Pioneer Day (July 24) is a BIG deal with the Cambodian LDS church members. They relate to the struggles of the early Mormon pioneers as they left their homes in Illinois and walked 1,300 miles to the deserts of Utah. The Cambodia saints are "pioneers" in their own way as they prepare and plow the road for future generations. Two of the three small congregations joined together for their own Pioneer Day festivity on 7/23.

A little girl came with this balloon

One of my assignments was to configure the A/V  set up (which was a "pioneering" adventure all by itself) to show the DVD, "Legacy." It's a film based on actual stories of early pioneers who made the long trek 169 years ago (the full film is also available on youtube). But this version was translated into Khmae - which was borderline hilarious (the voices were similar to those you would hear on a soap opera). Even though I've seen the video at least 10 times, I found myself waiting for a Southeast Asian leading man to spurn the girl because he had found another lover. Then the girl would attempt suicide and end up in a hospital where the lead man would rush back and tearfully tell her he was sorry - as she died in his arms.... But it didn't happen.

Heel Toe Polka

What DID happen, however, was a power outage in the middle of the video. There were about 140 people in a large room - which no longer had AC (remember this is Cambodia, where "dry heat" is just a myth). I pulled out the guitar and Sister Haddock (sister missionary from Heber City, UT) rosined up her violin, and the dancers (and a few others) came up front and began to sing hymns to the audience. Over the next 15 - 20 minutes, others joined the "choir" until it was about 20 voices strong. Unbeknownst to us, the local church leaders (8 of them) went upstairs to pray for the power to come back on. Just as soon as they arose from their knees, the power sputtered back on. I've mentioned before that there are some things you just can't make up. This is one of them.



After the movie we went to the next piece of the program.  We had been asked to teach the local members some pioneer dances. This would have been IMPOSSIBLE without the miracle of youtube (thank you Geoff Grobeg). The two videos we taught from were filmed at a barn in Mapleton, Utah. AND, Sister Haddock used to fiddle at that venue for that instructor. Calculate THAT coincidence! We practiced the heel-toe polka and Oh Susanna, and they had a blast. On event day, the dancers came in pioneer costumers (a surprise to us) and put on a great show. They even pulled in a few audience members to dance with them (the branch president was a really good sport). The "old" dances were followed by the locals doing traditional Khmae dances around a chair with a flower pot on it (it should have been a tree - but it wouldn't fit in the room). It was beautiful to watch (Erin danced while I hid behind my guitar).

The most awesome part was the outdoor lunch. The leadership hired a catering group, which brought wedding tents (pink and yellow), round tables, matching table clothes and covered chairs. A 3 liter bottle of coke was centered on each table and adorned by a pot of rice, a plate of fruit and a pitcher of utensils. The main course (soup) was prepared in a cauldron over a wood/charcoal fire under a tree next to the baptismal font. The caterers ladled the soup into dutch-oven-sized pans and set one on each table next to the coke and rice. Delicious.

Later in the day it was back to reality - teaching a lady in a jungle shack whose husband is in jail. You buy your way out of jail (prisoners aren't released at the end of a time period) and she is trying to save money to get him out. He gets one meal/day and lives in a dingy cell. Visitors have to pay to see an inmate or bring in food, so she can't afford to visit. Criminal justice (???) systems are the underbellies of 3rd world countries.

I often wish I could "magic wand" away their difficulties - but wounds don't heal overnight for a reason. Magic wands don't build character - they build crutches. However, we can all pitch in and help make the world a better place in our own ways. The Savior taught us to do good - every day. It's a great place to start.

My grandmother Patton used to make "patchwork" quilts. These were made of random pieces of fabric (usually, but not always cut in same-size rectangles) sewn together, then bound with whatever batting she could find (She was a Mom during the great depression and found uses for everything). My "Grandma Patton" quilts were cool because you never knew what you would get. So, think of this blog as a Grandma Patton quilt - random stuff strung together with pieces that may not match.


First and most important to our homesick psyche, we found a REAL grocery store in Phnom Penh. It has a parking lot for cars (about 20 out front, same in the back), grocery carts (all four wheels turn) and room for two people in a single aisle - HEAVEN!! It's products included Kraft Mayonnaise (I thought Erin was going to cry on the spot), Molasses, Clorox wipes, flyswatter and Calcium pills (it was a large Kirkland brand bottle :-)). The imported goods were expensive as you would expect. But our tuna fish sandwich with REAL mayo was worth almost any price.

