First Month (Nov-Dec 2019)

NOTE: Much of the commentary in this book and pictures are from Mom and Dad's updates to the family through WhatsApp and through weekly email updates. 


November 2019

Mom and I have been getting up to go for 5:45 am walks. The streets are much much less crowded.
The green building in the first photo is our apartment building.  We are on the third floor.

The second shows mom with her walking regalia and protection from germs.



The third photo represents a lack of long-term planning ... quite common.



Went to our first baptism with President and Sister Lewis. We finished with the talks, then, when it was time for the baptism, there wasn’t enough water in the font. So they solved the problem with the fire hose. While waiting for the font to fill, mom and I bore our testimonies.

We did have a wonderful afternoon with President and Sister Lewis!

From Laura:  "I got to go to a meeting with Elder Stevenson, Elder Vinson, Osha and Schmidt. We all got to shake their hands and I was in the second row. Elder Stevenson gave quite an update about President Nelson in Vietnam and Cambodia. I was so excited and felt connected to Mom and Dad through his update!  Said he was in Vietnam 3 years ago and there were 12 missionaries and 65 members. Now there are 75 missionaries!!  Said the people were thrilled about the renderings of Cambodian temple. Said it had things all temples usually have but mixed with beautiful Cambodian architecture."


From Mom: Ok get this one....I started cleaning the wall that had black spots on it and lo and behold the spots were alive.  I freaked and for the next hour Dad and I got all the live whatever off the walls.  Enjoy your clean houses today and forget about the messes.  Love you ladies 😩


Thought you might like to see our “office” in our apartment. We’ve been working to clean up and organize. Mom has been amazing in remaking the space so we can effectively use it. Also, mom has been asked to help organize the choir for the December 15 East District Conference. She is selecting four musical numbers for the choir and will their pianist. She just found out about this last evening and they begin practice today at 4:00 pm, in less than two hours.

President Nelson Visits Cambodia...!

19 November 2019 - Phnom Penh, Cambodia 

Southeast Asia Ministry

In His First Visit to Cambodia, Prophet Unveils Phnom Penh Temple Rendering

President Nelson continues his ministry in Southeast Asia

• 

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints brought glad tidings Tuesday night to hundreds of gathered Church members at the Premier Centre Sen Sok in Phnom Penh. He unveiled an artist’s rendering of what will become one of the Church’s most sacred worship spaces — the Phnom Penh Temple.

• 

  

Download Photos

 

Downloadable video: B-roll | SOTs

“Isn’t that beautiful?” the prophet said as the image of the coming temple displayed on a large screen in the auditorium. “We don’t know when the temple will be completed. But I do know this, difficult as it is to build a temple, it is even more difficult to build a people ready for the temple. Preparation of the temple includes members of your family. Your preparation of yourself will bless the members of your family.”

“Difficult as it is to build a temple, it is even more difficult to build a people ready for the temple.”— President Nelson



An important part of that preparation, President Nelson said, is understanding the temple recommend interview questions that each Latter-day Saint must answer prior to entering a house of the Lord.

“Those questions are public knowledge. But your answers to those questions are very sacred and confidential,” President Nelson said during his speech that was transmitted to all congregations in Cambodia. “Your helpers and you will work on your preparation so that you may become worthy to receive all the blessings of the holy temple. I promise you that as you become worthy of that temple recommend, miracles will happen in your life.”

An artistic rendering of the Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple.2019 BY INTELLECTUAL RESERVE, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Download Media

                

Temples differ from the Church’s chapels, where all are welcome to attend Sunday services and other weekday activities. It is in temples that faithful Latter-day Saints participate in sacred rites such as marriages that unite families forever and proxy baptisms in behalf of ancestors who did not have that opportunity. The Church’s 166 dedicated temples scattered throughout the world are considered the most sacred spaces on earth. It is in these sacred structures—each with the words “house of the Lord” etched onto its exterior—that Christ’s teachings are reaffirmed as members strive to follow His example. Temple worship is therefore a sacred privilege.

