We also have fun!

I have mentioned to Elder Spencer that we are enjoying our time in Cambodia at least as much as any vacation we've been on. (Maybe not Family Reunions.)  Of course, we are both oldest children and are workaholics. So this is what we LOVE to do.  Here are some random things we want to share:

We celebrated one month out on our mission with Swensen's ice cream--a real treat. I love the chocolate covered cherry!

On Monday (Preparation Day) we went on the bamboo train with the Sister Missionaries. It was a thrill. Perfect day.

Dave loved the simple engine.

 This is what happens to the bamboo train when a platform is coming the other way. You get off, they remove your "car" so the other folks can pass and then they place the wheels, platform and engine back on the tracks. Off you go!

And then our dear friends in Phnom Penh sent us a special treat--fried crickets! They look more appetizing enlarged.

Visiting with the missionaries--the best!

We have been sharing about getting settled and finding things we need to survive.  We are doing fine on that front. The best part of being here is going out with the young missionaries.  They do the talking and teaching and we nod and smile and may offer a few remarks which are dutifully translated.  Dave said simple prayers in Khmer on a couple of visits.  This picture was from our very first visit. Sisters Young and Kong are surrounding this group with three young women one of whom is not a member. The missionaries are so diligent.

We also had Family Home Evening with a large extended family and other missionaries.  They fed us a wonderful soup they made as we all sat around on the floor.  This young girl was so helpful, cooking on one of the single burner stoves for our part of the room and showing us how the Khmer do it.

It was a delightful evening.

My motto is: Every day I fall in love! Every day is an adventure and we fall in love with these wonderful people.

Elders Slaven and Eliason took us out in the country to teach a young man who is on a mango farm. This was our teaching setting.  The investigator's living room was a tarp spread out under a bamboo tree.  Fortunately, he had a small table for the old people to sit on.

It was like heaven!

We also loved these visits with Sisters Fields and Allen. The older member in the second picture lives in a very small home that is about 8 feet by 8 feet.  At age 82, she has pretty severe health problems but her faith is exemplary.

This is a wonderful family that will be baptized soon. They have a wonderful Spirit in their home.

This baptism happened last week--a wonderful young couple with Sisters Choek and Lindley who taught them.

We also are involved in the English class at Church and I am teaching piano and music conducting.

 

This is what our paths looked like as we made visits the other day - and it is not rainy season yet!

Then Dave is so nice.

We have the cleanest shoes in town!  Thanks!  We love what we are doing here.

Food shopping in Battambang

We love Battambang. It is easy to get around and figure out where things are. This is our local market.  I captured a couple of highlights, the rice and the meat. These women are very friendly and helpful.  They sit on the tables or hammocks next to the tables with their feet on the table. It has been interesting. I learned from the sister missionaries who buy their food here every week.

One morning there was a wedding in the neighborhood. These are very elaborate. See the tent in picture 3.  These men are preparing the luncheon. I liked the way they were cleaning the chickens. They thought it was funny that I wanted to take a picture of them.

  I love the variety of fruits and vegetables.  I bathe everything in a bleach solution before it goes in the fridge.

This is a rambutan fruit.  Kind of like lychee.

 Dragon fruit

It is mango season so there are wonderfully juicy, sweet mangoes everywhere.

 Also, we love, love the fruit shakes. The "cherry" on top is a lychee fruit. This shake is mango coconut.

 My market vegetables.

Fish cooked in banana leaves served by someone we visited. Delicious.

Fish amok is a famous dish cooked in banana leaves.  And beef lok lak with a fried egg.  Both are restaurant treats.

Don't mind the steamed vegetables in front. That was my choice.  Very nice with brown rice. We also treat ourselves to the American food sometimes.  I love to go local, but sometimes a taste of home is just right.  Note that this "precious" food is behind glass doors.  It really is a treat.

We love trying new things to eat and are enjoying the wonderful options here in Battambang.

Welcome to Battambang--Our new home!

We followed President Moon to Battambang on Saturday, May 9. It is a 5 hour drive over 180 miles. We learned a lot about passing and watching out for passing cars.

There is a legend about a lost stick and the black Buddha which gives Battambang its name. 

We drive by this several times a day. It is pretty much the center of our world.

 The view out of our kitchen. Our neighbor and her washing:

Thank you sister missionaries for helping us with our first shopping trip. We love these sisters:

Pictures from my first walk. These are all from the same walking bridge. Battambang is beautiful.

I think this means walk, don't drive. It is in front of a school.

Welcome to Battambang.  More later!

More pictures of Phnom Penh

Our two days in Phnom Penh were full of new sites and lots of learning.

Favorite lunch at Magnolias.

 We enjoyed riding a Tuk Tuk around town.

This is a Tuk Tuk that waits in front of the Mission Office. A member owns it, thus the BYU on the back.  These are some sites.

These are random photos that I took from the Tuk Tuk.  And more.

Note the building materials.
Back to the mission office.  We always remove our shoes when entering a home.

Phnom Penh was interesting, but we are ready to get to work.