Un Sotheareth is shown here just before his departure to the U.S. to serve a mission in California. He had never flown before, and was excited to begin this adventure. We worry about our Khmer missionaries finding their way through LAX and making the switch from international to domestic flights, but somehow it always works out. We received word that he made it to his destination just fine.
Like others before him, he was required to spiritually prepare himself for his mission, plus earn and sacrifice around $500--a significant sum for youth who seldom make more than $80 a month. Then he served as a companion to missionaries working in Cambodia. This means that he lived with them, kept the same schedule, and carried his share of the workload. By the way, because of the 6-8 months it takes for the U.S. to issue Homeland Security clearances, and the visa and other processes, it can take up to a year from the time outbound missionaries receive their Call To Serve to the time they actually arrive in the states. Most of the outbound missionaries are in the 22-25 age range.

Sister Snyder feels a bit of ownership with each outbound missionary because her job includes filling out their comprehensive applications for U.S. visas and preparing them for the interview process. The online embassy application is not for the faint-hearted. The system is difficult to negotiate, changes constantly and times out frequently. Despite that, she is 4-for-4 with five more in the pipeline.

Elder Un's family and some of his friends trekked to the airport for his late-night departure. All of the departing missionaries are put on the 11:20 PM flight due to cost and arrival times in the U.S.

Elder Un with his branch president, Kem Chhoeun. President Chhoeun is an unassuming man who has sent two of his own children on missions along with many young members of the Ta Khmao Branch. He works as a welder during the day and attends to his church duties in the evenings and on weekends.

Brecon Powell is the son of great people we've known since our Camp Pendleton years. He and his wife, Tara, were able to spend a couple of days in Phnom Penh on their way to Thailand. They are a delightful couple and we really enjoyed the time we could spend with them. Quick learners, they soon negotiated the markets, and the bargaining, with the ease of veterans. This photo was taken in front of the guest house where they stayed.

It costs $6 to have a shirt hand-made in Phnom Penh--$3 for the material and $3 for making it. That's for a plain white dress shirt. If you want something nicer, the material can cost up to $10 but the tailoring is still $3. While Brecon was selecting material for some shirts, the shop owners became concerned about an old man having to stand up so they found a nice chair under a fan for him.

Eng Bun Huoch is a man with a future. Talented, intelligent, and faithful, he is working his way toward success. He is a counselor in the mission presidency and starting a couple of businesses while working for an NGO. He is shown here with his wife and two of his three children.

Spencer Malley taught us as much Khmer as we could absorb in preparation for our mission, and he and his wife, Kaitlin, just arrived in Cambodia where Kaitlin will be doing a 3-month agricultural internship. Spencer did his Khmer-speaking mission in Sacramento so this is his first trip to Cambodia. They will move to Atlanta this fall so he can begin law school. They are such a delightful couple! This photo was taken in our apartment.