October 1, 2008
Dear family and friends!
We are humbled to realize a new month is ahead of us- the temperatures do not change that much in Cambodia, so the adjustments from season to season that herald the passing of time really don’t exist here. (We may alter that statement when we get into March- May which we understand from the natives themselves that it gets REALLY hot and humid!)
We adjust to the life here day by day- we can tell we are adjusting by the fact that when we see a European now, we stare just as hard as the Cambodians do and think, “They are so white!” totally forgetting that’s what we look like too!
We so enjoy our associations with both branches we are assigned to. It is difficult though, for the members in each plead with us to spend more time with them, and it is just impossible to be in both places at once. In many ways it would be much easier to have only one assignment- everything from training with prompt and appropriate follow-up, developing closer relationships, to the financial costs involved in our travel and lodging stays. But! We do the best we can, and as we learn, our best gets a bit better and we know we have much to learn and improve upon.
The Cambodian people are receptive and by nature a warm and affectionate people. There are very few older people and those that are elderly receive respect- we are called “the grandpa and grandma Elder and Sister” in Khmer. We are daily humbled and continually reminded of the reality that temporal things are just that- temporal. Whether in abundance or almost total absence of, what is eternal is of true value to all of God’s children.
I have to share a experience we had the other day- the Elders invited us to go with them to teach a family that is sincerely investigating the Church. They have 3 boys, from around 14 down to 7 years of age. The two oldest sons were very atentative, but the youngest child was a different story. In a loving, but frustrated explanation, the exasperated mother told us that this was not her son- that he was a monkey child! It was so funny- we all laughed and the boy lived up to his name!
Our love continues to grow for each of you….We pray the Lord’s blessings to be with each of you in your specific and individual needs. We know that your prayers in our behalf are answered daily and we feel of your love and support. To each of our grandchildren: Esther, Ephraim, Hyrum, Joseph and Lenora, Aubrey, Brigham, and McKay, and Aurora we want you to know that Grandpa and Grandma love you more than we can express and want you to know that we have a testimony that Jesus is the Christ, that his gospel is on the earth and that we can have true joy and happiness in this life!
Big hugs and much love to each of you,
Grandpa and Grandma- ie. Elder and Sister Dickerson
We are posting a few pictures that are indicative of the sights and sounds we see here in
Cambodia. The first is the family Mom referred to above, the rest are shots taken as we travel to and from KT and SR, the 2 branches we are serving. They include: road side markets, moto shots, pigs and chickens to market (Cambodia is rough of on pigs and chickens. They are transported live)
We are also including some shots of the crazy traffic in Pheonm Phen.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
September 17 2008
Mission life is starting to take on a life for us- the days are beginning to run together and we are becoming uncomfortable calling each other anything else but Elder and Sister Dickerson! Our mornings begin with prayer, a 30-45 minute walk, and then our individual study of Preach My Gospel- What a priceless book that is! One of the new missionaries that just arrived from the MTC shared with us some of the remarks that General Authorities have made regarding it: That when the Savior comes, that this is will still be "the book" missionaries are using; and that we as a Church have not yet begun to realize the impact that Preach My Gospel will have on the Church...
We enjoy our companionship study and then comes the language study...we have come to realize that we may never be able to teach with any degree of fluency, but we also are beginning to realize that as we strive to live worthly of the Spirit, that when we feel impressed to speak in a teaching discussion, we can convey our message with the Spirit, and to that degree, teach successully.
Monday mornings we drive up to Seam Reap where we stay through Wednesday morning. The elders there keep us very busy and we are on the go constantly with them - they help us with our leadership training on Tuesday afternoon before Mutual, and then we are out on appointments with them till 8:30 pm. that night. Wednesday morning we run our errands, get a few grocheries that we can not get in Kampo Thom [KT] and leave in time to get back for Mutual there.
The rest of the week we are in KT where our schedule is fairly consitant: We get up at 6:00, prayers, a 30-45 minute walk, individual study, companionship study, language study, and a break for lunch. After lunch, Dad usually takes a "power nap" (!) and I paint. I have decided just to focus on learning how color works, value studies, etc. It is difficult to do with no teacher but a book, but I can tell that I am learning - and that is progress!
If our elders in KT do not use us, we spend the ballance of the afternoon in training studies for our branches, and then off to the Church for Seminary at 4:00.
