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!!

here we are at the airport in Phenonm Phen! We were warmly greeted by a number of the couples in addition to the President and his wife.

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!!!

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

August 25th email

Sukssoby,
We are here alive and healthy and totally blown away with Cambodia,The people are so warm and friendly the members of the branch have treated us like royalty they are truly a beautiful people with a natural Christ like disposition. The children are so cute and all have a quick and endearing smile.
Since we arrived in our area Thursday we have been extremely busy meeting and greeting the people working with the Elders and getting things set up, which has been very slow we are still trying to find affordable Intranet in the meantime I will be working from a little cubicle under a squeaky old fan sweltering from the heat and humidity, I love it!
Driving is crazy, mom is a nervous wreck, I love it because its no rules just pecking order according to size, yesterday we had 13 people in our little Honda CRV for a half hour drive into the country to meet with a family.
The food has been good so far nothing to exotic our Sopal our cook has been wonderful, to date we have not been sick.
We are still adjusting to the time change it gets dark here at 6:30 and are dead tired, we have been going to bed at 8 but are waking up a 1 or 2 wide awake, they tell us this will change with time.
We feel safe and comfortable among the kami people although we are a novelty and get lots of stares everywhere we go. We did have the police come by this morning to check us out and get copies of our passport. Our land lord sent them off with a little money and everything was fine.
This weekend we will be in Seim Reip (SR) for a meeting with Elder Christoferson on Thursday. Which is a very big deal since we get an Apostle once every 4 or 5 years. the branch is planing a trip up for 72 members which will be traveling in 4 small buses.on Friday we are going as a branch to Ankor Wat a very large and very old ruins of a Buddist temple. SR is a tourist town with modern computer facilities and I should be able to update the blog this weekend. We have lots of pictures, it may be better to put them on them Internet somewhere rather than post them all on the blog. What do you think?
We feel your prayers each day and so appreciate your support please pray that we will be able to learn enough language so that we can communicate. the people have such a great desire to talk with us. The language barrier is our greatest challenge.
It is so special to see the gospel take root in the lives of these people, they are so dedicated, many ride 45 minutes on a bike to get to church, the Branch Pres pays $5 every Sunday for a 1.5 hour taxi ride to church which is huge when you consider the average salary is $100 per mo. The people love the gospel and there is such a distinct contrast between those who have it and those who do not.
Well gotta go, we are working hard but not much play yet,
We love you all so much!!!
Dad

Family Reunion 2008

Dova and I are days away from leaving for our mission and were so fortunate to have
all of our family in town to send us off!

Roughing it in Cambodia