This small structure is located near a river in a rural area 30 km from Phnom Penh. It doubles as a home for two women and a "way station" for a sand dredging operation where truckloads of sand are sold for $22 and workers are provided "take-out" meals of rice and soup. The women collect the money from the truck drivers and distribute the meals.

Inside the home are two wooden "beds" that are 18" above the dirt floor. While we visited, chickens roamed under the beds along with a litter of puppies. Sister Mai (on right) and her friend, Kim Loan, took us there to meet Sister Mai's sister, Chung, and her father, Thom, who is either the owner or manager of the operation. We were graciously received, and enjoyed getting to know them.

From left to right, Sister Mai's aunt who appeared to be in charge of the way station, Chung, another of Thom's daughters, Sister Mai, her father Thom, and Sister Loan. Chung lives in the home with her aunt. The Vietnamese people are typically industrious, and this family works together to run this successful business. Thom drives a late-model Toyota pickup.

Thom has set up his own shaded study area on a small knoll close enough to keep an eye on the operation. On the table are a Bible, Book of Mormon, and Liahona magazine.

A father-daughter photo. Thom is a counselor in the presidency of Branch 6, and Sister Mai is the Relief Society President in the same branch.

Three cute sisters. Sister Mai is 27, Sister Loan is 17, and Sister Snyder is . . .

Thom was worried about me getting too much sun, so he lent me his hat for a while.

Eleven happily tired missionaries as they prepare to head home on a late-night flight. To a man, they gave their best efforts amidst trying circumstances in helping people seek better lives. Many of these people came to the airport to wish them well and thank them for giving two years of their lives to bring them the message of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. These men endured flood, heat, bugs, rodents, fatigue and sickness while loving and serving the people of Cambodia. They leave with honor. Pictured are (L to R) Elders James, Egan, Zabriskie, Z. Boyd, Hermann, Heywood, Hurwitz, M. Boyd, Walker, Salmon and Thompson.

We've shown a similar photo before, but it is useful in preparing viewers for the next photo.
A "transfer" is when missionaries are assigned to new areas and new companionships. Scheduled for every six weeks, some transfers only involve a few missionaries and some a large number. This week's transfer involved almost every one of the 37 companionships in the mission since 12 new missionaries were arriving, and 11 were finishing their missions and going home. So, this is how it looked outside the mission home, and the next slide shows . . . .

. . . .what it looks like on the inside as missionaries catch up with their friends during the time it takes for everyone to arrive, team up with new companions and head for assignments near and far via buses, tuk tuks, and bicycles. Our missionaries serve in the Phnom Penh area, Kampong Cham, Kampong Thom, Siem Reap, and Battambang as well as in two branches in Vietnam, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Meet Elder Elder (yes, his last name really is "Elder"). He is a zany missionary now serving as an Assistant to the President. He is also the one who tried to electrocute Elder Snyder--but that's another story. Here he has donned oversize glasses and hiked up his pants in a goofball rendition of how NOT to orient newly-arrived missionaries.

A Queen and her court as they view some of Sophal's ties. Pictured are Elders Schiefer, Oleson, Phirun, Baird and Chea.

Rose is a woman of great faith who emigrated from Malaysia with her two sons. Over time, they were taught by missionaries (including the senior couple pictured) and then baptized by Elders Schiefer and Heywood on a beautiful day. The younger boy won't be old enough for baptism until August.

A pair of shoes, recently polished. Having been taught the importance of shined shoes by determined drill instructors many years ago, I have always tried to keep mine looking half-way decent. So it was with some surprise that we answered the door at 6:30 the morning of my birthday last week to find our mission president holding a shoe shine kit and asking for my shoes. We engaged in some amiable conversation during the time it took him to put on a good base of polish and then brush them to a nice luster. When he finished, he reviewed with us the 13th chapter of John where our Savior is washing the feet of his disciples, and saying, “Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” Our mission president has repeated many times this act of service to the missionaries in Cambodia—a gentle example of humility and service.