Patchwork piece #2. There are ants in my laptop. They crawl out of the hinges and USB inputs, and squeeze in through the tiny crack surrounding the keyboard keys (they like the numbers for some reason). There's probably an entire PUDFA (Planned Unit Development For Ants) inside, complete with a luxury suite for a queen. #%&%!!! I've tried wiping everything down with vinegar and even put the laptop in the fridge overnight - hoping Cambodian ants have no cold tolerance. But the ants keep marching one-by-one. I've found some weird online ideas which I'll try, but I'm open to anyone who has found a workable solution.

Patchwork piece #3. Brownout. We're used to occasional power outages - they're annoying, but the power usually comes back on in a couple of hours. But a brownout was new to us. We noticed our bedroom getting warm about 12:30 a.m., then saw that the AC had shut off (but it would still beep if you clicked the remote). A light worked (most of the lights in our house are LED) so we knew the power wasn't off, but NONE of the AC units in the house worked. Yet, the microwave clock and the Wifi seemed fine (couldn't check the laptop because it was in the fridge). We turned on a fan and could hear the motor, but the blades didn't move. I hand-flipped the blades and they stayed on at a constant, albeit slow, speed. Got it!! Brownout! We laid down and listened to a wedding party (they go non-stop for 48 hours straight) while a speaker blared wedding music over and over and over. It's like listening to "It's a small world after all" on repeat mode for hours. We fell asleep about 4 a.m., but were wakened by the dogs and roosters at 5:30. Grrrrrr.., I pulled the laptop out of the fridge and started doing this blog (the brownout hasn't bothered the ants - I've killed 4, 6, 7, 10, 12) already this morning). The power came on full strength about 7.



Patchwork piece #4. Yesterday was my birthday. We had lunch with the missionaries then had them all over for cake. Erin made my favorite (whole wheat carrot cake with creamed cheese frosting) - which was made possible by a box of REAL cream cheese ($5 each). We watched a cheesy video (haha) called "The Phone Call" because one of the senior missionaries had a bit part (when he was MUCH younger). It's a 1970's version of Napoleon Dynamite, sprinkled with Johnny Lingo. It's cheesy beyond belief, so be warned if you look it up on YouTube.

I'm now past 20 ants, so it's time for something drastic.... I've heard Windex solves all the world's problems :-)

We got a new vehicle - Yay! It's a Diesel Toyota 4 Runner (they call it a "Fortuner") with plenty of clearance. It's actually nicer and bigger than we need, but the smaller ones (Rav4 and Highlander) were more money. Go figure. Anyway, we no longer worry about getting stranded in the back woods. Getting lost is a different story. We go out visiting with the locals who don't deal with maps, East, West, miles, kilometers or distance. It's "turn left here, go straight and stop. We should label our car the "maze runner."

We held our July 4th party on July 11th (several of the missionaries had to go to the capitol on the 4th, so we postponed the celebration until the 11th) here at our house. It was fun. We had a pot luck lunch which consisted of Pringles, Starbursts, Oreos, watermelon, spaghetti, baguettes and Erin's apple crisp (with spray-on whipped cream at $8 a can). The missionaries talked, laughed and reminisced about their relatively short lives (most have no memory of 9/11 or before). We talked about what we appreciated most in the US - it was interesting. Even

18 year-olds recognize the value of clean water, basic sanitation and machines that work. Hopefully when these young missionaries return, they will appreciate the sacrifices of so many who have made our country what it is. We hear occasional snippets about Trump and Clinton and what will happen to our country if either is elected. It's small potatoes compared to rudimentary sanitation. I hold firm that the USA is bigger than any one president - including those on the ballots today. We survived Nixon, Carter, Bush and Obama. We'll make it through whoever is elected.

Yesterday we walked jungle trails to several small huts and experienced 1st and 3rd world contrasts in a very personal way. At one hut we visited a lady who had what we believe was an autistic son. The Mom just said he had "brain problems." The son (an adult) was wearing ragged jeans about 10 sizes too big. A rope was strung through the front two belt loops, then slung over his shoulder and tied to a belt loop in the back. No shirt, no shoes. And he was chained to a post just inside the hut to keep him from wandering off. It was wrenching. Health care is evolving in Cambodia, and it will get better. But it's hard to watch. I'll take either Clinton or Trump any day.

Jews and Christians alike believe in the return of the Messiah. Prophets of old as well as current day have testified that He will come with "healing in his wings." I hope He makes Cambodia His first stop.