The Phnom Penh Temple, first announced by President Nelson in October 2018, will be located on Russian Confederation Street, between the Cambodia Institute of Technology and the Institute of Foreign Languages near the Royal University of Phnom Penh. The temple will provide worship opportunities for Cambodia’s 15,000 Latter-day Saints.

The 95-year-old prophet also noted the coming bicentennial of Joseph Smith’s vision of the Father and the Son, known by Latter-day Saints as the First Vision and the beginning of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. That restoration, President Nelson said, has four fundamental cornerstones: (1) the knowledge of a Godhead consisting of the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy ghost; (2) prophets on earth who speak for God; (3) scripture as a “tangible anchor to eternal truth” and “a strong witness of the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ”; and (4) restored priesthood authority.

Latter-day Saints and friends of the Church gather at a devotional in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Tuesday, November 19, 2019. President Russell M. Nelson and Elder D. Todd Christofferson spoke.2019 BY INTELLECTUAL RESERVE, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Download Media

                           

President Nelson reminded the many youth present of their “religious responsibility to get a good education.” This education, he said, is the “difference between wishing you could help other people and being able to help other people.”

The prophet concluded by praising the Cambodian Saints for being upstanding citizens in their community.

“I am very optimistic about the future of Cambodia,” he said.

Sister Wendy Nelson and Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Kathy, are with President Nelson on this seven-day trip to four southeast Asia countries. Each spoke at the Tuesday evening devotional.

President Nelson and Elder Christofferson meet Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister

Latter-day Saints and friends of the Church gather at a devotional in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Tuesday, November 19, 2019. President Russell M. Nelson and Elder D. Todd Christofferson spoke.2019 BY INTELLECTUAL RESERVE, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Download Media

                               

The Church leaders met Tuesday afternoon with Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam An, who oversees the country’s humanitarian and social work.

“She was warm and gracious, accepting,” President Nelson said. “She understood what the Church has been doing to help. She was grateful for the members of the Church for their strong families, for the help that we’ve given with wheelchairs, medical assistance and other projects.”

“It was clear that they have a good understanding of what the Church has contributed in the past,” Elder Christofferson added. “That is one of the reasons we do meet with them, so that they know we are here and wanting to help and actually are helping. And she was aware of those things and anxious, for example, to see our temple built and completed here.”

President Nelson’s ministry visits continue Wednesday in Singapore and Thursday in Indonesia.

We just had lunch here in Kompang Chom.

In front of the Mekong River. We have returned home to Phnom Penh after spending yesterday and last night in Khompon Chom province. We traveled about 150 kilometers and it was an eye opener, especially for mom.  These are photos of our trip to the hotel when the day of training ended. About a 1.5 hour drive on often dirt roads, staying just to the west of the Mekong River and then arriving at Kampong Chom city where we stayed in a nice hotel. Just $30 a night! We got up early and walked along the Mekong, then mom and Sister Warner (from Queen Creek) did a bit of shopping.  The training is part of the Health Improvement initiative that is featured in today’s Deseret News. You ought to read it; it is the account of what we did last week on Wednesday, the day after President Nelson’s visit.  In this training, they are teaching police and health care personnel how to perform emergency first aid. One of the police officers said he had been on the job for 30 years and this was the first time he has ever received this type of training.

10 December 2019 - Steung Trang District, Cambodia 

News Release

Church Provided Emergency First Aid Training to Steung Trang District Officers

First-time training for first responders

• 

As President Russel M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, finished his first ever visit to Cambodia, a team of Church sponsored senior missionaries with medical background was preparing to open a new era of medical training in Cambodia. This training was designed for police officers and other first responders in the Steung Trang District.

One senior police officer, as he completed this training, shared his gratitude with the vice-governor by saying:

“I’ve been a police officer for over 30 years and I’ve never had any training on how to help someone who is hurt. Thank you for helping us to help our community.“

On November 21-27, 2019, senior missionaries Elder Steven Lewis, MD and his nurse wife Sister Vickie Lewis and Elder James Taylor, MD and his wife Sister Annette Taylor as they hosted over 250 Cambodian police officers and health care workers in the Stueng Trang District of Cambodia. With the support of the District Vice-governor Mr. Vorn Vy, most of these first responders received their first-ever emergency response training. Each day approximately 50 police officers and health care workers participated in the eight-hour training sessions.

