January 14, Siem Reap

It's another sunshine-filled day in Cambodia- it has been several weeks since there has been any rain, so from the vegetation to the roadside stands and businesses, everything is indiscriminately covered with a thick layer of dust. The bicycles don't cause much of a problem, but the motos and cars are dust-making machines.

Last week in Siem Reap, we woke up to the sound of road construction in front of the guesthouse where we stay. It is very unusual to see any kind of heavy industrial equipment in Cambodia outside the capital city of Phenom Phen, and when you do, there is generally a crowd of people watching in awe. In a country that does nearly everything by manual labor, it is amazing!!! This particular piece of equipment had a huge bristle roller in front that was cleaning the road. The layer of dirt was so think we did not even realize there was anything else on this road but dirt! After several hours, they completed the section of road in front of the guesthouse, and then proceeded to blow off the surface with a large air compressor... You can only imagine the dirt and dust everywhere. On this section of road, like nearly every other road, there are a number of small roadside stands and simple shacks where people live. From the small piles of fruit and candies, odds and ends, to the family laundry hanging on the wire fence- everything was covered in a thick layer of red dust.....

We are enjoying a much more structured schedule for our mission. And, to our joy and excitement, we are already hearing back from some of the families we teach about their gratitude for "The Family Guidebook". For so many, this is the first time that they begin to understand just how the gospel and the priesthood can bless their families on a daily and ongoing basis. It is so wonderful to be able to teach them these principles!!!!!

Our photos for the week are from a local restaurant, The Butterfly Garden, in Siem Reap that provides restaurant training and employment for children and youth of impoverished families. In addition to the restaurant training, they pay children collect butterflies form the jungle, and bring them to the restaurant where they are released into the garden area. This occurs three times a week throughout most of the year. It was quite interesting to see the difference in how the children had cared for their butterflies. Some had provided little bits of leafs and sticks for them, and others had nothing at all in the little homemade cages....

We love you- how grateful we are for the Lord's tender mercies in our lives daily and the blessing of your love and prayers for us!!!! Hugs, Elder and SIster Dickerson, "grandpa and grandma"