This week was AWESOME!! we got transfer call (im staying the same with my koon), and we went on exchanges to Steng MeanChey (so happy because thats where i was born), and ate thanksgiving (ill attach pics), a member called me super fat (nothing really new-i get called fat and huge all the time), and we had stake conference. So basically, it was another great week here in Cambodia.

And I just wanted to share a quick thought with you all. 

3 Nephi 17 holds some of my most favorite verses. I remember growing up, and as we all do, things happen that hurt us, that cause us to break, and tear, and scar. For a long time, I held those scars too close and tried to cover them up with a whole bunch of different things. What I want to share with all of you today is the healing that can come through Jesus Christ. In 3 Nephi, it says: 

7 Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled  with mercy.
9 And it came to pass that when he had thus spoken, all the multitude, with one accord, did go   forth with their sick and their afflicted, and their lame, and with their blind, and with their dumb,   and with all them that were afflicted in any manner; and he did heal them every one as they were brought forth unto him.
10 And they did all, both they who had been healed and they who were whole, bow down at his   feet, and did worship him; and as many as could come for the multitude did kiss his feet,   insomuch that they did bathe his feet with their tears.

This is the promise i want to share with you all. Truly, through Jesus Christ we are healed. Our scars and hurt that cannot be covered up are made whole through Him. He is the way. He is the only way. So I invite all of you, those who may have never learned, those who are hurting, those who need to be made whole (this includes all of us), to turn to him. Turn everything over to him, and let him heal you. You can feel peace, you can feel happiness and fullfillment, and love again. 


Pics: 1. me and a recent convert, ming sopia. shes incredible! she sells food every day on the side of her house, so shes ALWAYS busy and ALWAYS working but anytime we stop by she always lets us read the bom with her for 15 minutes. she holds my heart because her faith is so strong. 
2+3. random pics of cute kids in my favorite area. this area is so poor, and the people are so humble and so ready to hear the message of the gospel.
4+5 (attachments) this is us on thanksgiving at the senior couples house. basically theyre the best because im pretty sure pumpkin pie never tasted so yummy. also, isnt the top of their apartment building beautiful?!!

LOVE YOU ALL. 

sis smith

This week i just have pics because pics are way better than words anyways. Also i don't have a lot of time today, but i hope you all find time to  eat octopus for me!   Hmmmm, turkey might taste better!  :)  

HI FROM CAMBODIA 

just killed a spider that was running around next to my keyboard and didnt even scream. if that doesnt just sum up everything ive learned in the last 6 months here, im not really sure what does.

This week was truly one of the best. So many wonderful things, and once again, not a lot of time to share all of them!

but one of the best memories is from last pday. we wanted to go explore a wat (the place that buddists go to worship AKA where monks live) so we went to one close to our house, and just started talking to the people there. maybe there was a miscommunication, because he thought we wanted to worship, and i thought he was just taking us to see the different rooms. but we get inside this room, and half of it is filled with statues, and buddas, and food offerings, and he starts lighting the candles, and he gives us incense, and we just sit there for a few minutes pretending that we dont understand that hes telling us to pray. it was way fun.

also, got to attend a wedding! that was cool. weddings here are all out!! they last for days, and are big and beautiful! 

but i think the coolest, happiest, best thing that happened this week was that we had 2 of our inv at church! and they are both so so solid. please pray for bong phana, and bong serei roat. bong serei roat is a referral from a member, and shes incredible. she spent 40 minutes riding around phnom penh trying to find our church but made it eventually and stayed for the full 3 hours! 

this week as we were out contacting, we were exploring some new places in our area. we came across a poom (kind of like a neighborhood), that is some of the poorest places ive ever been here in cambodia. and it was one of those moments where it hit me how much these people hold my heart. we just started talking to them, trying to build a relationship, and the kids follow us around holding our hands, and it fills my heart with so much love, but then breaks it at the same time, because i want so much more for them. 

anyways, basically cambodia is the best. its so happy and warm all the time. 

good luck this week! keep studying the scriptures and coming closer to christ. 

sis smith

hi hi hi

so this week has been INCREDIBLE

i am training! My koon is from america, and she's awesome! This week, we had a ton of our appointments fall through, so we contacted a lot. And seriously, so many miracles. 

One night, we had everyone cancel on us, so we just decided to bike around and talk to people. and i see this guy sitting on the sidewalk next to his car, which has the hood up, and i was like, well, i know nothing about cars but it looks like its broken, so he probably needs help. so we stop, and i ask him if he needs any help, and he starts laughing. and im like, yah, i know im this random white girl-i actually cant do anything to help with your car. the first thing he says to us, in perfect english, is "hey, you're mormons, right?" and im dying inside, because how often do you see a miracle unfold right before your eyes?! anyways, so of course we say, yes we are mormon missionaries! and he says, "i can tell because of your brand", and then he explains further, ÿa know with the bicycles and the helmets and the outfits, and the big hearts" so we keep talking to him, and he tells us that hes already called everyone on his phone, and no one can help him so hes just gonna wait, and "we are truly angels because a million people had already passed him, and we were the only ones that stopped" all i know is that god shows us every day that He is there. He is in all the intricate moments in our lives. He walks with us. and we just have to open our eyes and see Him. 

the gospel is the most wonderful thing. i am so honored to be serving in His name. i promise all that more happiness, more peace, more blessings that you can even imagine are waiting for you as soon as you turn your life to christ. its true, as missionaries, we do not offer money or food or housing. here in cambodia, we see these needs on a daily basis. but what we do offer is of much more worth, and has a much deeper effect than simply feeding someone a meal, or giving someone a bed for the night. what we offer is jesus christ. 2 Ne 26:25  Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price.

have a great week!!

pic: my old camp and i killing comp unity with matching skirts!

Sis Smith

HEY AMERICA

so this week was pretty awesome! a lot of our appointments fell through, so Sis Stratford and I just decided to go contacting. way fun, also way good because God blessed us with a couple new inv that we're super excited about. 

training is going really well, sometimes i dont know whats going on, because khmae is hard and sometimes still sounds like gibberish. but thats the fun part! guessing what people are saying:) basically the missions the best. cambodia is so fun and happy and warm and beautiful. its like the perfect summer day every single day!! 

dont have a lot to share today-it was a pretty typical week:) but wonderful, of course!!

pic 1-4: my and my new comp!

pic 5: my old comp on the way to transfers at the mission home!

pic 6: my sweet inv ming vinnak. we were soaking wet but the work goes on:)