Yesterday we arrived home after taking SouthEast Asia by force. I honestly can't believe the stuff we were able to pack into our time. We had a long layover in Japan and that's when my body gave me a warning that all was not was right By the time we arrived in SLC, I was running a fever and last night was a beast. Tonight will likely be more of the same.
I wonder if I learned anything from our travels. I saw a lot of things that were quite different... The living conditions generally are third-word. It's amazing because when you see the people at church, they are cleaned up and have nice clothes on. When you visit them in their homes, it's usually a dirt, wood, or cement floor. We had one experience where it started to rain while we were in the member's house and it came down with a vengeance. We got done and then walked 300 yards in the rain and mud. What an experience.
A couple of observations:
1) People in the church (who get it) rely completely on the power of prayer. I'm pretty convinced that the Lord hears their prayer in greater measure simply because without Him, there is no help. I spent time talking to Rith who was an intelligent twenty-something young man. He told me his story. When he was 12 years old, he was introduced to the church. By the time he was 13, he knew he wanted to be baptized. His parents were against it and told him that he could get baptized after they met with the Branch President. Finally they consented and he was baptized. The only problem was that he had no way to get to church and they refused to help. His only recourse was to pray. Soon he found a bike that was for sale for $1.25. He saved up and purchased the bike. The only problem was the bike didn't have a seat. He decided to pray about that. Afterwards it was shown to him in a dream how to make a seat out of wood. Then he started to grow and it was rainy season. He would show up to church with a mud stripe up his back and would sit on the deacons row fighting back tears. So, he prayed again and an Elder gave him a bike since he was going home from his mission.
There are lots of cool stories like that.
2) The church is a social construct and that's the way it should be. Members are poor. They come to church on an empty stomach. One young man has a decent job and has decided to personally purchase food for everyone in both branches in Seim Reap. The members show up and got meetings and them hang around until dinner is served. I'm convinced that this is the glue that hold many of the weakest members to the church.
Nothing wrong with supporting the social activities of the church.
Well, that's it. I feel like hud. I love both of you.
Dad
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