Heralded by angels, what a wondrous event was the birth of the Christ child! While the sights and sounds are different in this land, those people that believe in our Savior have the same feelings of love as believers everywhere. It is with profound gratitude that we wish each and every one of you a Christmas filled with all that brings true joy.

The following six photos attempt to depict some of the joy that is Cambodia.

Merry Christmas from the Snyders!

This teen group gave a stirring performance of the nativity. They have deep feelings for our Savior.

TheTaKhmao Primary leadership has its hands full with this fun-loving group of children. They gave the cutest program with song and dance!

The jolly old elf--far, far away from the North Pole and New Mexico--had lots of help passing out candy to the children.

Sister Snyder with two of her favorite missionaries--Sisters Harlan and Vo, both of whom speak Vietnamese. Elders Hurwitz and Salmon are trying to cause trouble in the background. ;-)

Joy is personified in the expressions of these wonderful young missionaries--Elders Matthews, Pinvises, Hurwitz and Salmon. As an aside, Elder Hurwitz is 6'10" and draws a lot of attention from the relatively-short Cambodian people.

Putting up the the Christmas tree at the TaKhmao Branch. Note that the door is open and everyone is enjoying the 75 degree weather. The Cambodian people love balloons, and a few are evident in this photo.

While attending church meetings at the Takhmao Branch last Sunday, Elder Da invited us to provide service the next day in the rice fields belonging to people in the Baku area. We were glad to have the chance, in part because we wanted to know more about the rice harvesting process. Here's what we learned--it is a lot of fun if only working for an hour and a half. We can't imagine working like that day after day from sunup to sundown. It is exhausting, back-breaking work.

The stalks are cut 30-36 inches from the top, laid in rows to dry, then gathered and carried to a large tarp in the middle of the small field where the bundles are stacked about three feet high. Our knowledge gets a little scant from there because we didn't get to see how they separate the rice from the stalks (maybe next time!). Here are seven photos of our rice harvesting experience. You'll have to click on "older posts" to view the last photo.

After receiving instruction, Sister Snyder is closely supervised in her first attempts to cut the rice stalks. Perhaps her supervisors have heard of her reputation with knives!

Now she's got the hang of it! (And didn't cut herself even once!)

Here's an old guy trying to pull his own weight in the field. After the rice is cut, it is laid out in rows for drying. When it has dried, it is gathered by hand, carried to a central location and stacked on a big tarp.

Barely 5 feet tall, Elder Da is a spiritual giant, humble and always concerned for the welfare of others. The service project was his idea. He wanted to help those people who took time away from their harvest to attend church meetings.

A happy work crew. Elder Haem is at the top and the farmer, Ol, is next with the towel around his neck. The middle row features Elders Oleson, Draper and Da with members of the Takhmao Branch. President and Sister Smedley are front and center with the Snyders enjoying the moment.

The short walk to the farmer's home was made more pleasant by the company of Phani, a neighborhood boy. Elder Snyder taught Phani and his friend, Kausiem, the fine art of thumb wrestling at a family meal a couple of months ago.

After our work, we enjoyed a delicious meal prepared by Ol's wife, Jensophiap.

Dear Family and Friends,

We had a special experience this week which prompted reflection about our Savior and the Christmas season. Everything fine here, and hope it is equally well with you. Much love. . .

While Jesus invited all to come unto him, his earthly ministry focused on the poor and downtrodden. It was they whose faith was strongest and who were grateful for his loving solace and miracles.

Missionaries serving in Cambodia walk where Jesus walked. Every day they see a humble people living in humble homes, gratefully accepting the healing balm offered by the Lord’s servants.

Although our assignment is mostly that of doing the back-office work of the mission, every now and then we have the opportunity to assist in some other way. One such moment came this past week as we were asked to visit a man who had been critically injured in a moto accident.

There are many hospitals in Phnom Penh, but only two that could be called modern. This man was taken to one of those—a gleaming building on one of the city’s main streets. However, since the man was poor, he was taken to an old building behind the hospital, a ward for the indigent. We had to walk a ways to get there, and our apprehension was heightened by the dead rat lying close to the entryway.

His room was fairly long, about 50 feet and maybe 18 feet wide, large enough for a row of 10 single beds on each side. The beds had no mattresses, with thin straw mats on top of the boards. They were filled with people suffering from maladies unknown to us.

The unconscious man was surrounded by his family. They were distraught as they studied his swollen face and limbs, especially since they hadn’t been permitted to talk to any medical staff. Our interpreter found a physician who was informative and caring. He had good news. The man’s injuries were severe but not life-threatening. He also said it would make no difference if the man had an expensive room. His body just needed healing time. `

We relayed this information to the family, and made sure they had money for food and other needs. We prayed with the family, and hugged them. Tears were shed.

This story ends well. The man was conscious the next morning, and has since returned home to complete his recovery.

We have now visited three hospitals. The first was for another moto-accident victim whose head injury was worse, but who survived. The second was to a chronically-ill AIDS patient in an indigent ward with no food or quality care. We ministered to her needs as best we could. Her quiet dignity and faith humbled us.

Christmas is a special time of giving. May we all offer the gifts of time and of love and of solace that please Him whose birth we honor.

We love you and pray for you daily.