We Now Have Two Wards That We are Assigned to Visit

 Sundays are great!  We get to go to Church and partake of the Sacrament.  That is so very important to us, we do not need to know the language, the prayers and spirit are still the same.

We are still attending the Chaktomuk Ward at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday morning.  Today they had six speakers for Sacrament Meeting, which was good because they were all really short.  The only one that would have gone longer was Elder Lao, the Assistant to the President, but he kept it short to give the last speaker some time.  Elder Brewer, the other Assistant, translated for us and we really enjoyed his editorial comments as he went along.  We now know what lessons they are on and we were able to follow the manuals in Sunday School, Relief Society and Priesthood, so with a little translation we were able to understand.

Now that we have a car, we have another Ward to attend that is about 7 km or 4.35 miles away from our apartment.   The additional Ward is the Steung Mean Chey 3rd Ward.  Their building is West and then South of where we live.  One of the other Senior Couples told us to leave early because the construction could slow us down.  It only took us a half hour to get to the building.  The Stake Center has wooden pews, this building has stackable chairs in the Chapel.  There is one set of missionaries assigned to that Ward right now; Elder Long, a Cambodian, and Elder Lauritzen from the USA.  They only had two speakers lined up for Sacrament Meeting and they only took about ten total minutes.  We got called on to bear our testimonies, but that only took a few minutes, the same one we bore in Cambodian before our mission.  One of the counselors in the bishopric took the rest of the time.  Going home afterwards was drastically different, it took an hour and forty-five minutes.  We are learning new lessons in patience hear in Cambodia.

P-Day Does Not Mean You Have The Day Off

Saturday is Preparation Day for the Senior Couples in Cambodia, but that does not mean that you have the day off.  In fact we were up earlier today than normal.  We normally get up at 6:00 a.m. That way we are to our office by 8:00. Today we had to be up by 5:00 and to the South Stake Center by about 6:30.  The couple that we are officially replacing had to go home last October, due to some health problems.  One of their assignments had been to teach an early morning Institute Class, but with them leaving early, the Hollenzers had taken over the class.  This morning we went to meet the class and we will start teaching them in two weeks because next week we will be out of town on some visits.

We are still looking for some of the things that we need to have our apartment fully setup for us. This afternoon we ventured out to do some shopping at two stores that cater to foreigners here in Phnom Penh.  We did find a few more items but there are still several things on the list.  We will have to try going to the Aeon Mall that caters to the Japanese. That may be a little more expensive, but hopefully we will find the other items.

At 4:00 we ventured all the way across Phnom Penh to the North Stake Center for a Starting and Growing My Business class at 5:30.  Phanna was out of town today, so we volunteered to cover the class this week.  It is good to see the local stake support the Self Reliance Initiative and hold these groups as encouraged by the General Authorities.  We were blessed that two full-time missionaries were invited to come and translate for us, Elder Choi, from Ogden Utah, and Elder Vuah, from Cambodia. By the time we got home it was 8:00. At least dinner was ready in the crock pot, but there were still things to do to be ready for Sunday.

Blessed are the Flexible: They Shall NOT be Bent Out of Shape

We begin our day by planning what we will be doing at the SR/PEF Center. Today was no exception. However,  as careful as we are to plan things don't always follow the schedule we had in mind.  For instance,  today we set our schedule beginning with planning and study.  After checking in with family via Skype, we intended to read and study some of the materials for upcoming training.  We also ended up skyping with Sister Powell in Hong Kong, getting ready for next week's visit to Cambodia, and giving us a little training for our job here. We are learning how to support and work with the SR Manager, Phanna, a full-time Church Employee that will be here after we go home.

Another of the side-tracks we found today was visiting with Marco again before his return to Hong Kong. He had invited us to join the team for lunch at the New York Steakhouse just down the street. What a wonderful group of people to be with.

The young missionaries in Cambodia are not allowed to proselyte so their methods of finding investigators differs slightly from some other missions. One thing we typically see them doing is "flipping signs" telling of the free English lessons they teach at the chapel.  It seems to be something the Cambodian people want, they told us that they average about 30 people a night in the classes.

We decided to leave the office a little bit early to avoid some of the traffic on our way home. We made it across the busy street and made it home with no problem. Then finally sat down to study the lesson we intended to read and study this morning.

What a great opportunity to serve some of Our Heavenly Father's children.

Everyday a New Adventure

One of the things the PEF Administrators have to do is visit the various universities to make sure they are legitimate and give proper training.  We went with Phanna, Sameth and Marco out to make one of those visits to a school today.  It was very interesting to see Sameth and Phanna in action, they were very professional and handled it perfectly.  We also visited a locksmith that went to school using a PEF loan, he is making a lot more than he did before his schooling. That was a very good visit also.

