Mother's Day, Church and Phnom Penh North Stake's Self-Reliance Group

As we have gone about this last week we did not see a single thing in the stores that would suggest that they celebrate Mother's Day in Cambodia.  The Chaktomuk Ward that we attend in the morning only casually mentioned it in passing, but the Steung Mean Chey 3, which we attend in the afternoon, really emphasized it.  They had all of their Young Men and Young Women sing two songs and they had handmade cards and roses that they gave to each mother as they called them up to the stand.  We are known as Look (Loke) Yiay and Look Taa which is grandmother and grandfather, we probably were the oldest people there today.

After the Chaktomuk Ward we attended a baptism. The elders told us the story of this sister. Elder Gardner and Elder Hall were going down the street and noticed this woman taking out her trash. They stopped to talk to her, and asked if she would like to hear about Jesus Christ. She said she is a Christian and had been attending a different church, but it was a long ways away. She had just been praying about what do do and the Elders came, and invited her to hear the lessons. She has been attending the Chaktomuk Ward faithfully for several weeks. She was very happy to be baptized.

PP North Stake Self Reliance Group

Even though we are in Cambodia for Mother's Day this year Elder Oveson ended up making the one Sunday Meal that he has fairly well down; beef roast, potatoes and carrot in the Slow Cooker (aka Crock Pot).  By time we got home from our morning ward it was ready to eat.  We knew that we would be out late because of the Self Reliance group, so a larger afternoon meal was perfect for today.  The leftover roast will make some great rollups later this week.

Elders Carter and Sok

After Steung Mean Chey we had another Self Reliance meeting to attend in the North Stake. We were very pleased to see the full group of 14 participants arrived on time and the group went very well. We were blessed to have our translators, Elder Carter and Elder Sok. This is truly giving us the chance to get to know more of the young missionaries. As we waited for time for the group to begin, Elder Long, who used to translate for us, and his companion stopped in to say hello.  It is fun to have them seek us out just to say hello.