Welcome the New Year 2017

Watching the changing of years is always a time of reflection and evaluation of the past year, as well as setting goals and making plans for the new. 2016 was a good year of service and adventures in Cambodia, while 2017 is a clean slate with adventures we cannot even imagine. The one thing we know is our time in Cambodia is coming to a close and we look forward to being together with our family once more.

New Year's Eve is always a good time to gather with friends to celebrate. Elder and Sister Thurston hosted the senior couples for snacks and a few games. All of us are getting old enough that having the party from 6-8 p.m. was late enough for us. There were even party hats for the occasion!

With the new year comes changes is meeting schedules at Church. Both wards are now in the afternoon with Steung Mean Chey at 1 and Chaktomuk at 3. This meant  Sunday morning was a good time for gospel study and to create a letter to friends and family about our return home on January 13th, and an open house for friends the following Saturday. No word yet as to when we will be speaking in Church.

The addition to the Steung Mean Chey building is coming along nicely, but it will not be completed until after we are gone. We had the opportunity to walk through the new stake offices and cultural hall. This adds significant size to the building.

Transfers this week meant changes to the young missionaries in Steung Mean Chey. We are excited to welcome Sister Hall to join Sister K. Chin, while Sister Clark moved to Chaktomuk Ward and Sister Winder moved to Battambang to get to know Elder and Sister Spencer.

Starting later also means we were not out of Church until 6:00 p.m., but only for one more Sunday.