November 29, 2004

We are into doing things for the last time. We celebrated the last Thanksgiving in country and the last Water Festival with the boat race. Thanksgiving was interesting as one of the Districts asked if they could come to our house for Thanksgiving so the sisters in the District could join in the celebration. (Elders and Sisters cannot go to each other’s homes without other adults as well.) Our menu included Japanese Curry, Teriyaki beef, two Khmer dishes and lots of rice to go with the Jell-O salad, toss salad and brownies that we made. We introduced the missionaries to our “I am thankful for” tradition so we spent 30 minutes sharing our gratitude. The Khmer missionaries enjoyed learning about our American holiday.

We went to the Water Festival again this year as senior missionaries. We met at the Royal Star Hotel on the riverside, right by the finish line of the boat races. We reserved the open-air restaurant on the fifth floor and also arranged for a buffet dinner. It was a great day even though several boats sank this year because of heavy rains and rough water. The boats are about 2 inches above the water line when filled with 35 to 50 men. The fireworks were great with a full moon background and we were treated to eight lighted barges this year. We formed a chain to work our way through the crowds after the activities and walked 8 blocks to the car. Hot and sweaty are two words we use to always describe Cambodia.

These fun events climaxed a month of planning and training of the Districts and Branches and service to the community. We also had the Area Auditors visited for several days.

One of the major service events was the visit of Susan’s cousin Kathy and eye doctor husband Branson Call. They came to teach eye doctors in this country about plastic surgery to the eye. Dr. Call did a number of presentations and surgeries. While they were here we held an Eye Clinic at the District Center. We had over 1200 people come! It was the largest Eye Clinic ever held in the Church for a single day according the Dr. Call. Great help from 40 missionaries, branch Relief Society members and three volunteer doctors from the eye hospital. The doctor gave out 50 clinic referral. We gave out 100’s of glasses and some medicine. We were to begin at 8:00 AM but there were 300 people there by then so it took some time to work through the crowds. The crowds stopped by 1:30 but began again at 2:00 PM until 4:30 PM. We left at 5:30 very worn out. Dr. Call saw almost all of these people in a brief screening. What a day!

The other big challenge for the month was the loss of three senior couples with one more set of senior sisters leaving in mid Dec. (A time we would be leaving if we had signed on for 18 month. We have another 5 months to go.) We did get replacements for one couple and more come in mid to late December so we only have a dip in productivity for 60 days.

Wonderful people are joining the Church in large numbers. More people join the Church in Cambodia than in any other Asian Area country. With the lay ministry there is so much training but there are many eager people to work with.

We are looking forward to the Christmas season and introducing many people to their first Christmas celebration. What does Christmas mean? One person here said people are more loving. Love was definitely the motive for the gift of Christ to the world. Have a wonderful season.

Elder and Sister Taylor