SISTER HAFEN

December 23, 2018

These last few weeks have been way fun!  We had transfers and found out our goons (new trainees) weren't coming for a week because of visa problems so Sister Eckman and I were companions again over all of Steung MeanChey for a week and it was way fun.

Sister Hafen is my goon, she is from American Fork, she is 5 foot 8 inches and she plays tennis. It's weird having a taller companion I haven't felt short for a really long time. I already love her so much we get along great and I am way excited for these next two transfers together. She got off the plane and as we rode back to the mission home I told her I was sending her off with a native khmer who is in her 2nd transfer and also in her training for the day while I went to MLC, and then dropped her off. She did so good I am so impressed with her language skills and faith. 

We had a Christmas party in CKM with everyone from Phnom Penh and we sang in the choir and it was way fun and then in sacrament meeting on sunday bishop told us 10 minutes before the meeting that we were doing the special musical number. So Sister Hafen and I did a duet. I hope we didn't break everyone's ear drums because I just cannot sing but it was way fun. I love Cambodia- just never know what bishop is going to ask us to do each sunday whether that is teaching primary, sunday school, relief society, playing the piano, speaking in sacrament or doing the special musical number. Keeps us on our toes :)

Yay Suen accepted a baptismal date this week and she was so excited! We also went to go and teach Jetra and E and taught about the importance of church because that is the only committment they haven't been keeping and we were considering dropping them this week if they didn't come, BUT THEY CAME!!! It was so happy. Sunday is their busiest day at work but the made the sacrifice to come and both said how strong they felt the spirit when they walked in the doors. 

Yay Bon was telling us about how hard her life is and how her husband is really sick and so he can't work so she goes out and works everyday so she can pay for his health care and for her grandkids to go to school and eat. She was saying how if she doesn't go out to work they don't have enough money to put food on the table and how she just lost all hope. But she said "Sisters ever since I have started coming to your church I have just felt more strength and so much hope. I know that this church is true and that God helps us."

I was just overcome with so much gratitude for my Savior and how much we have to be hopeful about because of Jesus Christ. I am thankful for the knowledge that we have that there is a God who is our loving Heavenly Father who cares about us and knows us by name and for this privilege to share His gospel with the beautiful Cambodian people. 

Love, 

Sister Stratford