MASTERFUL HANDS

Man quite the week this week I don't even know where to start. 

We had our last exchange of the transfer and got to call out transfer calls with President which was kinda fun! I am going to Steng Mean Chay 1/3 and will be companions with Sister Sok, we will be SSTL's. We couldn't move her to this area because it is too close to her home. I will really miss the area that I am in right now but am looking forward to it.

As far as our baptisms go this week it was quite the process but we made it! Bong Ny, Canly and Lina all got baptized this week and it was the happiest! Towards the beginning of the week we weren't so sure we were going to have a baptism. 

Canly met with us on wednesday and said "Can I just learn and not get baptized I am so scared and I just don't want to do it anymore" Luckily we got a member in on the lesson who answered all her concerns and helped her feel more comfortable about baptism, after that it was smooth sailing with her and she was so happy the day of her baptism! That member was vital!

Lina had an interview scheduled for wednesday but when we called her, her mom had come to phnom penh and took her out to battambang and they were heading to thailand on saturday the day before the baptism. She barely made it back to phnom penh at 4:30 on sunday, got interviewed and then baptized at 5 - it was crazy and stressful but so happy! She just could not stop smiling the entire evening. 

Srei Pov is literally the smartest person I have ever met. She is crazy, we were teaching the 10 commandments this week and she was like "Sisters this is so easy I have already read this in the Book of Mormon" and she then explained it all to us. She is already in Alma and is right on track to finish the book of mormon by next week. She is very smart and it is so fun to teach her.

We had Tad R. Callister come to speak to us this week which was way cool.  He taught us how to better teach the Plan of Salvation.

I was reading in Jacob 5 this morning and I loved verse 47 "But what could I have done more in my vineyard? Have I slackened mine hand, that I have not nourished it? Nay, I have nourished it, and I have digged about it, and I have pruned it, and I have dunged it; and I have stretched forth mine hand almost all the day long, and the end draweth nigh. And it grieveth me that I should hew down all the trees of my vineyard, and cast them into the fire that they should be burned. Who is it that has corrupted my vineyard?"

I know that as we are laboring in the Lord's vineyard He is laboring with us and walking right beside us. He is doing absolutely everything in His power to help us and to save everyone but ultimately it is still up to us to choose to accept His help and His refining. This reminded me of something I read recently.

"Our Lord is like the dentists...dozens of people go to Him to be cured of some one particular sin which they are ashamed of...Well He will cure it alright: but He will not stop there. That may be all you asked; but if you once called Him in He will give you the full treatment.

"...'Make no mistake' He says, 'if you let Me, I will make you perfect. The moment you put yourself in My hands, that is what you are in for. Nothing less, or other, than that. You have free will, and if you choose, you can push Me away. But if you do not push Me away, understand that I am going to see this job through. Whatever suffering it may cost you in your earthly life, whatever inconceivable purification it may cost you after death, whatever it cost Me, I will never rest, nor let you rest, until you are literally perfect - until My Father can say without reservation that He is well pleased with you, as He said he was well pleased with Me. This I can do and will do. But nothing less.'

"...You must realize from the outset that the goal toward which He is beginning to guide you is absolute perfection; and no power in the whole universe except you yourself, can prevent Him from taking you to that goal. That is what you are in for. And it is very important to realize that."

There is no one in the entire universe that can rob us of perfection, except ourselves. The Lord literally is doing every single thing that He can to help guide us to perfection and our Heavenly home, but it is up to us and our agency to put ourselves in those masterful hands and let Him shape and mold us into who we need to become to enter into His presence. It will not be easy, life is never easy but it will be worth it. Let us all choose to put ourselves in His hands and allow Him to shape us into the Heavenly beings He knows we can become!

Love, 

Sister Stratford

BONG MOM WAS BAPTIZED

Great week this week! We had planned for Bong Mom to get baptized next week but when we went over this week on thursday she said she wanted to be baptized that saturday. So we were scrambling hurrying to try to get everything ready to go but it ended up being the smoothest baptism I have ever been to in Cambodia! YAY! Bong Mom is officially our newest member here in Tuol Kork. She was so happy, her whole family is members except her dad - hopefully he will learn soon he came to general conference so its looking good.