Saturday there is instiute and twice a month we drive an hour down to do training with the Branch president. Two Sundays a month he stays after Church and has training then and lunch with us.
On occasion we drive down to Phenon Phen to the mission office where we report branch buisness, get our mail, and service our car. It has had an ongoing list of little problems- we get the list fixed- or so we hope-and it starts something new! Half of our driving is done over dirt, potholes and small to large pools of water, so I guess, if I were a car , I would complain too!
Our love for each of you has grown....I thought I loved you before, but our time here has increased that love so much... Dad is going to get on line now-
(Dad)I will be short because I want to try and get some pictures on but I do want to say I am so blessed to have mom for my companion she is awsome. The people just love her and she is in her element teaching. Mom has a wonderful way to teach with simplicity and in a way that the young and old can relate to.
The most won
We enjoy our companionship study and then comes the language study...we have come to realize that we may never be able to teach with any degree of fluency, but we also are beginning to realize that as we strive to live worthly of the Spirit, that when we feel impressed to speak in a teaching discussion, we can convey our message with the Spirit, and to that degree, teach successully.
Monday mornings we drive up to Seam Reap where we stay through Wednesday morning. The elders there keep us very busy and we are on the go constantly with them - they help us with our leadership training on Tuesday afternoon before Mutual, and then we are out on appointments with them till 8:30 pm. that night. Wednesday morning we run our errands, get a few grocheries that we can not get in Kampo Thom [KT] and leave in time to get back for Mutual there.
The rest of the week we are in KT where our schedule is fairly consitant: We get up at 6:00, prayers, a 30-45 minute walk, individual study, companionship study, language study, and a break for lunch. After lunch, Dad usually takes a "power nap" (!) and I paint. I have decided just to focus on learning how color works, value studies, etc. It is difficult to do with no teacher but a book, but I can tell that I am learning - and that is progress!
If our elders in KT do not use us, we spend the ballance of the afternoon in training studies for our branches, and then off to the Church for Seminary at 4:00.
Saturday there is instiute and twice a month we drive an hour down to do training with the Branch president. Two Sundays a month he stays after Church and has training then and lunch with us.
On occasion we drive down to Phenon Phen to the mission office where we report branch buisness, get our mail, and service our car. It has had an ongoing list of little problems- we get the list fixed- or so we hope-and it starts something new! Half of our driving is done over dirt, potholes and small to large pools of water, so I guess, if I were a car , I would complain too!
Our love for each of you has grown....I thought I loved you before, but our time here has increased that love so much... Dad is going to get on line now-
(Dad)I will be short because I want to try and get some pictures on but I do want to say I am so blessed to have mom for my companion she is awsome. The people just love her and she is in her element teaching. Mom has a wonderful way to teach with simplicity and in a way that the young and old can relate to.
The most won
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
photograph directory
This is Mom's first attempt, so please excuse the errors! After our arrival at the airport, we were taken to the mission home for a quick rest and then orientation to our responsibilities. By 4:00 pm we and our fellow new couple, the Fairchilds, were in a state of near exhaustion... and we both went to bed. The next day we were feeling a bit more awake and the photograph next on the blog is the hotel river front where President Hinckely dedicated the land of Cambodia. We are standing with President Winiger and the Fairchilds.
The next picture is taken on the street in "KT" where we have been assigned - the children are very curious and friendly!
The last two were taken the first Saturday we were here- and our first baptism to attend. The branch has wonderful youth who are a great support to each other, and have opened their hearts to us.
Pictures do not do Cambodia justice, however, we are trying to get a better "window" into our lives here in pictures for you to see. We love each of you more than we can express and that love has deepened every day as we come to appreciate the true meaning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Last night we were on a teaching appointment with the elders in Seim Reap to a young Cambodian family who is investigation the Church. The "road" was a muddy red clay morass, the home a humble spot, the children in clean but tattered clothing....but the father taught the gospel from the Book of Mormon, their children gave the prayers, and everyone who had a Book of Mormon followed intently along....and all this in a family that has not yet been been baptised. Dad and I were moved beyond measure as we saw the beginning seeds of what we had planted for our own family so many years ago. The blessings of the Book of Mormon are already blessing this family.....the gospel is true and we are blessed beyond measure with the promise of our eternal family as we keep our covenants....we love you!!!!!! Hugs, hugs, Elder and Sister Dickerson- dad and mom!!