                          

There is no emergency medical system in Cambodia and bystanders are not permitted to assist those injured in an accident. Local police officers are often the first to respond at the scene of an accident who are permitted to provide assistance. Thus, there is a critical need to provide police officers with emergency first aid training so they can aid those injured in accidents.

The training that was provided in these sessions was designed to provide basic first aid skills for police officers and health care workers. Most or all who attend have never received any training on how to help victims in a trauma situation.

The training focused on four major goals:

1. Trauma assessment and treatment
2. Basic life support
3. Use of basic first aid equipment
4. Equipping each trainee with an emergency first aid bag

The basic life support skills for first responders focused on how to preserve life at the scene of an accident and included CPR, assistance for a choking victim, splinting, and control of bleeding. At the completion of their training, each participant received a certificate of completion as well as a personal emergency first aid bag.

• 
• 

Retired MD and Senior Missionary James Taylor helps a police officer trainee check for a pulse as part of CPR training. © 2019 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

1 / 6

 

All who have participated in this training effort hope that the practical training will have a positive impact in providing accident victims with the emergency first aid that may alleviate suffering and help save lives.

The Emergency First Aid Training project is part of the Church sponsored Cambodia Health Care Improvement Effort (CHIE). For further information on this and other efforts that are part of the project, see the article from the Deseret News by Tad Walch.

THANKSGIVING DAY

Hello family! Hope you are all having a wonderful Thanksgiving. I am sending photos from our thanksgiving day.

Also, here are a couple of photos from our early morning walk.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!

From AmberLee:

Karen—can you give out 64? High fives (or birthday hugs) this week for your birthday:) we love you a lot! We were talking tonight about you. Robbie said “remember last Christmas
Dinner? It was so quiet and we just all talked for along time with each other. That never happens. “ and I said “grandma is magic. That was ALL her.”  You had sat the kids down and talked about what a formal dinner should be and how it should look and the kids just respect you and want to do what you teach them. And that has Happened with the gospel and with music and with singing songs, or behaving properly. You are magic. And we love you mucho!!

From Erika:

That is so true AMBER. She is magic. I was watching my kids run amok as I was trying to teach come follow me today. I was so frustrated and just wondered how Mom does it.

From Laura:

Mom! Happy Birthday. I’ve always known this about you but I think about it more since you have been on you’re mission. The thing I love the absolute very best about you Mom, is you are everyone’s cheerleader! You have a gift for being interested in what people are doing and so excited for them. I miss you like crazy because you are my cheerleader and care so much about the details of my life. I hope to follow your example and want you to know I am now your cheerleader!! Love you so extremely much mom❤


Hello family! We just returned from a five day trip around the lake with President and Sister Lewis. We had a wonderful time and we were able to visit several of the zones: Kampong Tom, Siem Riep, and Battonbong.  Last night and today (on the way home to Phnom Penh) we did a bit of site seeing.

These photos are on the way out of Phnom Penh on the way to Kanpong Thom. Visits to a couple of Wats (Buddhist Tenples) and from the Kanpong Thom Branch. The bus took 33 people to church from 2 hours away. Most are investigators.  Five of them were baptized and confirmed on Sunday.

Next stop was Siem Riep. We were there on Monday and celebrated mom’s birthday with the zone! By the way, Siem Riep is where the famous temple of Anghor Wat is located.  Our last stop was Battonbong. We also saw a bat cave. Every evening at about 6:00 pm, 15-30 million bats emerge for their nightly foraging for food. They return at about 5:00 am. It takes about an hour or so for them all to exit the cave.

We were asked to speak at a Stake YM/YW activity for the Phnom Penh North Stake. Here is Mom's talk:

Talk for Youth - North Stake December 10, 2019

Today is International Human Rights Day ... you and I have rights and we must be grateful. Many of your
people’s rights were taken away around 1975. Each morning we have individual rights and personal
decisions to make.

