Since my trainer got transferred to a different area and I have a new comp I am "leading out" the area. This week has been one of helping him get to know where things are and who people are. It's quite the adventure because we have two areas and between the two we meet with a lot of people.
What comes next? Photo montage! :
Right after we finished up playing some soccer last Monday. (Now that I think about it did I send this photo last week?)
After English class on Wednesdays we go out to eat at the grill table meat place. This is the new elder in the house that's getting trained. And he's from England. Although he doesn't like Dr Who...
This is a way cool family we teach. The dad is our recent convert as of September, and we've been teaching his son. He's set to get baptized this Sunday and his little brother is probably going to be be baptized then as well. Their dad doesn't have a job, but their mom works in Phnom Penh (the big city) and will be coming down for the baptism. Once she has free time she wants to learn as well, just super busy right now.
Pineapple anybody?
I was taking photos with my new companion in the beautiful rice fields of Preycho and he asked me if I wanted a photo with this lady. So we asked her and I got a photo with her by her rice. Cambodia!
Decorated my planner for the transfer. (One transfer is 6 weeks and we use a new planner for each one)
So I've been seeing these forever and only just got around to taking a picture. But they use these cauldron things as trashcans by the roads. Reminded me of The Black Cauldron.
Went to teach Om Han, an RC in Kampongcham, and they were sorting out this huge bag of blue jeans. They sell clothes. They first sorted through the pockets to look for anything of value left in them. (They found some Korean money) Then folded them up and stacked them up in a cart pulled by a moto. They complimented my folding (thanks, Mom and Dad!), which I thought was pretty funny.
Thanksgiving get together of all the missionaries from KC and KT at the senior couples house.
My companion reading from a beginners reading book the senior couple had. The Backyardigans.
This one made my day. There is this lady we always go eat noodle stir fry, mii cha, from on Friday's in Preycho. When Elder Schiefer left he gave them some photos and I gave them a photo of me in Preycho, just normal sized photos. We sat down to wait for food this past Friday and the loke pu, husband, goes into the house and comes back out with two big framed pictures. The first was just a big normal one Schiefer had given them of him and his companion before me. Second one was this. My photo enlarged with a photoshop copy of my body with Schiefers head pasted next to me. And to think that photo will be hanging in their home for the next 40 or so years is really quite amusing to me. We really want to teach them. Maybe one day they'll open up and the elders will see this photo and have a good laugh too.
Went to teach a less active and this guy was there. Turns out he's way good at singing Khmae style and he sang for us. Then he sang again at my companions request and I recorded it. He even gave a shout out to all the members in KC at the beginning.
This was one of 5 or 6 kids running around with plastic bags on their heads. I found the sight quite amusing. All my life reading warnings of not putting plastic bags on your head and what do the kids do here for fun? Put plastic bags on their heads.
Got to do some service by helping make what I would describe as Khmae rice crispies. You heat up raw rice in the black pot and stir it until it starts to pop like popcorn. Then you dump it into the wooden stump thing and commence to smash it flat with big long sticks. After that they toss it and separate the chaff and such from the flattened rice. Pretty fun process.
Pu Jan finished this cross stitch, he does a lot of these and sells them since he doesn't have a job, with the names of the elders who taught him on it.
With my time in KC coming to a close (5 more weeks) it's fitting that I get to help harvest rice since first week in country I was planting it.
I feel like a Khmae Santa Clause with a big sack of rice slung over my back.
Cambodia being pretty again.
An amusing sign close to the church that I finally got a picture of.
Life is busy and stressful with more added responsibilities on my shoulders, but it's a good thing. I'm continually reminded of my need and reliance on the strength of my God and Savior, and when I pray and seek out His help, He pulls through. I'm still alive, and more knowledgeable and stronger than I was last week. That's why we're here, to grow. Hope y'all have an enjoyable week growing just a little bit past where you were before!
Love,
Elder Taylor