The next picture is taken on the street in "KT" where we have been assigned - the children are very curious and friendly!
The last two were taken the first Saturday we were here- and our first baptism to attend. The branch has wonderful youth who are a great support to each other, and have opened their hearts to us.
Pictures do not do Cambodia justice, however, we are trying to get a better "window" into our lives here in pictures for you to see. We love each of you more than we can express and that love has deepened every day as we come to appreciate the true meaning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Last night we were on a teaching appointment with the elders in Seim Reap to a young Cambodian family who is investigation the Church. The "road" was a muddy red clay morass, the home a humble spot, the children in clean but tattered clothing....but the father taught the gospel from the Book of Mormon, their children gave the prayers, and everyone who had a Book of Mormon followed intently along....and all this in a family that has not yet been been baptised. Dad and I were moved beyond measure as we saw the beginning seeds of what we had planted for our own family so many years ago. The blessings of the Book of Mormon are already blessing this family.....the gospel is true and we are blessed beyond measure with the promise of our eternal family as we keep our covenants....we love you!!!!!! Hugs, hugs, Elder and Sister Dickerson- dad and mom!!
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Sept 4
Dearest family,
Cambodia is a humbling mission in every way- we have been stretchedand continue to be so, but we have faith that this is the mission theLord has sent us to, and in addition to the growth that we have andare experiencing, we hope to in some way, to assist the work here.
Little, or "tick- tick" as it sounds in Kami, gecos share the showerwith me, our morning walk takes us through cow dung, dog droppings,chicken messes and other random "stuff", the weather is hot to hotter,my tummy churns every night with discomfort from the food, our life isone small room, but the gospel is true, the members have the light ofChrist in their lives, and the missionaries we serve with are some ofthe finest in the world. Slowly our lives are coming together and wehope that we will have some clear direction from President Winigerafter our meeting with him tomorrow. We have come with ourobservations, some ideas for solutions and are so looking forward tothis meeting.
We love you so much and please know that you- each and every one- arein our hearts and prayers constantly.....Love, love, and more love,from Elder and Sister Dickerson ie. Dad and mom!!!! Grandpa andGrandma!!!
Cambodia is a humbling mission in every way- we have been stretchedand continue to be so, but we have faith that this is the mission theLord has sent us to, and in addition to the growth that we have andare experiencing, we hope to in some way, to assist the work here.
Little, or "tick- tick" as it sounds in Kami, gecos share the showerwith me, our morning walk takes us through cow dung, dog droppings,chicken messes and other random "stuff", the weather is hot to hotter,my tummy churns every night with discomfort from the food, our life isone small room, but the gospel is true, the members have the light ofChrist in their lives, and the missionaries we serve with are some ofthe finest in the world. Slowly our lives are coming together and wehope that we will have some clear direction from President Winigerafter our meeting with him tomorrow. We have come with ourobservations, some ideas for solutions and are so looking forward tothis meeting.
We love you so much and please know that you- each and every one- arein our hearts and prayers constantly.....Love, love, and more love,from Elder and Sister Dickerson ie. Dad and mom!!!! Grandpa andGrandma!!!
Sept 5
Howdy all, Our mission experience has been so amazing that words can not begin to describe. It has been a wonderful blend of culture, beautiful people, sights, sounds and smells but I have to say without a doubt the thing that has been so special is to watch the Gospel of Jesus Christ take root and grow in the lives of these humble and special people. Their faith and sacrifice has been so humbling for Sister Dickerson and I. Our Branch Pres. pays $5 every Sunday for a 1.5 hour ride into church one way on salary of a little over $100 per month. We have many youth who ride 30 to 45 min on bike on hot dusty and sometimes muddy dirt roads to church and seminary. (seminary is in the afternoon) We stay pretty busy, still trying to find the balance of service between the two branches that we serve. We have been the last couple of days in Phenom Phen to meet with our mission pres., get the car worked on and pick up groceries. the fellowship with the other couples has been so warm and friendly, they are all such choice people with whom you feel an instant connection because of our common sacrifice and love for people of Cambodia. We still are trying to work out the bugs with our laptop no one here in the mission office was able to get it going, looks like we will have to find a computer shop for help. We will keep you posted. We love you all and pray for the lords blessings to be with you always, Dad
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