Please ponder for a few moments on your last birthday. How old did you turn? Did you receive gifts? Did
anyone do something special for your birthday that automatically stands out in your mind? I had a birthday
this month. I did not receive any presents but my family called and sang “Happy Birthday” in Khmer. They
had looked it up on the internet and the little children learned it as well. It was very touching to me.

Now, have you ever been invited to a big birthday party or celebration and the birthday person
1. did not receive any gits
2. did not receive any type of special recognition
3. no one expressed appreciation or acknowledged their relationship
4. no one talked to them or even said thank you for the invitation to the celebration

It isn’t one-sided in real life, is it? Sounds ridiculous! Why do I tell you these things? Let’s apply these
thoughts to the most important birthday celebration coming up on December 25th.
What gift/gifts are you preparing to give HIM? Isn’t it ironic that He has taught us that to make HIM especially
happy would be for us to do something for someone else. Now think that through, A special gift for Him is to
serve, give our time, be kind, cheer up another human being here on this world. How hard is that??? (Read:
Mosiah 2:17)

Consider this. There are 3 types of people in this world. those who watch things happen, those that don’t
have a clue and wonder what has happened, and third those who make things happen.
Lets’ not be the kind of person that when a friend is sad and hurting, we say: Is there anything I can do for
you?” Rather let’s think up something appropriate, and do it in a timely manner to cheer them up/ comfort
them.

I’ll share 2 experiences of someone that really brightened my day. 

First, I received a call that my Father was dying so get on a plane and quickly come home to say my farewells. I was at the airport waiting to board when I lost it and began to cry. I wanted to hide, I wanted to be alone. I just put my head down and tried to bury it. A young girl about your age tapped me and asked me if I was alright? I explained my situation and told her it’s just hard to be here in public, feeling this way. She said she was sorry and left me. It wasn’t long before she returned and handed me some sun glasses she had just bought in one of the small shops at the airport for me to wear, so I would feel more comfortable sitting there. I didn’t know her and never saw her again but will always remember her kindness. She was very young and I was old, but it didn’t seem to matter to her when she approached me.

2nd experience: I am homesick for all the Christmas traditions we do in the States. I received on my front
door this Wreath made out of toilet paper from our good friends the Lewis’ and a cute note with it. I
chuckled and smiled and appreciated the time they gave to make it for us. I announced to my husband with
glee, “Oh Yes, we have a Christmas wreath.” I was so proud of it as I immediately hung it. WOW there are so
many people all around us that we can make smile, lift up and help them to have a better day.

Light the world is wonderful! It is becoming contagious, as children do something and in return feel good
inside. The Doxey children went to a machine in Reno, Nevada and spent their own personal money;
purchasing 3 chickens and a water filter for others. Even a 2 year old gets it and feels happy.
I challenge you to ask a young sibling or any small child this question, ”Why do we celebrate Christmas?” If
they don’t mention Christ, then teach them. Teach them with enthusiasm, be a light to them. Light the
World one by one. I will share this quote, “I am only one but still I am one: I cannot do everything but still I
can do something, and because I cannot do everything, I will do something that I CAN DO. So, on this
Birthday Celebration coming up may we do the following: 

l. Ask the Lord to accept our gifts. 
2. Acknowledge, focus on HIM 
3. Communicate, TELL HIM HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND WHY WE LOVE HIM, and then quietly listen.
4. And most important, thank Him for his invitation. His invitation he has offered us, to gain eternal life. In
return may we feel His continuous gift of Love and Peace.

MERRY CHRISTMAS


In the Name of Jesus Christ Amen




It has been a few days since we posted some new information, but we have been very busy. We had the east district conference on Sunday and it was amazing! The youth choir was outstanding and it brought tears to our eyes. It was a miracle. We wish young men and young women in the church in the states could learn from their example. They were so willing to come and participate. They have a new problem with choirs here in Cambodia. The problem is, there’s not enough room for everyone who wants to participate! It is humbling to see all of this. I will send a couple of pictures of the East district young men and young women choir.

We purchased a new painting for our apartment. We tried to correlate colors with our interestingly colored couch. Just got it hung yesterday.

Well, we’ve had a long day driving through the back country of Kampong Chang. We are staying tonight, once again at the LBN Asian Hotel. I am sending a panorama photo of the Mekong River from our balcony.

