The Circle of Life of Missionaries

Our days seem to ebb and flow through many different and unique projects and opportunities. On Thursday mornings we Skype with Sister Roberts in Hong Kong to return and report on our activities of the last week. We report directly to the Mission President, but we also have a responsibility to report to the Asia Area Self-Reliance Team, who report to headquarters. We also had a teleconference today with the Asia Area Operations Group, which basically means the Perpetual Education Fund portion of our labors.

This afternoon we took Sister Harris and Sister Young out to lunch. They are the Senior Sister Training Leaders here and they both go home next week. In Cambodia they refer to the first area where they serve as where they were born and their last area is where they die, completing the circle of life of a missionary. They have provided translation for us at the Chaktomuk Ward for the last couple of months, which is always appreciated. We went to one of our favorite restaurants, Brooklyn Pizza and Bistro. It was a great lunch. They then helped us with some more translation service. We wanted to buy some walking shoes so that we can start walking every morning after we move. They helped us negotiate the price, which was fair to us and the shop owner.

The other three-some of Sisters in our collage today came to get a visa for the one in a purple blouse to go to the U.S. She has been called to serve at Temple Square. We will have to track her down when we get back home.

This afternoon Phanna's wife, Sokhom, came to have us help her write a letter to get her money from an IRA in the U.S. She had worked for the Church when Phanna attended BYU-Hawaii and had qualified for a some retirement which she just wants to take and use. We have helped her previously, and as with most matters dealing with finances, these things take time to get done.