Arriving and departing missionaries - January 24/25

On January 24 we welcomed 6 new missionaries from the Provo MTC -- we love new missionaries.  3 sisters (all Cambodian speaking), 2 elders, and 1 Vietnamese-program elder.  We had a wonderful time getting to know them and sent them off with their trainers on the 25th-- transfers day.

Our farewell dinner for Elder & Sister Shelley and Elder & Sister Henderson-- we are sad to see them leave but are thankful for the friendship with them and so grateful for the amazing work they have all accomplished here!

Priesthood Leadership Training with Area President

Elder Watson and Elder Pon from the Area came and conducted a wonderful priesthood leadership training meeting on Saturday January 19 for all our district presidencies.  We all learned a lot from them and Sis. Moon and I enjoyed a dinner with them that night.  In the morning we went to church at Pochentong before taking them to the airport-- the members there were very surprised to see them walk in!

Elder & SIster Kohl arrive

Late on January 9th we welcomed Elder & SIster Kohl to our mission-- they are the new LDSC couple in Cambodia, replacing the Hendersons.  They are a welcome addition-- they had a rough trip here though-- they missed a connection in San Francisco, had to stay over a night there, and then had delays on the last leg here also, so it was very late at night when they arrived!  We had a welcome lunch for them at the Titanic restaurant and the other senior couples the next day.

Baptisms in Battambang

Spent the weekend of January 12-13 in Battambang helping with the application for creating a new branch there, and also attending church.  They had a baptism service for 6 new converts on Saturday-- including a family of four-- a wonderful treat to be there and participate.  

Sis. Nuon leaves for Provo MTC

On January 9 2013 we said goodbye to Sis. Nuon who is departing to the Tacoma Washington mission.  She went to the Provo MTC first, where the Walton's from Alpine took her through the Provo Temple before starting her MTC experience.  We are grateful for the miracle of her U.S. visa arriving just in nick of time since we had already pushed her start back once!

More Christmas Day training photos

All the missionaries in Cambodia at the Christmas Day training

Part of our service project and activity Christmas Day was making scripture study kits for all the recent converts from 2012-- 600+!  The missionaries have been taking them to each recent convert and helping them learn more about studying their scriptures.

A fun surprise Christmas Eve!  Carolers from the Vietnamese district!

Christmas and Siam Reap with Shawn & Brinai

After a full day of training with the missionaries on Christmas, and a 2 hour testimony meeting with them (wonderful!) we came home to find Mackenzie had made a wonderful "Night in Bethlehem" dinner for us on the floor-- lots of fun finger foods.  What a gem she is.  It was a very fun way to celebrate together.

We celebrated a day late, but what fun to have Shawn and Brinai and Kalia with us for a "Christmas morning" together.

We spent a few days after New Year's in Siam Reap with Shawn & Brinai and Kalia.

Kalia was as much an attraction as the ruins, as you can see from the photo above-- there were so many Asian tourists that oohed and aahed over her and wanted  to take her photo!

Note the carving of a stegosaurus dinosaur on a column in the ruins.  How did that get here?!!  Was this whole thing really created by Disney?  Actually quite a mystery-- historians have no clue how or why they carved a picture of a stegosaurus dinosaur in the 1200's.

 Mackenzie was the only brave enough to try a "fish" foot pedicure-- you stick your feet in the pool and these little fishies eat the dead skin off your feet, making them soft and supple!  No thank you!   Mackenzie was very brave to endure the tickling!

The best surprise Christmas morning!!!  Grandchild # 6!

Little Samuel and Kelcy in the hospital skyping to us below!

Wat Phnom - center of Phnom Penh-- and the straw dragon snake thing in front of it

Kalia loved the fruit smoothies and drinking with the straw!

The Royal Palace, lit up at night

About the same age, these two little ones-- Pres. Kim Koung from North District and his little girl.  Born same month.  Kalia definitely is a lot bigger!