Visited the Central Branch (Vietnamese) Christmas Party. The kids weren’t quite sure about what Santa was up to, until he starting handing out gifts. Then it was a race!

We had a trip to Kampong Cham province last week. We met with the Provincial Governor. We traveled with Samnang Sea, bishop and Service Center Manager. We also traveled with Elder Peter Muers; he is a member of the Seventy and is First Counselor in the Area Presidency. He is from Perth, Australia. We had amazing experiences, watching the hand of the Lord, gently unlocking doors and paving the way for humanitarian efforts. It’s a blessing to be a missionary. By the way, today (Sunday) is the big Christmas Music Devotional in the Phnom Penh North Stake building. Mom is involved in 5 of the numbers.

I wanted to show you this. This is President Lam, the Branch President of the Central Branch. This is him with his young men of the Branch. They are so united as they all wear their orange shirts. On this day of their Branch Christmas party, they went out for most of the day, visiting members and doing service. This is a perfect example of a Ward our Branch leader who has grasped the vision we have received through living prophets and apostles. He is focused on the youth. What an amazing leader! He is just full of love and you can see it mirrored in the people of this very special Branch!!

We had our Senior Missionary Christmas dinner and party. We had it in our apartment, then went upstairs to the Warner’s for desserts. What a great group of people! It was a fun and enjoyable evening!  At 9:15 pm on Christmas Eve, we had a surprise visit from the Central Branch. This is the Vietnamese Branch that we have been called to serve with. This is the warmest, most loving people you will ever meet. They are so happy and joyous. The true spirit of Christmas.  Tonight we had 8 missionaries over for dinner. 4 from the Khmer Branch and 4 from the Vietnamese Branch. While we were eating, mom asked me to read my story of Christmas at LZ Bushwacker. As I was reading it, I suddenly realized, this was about an event that occurred on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1969, exactly 50 years ago this evening. And then, just about the time we shot off the artillery Christmas Star, the Vietnamese Branch comes into our apartment with such a happy and joyous spirit. As I ponder on all of this, I am brought to tears. I am so happy for the Vietnamese and the Cambodian saints. Surely, the Hand of God is in all things. Very apparent and obvious this evening. Definitely, a tender mercy!  Merry Christmas to all our family and loved ones. The Spirit of Christmas is the Spirit of Christ. We love you all more than you can imagine.

December 29, 2019

Mom and I had a wonderful experience today. With President and Sister Lewis we all made our first trip to the Sandan Saints. It was a long trip, but we arrived at 8:45 am. Our Church meetings were to be held in the home of Jen Kha and her husband Ty Choum. There were many people already there, waiting for us to arrive. The men and young men who hold the Aaronic Priesthood were dressed in white shirts and ties!

We held Sacrament meeting and then the second hour block. Sisters Jensen and Lewis led the 27 children who attended Primary. They knocked it out of the park ... led only by the Spirit!

There was a Sunday School for the Young Men and Women, about 10 attended. They were introduced to the 2020 CFM materials. We also held a Sunday School for the adults (about 20 in attendance) and also gave them their CFM books. President Lewis explained the program and how it works. The number of people who attended was about 65.

Remember, only 11 people have been baptized so far in Sandan. So, I was asked to explain in a simple way, what the Book of Mormon is. I’ll have to tell you how I tried to do that.

Following the meetings, Elder Richardson, from Mesa, AZ., taught a lesson to six investigators. They all want to be baptized.

Then we had lunch (definitely Khmer food). By the way, mom is perking up with what she eats. She is getting adventurous!!

Our final event was to give a Priesthood blessing to a woman who has suffered from seizures.

I think mom will add her thoughts about today.

Mom and I are somewhat involved in the planning, training, and preparations for FSY here in Cambodia. We can absolutely see that this is an inspired program. The Lord is guiding this. What a blessing for the Young Men and Young Women!! I am excited for our grandchildren who will be able to participate in this. We can see that it will be a great and wonderful experience. I am observing the Young Single Adults who are being trained to be the leader / counselors. It is a great blessing to them as well.