This afternoon we received an email from the mission office letting us know that Elder Oveson's temporary license had arrived.  When we called to see when we would get the car, they said they would let us know.  Less than an hour later we were on our way to the Service Center to pick up the car.

That was 5:15 and rush hour traffic was a real mess right then. This was not the right time for our first Khmer driving experience. Understanding that, Brother & Sister Hollenzer, the Office Couple, invited us to go out and eat with them.  They took us to Brooklyn Pizza and Bistro. It was American food and was very tasty.  After that we picked up our car and ventured back to our apartment, and we made it there just fine.

Finish cleaning up and training

Last night as we went into the Master Bedroom we could not get the overhead lights or plugs to work for us.  We worked around that because we were staying no matter what, and it was alright.  We asked the office to fix the lights, and they brought us up and showed us there was a switch by the bed, hidden by the curtain, which controlled the other switches.  We will have lights tonight.

We stayed home from the Self Reliance PEF Center this morning to finish cleaning up the treasurers from the storage unit.  After we cleaned the items that we found, we had to cleanup the counter that got dirty from them.

The Area Self Reliance PEF, in Hong Kong, has a weekly Skype training meeting, which was today at 10:30.  We made it to the PP South Stake Center in time to participate and learn.  The group in Cambodia (Sameth, Phanna, Marco (from Hong Kong), Samson (from India) and us) was the largest group today.

We also did a Skype call with the Senior Couple in Mongolia this afternoon.  Marco wanted to introduce them and also have them explain how they help their PEF Specialist, their equivalent of Sameth.  They are currently reviewing all PEF applications before submitting them to Hong Kong to help avoid questions or issues.  We are excited to help out any way we can.

This afternoon the PEF group went to a local mall and came back with some snacks for us to try. They found fried crickets and cooked butterfly cocoons.   Needless to say, they did not get us to try them, but they are young and enjoyed them.

Move In Day and Team Dinner

March 10, 2015

This afternoon our friends, the Meinzers, ventured out with us to the mission storage unit, which is really a warehouse where missionaries have an apartment of sorts in the back. This is where all the random left-overs from previous missionaries are taken. Nothing was really organized, and most things were covered with a thick layer of dust. As we rummaged through the piles we were able to pull out some useful items to fill our apartment. We got a rice cooker, a slow cooker, a blender, and a variety of other kitchen items. We didn't find everything that was on our list, but we were able to acquire much of what we needed. Then we delivered it to the apartment (unfortunately, dust included).

We didn't have time to put things away before we had to head back to the church to meet up for a Team dinner with the PEF team. Marco (from Hong Kong), Samson (India),  Phanna and Sameth (Cambodia). We also invited the Public Affairs couple, Elder and Sister Vanbrocklin, to join us. We ended up at a French restaurant and had a wonderful evening. We had a great visit, great food, and learned a lot.

The Vanbrocklins were kind enough after dinner to take us to the store for a few items, then home again. We tackled some of the worst of the dusty pile in our apartment. The rest will have to wait until tomorrow.  We did sleep in our apartment for the first time tonight.  Home sweet home for the next 22 months.

Women's Day in Cambodia

Last week the part-time Seminary and Institute secretary asked us if we were going to work today or not.  She let us know that everybody else would be gone because it was a holiday, Women's Day. When we googled it, we found out that it originated in New York City when the women protested that they had to work more hours per week than men.  It is interesting that this is a holiday from the U.S.A., who does not celebrate it with a day off.  But Cambodia does.

The mission phone we got last Saturday decided not to work yesterday.  Because of that we decided we would try again to unlock Marilyn's IPhone. What I thought would be a ten to fifteen minute project turned into an hour and a half.  We stayed at the Meinzers while we got it unlocked.  We also FaceTimed with Chris, Melissa and Lizzy this morning since we did not talk to them on Saturday. Because we were so late in leaving anyway, we decided to walk over to the Mission Home to take care of a few things.  It ended up being about an hour stop, but now we do have another cell phone that appears to be working just fine.

We finally made it to the Center, and since we were all alone, I was able to go through all of the rest of the files on the computer.  I found some very interesting training manuals that I had never seen before.  We also went through some of the training that we wanted to review.

This evening the Meinzers took us to a German restaurant for dinner. That was definitely my favorite food here in Cambodia.  I am so full tonight.

