ELECTION WEEK!!

Hello Fammmm

This week was a crazy one! Election week was filled with parades and campaigning and church even got cancelled on sunday because of it. We were told we couldn't go out and contact or talk to anyone unless we had a set appointment. We will find out in a few weeks what the results of the election are. I am excited that it is over! 

We had 3 exchanges this week which was really crazy! When the Siem Riep sisters were on their way out we were running a little late and trying to hustle to get them on their bus. We were literally running up and down the street for a good 15 minutes trying to find a tuk tuk to take them to the bus station, literally not a single one in sight (super uncommon) finally we found one but they ended up missing their bus. So that was crazy, and then we got on a bus to ride down to the city for another exchange. We lucked out and got to sleep at the mission home for 2 nights and Sister Lewis made us breakfast so we got to eat with her and President. SO FUN! Felt kind of like at home. And then we headed back up to battambang for another exchange with the other sister up there. BUSY week, but lots of fun!

Fun fact: Our mission made it on the front of the new era for august!! WAHOO - best mission, I seriously love it so much out here. 

The good news of the week is that Om Uian and Thida got baptized this saturday!!!! It was so amazing and they are both so strong. I continue to learn from their faith and examples each day. They will have to wait to get confirmed next week. 

This sunday I was pondering a lot about the sacrament and how important it is in our lives because we didn't have the opportunity to partake this week. The sacrament has so much importance in our lives and provides a renewal for us each week. We talked a lot about this with Om Uian a few hours before her baptism and she was just so happy to hear that she can basically "get baptized again" each week as she comes to church.

The sacrament helps remind us of our total dependence upon Christ and His Atonement and our responsibility to honor our covenants with Him. It is a way to renew our covenants and ourselves each week.

"The ordinance of the sacrament is a holy and repeated invitation to repent sincerely and to be renewed spiritually. The act of partaking of the sacrament, in and of itself, does not remit sins. But as we prepare conscientiously and participate in this holy ordinance with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then the promise is that we may always have the Spirit of the Lord to be with us. And by the sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost as our constant companion, we can always retain a remission of our sins."

I think it is such a blessing to be able to have the opportunity to partake of the sacrament each week, to do a self evaluation and find ways to better honor our covenants and to receive a remission of our sins as we are consciously preparing each week. 

I love the work and the people here!

Sister Stratford