What a difference 3 hours can make. At 11 a.m. we can be shopping for a violin in a modern music store in Phnom Penh (except no AC). By 2 p.m. we're in the hillbilly backyard of Kampong Cham - sharing our message with rice farmers and water buffaloes. The old, the middle and the new live side-by-side-by-side. The one constant among all the groups is long working hours. 8 to 5 doesn't exist for most people in Cambodia - unless you work for the government or an NGO (Non-Government Organization). It's dawn (about 5:30 a.m.) to dusk (about 6:30 p.m.) for most people, 7 days/week. EXCEPT the afternoon siesta period (about Noon to about 2 p.m.) when EVERYONE watches this cheesy soap opera from India. We walk into a store and nobody moves. All are fixated on a small CRT TV screen - watching "As the World Turns in Mumbai" (I'm sure that's not what it's called, but it might as well be). It's a perfect time for a robbery - except all the thieves are also watching the same dumb show.

SQUIRREL! Back to the farm.

Today we helped a family shell lotus pods. As we understood it (which could be totally wrong) they wade into the backyard swamp and harvest pods that are extensions of lotus plants. They are flat on one side, rounded up on the other, and about 4 inches in diameter across the flat side. Each rubbery pod contains about 25 acorn-sized "seeds." When the outer green covering of the seed is removed (easy to do), a tasty white-fleshed "kernel" remains. It tastes like a cross between sweet peas and water chestnuts. However, you must do a personal memory wipe of where the seeds came from before eating them. The swamps are disgusting. We brought two pods home and will disinfect them in our chlorine water (which seems like it should have its own side effects) before throwing them in a stir fry.

As always, the people are genuine in spite of the swamps. Their testimonies of, and faith in the Savior are pristine. Those that can read, do so with humility. Their prayers are always sincere. Some day their living conditions will change - but not their faith in God. I hope I can "be in that number" to watch these saints when they come marching in.

We were told to note the things that are new or unusual as soon as they happen - because over time they become normal, and you don't notice them anymore. So for us, the Mekong River is a benchmark object. The river has now risen about 10 feet in the past 5 weeks. Considering its size, that is amazing (to us anyway). But this happens EVERY year, so it's not amazing to any of the locals. It will rise at least 10 - 20 feet more before it reaches it's peak height. We were asked why Kampong Cham exists as a city. Smarty-pants Erin immediately said, "the bridge." It's true.

The bridge was built in 2001 through a $56 million grant from Japan and was the first bridge built over the Mekong River in Cambodia (https://www.google.com.kh/maps/@11.988381,105.4625001,1791m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en). For our city, it connected East and West. It's as significant for Cambodia as the joining of the rail lines was for the US back in the 1800's. Well, enough history.



6 weeks old

I lost about 10 pounds in my first month here, and gained them all back yesterday. We went to a church member's home, where we were fed BBQ spare ribs, ground pork omelets, fish soup with bamboo shoots, stir-fry frog with spicy green beans and steamed rice. It was all delicious - although the frog had a ton of little bones (what would you expect?). We shared a short lesson with them, then the Mom took us to a little commune behind the rubber plantation, where several church members lived that no one knew about. The Elders and I joined the Dad to give their newborn a blessing (their first child). I think the blessing will be as beneficial for the parents as it will be for the baby. First-time Moms and Dads are always wondering if they are doing things "right." Parenthood is a HUGE responsibility - yet Heavenly Father trusts parents with His precious children. He hopes they will teach them to be good and kind, and help each other. Some day all parents will give an account of their family stewardship to the Father of all. He doesn't expect perfection (none of us would pass that test - just ask my children) and he knows that children are born into challenging circumstances. All He asks of us is to do our best and follow His manual (the best parenting manual I know of is found in Mosiah chapters 2-5).

Mangosteen (front) and Durian tree (back)

This good family is part of four generations residing in two middle class houses, surrounded by coconut, durian and mangosteen trees. The family runs an orchard - harvesting fruit and selling to local market vendors. They picked fresh mangosteens off the tree for us, then hacked down a cluster of green coconuts for coconut milk. Cutting the coconuts for milk is an art form. First they shear off the bottom to make it flat (so it can sit on a surface like a cup). The artist then machete's off the top just enough to allow a straw to poke down into the milk. After you drink the milk, the artist whacks the coconut in half, so you can scrape out the soft, just-forming coconut insides. It's delicious - and super low calorie (NOT). We ended our day with pumpkin coconut milk soup (Erin) and coconut curry soup with vegetables (me) - followed up by two magnum ice cream bars from the gas station ($2 each!). I blew up a calculator trying to add up the calories.