Each day has it's own amazing twists

 Our second Sunday in Cambodia, and since we are now seasoned Tuk Tuk riders this morning we went to the Chaktomuk Ward which we are assigned. It starts at 8:00 a.m. in the Phnom Penh South Stake Center, where our offices are. There are two sets of young Elders also assigned to that Ward; the Assistants to the President, and what we call the tall Elders (one is 6'9" and the other is about 6'4").  Both companionships were very kind in helping translate the meetings for us.  We studied hard and practiced our Khmer so that we would understand at least a little bit once we got here. It is amazing how little we know.  The prayers didn't even sound close to what we have been practicing, the difference in a child's prayer, our simple prayers, and the adult prayers of the faithful members.

After church we walked over to our new apartment where we got a few things put away, had lunch, then kicked back for a bit. It felt nice to be in our own place, even if for only a little while. When we headed back toward the Meinzer's, we were pleasantly surprised to have a Tuk Tuk just outside our door, and with Sunday traffic being nothing like week day traffic, it was a very quick ride.

Our First P-Day and it was exciting

Saturday is Preparation Day for the couples. It is our day off since most of us have office jobs the rest of the week and assignments in the various Wards and Branches on Sunday.

WE FaceTimed with five out of our six children and their families this morning.  Morning in Cambodia is the previous night in the U.S. so that works very good for us to catchup on what is happening back home.

We are moving forward with finally getting settled into our new assignment and our own place.  We received the mission cell phone today and got it setup and working.  We went and purchased some more food to stock our apartment.  And we now have a time when we will be going to the storage unit to see what is there, so we can determine what we will have and what we need to buy to get out own apartment finally setup.

This afternoon we went with the Meinzers to an Orphanage that is run by a member.  She has 31 children at the orphanage right now, and even though they are not all members they go to church with her every week.  All the children greeted us with warm hugs and hellos as we arrived, and goodbye hugs as we left. They fed us beef and vegetable stew and put on a program for us. It was very touching.  The Church is going to help her put together a garden.

We also went to our first Cambodian wedding tonight, it was quite the event.  It was held at a big hall with around five hundred guests.  In Cambodia, the bride and groom change their outfits several times, all very glamorous and formal.  The groom told Sister Meinzer that he had four different formal suits and the bride had six or seven.  It was a dinner that never seemed to end.We had fish, duck, chicken, rolls, soup, etc. We decided that we had another important meeting before it was over and left.

Another Day, Another Tuk Tuk

March 6, 2015

Another day, another Tuk Tuk ride to the office, and almost a week spent in Phnom Penh. This is the view from the Tuk Tuk as we made our way through Phnom Penh traffic. The streets are packed with autos, then fill the space between with Tuk Tuks. The inch that is left is filled with hundreds of motos. To cross an intersection you have to get your nose out there and be bold. Just don't make eye contact! Top speed is about 20 mph if that. Welcome to Cambodia!

After spending the morning working in the Self Reliance PEF (SR/PEF) office, we went to pick up keys for our new apartment. We finally have our home, but we still need some supplies before we move in. 

We will be just a few blocks from the Phnom Penh South Stake Center where the (SR/PEF) office is located.  Our 2 bedroom furnished apartment is on the 6th floor with a balcony that looks toward the church. There may be furniture and dishes, but there are lots of things we still need to acquire.  There were enough other things happening that moving in will have to wait until tomorrow. 

One of the highlights of the day was a Young Adult fireside with Elder Garrett Gong of the Seventy, Area President of the Asia. Elder Gong taught of the importance of laughing together. He referred to D&C 90:24 in relation to marriage. "Search diligently, pray always, and be believing ....." and that if they follow this counsel in your marriage there is a promise, "and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another."  Keeping the covenants are key. If we do these things, marriage will work best.

Zone Conference with Elder & Sister Gong and President & Sister Moon

Elder Garret Gong, the Asia Area President, came to tour our mission this week and to hold Zone Conferences.  They started out in Vietnam and Northern Cambodia and then on to Phnom Penh for two and then close out in another Province.  The one that we were invited to was held at the building where our office is located.  There were about 54 or so missionaries there at the Zone Conference today.

Elder Gong shared with us that there are approximately 3.5 billion people of the total 7 billion world population are in the Asia Area of the Church.  Of that number, 95% are not Christian, so we have a great work to introduce them to Christ.  He taught the missionaries that there are four important things to do:
     1- If you want more people to teach, talk to more people.  He shared stories about Elder Ballard and President Moon talking to more people.
    2- Great teachers study together to address investigators questions, and to take investigators to the next step.
     3- Find where you teach and teach where you find.  Ask those whom you teach for referrals, they know other potential members.
     4- Be spiritually bold.  We need to be bold through the spirit, angels are backing us.

President and Sister Moon taught us how to use The Book of Mormon to answer the questions that our investigators have.  We were taught that in a survey of recent converts, only 5% had a meaningful experience with The Book of Mormon.  We need to get those that we teach to experience what it is all about.  Read with them and get members to go and read with them.

