The highlight of this last week was visiting Kim Loan, 'Thyda', who suffers with incurable cancer. We had a fun hour where she showed us a slide show she had made, we played a riotous game (see next posts), and Dave Sorken told the story of how he and his wife, Charlene, first met Thyda. Quiet and unassuming, the Sorkens have dearly loved Thyda for the last six years and have made multiple trips to Cambodia to see her. They are special people sent by a loving Heavenly Father to care for and comfort Thyda as she completes her life's journey.

Elder Sanford brought a game (similar to Jenga?) that has three rectangular blocks to each level and the object is to remove blocks from the interior and re-stack them on top. The one whose 'removal' topples the stack is the loser. Sister Snyder is taking this very seriously as Thyda gives advice. Thyda acquitted herself very honorably in the turns she took. She had a steady hand!

Sister Snyder snapped this photo just as Elder Sanford toppled the stack.

Elder and Sister Greer arriving in Phnom Penh. She's wearing the red blouse and he's wearing the white shirt--okay, the long-sleeved white shirt. They are great folks who live two blocks from the MTC in Provo. They are being assigned as member/leader support in Siem Reap and are staying at the home of the Tuck's (far right couple) for a few days before heading north.

Since the Greer's arrived just before noon, it only made sense to stop for lunch at the iconic Mike's Burger. (Where else would one eat in Cambodia?) Mike himself took a photo of us to use on his next business card. He can be viewed in the upper left corner of this photo.

Nine new missionaries at the Phnom Penh airport, including Elder Garlick (4th from left) who, as it turns out, is Elder Snyder's cousin (twice removed?) with roots in Montana. His mother, Kay, emailed us after talking to my brother, Dennis. Elder Garlick has been assigned to Battambang as the junior companion to Elder Nebeker with whom we flew to Cambodia 'way back' in July 2010. The two young men without suit coats are the Assistants to the President, Elders Mickelsen and Hill.

A typical scene in the mission office during the transfers that occur when new missionaries arrive and old ones depart. Happy bedlam might be a good way to describe it as these young servants of the Lord compare notes while waiting for the signal to depart to new branch assignments. Sister Snyder (the photographer) treats them as she did her own teenagers--she loves them and they love her.