We Wear Many Hats on This Mission

This morning as we were getting ready to go to District Meeting with the young missionaries when there was a knock on our office door. As we opened the door we were greeted by one of our Institute Students that we have known almost the whole time that we have been here. We could tell that he wanted to talk to lookyiay (grandma) and looktaa (grandpa), that is what we are often called here. This is a 27 year old returned missionary, who is still single (like most others his age here in Cambodia), who is going to school on a Perpetual Education Loan, working two jobs and is the Stake Sunday School President. His father passed away when he was fourteen and he is the oldest of four boys in his family. He always seems happy and talks real fast even in English. This is the first time he has come to our office to talk to us, he has caught us after Institute and at YSA activities. He really needed to talk and just have someone listen, he was there for an hour and a half.

Another hat that we have been wearing for the last month has been quasi-legal assistant. We have been asked to help gather some of the information that the local attorneys need for the government.  It has actually been quite fun and we have learned more about the LDS Church buildings here in Cambodia and the lots that they sit on than we would have otherwise.

Every Tuesday we hold our Cambodian Self Reliance Services Staff Meeting.  It was Elder Oveson's turn to conduct and Sister Oveson is the report keeper, she needs the information for her monthly report. So this was our SRS hat.

The final hat we tried on today was that of Institute instructor.  We always start early in the week to prepare our lesson for Saturday, so that we are ready and can do the best job possible.  That allows us time to pull other material to help us teach.

Tonight we decided our picture for the day is the various uses of Tuk Tuks. They are not just for passengers. They are delivery trucks, produce vehicles, they deliver furniture, they are a package delivery service, and there is nothing like the very first ride in one (President & Sister Christensen).