It was an excellent conference and we felt like we had several revelatory experiences.

In other news; The mission signed the agreement on our new apartment today.  It is only about four blocks from the South Stake Center, so we can walk to it, even if we do get a car.  There is still a lot of stuff that we need to gather up to have the apartment ready for us. We need to go and see what is in storage, that will likely be on Saturday.

On our own in the Self Reliance(SR)/PEF office

Phanna and Sameth were at the office for a couple of hours this morning, then they left to do some My Path Self Reliance devotionals in the Provinces today and tomorrow.  That means that we were the only ones there to man the SR/PEF Office most of the day.  That was alright because this is the slow time of year for PEF, but we did have one of the participants come in who we got to meet. Unfortunately he had questions that we could not answer so we had to ask him to come back.

Elder Oveson found some Excel file lists of the PEF participants, so he was in second heaven, sorting and analyzing a variety of aspects and scenarios.  It was interesting that the number one course of study was Accounting/Auditing, which was 17% of all the participants.  A graduate with an accounting degree makes about $500 per month, which is a good wage in Cambodia.

We spent a lot more time going through files on the computer and there are still more to go through in the future.  We are starting to plan our days better, to give a little bit more variety, so we do not get bogged down with going through stuff.

Solo in a Tuk Tuk

Tuesday 3 March 2015

This morning we took our first solo Tuk Tuk ride, venturing to the Self Reliance(SR)/PEF center on our own. We did just fine and didn't get lost at all.  There are two Stakes and Two districts in Phnom Penh, our office is in the Phnom Penh South Stake Center.  The office that we have been assigned is in a wing with the Seminary and Institute, there are two offices for Self Reliance/PEF, we have the one that does not have a window in the door.

When we arrived, we learned there would be an internet training meeting with all the Asia SR Managers. It took about 30 minutes to get everyone together online. There were representatives from Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Mongolia, India and Malaysia. It is amazing what we can accomplish with technology!

Other than the internet training, we spent the day at the center going through files, drawers, cabinets, ..... just snooping around and becoming familiar with what was there. The previous SR/PEF Senior Missionaries went home last September, do to some health problems, so we are on our own to figure out what is still relevant and what is not. We also enjoyed getting to know Phanna and Sameth better.

We have continued to meet more of the young missionaries serving here, since the South Stake Center is a central location and easy place to congregate. At 5:30 we took our return Tuk Tuk ride to the apartment. When Elder & Sister Meinzer returned home, we ventured out for dinner, then to the mall to find bread. I guess you can get anything at the mall .... (except the salad spinner Sister Meinzer was trying to find)!!!

Our First Day at the Self Reliance/PEF Center

March 2, 2015

Phanna Yi (Self Reliance) and Sameth Meas (PEF)

Our day started with meeting the realtor at 7:30 to look at one more apartment to consider.  Elder Hollenzer wanted us to go at that time so we could see how congested the main road would be where we would have to cross.  As we were going to the apartment the realtor kept saying there must be an accident this is very slow.  He asked a Policemen that was on the side of the road, and was told there was not an accident, just normal traffic. We decided that apartment was not a good option, so then we went back to the one that we like the best and laid the ground work for the lease.  The lease has to wait for President Moon or Elder Hollenzer to sign on Thursday or whenever.

The Meinzers and VanBrocklins picked us up at the center for lunch at a Vietnamese Restaurant.  We had a very large crepe like pancake stuffed with chicken and vegetables.  It was really good.  After lunch we went to try and get Sister Oveson a simcard for her I-phone to get local service.  We went to three different places without luck: the phone was locked and nobody could (or would) break the lock.

This evening we took our first Tuk Tuk with E&S Meinzer to a security briefing at the U.S. Embassy.  Our new friend from yesterday, Sister Dockery, was in charge of the meeting. It was interesting to hear what to be aware of here in Cambodia.  The U.S. has a very large embassy here in Cambodia, Someone said that we were trying to compete with the Chinese.

March 1, 2015 - Sunday The Day of Rest (Sort of)

Sunday March 1, 2015

With our LONG day yesterday (it was about 50 hours from getting up on Thursday morning and going to bed Saturday night in Cambodia, with only a few short hours of sleep on the airplane), we slept pretty well for our first night in Khmer.  Even though our internal clock thought that we should be up and going, we were so exhausted the rest of our body over ruled it, at least for part of the night.

This morning just as Sister Oveson got her Iphone connected to the internet, a Skype call from Wendy and her family came in.  It was great to chat with them and see the snow that had fallen, way different than our 90+ degree days here in Phnom Penh.  Before we went to Church we Skyped with Janeene & Israel, Becky, Paul and their family, Brenda and Marla.  What a fun morning.

