With Every Calling There Comes a Release - Even For Missionaries

The Sunday after we were given a car to drive, we went to the Stueng Mean Chey 3rd Ward for the very first time.  We met wonderful sister missionaries serving there, Sister Jepson and Sister Spangler.  For the last five months we have served in the same Ward, first Stueng Mean Chey 3rd and then Chaktomuk with Sister Jepson.  Despite her best efforts to stay even longer, today was the last day of her mission.

Sister Jepson's parents were coming here to Cambodia to pick her up, the Van Broklyn's had agreed to pick them up at the airport this morning.  This afternoon we got a call from Sister Christensen asking if we could get ahold of them, they are staying at a hotel across from the Stake Center, and ask them to wait until 5:30 to come to the Mission Home.  We walked over and spoke to them and then they asked if we had any ideas of what they could do for a little while.  We told them they could take a ride with us to the Service Center, which they were more than willing to do.  It started to rain just before we went and the streets were a little flooded, but not even close to the storm three weeks ago.  We also offered to take them to the Mission Home later to find their daughter.

We have been working on a project for here in Cambodia under the direction of Church Headquarters and Hong Kong.  We got notice today that due to so much happening it has all been moved to Hong Kong.  We try to practice the phrase, blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape.  We always try to be flexible and roll with whatever we have to and trust that everything will work out fine.

Liz and Ella

One little side story from yesterday. There were two cute girls, Liz and Ella, visiting Cambodia from Manchester England, who were quite determined to attend church. They set out, and stopped at every LDS chapel they could locate in Phnom Penh, only to find them all locked and no services at any of them. They finally learned of the conference with Elder Holland, but arrived as everyone was leaving. Somehow President and Sister Christensen found them, so Liz and Ella were invited to join our missionary meeting and luncheon at the South Stake Center. These two gorgeous girls were welcomed and had a wonderful visit with all the missionaries, and even had opportunity to shake the hand of Elder Holland. As we were introduced to these girls, Sister Oveson took the initiative to ask for them to perform Paparazzi services when we gathered for pictures. They had a wonderful adventure to add to their Cambodia Adventure. So, that is how we managed to get pics of our meeting Elder Holland.  So, now you know the rest of the story!