As for the rest of the week we had another exchange which was fun. Sister Clark and I got chased by dogs when we were contacting. We just walked past this shack with one door open but it was pitch black in side and then all of the sudden these two huge dogs just start barking and running at us so I just took off (probably not the best idea) but man it was scary. Still not a huge fan of dogs. 

Srei Pov is just incredible. We met with her this week to teach her lesson 3 and she is already in 2 nephi 11 and is planning on finishing the Book of Mormon in 2 weeks!! She said she wants to read it all before she decides to get baptized. She also comes to all 3 hours of church every week. It is way cool to watch. Lina decided she wants to get baptized this week as well along with Bong Ny and Canly! Should be a good week here next week if all goes as planned! 

When we were contacting this week I was talking to this Om who just had her husband die a few months ago and so we started sharing about the plan of salvation and she stops us and says "oh no no no I dont want to live with him again, this life was enough I dont want to spend an eternity with him thats too long" apparently we had the wrong approach. Super funny.

We met with President to discuss transfers already, can't believe this transfer is almost over already its gone way too fast.

I have been loving reading through the Book of Mormon again with hopes to finish by the end of the year. Some things that stuck out to me were in 1 nephi 18:16 after nephi has been through all these afflictions and has just been untied he says "Nevertheless, I did look unto my God, and I did praise him all the day long; and I did not murmur against the Lord because of mine afflictions." God does require hard things of us but I just love Nephi's response and how he is just so thankful and continues to praise the Lord even amist all his hardships. We truly are refined in the furnace of our afflictions but as we continue to look to God and rely on Him we will always make it through and He will always provide a way and means for us to get there. "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world"

Love Sister Stratford

ROAD TRIP WITH PRESIDENT AND SISTER LEWIS

Hello Family!

This week was another adventure! We had some zone conferences that we went around to and taught at with President. We had a really fun road trip up to Siem Reap with President and Sister Lewis and the AP's, President and Sister Lewis crack me up. They are the funniest couple to watch and they told us lots of funny stories from their lives. After we did zone conference out in Siem Reap I got to head over to BATTAMBANG!!!! We did an exchange with the sisters out there and it was so much fun to go back and see all the people that I love and miss. Battambang is as beautiful as ever. Everyone told me that I look a lot whiter than before. (you just lose all the tan in the city its so sad) 

We lucked out and didn't have to take the bus home because the Colvins were up doing cleaning checks. So we drove home with Elder and Sister Colvin - that was crazy. I thought I was going to die on the way home. We were driving anywhere from 100 - 125 mph the whole way and Elder Colvin was passing people like crazy. The good news is it usually takes us 8 hours to get back but Elder Colvin shaved off some good time and got us there in 5 hours and 15 minutes. SO FAST. 

General Conference was amazing as always! I am still just so overjoyed about the temple we are getting in Cambodia! Although it has not officially been announced the site it will be built, I am looking forward to it and hoping it is in this area! We are so lucky to have a living prophet today to lead and guide us back to our Savior. 

Best news of the week - CANLY STOPPED DRINKING COFFEE!!! She has been slowly getting herself off and she stopped all together. YAY she will be getting baptized in a few weeks. Bong mom and Ny are all still doing really well and progressing toward their baptismal dates. Lina is still really hesitant about receiving a baptismal date but we had some bomb lessons with her this week and hope to get her on the covenant path.

I love 2 Kings 6: 15-17

15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

As we are striving to follow our prophets counsel with exactness and doing all we can to center Christ in our lives we will have chariots round about us always there lifting us up and strengthening us. As we are following the Savior and His ways we need not fear, the Lord is always on our side waiting to help us every step of the way. I am so thankful for a loving Savior who leads and directs us today. 

Love, 

Sister Stratford

សីុស្ទើរស្រ្តាតហ្វឺត

A TEMPLE IN CAMBODIA!!!!!!

WE ARE GETTING A TEMPLE IN CAMBODIA AND WE ARE ALL SO EXCITED!!!!

Quite an exciting week here in Cambodia for all of us! The land that the church owns probably where the temple will be built is in my area! I am looking forward to seeing a temple there in a few years. 

This week was really crazy. I went on an exchange with a Vietnamese sister and was in the program for the day. We had MLC where we taught about some new schedule changes for the mission providing us with more proselyting time and then we had New Missionary Training meeting which was really fun to get to know all the new missionaries. 