We went to a 10:00 a.m. Sacrament Meeting, in the International Branch .... and it is TRULY International. Elder and Sister Meinzer had meetings starting at 8:00 a.m., so Elder and Sister Hollenzer were our ride to church, then they had family coming for a visit so we were on our own. We thought we would have our first tuk tuk ride to find our way home after church, but instead a member couple, U.S. Embassy Employees, graciously took us on a tour of the city and delivered us back to the Meinzer's apartment where we spent the afternoon decompressing. The Meinzers are treating and feeding us very well. Today we had grilled salmon for dinner. (YUM)

Suasdei CAMBODIA

February 28, 2015 

On our way to Hong Kong we flew over some very interesting areas of the world. We crossed the Pacific Ocean, flew over Japan and Taiwan. It was interesting to look out at times and see the lights of cities far below as we soared at about 40,000 feet. The sunrise over the Pacific was quite beautiful!

As we approached Hong Kong, we descended below the clouds. The sky was overcast so we couldn't get a good view of the city.

At the airport in Hong Kong we had to go through security again as we changed airlines for our final leg of the journey.

The temperature began to climb. Hong Kong was probably high 60's when we landed. By the time we left, it was in the 70's.  We were no longer in the 30's which we left behind in Utah! As we landed in Phnom Penh the thermometer was somewhere in the 90's.

We landed in Phnom Penh at about 11:00 a.m., collected our luggage, went through customs, and were greeted by a very friendly group. Our Mission President and his wife, along with the other couples who are serving in Phnom Penh.

(L to R - Elder and Sister Oveson, Elder and Sister Meinzer, Elder and Sister VanBrocklin, President and Sister Moon, and Elder Hollenzer. Sister Hollenzer was not feeling well this morning.)

After an interview with President and Sister Moon and a wonderful lunch,  Elder Hollenzer took us out to look at apartments. After seeing about a dozen apartments, we were sooooo tired, we decided to wait to make a final decision. We had narrowed our selection down to two apartments.

Elder and Sister Meinzer are hosting us until we get into our own place.  After dinner with the Meinzers this evening, the Phnom Penh couples gathered to celebrate all the February birthdays. President and Sister Moon were not available as they were on their way to Vietnam for Zone Conferences.

After an extremely long day we finally went to bed at about 10:30 p.m. (I'm not sure how many hours it has been since we got up at home in Utah, but we are more exhausted that we remember ever being this tired before!)

Travel to Cambodia

February 27th 2015

Most days are 24 hours long.  ...  Unless you happen to be traveling West by jet and cross the International Date Line. We are not sure how long today really was. It could have only been about 5 or 6 hours.  (It was probably flew by during that short nap we took.)

It is very difficult to sleep on a jet plane. You have the roar of the engines, the times of turbulence, and those times you really need to just get up and stretch. However, our seats were the window and center. That meant we had to wait for the oriental woman on the aisle to be awake so we could get up. She was very nice, but we still felt bad asking her so often to just let us out.

Off to Cambodia

Thursday 26 February

The BIG day is here! As many of our family as were available met us for breakfast at Mimi's. They thought we needed that one LAST MEAL in Utah!

We have had a dry winter with not too much snow.  We have even had unusually warm temperatures. We had given our family a hard time that it was going to snow when we left. Sure enough, it DID snow today! We came out from breakfast to find flurries of white stuff falling from the sky!

Then we went home to finish packing and get ready to fly to Cambodia.  We thought we were almost packed, but it still took more time to finish.

We were surprised we did not use our full 50 pounds allowance for our large suitcases. In fact the heaviest was only 42.5 pounds, which was under the 44 pound limit for the final leg of our flight. Even our carry-on bags were pretty light. Not bad for packing for two years!!!

Since our daughter, Wendy, is buying our Honda CRV from us, she volunteered to take us to the airport. She also helped us take everything in to the terminal to get checked in at the counter.  Thank You Wendy! Enjoy the CRV!

As we entered the TSA security line we received a pleasant surprise. Unbeknownst to us, we had been pre-screened and did not have to go through the regular line! (They made up for that later at all the other airports we went through.)

We left Salt Lake at 3:30 p.m. MST and arrived in LA at 4:20 p.m. PST. Then we had over six hours lay-over before leaving just before 11:00 p.m. for Hong Kong. What do you do in LAX for six hours? LOTS of walking, sitting, and drinking water to keep hydrated for the LONG flight.

We love home, but we also love the Lord and look forward to serving Him in Cambodia for the next two years!

