and kept saying “he is the one, he is the one in the picture.” We talked to him, and his wife brought down his book of Mormon. His name was Phery. The wife started again to say something about a picture.  Phery opened up his book and in the front cover the was our family picture and a message from dad that the book of Mormon is true and to please read it. they remembered me as the one who gave them the book and remembered what I looked like from the picture At that point, he told us that he was no longer working at the hotel and that he had some free time. Elder Sea shared a verse with him from the Book Of Mormon and then Elder Lawman and Elder Sea worked together to schedule him for Sunday. I showed them a few more past investigators  and also were able to contact and schedule with a young father.

                The last intro. of the day, we talked to a man who was washing his moto, he stopped and invited us in but he was not interested. Elder Sea said to him 2 or 3 times on the way out, “I’m sorry to bother you; I’m sorry we took you away from washing you moto.” I didn’t correct him right at that moment, instead I gave Elder Lowman and Sea to study together  for the missionary guide the Present with Faith Chapter.

                There is no reason to be sorry about telling others about the message from the Savior  Jesus Christ.

                Yesterday we went out with Bonna our housing man, but didn’t see much.  We split in the afternoon and went into the South Lake Area with Elders Walker and Chhean.  I had the great privilege of going with Elder Chhean.  He is one of our National Elders.  He has such a likable personality and also a strong testimony of the gospel. 

                We, Elder Chhean and I met with an inactive lady that I met a year or so ago with Elder Harmon.  The sad part of the appointment is that she hasn’t changed in a year,  She is happy to read and talk with us but says she is unable to go to church because of her job.  While with Elder Chhean we also were accompanied by Sin Tong a District Missionary who interviewed for baptism a few months ago. He was our fellowshipper and helper.  As we pedaled along there I realized that there I was again like many times on my mission the only white guy, heading out with my companion who is one of my Cambodian brothers, and very comfortable.  Heading out to do the work!