Python Squeeze

 Monday

we had a good day we went to the pasaa, called our families and then went and played badminton. We stopped early and brought our proselyting clothes, there's actually showers at badminto so we showered there and then changed into our proselyting clothes. We went and did some service for Bong Sokunthaea, he's a really cool guy. He is a return missionary but his wife is not a member so we go and do service for them and pack rice and they are always so happy. After that we didn't get to a lesson with a kid we are teaching who is on date for baptism next week but we went straight to Bourong's house, he wasn't there but his wife was, she is already a member, and we taught her daughter, rany. She is a really good learner, it seems like she really wants to learn and get baptized. And we also taught her younger half sister, roth. It was really good. We put them on date to get baptized as well. So right now we have 3 people scheduled to get baptized on Sunday, the 28th of this month.

This week has been super rainy so all these days we have been biking in the rain. And most of the time the majority of the reason why we are wet isn't because we are biking while it's pouring down rain, but because the streets are flooded and the water kicks up onto our bikes. It's pretty fun.

Tuesday we went to district council and ate lunch afterwards and then we did our weekly planning that afternoon. I was actually on an exchange with Elder Hallam, which was really fun! That night we went to Bong Saram's house. She has a lot of faith but just not quite enough to quit having her garden in her home town, where there isn't a church. She spends the week in the area that I'm serving in while her kid goes to school and then goes to her home town on the weekends to work in her garden. It takes a big leap of faith to quit a job in order to be able to attend church on Sunday and she isn't quite there yet. But she has a really good testimony and wants to share the Gospel.

Wednesday we went to Bourong's house early in the morning and did service. We cut big bushes for him. We worked there for a while, which was fun I always love serving. But man, I am so tired this week!  Then we exchanged back to our own comps and went to another lesson that night. We taught Bourong's family that night, which was super awesome! The streets have still been super flooded. Also this day, we did service by pouring some cement and Elder Hallam and I put our handprints in it.

Thursday we woke up, we always run with Bong Kolroa, we work out with him in the mornings which is always fun and a good workout. Then we raced home, ate breakfast and then raced 7 miles out to a lotus field and did work there. While we were there, one of the employees was using a tractor which is called go yoyn, which was pretty cool. We got some pictures. Then we went back home and everything was still super flooded and it was raining. And we had some more lessons that night.

Friday we actually went to Bong Kolroa's house and he said he couldn't run so we decided well let's just bike over to Bourong's house and do service because there is just a little bit more to get done in one section. So we just went and did it. It was funny because they actually hate us doing service. Before they knew we were going to do that they had told us all that they wanted to get done so now we are just going to do it and they aren't expecting us to. When we do it they get embarrassed and think they are doing bad things to the Elders, so it's kind of funny. They were really nice and bought us some breakfast and we ate with their family. Then we went and showered and did our personal studies and then we were super hungry so we put a chicken in the oven at about noon. While it was cooking we went to this ice cream place called bingxue and as we were about to leave there and go eat our wonderful chicken we got a call from mea rith, who is the owner of the lotus field. He told us "quick, come! It is raining so much the go yoyn, its engine is going to flood! We need some help to lift it out. Can you please tell the other Elders to come too! We need lots of help to get it out!!" In my mind I was like. . . "are you serious? we were just about to eat lunch!" But then I thought "you know what, guess who comes first? The people!!" So what did we do? We ate the skin off the chicken, cause that's the yummiest part, and then called the Kombul Elders and then stuck the chicken in the fridge very fast and rode over there quickly! Then we lifted up this massive machine and it was really heavy because it's old and using real metal, not any of this carbon fiber light metal stuff.  It took 8 of us to lift it up on top of this boat. We only put one side on the boat because before when we first tried to put it on the boat it started to sink it because it was so heavy. We put some branches in the wheels so they made a plus sign to put it on one side of the boat to take some of the weight and then walked it 200 yards. It was so heavy and it wasn't an easy walk. It was in about 3 feet of  water and also 6 inches worth of nasty mud (don't worry, we have special socks we wear when we are walking in the mud.) It was super heavy and we had to stop at least once, my shoulders are still bruised from having the log on my shoulders while we were lifting and walking. We finally got it moved and then helped to check the nets for fish and then went home.

Early Sunday morning we woke up, threw on some Sunday clothes (we didn't bother showering because we knew the roads were all still flooded) and then left to head back to their house. When we got there the man we were wanting to tell to come to church wasn't there but you know what was there?!  A 15 kilogram snake, a python!  It was crazy!! It was also a little longer than 4 meters. It was BIG!! The body was as big as my quad. I wanted so badly to take it out of the bag and hold it and maybe have it squeeze me and give me some hugs because I am lacking hugs over here on the mission. A little hug from a snake would maybe make me feel better, haha. We called mea rith, the one we were wanting to come to church with us on Sunday, and that's the miracle!  He has been inactive for over a year but he did go to church on Sunday!!  After church we ate lunch with the family got baptized that day and the sister missionaries.  And then later that night we went to a couple of other lessons and then went to Bourong's family again and taught them. I ended up riding my bike in just my socks because the roads were still flooded and I didn't want to ruin my nice leather Sunday shoes; I tied them to my back pack.

Also, I forgot, one of the nights we pushed a guy out of this massive puddle that was like 2-3 feet deep. His moto was flooded and the intake was just kaput and so he was just trying to push it by himself but it was completely pitch dark.

Oh, and at church there was a special needs girl that got mad at her mom and went upstairs and locked herself in one of the rooms. And despite the big wad of keys that was in the clerk's office, none of them unlocked the door. So, we were there for a while and then she finally opened the door which was good. And then I had to carry her down the stairs and I told everyone to close their eyes because technically it's against the rules to carry her. But I think this could be an exception. . . she was just lying on the ground and everyone was going to pick up an arm and I was like "that is so inhumane, I'm just going to pick her up and show a little bit of love to this daughter of God that has special needs." Anyways,  she is like 13.

I have so many other stories, and have seen so many miracles. I have been so, so, so busy but that's okay because that's the Lord's work. But let me tell you, I am pooped!! I am tired!! I am beat!! It feels like I have been put in a mortar and pestle.

Well to close I just want to say. . . everybody, read the scriptures!! They got the Lord's words. And love everyone, love everyone with all your heart, might, mind and strength! And do that in a way that Jesus Christ did. You can still love someone and stand up for what's right. You can still love someone and debate. You can still love someone and talk about hard things. That is the essence of love. 

Love you all so, so, so much!!

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go yoyn

Python