Day 4 Self-Reliance - PEF Training

Our pre-field training was completed today, that is exciting and scary in several ways.  It is exciting that we now get to go and do, it is a little scary because now we are on our way to Cambodia.

Most of the training today was a review of the last three days and letting those at Church Headquarters share their vision and letting us ask any questions that popped into our heads.  In many ways they considered our group Guinea Pigs, because the training that we received has been way different than any in the past.  With the many changes, including the initiative name and printed workbooks, the training had to be different.  Now we will see if we really caught onto what they were trying to help us understand.

A point that was emphasized over and over and over, was to develop good relationships with those that we wrk with, the stakes, wards, mission president,  self reliance full time employees, and PEF full time employees.  We need to not get ahead of the priesthood leaders, they have the keys, and we need to work with them to catch the spirit of the initiative.

We need to learn to praise those who succeed and teach and praise those who fail.  We were reminded that a positive attitude gets us through a lot.  We cannot force people to be self-reliant.  Use the learn as you do principle.  Be busy!  Busy missionaries are happy missionaries.  Don't just sit in the center waiting for someone to come in.  Go help find those who need to become self-reliant and help them.  True charity to a poor man is to put him in a situation where he can support himself.

These are some of the Church Headquarter staff that have trained us over the last four days.  They are from left to right, David Roper, Tim Evans, Sister Hunsaker, Fred Hunsaker and Wayne Boam.  They were fantastic.

Day 3 Self Reliance - PEF Training

Today we were given an understanding of the core program we will be working with over the next two years. We were taught the responsibility of the Self Reliance Service Managers, full time church employees, who we will be working with in each of the Self Reliance Centers. We were asked to Be Champions of Self Reliance wherever we go. We also learned that the Receptionist = The Director of First Impressions.

We were given tutorials on the online materials. It is incredible how many wonderful videos and resources are available.  

This is a link to a great video they showed us today. Please check it out:
       First Things First - Video

If you want to understand more of what we will be doing, go to:  SRS.LDS.org

This afternoon was spent learning about the PEF (Perpetual Education Fund). We were taught how it works and how members qualify for a loan. We learned that Cambodia and Mongolia are the two countries in the Asia Area that are using PEF the most. That is exciting to hear that we will be very busy on our mission. They walked us through the loan application process. It was simple and easy to understand. 

This evening we went to the Jordan River Temple. This is likely the last time to go to the temple for two years. The temple has been such an important part of our lives for the past 40 years. We look forward to being back to the temple in the future.

Day 2 Self Reliance Training

Today we went to the Church Office Building for more Self Reliance training. This is an amazing opportunity and we are excited to be a part of it. The Self Reliance Initiative is in the midst of changes. The materials that are being produced and provided now are wonderful. But even with the materials it still comes down to the spirit. We have been taught that all things are spiritual, including providing for our daily livelihood, which is an important part of Self Reliance. They showed us the workbooks currently being used and the workbooks to be used going forward.

Here are some of the key points they taught us today:

1. We want our members to have the best jobs and schools. Find them!
2. We prepare our saints to be the best employees. Recognize the potential everyone has.
3. We need to set up the members for the long run, not just for a job.
4. Use all your senses; take it all in. Don't try to impose your way of doing things.
5. The one who cares is the one who makes the difference. 
6. Learn how to kindly nudge and gently pull them along.
7. REAP the law of the harvest: R-Representation; E-Expectation; A-Action; P-Promise.

An important part of forming a group is to create an identity through a group name. Our group name is "Storehouse Warriors".  We are all part of the Lord's storehouse!

Day 1 of Self Reliance - PEF Training

Our morning started with a Sacrament Meeting at the MTC which began at 8:15,  which was followed by a devotional with Elder Joseph W. Sitati of the First Quorum of the Seventy.  One of the first things he shared with us is the change of the name of our assignment from PEF - Self Reliance  to  Self Reliance - PEF.  This may seem minor, but it is really a major change of the emphasis or our assignment. The Lord wants His children to be responsible for themselves, and not have a feeling of entitlement. Each person has a responsibility to chart their path to Self Reliance. PEF can still be part of that.

Our group was made up of 2 single Sisters and 5 Couples who will be serving throughout the world in the Self Reliance - PEF Initiative. [Elder and Sister Mickelson; Elder and Sister Spear; Elder and Sister Uzelac; Sister  Darby and Sister Murry; Elder and Sister Oveson; Elder Graff (Sister Graff was ill).]  We were told there are currently about 200 Full Time Missionaries serving in this capacity.

