Primary Program and Birthday Cake

As it was time for Sacrament Meeting to start at the Steung Mean Chey 3rd Ward we noticed about ten children and a couple of sisters on the back row on the stand. We were excited to experience our first Primary Program here in Cambodia. Both of the wards that we attend do not have very many Primary age children and they do not have anyone to play the piano in Primary to help them learn the songs. Still they gave it their all to sing and to share their parts. We were very proud of them and know that the programs in the Church have to start somewhere and progress from there.

In the Chaktomuk Ward there are two Sunday School Classes that we can choose from,  Gospel Doctrine and Gospel Principles. The other missionaries go to Gospel Principles because that is where their investigators and new converts attend. If we want translation during Sunday School that is where we go also. It was a good thing that we went into Gospel Principles today. They finished lesson with five minutes left of the class time so we figured that they had a cake for Elder Lauritzen since this was his last week. There was a cake, but it was not for Elder Lauritzen, it was a belated cake for Sister Oveson. It is so nice to have friends that remember us even here on this side of the world.

After the block there were two being baptized today in the Chaktomuk Ward. The mother of two recent converts that we have grown to love and appreciate and a fifteen year old girl who has a lot of friends that support her. The bishop performed the baptisms, which was really great as well. Once you pull a camera out at the building everyone wants to get in on the action.

Rainy Season is finally slowing down, but we are still getting beautiful sunsets that are wonderful with the clouds as an accent. The Thurstons are on the sunrise side of the building and as they saw the sunset they ran for their camera, so we got some pictures as well.