Srei Pov is so amazing, she is so teachable and just eats up everything we teach her. In our second meeting she said "I feel like God has a bigger plan for me than to just getting money, I want to know about my purpose". She came to church again all 3 hours and committed to coming to watch general conference this upcoming week. I am so excited for all of the Saints here when they hear the prophet announce a new temple in Cambodia! Such fitting time because the Khmers will all be celebrating ancestor day this week and hear conference this weekend. 

Lina is still progressing well but won't commit to a baptismal date, Canly is still doing great and comes to church every week - she is so close! 

I just can't stop thinking about how much this temple is going to bless so many lives and heal so many families in Cambodia. "Salvation is a personal matter but exaltation is a family matter" I know that the family history work done in these temples will help build a link to all of these families here in Cambodia and will bless all those that have died and those that are doing the work as well. 

I also love in 1 nephi 16:29-30

29 And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things.

30 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did go forth up into the top of the mountain, according to the directions which were given upon the ball.

As things are changed from time to time here in these latter days we need to be faithful and be dilligent in doing as the prophet directs!

Love Sister Stratford

From President Lewis

To Parents of Cambodia Missionaries: 

We held a joint Cambodia North & South & East Zone Conference at the North Stake Center today--69 of our 97 missionaries attended (note: in case they did not tell you, this week their P-Day is on Tuesday; they will write tomorrow -- Elders & Sisters in Battambang, Siem Reap, and Kampong Cham had the regular schedule).

Since we were a 5 minute walk to the potential Temple Site, for the Zone Picture, we gathered for a "Hurrah for Israel" shout outside the gate (and took a picture through a small opening). It was "another great day in paradise!" We are thrilled for the Temple announcement and appreciative of your support!

Love, President & Sister Lewis

MIRACLES NEVER CEASE

Helloooo,

Sister Clark and I had quite the week this week. It was super busy and fun! We went to go and visit the Relief Society President to encourage her about ministering - she lives in a mansion it was the weirdest teaching experience ever. I am just so used to teaching in these beat up houses but it was a mansion and it was really clean and huge and just a house so cool. Also our investigator Lina lives in a mansion too so that was a fun day two mansions in a row. 

We got kicked out of our house this week and had to move out which was sad. K.A. set a baptismal date with us this week which was way exciting! She is so cute and so hard to meet because she has all these dance performances all the time but we got her on date! Canly is slowly cutting off the coffee she is incredible. We taught her a lesson about how you can receive help from God through prayer, fasting and priesthood blessings. She told us that ever since she has started learning with us her life has been so much better and how much happier she is. This gospel really changes people and the light in her eyes is so fun to see. 

Funny story: Sister Clark and I were teaching a lesson and she was trying to tell our investigator that Heavenly Father is always waiting for us reaching out his arms to receive us, and instead she said that Heavenly Father is always waiting for us and sticking out his tongue to receive us. I about died it was so hilarious I had a hard time making it through the rest of the lesson I couldn't look at Sister Clark without dying. Good times.

Side note: In Philippians 3:2 it says "beware of dogs"and I am really good at doing that great scripture.

We spent a lot of hours this week trying to find a new investigator to no avail. Sunday comes around and we have hardly any time to proselyte on sunday because of 2 wards. Heavenly Father sent Srei Pov walking into sacrament meeting. She walked in and the members showed us over to her and she told me she wanted to learn about the Bible, she said she bought it 10 years ago but hasn't had a teacher to tell her what it means and I said we would be happy to teach her. She stayed all 3 hours of church and met with us after, we gave her a Book of Mormon and set up a schedule to meet her again. Miracles happen every day!

I love 2 Nephi 26:13

"And that he manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, working mighty miracles, signs, and wonders, among the children of men according to their faith." 

Miracles happen every day as we have faith and are obedient to the things the Lord has commanded us to do! I know that God loves all of His children and provides miracles to us daily - whether or not we recognize them. I also loved this verse in Doctrine and Covenants 76:19  "And while we meditated upon these things, the Lord touched the eyes of our understandings and they were opened, and the glory of the Lord shone round about. " As we take the time to ponder and meditate upon our day, our eyes will be opened and we will begin to see the Lord's hand in our lives each and every day. Miracles never cease!

Love Sister Stratford (also I think my lice is finally gone - I hope)