Here are some of the principles that touched us this morning:

1. Invite the members in your area to abide in Jesus Christ and to pull themselves out of their situation.
2. Self Reliance is having enough in your sphere so that you can serve the Lord.
3. Don't expect everyone to be at the same level. Bring them to Self Reliance to be the best they can be in their own circumstances.
4. Teach them how to live in their culture. Let it be good. To be clean in good.
5. If you can help them grow one inch permanently it is better than growing a foot and falling back to where they were when they started.
6. Resist doing it for them. Let them struggle to learn to do it themselves.
7. Be a trainer of trainers. This will work. It is the Lord's work!
8. It is not what you will do for them while you are there that will make the difference so much as what you teach them to do for themselves. Then when you leave, they will help others and follow your example.
9. Let them receive from our example so they in turn give service and teach others.
10. Inspire them to want to lift themselves from circumstances and aspire to serve as we serve.

Our first P (Preparation) Day

With our language Tutor, Joe Hickens, at the MTC

Today was spent washing and packing clothes, running errands, picking up the last minutes things for our mission, cleaning and enjoying our last Saturday in the U.S.  

Marilyn had to order new glasses due to the change in her vision after the cataract surgery, and the optical shop was only open until noon, so we went this morning.  The shop is in West Vally City, so we decided since we were already most of the way to Magna we would go see our friends Ronnie and Cathie Thompson.  Last month Ronnie was in the hospital for a couple of weeks with a serious infection.  It was good to see them, they are dear friends.  

Also since we were in Magna we decided to pick up lunch at El Habanero, our favorite Magna restaurant, Marla was all for that idea.  We stopped and saw some of our friends from the temple, Jim and Tammy Bird, on our way home.  We had a fun T-shirt for Jim.

With our Language Coach, Trever Webb,
at Cold Stone Creamery (his other job)

Spencer, Wendy, Roman and Hudson came to visit this evening and to have dinner. They have a meeting tomorrow night when most of the rest of the family is coming.  

We decided that our pictures for today would be, Joe Hickens, our Cambodian tutor, and Trever Webb, our language coach.  Without these two we would not know any Cambodian at all.  They have been so patient and helpful, thank you both for all that you have done.

 Day 5 - Final day at the MTC

This is our district from the MTC with our morning teacher:

back: Sister Franks; Sister Willets; Sister Oveson; Sister Hartung; Sister Smurthwaite; Sister Kacher (our teacher)
front: Elder Oveson; Elder Hartung; Elder Smurthwaite.

We are sure all of these wonderful  new friends will be phenomenal missionaries in their various areas of service.



We were usually paired in our group with Sisters Willets and Franks. These two widows from Washington, Utah, are amazing. They will be wonderful missionaries as they serve in Phoenix, Arizona as office missionaries. 

Brother Mosley (front left) was our afternoon teacher.

Below is the group of young missionaries who are currently learning Khmer, preparing for service in Cambodia. We have enjoyed getting to know them and eating meals with them. We are looking forward to serving with them in Cambodia in just a few short weeks.

Day 4 at the MTC

Another great day! Marla sent me a text this morning, "Just checking in!" My response was: "Doing great! Meeting lots of people, filling our brains with lots of info, and eating too much. Can't complain!

We have looked forward for all our life for the time when Jim would retire and we would go serve a mission.  It is just crazy that we are no longer in the "sometime in the future" but we are here NOW! We seem to be on a snowball roll! In the past year we moved into a new home, met lots of new neighbors and friends, Jim has now retired and we are on our way to Cambodia!

Today's schedule was much like yesterday. We have continued to learn and do TRC training at the MTC.  One of the amazing things in our training is how quickly the teachers access videos of apostles giving Missionary Training.  We live in a wonderful time of technology.  This evening they showed a video of a devotional where Elder Bednar spoke at the MTC on Christmas in 2011.  It was very powerful, he spoke of the character of Christ and our journey to understand and emulate Him.  He taught that testimony is a witness of the spirit and conversion is consistently living true to what we know.  That consistent living as Christ would, means turning outward when the natural man would tell us to turn inward.

Day 3 at the MTC

We learned today what a TRC is! Our afternoon teacher originally told us that TRC is short for Torture Retired Couples.  All kidding aside, it really stands for Teaching Resource Center.

In the TRC we meet an "investigator" that we are suppose to teach and then come back and critique how we did.  We had prepared to teach The Restoration lesson, but in getting to know our "investigator" we quickly learned that we needed to teach The Plan of Salvation lesson instead.  Our "investigator" was a 70 year old retired attorney, who had been thinking a lot about what this life is really all about.  We had to let the spirit guide us on what to say and how to teach the lesson.  The "investigator" kept throwing us little softballs to hit, which made it far easier on us.  As we critiqued the experience, Elder Oveson spoke way to much and went a little too deep; Sister Oveson, as usual was fantastic.

