September 9, 2003
This is report #2 from Cambodia. We have discovered the temperature and seasons do not change much here. We have a few cooler days. The food is wonderful and the people are so great.

Church Events

We had a couple of historic events this month. They divided two branches of the Church here in Phnom Penh. They divided branch 1 to make 1 and 11 and branch 7 to make 7 and 12. Susan and I will help with organizational training for the branches 7 and 12. (Branches of the Church are usually very small 25-200 people.) After we divided 7 & 12 they were both over 400 members each! Most all of these people have been members less than three years! (We have seen ten people join these two branches this month.) In a Church that relies on lay leadership these organization changes are a challenge because there is a lack of experience among the members. So we are training and training. (The Church tries to keep the congregations in established areas around 500 members to manage and care for one another. There are about 250 jobs in a congregation of 500 members so many can serve.) The organized church exists for the perfecting of families. So training must go on at several levels - personal/family, and branch/district levels.

We are encouraged at the enthusiasm of the new members to learn. They pick up on the organizational ideas (In some cases its like learning a new language and we certainly relate to that) It is exciting to see members training members. It looks like a two to three month effort to get both branches fully manned and initial training completed. We are teaching several keyboard classes to provide music for the new branches. We are also teaching a music conducting class. Susan is also teaching English in one of the branches (there are four levels of English taught here.) These people need English and computer skills to fulfill their jobs in the church and the world. There is a group of people at the LDS Service Center that are teaching the four levels of English and some computer classes. These classes are open to any person over 16 years of age. We could teach hundreds more people and there is a big waiting list. (I believe I told you that ten years ago you could be killed for trying to learn English so there is a big vacuum.)

We are out most days and nights with the full time young missionaries in the homes of those that are investigating the Church or with new members working on personal and family perfection. This is so fun. If you have ever been a coach and watched your players in a game you can understand some of the joy. It is so exciting to see players feeling so good about themselves as they improve and grow. The Gospel of Jesus Christ makes bad men good and good men better.

It is so interesting to have a new young member (17 years old) of seven months stand in Church to speak. He tells how lost he was with no purpose to life. But he says everything has changed! He has purpose for life. He enjoys studying. He now loves people and finds joy in helping them. He is happy. Many of the young men and women in their twenties are joining the Church. (Large numbers) Many who joined in the last couple of years are now going on missions for the Church. Because they are so poor, other church members in the USA subsidize them on their missions. Many young men have served missions here but more and more they are leaving the country. If they serve here, they can save money, missions abroad cost more. One of the big challenges is what they do when they return. But that is a subject for another report.

The Country

Now a bit more about the country: We are now quite comfortable with our setting. This is good and bad! I hope to include a few pictures to illustrate some of our reports. This month we will share information on Vehicle Service Stations. We have many levels of vehicle service in the city because we have many different types of transportation including bicycles, cycloes (three wheel bikes with a one-person seat, mottos (motor scooters), motto-truck (motorbikes with a trailer), gombeys (motorbike with two back seats), cars (99% Toyotas), vans, van buses, trucks, truck buses and buses. (A subject for another discussion)

We have the modern car service stations with car washes and lube. Some of these stations even have restaurants. Texaco and Shell are both here.

There are specialty shops for cars, mottos, and bike maintenance shops. These shops are generally one house wide - 12 feet. The next level of gas station is one with a 55-gallon barrel of fuel with a hand pump. We also have convenient curbside gas service with 2 liter pop bottles filled with gas for the moto's. In addition, we have curbside tire service for moto's and bikes. One location is close to our home near a major street and under a tree. He is always busy fixing tires and has a mobile air pressure pump to fill tires. Some locations have a combination of these basic services.

I have included a picture of the local "seven - eleven" that is just around the corner from our new Branch 12 building. You will note they sell pop, liters of gas and air. "One stop" service with lunch available at noon. These vehicle service centers are scattered through out the city. They seem to do well with the thousands of bikes and motos.

We also have specialty vehicle parts shops. These are in various sections of town. A note about the shops. It appears that if one-person sets up a shop and in successful people will set up with the same type of shop on both sides. That is how it is with the vehicle shops. Each shop will sell just selected components particularly of motos and cars. Bike shops appear to have more than just one item--the one-stop shop approach. But auto and truck parts are sold in special shops - mufflers, bumpers, doors, window glass, engines, and brakes/drums. The same specialty shop concept is true for motos - wheels, windbreaks for the legs, motors; tires wheels and seats are all sold in different shops.

The full time elders get around on bikes and we rent a van. Transportation movement will be a subject of another discussion.

We are enjoying the work. We are always ready to go to bed and generally refreshed by morning if the dogs have not needed to communicate at 4: AM with their friends and family. I am having earplugs shipped since we can't find any here. We have a new experience a day either with the Church or community.

Think of you all often and wish you could enjoy the experience that is indescribable.

Love

Elder and Sister Taylor