Oct 1 2008

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.