One of the other wonderful teachings of today was a video clip of an MTC devotional talk from Elder Holland.  He told us to look into the eyes of the investigators, because the eyes are the window to their soul.  We have to take them by the hand and lead them to Christ.  Teaching with the spirit means teaching with understanding.

We were also taught today that we teach people, not lessons.  We have to show that we really care.  If we are focused on the lesson that we want to give, it may get in the way of the spirit, follow the spirit.

Two or three non-spiritual items.  Today was arrival day for 300-400 new missionaries at the MTC.  It was interesting to watch them walk around with a glazed look on their faces, I hope that we did not have that look on Monday.  We got our last immunizations that we needed for Cambodia.  Those shots have been some of my least favorite things.  Today was an important meal day at the MTC: ice cream day.  We had ice cream for both lunch and dinner, what a great treat.

Day 2 at the MTC

We were up at 6:00 a.m. to be back over to the main MTC campus a little after 7:00 a.m. for breakfast.  Our living quarters are at the Wyview Married Student housing about ten minutes away from the main MTC.  They are currently adding on to the MTC but until that is done in a year of so, those couples with vehicles are staying in what they call the West Campus.

As we ate our breakfast, a couple came to sit next to us. I looked at their name tags with the name "Cowdin" on them. Since I knew some Cowdins when I grew up, the questions were asked which led to identifying them as members of that family. (Dave and Debbie Cowdin currently live in South Weber.) Elder and Sister Cowdin are here for their second week of training and head out on Thursday for the Joseph Smith Birthplace Visitor Center in Sharon, Vermont.

Sister Nellie Kacher, Sister Marilyn Oveson & Elder Jim Oveson

After breakfast we had the opportunity of meeting our District Trainer, who HAPPENS to have returned 6 months ago from the Cambodia Phnom Penh Mission. Sister Kacher is an AWESOME teacher, and we are grateful to have made this connection. One important thing she taught us is "The better that you begin, the better that you will end"!

Our day today was filled with classroom learning from Preach My Gospel. We did find the young Cambodian missionaries to eat dinner with again. We figure we need to get to know them as we will be serving with them again soon. This group of about 14 young missionaries are scheduled to fly to Cambodia about a month behind us.

This evening was a devotional for the entire MTC.  Elder Daniel L. Johnson of the Seventy and his wife, LeAnn Johnson, were the speakers.  Elder Johnson taught that as we teach, we NEED to teach about Heavenly Father and his true nature. We need to make sure as we teach, they understand that Heavenly Father is real and loves them, and knows them, and sent His Son. As we follow His Son, we will know the Father.

Our grand new adventure has begun.  Last night President Robison, the First Counselor in the Oquirrh Lake Stake, set us apart as full-time missionaries.  Some of the special blessing that Heavenly Father promised was that we would even learn the language faster now as full-time missionaries.  We were promised that our family would be watched over while we are away.  Also, that we would preach the gospel by our example.

We checked into the MTC this morning at 10:15, and most of the day was spent on orientation.  There were about 80 Senior Missionaries that entered the MTC today. We are in a district with six other Senior Missionaries.

President and Sister Burgess, the MTC President (who we met about 10 years ago at Philmont), reminded us of some very important things.  He told us the MTC is the only place, other than the temple, where everybody has to have a recommend to enter.  Sister Burgess shared Luke 18:29-30, "And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in the present time, and in the world to come life everlasting."  She also told us the best way to serve our mission is "One prayer at a time."  President Burgess shared that the MTC is a sacred and holy place.  He told us to enjoy our time at the MTC.  The spirit is the teacher here, and that we would gain an understanding of who we really are.  He finished with Doctrine and Covenants 84:88, "And whoso receiveth you, there will I be also, for I will go before your face.  I will be on your right hand and on you left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."

We were also asked to be an example to the younger missionaries, and to especially hold each others hand.  They challenged us to be a little kinder than necessary on our missions.  We were told that the best way to share the gospel is to bring the sprit int the meetings.

Sister Taylor gave some counsel, including Ephesians 4:32, "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

Reading mission call

Cambodia Phnom Penh Mission

Cambodia Phnom Penh Mission.

Cambodia is 14 hours ahead of Salt Lake City.

We are in for a BIG adventure in just a few days!!!

Profound Fortune Cookies

Tonight we went to dinner with our new friends. In a few months they will also be going to Cambodia as the new Mission President and Mission Mom.  They invited us to a restaurant owned by a friend who is from Vietnam. We had a wonderful visit and good food.

At the end of our meal we were quite amused with the fortunes we found in our cookies. Especially Jim's telling him "YOU WILL ENJOY A TRIP TO THE ORIENT"! That will be happening very soon.