February 26, 2010- departure from Cambodia, February 14, 2010

This entry was planned for our last week in Cambodia, but in spite of many months of planing and preparation, the last few weeks turned into a nonstop rush- and one 0f the things that had to be set aside for later was the final blog of our mission.

However, this delay has given me time to retrospect back on our mission, to begin the process of putting our lives back together, and gain a bit of hindsight - all of which contributes to a broader foundation for recording the final sum of our mission experience in Cambodia.

We were blessed to have the opportunity of working with our replacement couple, Elder and Sister Houser for ten days prior to our departure. It was a humbling experience for me and a very tender one as well as I watched Sister Houser in those first initial days met and courageously deal with the multitude of differences and changes in accepting the Lord's invitation to serve His children in Cambodia. Through the tears that fell, she continued to smile, and that beautiful smile radiated her determination to face this mission with courage and charity. As we listened to Elder Houser pray, we knew the Lord had blessed our branches with exactly the right couple. In addition, we knew the Lord had blessed us with the opportunity to serve for a season, and that opportunity had now passed into their hands and that the work of the Lord would grow and flourish as they served.

We feel so grateful that the Lord blessed us with that parting experience- as we compiled, recorded, organized, and shared ideas with the Houser's, we were able to look at our eighteen months in Cambodia and realize just how much our lives had intertwined with the members, elders, and the hundreds of others that had woven themselves into the fabric of our life. Cambodia truly had become our home and our life- in spite of the language barrier and cultural differences, we were "no longer strangers, but fellow citizens" in the household of God's family.

We see the world now through different eyes and know that truly God is no respecter of persons and all are beloved and loved children of His eternal family. We have seen for ourselves and testify that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the way of happiness- both in this life and in the eternities. The atonement of our Savior is the living reality of His infinite and eternal love for each of us, and through it, all injustices and inequalities of this mortal experience are wiped away and we all stand equally before the mercy and justice of God.

As we resume our "normal life", our prayer is that we may ever remain changed because of our mission to Cambodia- changed for the better in every way. We stand eternally in the Lord's debt for the opportunity and blessing to have been given the experience of our Cambodian mission. We share our testimony in closing that God lives, Jesus is the Christ- our Savior and Redeemer, that the gospel with all it's saving ordinances is once again upon the earth, and the stone, cut without hands is rolling forth to fill the earth, and we have been blessed to see for ourselves the hand of the Lord.

May the Lord's choicest blessing be with each of you- we have felt and been sustained by your faith, prayers and support in our behalf. With hearts full to overflowing we thank each of you....

Hugs and all our love,
Elder and Sister Dickerson- Grandpa and Grandma