In the past few weeks we have been back and forth from KT to Siem Reap, up and down to Phenom Phen and back again. It hasn't been all driving though! We have been at two baptisms- one in our KT branch and the other in Siem Reap. The work of the Lord is progressing in both branches and we constantly are in awe at the miraculous changes the gospel makes in the lives of individuals and families.
Most of the food eaten in Cambodia is just a few days or hours from being either freshly picked or still "alive and kicking!". One of the investigator families we are teaching with in KT raises chickens. While most chickens are free-roaming, this family is an exception with raised cages, clean pens, chicken feed, and vitamin drops. As a result, they have superior chickens and get a premium price for them. I had made arrangements with one of our Relief Society sisters to learn how they prepare a live chicken to eat, and this kind family gave me one of their young hens. We took it to our house, feet tied together, and fearing some of the stray cats might kill it, I took it into the house, still tied up, put it in a box, and we went to bed. The next morning I woke to the sounds of one unhappy chicken. It had managed to untie itself, get out of the box, and make a mess by the box. (A very large mess I may add!) We had a couple of hours before my "chicken class", so the hen went outside. This time we tied the rope from one chicken foot to one of the iron bars on the fence inside the courtyard. When I went out to get her a few hours later, she had managed to untie herself again! What a Houdini of a chicken!
The Cambodian people use nearly every part of the chicken- from head to tail and feet, it's eaten. It was a real learning experience to see just how similar some things are in preparing a chicken, and how different they are as well. For example, Brother Sal stepped on the outspread wings of the chicken- which prevents the fluttering and the whole process was very quick and efficient. After he had cleaned out the inside of the chicken, he removed the feathers by putting the chicken into a shallow pan of boiling water over the cooking fire pot, ladled boiling water over it, and within 2-3 minutes it was ready to pluck. Many of the organs are considered a delicacy and they were placed in a pot with the chicken- head, feet and all. To our up most surprise, the "sauce" was a can of soda he poured over the top of the chicken, put on the lid, and about 45 minutes later it was lunch.
As the raining season begins, the majority of people in the provinces are preparing the fields for planting rice. It is such a contrast to see centuries old farming methods being used next to modern equipment. The most widely used "modern" equipment is a large, walk-behind tractor/tiller- it's local name, "the Vietnamese cow". I honestly do not know how they manage the strength needed to manhandle it though the heavy wet clay-it is exhausting just to watch. For some reason, they prefer to plow when the fields are saturated with water- even flooded, a total contrast to the conditions we use to plow in.
One of the blessings of our mission is to hear the testimonies from members (and investigators) regarding different principles of the gospel. They have such childlike faith, and their prayers are sincere and specific to their needs. This past week, we were at a member's home where a neighbor was being taught the discussions. During the lesson, which was on prayer, the member sister shared her first experiences with prayer before she had been baptised. She said how she had planted vegetables and the ants keep eating them. She prayed that she might be able to grow her vegetables. After her prayer, a man came and told her what she needed to do for her vegetables to grow. She followed his advice, and the ants did not eat her vegetables and she had a good crop. There was such a sweet spirit as she bore her testimony and promised this neighbor that the Lord would answer her prayers as well. We have had so many experiences similar to this one- each one a lesson on humility for us....
We love you! We pray for you and we have the absolute assurance the Lord is mindful of each of us....Hugs, hugs and hugs!!! Love, Elder and Sister Dickerson, ie: Grandpa and Grandma
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