HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Family,

First of all HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY TO MOM!! I love you mom!

This week was crazy like usual over here in Cambodia. I am having a blast with Sister Dy. Kanita and May have been having some hard struggles this week and we are going to have to push off their baptism for a few weeks but they are still continuing to progress. Satan works so hard on these people before they get baptized. But I know that they can do it! We met a new investigator this week, ming naet. She committed to a date and we are really excited to continue teaching her! 

Good news is that Sivmey our recent convert is now planning on preparing to serve a mission. She is so amazing and I am so excited to see how her future unfolds! She is such a good help to our ward in TTP and helping everyone get excited about the gospel. 

I love this quote by Elder Richard G. Scott "True enduring happiness with the accompanying strength, courage, and capacity to overcome the most challenging difficulties come from a life centered in Jesus Christ... There is no guarantee of overnight results, but there is absolute assurance that, in the Lord's time, solutions will come, peace will prevail, and emptiness will be filled."

As my investigators have been struggling this past week I was so happy to have this knowledge to share with them, that no matter how hard it is we can make it and have happiness through Christ. We just need to turn to Him and trust in His plan for us. I know that centering our lives in Christ is the only true way to true happiness and peace in this life. 

I love being a missionary here in CTM and TTP. The youth here are so great, they all bought me a cake for my birthday and celebrated with me. I am so lucky to be surrounded by these beautiful Cambodians who have so much love to share. 

Sister Stratford 

SIVMEY GOT BAPTIZED

Hello Family,

Sivmey got baptized yesterday and it was such a fun thing to be a part of. She was just glowing! She was telling me after the baptism how happy and light she felt, I am so proud of her and grateful to know her! Baptisms are always crazy in Cambodia, the bishop decided not to show up so we were scrambling for a bit but it all worked out. I love the joy that this gospel brings into the lives of everyone who follows it.

Sister Dy is hilarious and I am loving being companions with her, she refuses to speak english to me but it is a party! I am so excited to serve with her for this transfer. 

Kanita and Mey are still progressing towards baptism in a few weeks which we are really excited about. We had some really cool lessons this week with them and are getting excited! 

Something that I love this week is "the true key to happiness is to labor for the happiness of others." I can't remember where I read this but I have found this to be so true serving out here in Cambodia. As I am striving to lift and serve others I truly am happier than I have ever been. 

I was also reading Sister Oscarsons talk from this past general conference and I love when she said "Ask your Heavenly Father to show you those around you who need your help and to inspire you on how to best serve them." I took her counsel and have been praying daily for opportunities to do so. Me and the girls in our apartment were all eating dinner together and normally I like to eat fast and go write in my journal and get ready for bed but I felt like I should stay and talk to one of the other American Sisters in the house. She began to open up to me about her family situation and some of the trials she is facing right now and said that she was really grateful that I was able to listen to her and give her advice. She was in a need for someone to comfort her and I am grateful that Heavenly Father let me help her.

I had a similiar experience with an investigator this week and a member. All of these people who normally don't open up to me about what is going on in their lives, seeked my advice and help. I truly know that the Lord places people in our paths that need us the most. I want to encourage everyone to find a way to serve those around you no matter how small it is. As we are sensitive and aware of the needs around us, Heavenly Father will help us know what we can do to help. Truly the best way of living the gospel is service to others. There is always someone in need around us. 

I love Cambodia with all my heart!

Sister Stratford

MADE IT OUT OF TRAINING

HELLO,

This week was so amazing and full of so many miracles! We have Seuimey getting baptized this sunday, and we have Kanita and Mey on date! We are so excited for them, they are all so prepared to receive the gospel. I feel so blessed to know them they all truly bring light into my life.

We got transfer calls last night and I am staying in Chak Ta Mok and Toul Tompoung for another transfer. My new companion will be Sister Dy, she is from Cambodia. I haven't met her yet but I am so excited!! We will change companions this wednesday. 

We found out that the new mission presidents will be coming in july, John and Lucinda Lewis from Gilbert Arizona. They sound amazing! We got invited to a new years dinner with a lady in our ward which was so delicious. I also tried to eat a half developed egg this week. I got about half of it down but when I started tasting the feathers I couldn't keep the rest down. Maybe another day I will do the whole thing. 

I was reading Elder Jose L Alonso's talk from this past general conference and I love where he says "love without service is like faith without works; its dead indeed." Truly if we love people we will serve them. I have found this time and time again with the people of Cambodia. They show their love by doing service and they have truly taught me how to love and how to focus on what is most important in life. I feel so blessed everyday to know these beautiful people.

I love this quote from President Monson "Let us examine our lives and determine to follow the Savior's example by being kind, loving and charitable." I think that this gospel is all about love and I hope that we will all take President Monson's counsel and follow the Savior's perfect example. Love and kindness go a long way! 

I also love 3 nephi 27:13 when it says I came into the world to do the will of the Father. We, like Christ have come into this world to do the will of our father, and I hope that I can make Him proud as I strive to always follow His will for me. I truly know this is the only smart thing to do. We will be so blessed and receive so much happiness if we do things the Lord's way. I want the Lord to always be able to count on me to follow His will. 

Loveee ya lots!

Sister Stratford

matt yiay

bong phana

Mey

eating the half developed egg, couldn't hold it down once I got to the feathers 

Kanita is in the red and Sivmey is the other one

wedding takes up the whole street

Got dressed up as traditional khmers for pday and got some pictures taken I will send those when they come

My chair broke

HAPPY 2018!

Family,

This week was so amazing! I loved skyping home and getting to see everyone it was the best :) We didn't receive any snow this year for Christmas but we had 90 degree weather! My zone got to have Christmas at the mission home with the Christensens. It was so fun to get together with everyone and hear everyone's testimonies. I love the spirit at Christmas time and am so thankful for my Savior! 

We had a crazy week with exchanges in Steung Mean Chay, and interviews with President. We never seem to have enough time to get everything done. But missionary work is the best. 

Seumei is such a miracle! We have her on date for January 14th and she is so prepared to receive the gospel. She loves coming to church and you can already see a change in her as she has been learning about Christ. She has the kindest heart and truly wants to become like our Savior. Kanida is amazing as well, she comes to church every week and loves learning but she is afraid of the water (most cambodians are) and is nervous about baptism but still wants to receive it. She isn't sure which date she wants to commit to yet but we are hoping soon! She is so amazing and has already read almost through all of 1 nephi. 

One thing that I have been thinking about a lot this week is humility. This is something that I have been trying to work on and I still have a long way to go. But I know that true humility is essential to achieve and accomplish the Lord's purpose for us. I was reading in Doctrine and Covenants 112: 10 "Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers." and 21,22 "And again I say unto you that whosoever ye shall send in my name...shall have power to open the door of my kingdom unto any nation withersoever ye shall send them- Inasmuch as they shall humble themselves before me." I thought that this was so profound and important for me to understand as a missionary that I truly can open the door of His kingdom unto Cambodia as I am humbling myself before the Lord each day and hearkening to the voice of the Spirit. I think that this is the most beautiful promise that as we do so, He will lead us by the hand.

I truly want all of the people of Cambodia to come unto Christ and I know that I need to be truly humble in order to help the Lord do so as I am following His will. I know that it is so important to always be striving to align our will with Gods, and I know He always blesses us as we do so.

Love,

Sister Stratford