On our way to a teaching appointment after a rain.
Ankor Wat, where Indiana Jones was filmed.
Catching and releasing a Dachau (geko)we found in the house.
Pictures of some teaching appointments and around their home.
We love you all
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
October 16, 2008
Dear family and friends,
It is another "bueatiful day in Cambodia" as one of the senior couples was fond of saying. The raining season is passing and although the rains still come, most rainfall happens at night and the sun rises hot and bright in the morning. We have a fairly regular schedule established now between the two branches and our days are beginning to take on more meaning and purpose as we settle in to the work.
We would like to share with you one of the experiences we have had with the people of Cambodia. I enjoy taking our small camera with us as we walk in the morning. Seldom a day goes by that I do not use it- the children especially love to have their photograph taken, for many, it is their first experience with a camera. We could not possibly afford to develop all the pictures, but they love just to see themselves in the camera screen. On occasion, we develop some and try to find the children to return the photos back to. We have taken pictures of grandparents with their grandchildren, families, babies- all of which are particuarly rewarding to return with a photograph of. In this small way, we hope to plant seeds of kindness that when the opportunity arrises, these people will remember the black tag we wear, and open the door to the missionaries.
Several weeks ago I took a picture of a young boy in a rusty old wheelchair. He was watching by the side of the road as the others washed and fished in the river's edge. I was able to get it developed last week and when we took our walk Monday morning, we walked along the river road to find him. When we got to the home near where I had taken his picture, we were informed (by guestures of course!) that he didn't live there, but the other side of the road. As we turned up the road and walked to the home opposite, we were greeted with smiles and pointed fingers "next house" so on to the next home where again, a smile and pointing to "next house". Three tries later we had a small parade of interested individuals as well as a few dogs all very intersted in getting us to the right place. As we approached his home, we could hear the calls of the neighbors to him and he literally shot out from under the house (all true Khmer homes are built up on tall timbers) in his wheelcahir to get his photograph. His family gathered around, and with big smiles called "äkoun!", "äkoun!" "thank you" "thank you". I asked if I could take a family picture which I did.
As we walked home, I thought of the message of the Resurrection- what hope and joy that knowledge would bring to this family to know that all afflictions, losses will be taken away and our bodies made whole. We have an appointment with the elders to take the photograph of the family back and hopefully be able to share the gospel with them.
Such is the priceless moment of our mission. To each of you we share our testimony of the the Gospel of Jesus Christ...that this plan, the plan of Redemption and Happiness is truly the greatest message of hope and promise that can be offered to the world.
We love you, we pray for you, and our hearts are filled with the deepest gratitude for the blessing of being an eternal family. Hugs, hugs and love, Elder and Sister Dickerson.ie: Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma
It is another "bueatiful day in Cambodia" as one of the senior couples was fond of saying. The raining season is passing and although the rains still come, most rainfall happens at night and the sun rises hot and bright in the morning. We have a fairly regular schedule established now between the two branches and our days are beginning to take on more meaning and purpose as we settle in to the work.
We would like to share with you one of the experiences we have had with the people of Cambodia. I enjoy taking our small camera with us as we walk in the morning. Seldom a day goes by that I do not use it- the children especially love to have their photograph taken, for many, it is their first experience with a camera. We could not possibly afford to develop all the pictures, but they love just to see themselves in the camera screen. On occasion, we develop some and try to find the children to return the photos back to. We have taken pictures of grandparents with their grandchildren, families, babies- all of which are particuarly rewarding to return with a photograph of. In this small way, we hope to plant seeds of kindness that when the opportunity arrises, these people will remember the black tag we wear, and open the door to the missionaries.
Several weeks ago I took a picture of a young boy in a rusty old wheelchair. He was watching by the side of the road as the others washed and fished in the river's edge. I was able to get it developed last week and when we took our walk Monday morning, we walked along the river road to find him. When we got to the home near where I had taken his picture, we were informed (by guestures of course!) that he didn't live there, but the other side of the road. As we turned up the road and walked to the home opposite, we were greeted with smiles and pointed fingers "next house" so on to the next home where again, a smile and pointing to "next house". Three tries later we had a small parade of interested individuals as well as a few dogs all very intersted in getting us to the right place. As we approached his home, we could hear the calls of the neighbors to him and he literally shot out from under the house (all true Khmer homes are built up on tall timbers) in his wheelcahir to get his photograph. His family gathered around, and with big smiles called "äkoun!", "äkoun!" "thank you" "thank you". I asked if I could take a family picture which I did.
As we walked home, I thought of the message of the Resurrection- what hope and joy that knowledge would bring to this family to know that all afflictions, losses will be taken away and our bodies made whole. We have an appointment with the elders to take the photograph of the family back and hopefully be able to share the gospel with them.
Such is the priceless moment of our mission. To each of you we share our testimony of the the Gospel of Jesus Christ...that this plan, the plan of Redemption and Happiness is truly the greatest message of hope and promise that can be offered to the world.
We love you, we pray for you, and our hearts are filled with the deepest gratitude for the blessing of being an eternal family. Hugs, hugs and love, Elder and Sister Dickerson.ie: Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
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.
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.
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