Bye Jockland

After four months of witnessing miracles in the beautiful province of Siem Reap, I will be leaving. I once heard someone say that the mission is just 2 years of goodbyes, and after so many bitter sweet separations from those I love so much, I can see where they are coming from. I will be going to Chatomok which is in the dead center of the city of Phnom Penh so it should be a big change! (From the forests of Siem Reap to the concrete jungle (in a sense...) of Phnom Penh) The best part about it is that I am getting the most handsome companion in the mission, Elder Enloe! I am very excited. 

I have SOOOOO much to say, but no time, so I want to just end today, by sharing something short that really stuck out to me this week: THE HOPE WE HAVE THROUGH THE ATONEMENT OF JESUS CHRIST. See true to the faith: The word hope is sometimes misunderstood. In our everyday language, the word often has a hint of uncertainty. For example, we may say that we hope for a change in the weather or a visit from a friend. In the language of the gospel, however, the word hope is sure, unwavering, and active. I love the scripture in 1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, A LIVELY HOPE! We know that because of His Resurrection we can all have a lively hope that we too will be resurrected, and we too will be able to dwell in His eternal mansions above. Take a second to reflect about His perfect eternal sacrifice and His victorious resurrection from the grave!

I will write a better email next week, but all is well! Joy in the journey. I love you all

Elder Gochnour

FLOOD

So much stuff happened this week and I am sorry, but there is no way that I will even be able to write a portion of what happened. I feel kinda like the scripture in 3rd Nephi 26:6 "And now there cannot be written in this book even a hundredth part of the things which Jesus did truly teach unto the people;" Replace people with Elder Gochnour and that pretty much describes my mission.

One thing that should be mentioned though was the FLOOD! We got a call at 9pm on Saturday (our bed time is 9:30pm) telling us that the church had been flooded! Someone had turned on the  emergency hose and left it on in the gym.... The water flooded the whole gym and the whole sacrament room. We got permission from President to go help and it was a mad house haha. Members were using plates, dust pans, wood planks and everything in between just to get the water out of the room. I decided to take more of the primary kid approach and just turn it into a water slide while I tried to take the water out with me! Fun times. The closest I have been to swimming in a good year and a half. The water might have ruined the carpet, but I think all the members had a good attitude about it and those are the things that you just have to smile and enjoy the moment! We got all the water out and made it to bed at 11pm. The next day sacrament meeting was held and the leaders sat on the stand while everyone else sat on the pews in the gym haha. It was a long walk over the wet floor from the pews in the gym to the pulpit, so shout out to all those that bore their testimony.

Other than that the work is moving forward! We are currently teaching the son of one of our recent converts and her husband and they are both doing awesome. The little kid always kisses his hand then slaps me on the face haha.  We have a lot of other cool people are progressing, but my favorite part is that all of them are just friends or family of members and it makes the work so much more enjoyable. 

Well no need to bore you all with the other little this and thats of missionary life, but to keep this email short I just want to say that I love God with all of my heart and I am so grateful for His perfect Son, Jesus Christ. My favorite thing I read this week was in 2 Nephi 4. Nephi who was one of the better men to ever walk this Earth, and a prophet of God says, 

19 "And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.

20 My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep

26 O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?

27 And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?

28 Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.

Like Nephi, I can say that even though I am SO far from perfect and the natural man is so easy to get a hold of me, I KNOW IN WHOM I HAVE TRUSTED! He will deliver us!

I haven't watched General Conference so sorry that I can't bear my testimony about how much it means to me yet, however I will say this. Everyone was worried about the NEW, BIG CHANGE, that was going to happen this General Conference. From what I have read so far I think that the message that our beloved prophet wants us to understand is this: it doesn't matter what the new big change in the organization of the church. What does matter however is how we are CHANGING our own hearts to better follow HIM!

Some food for thought as we reread and study the talks. I love you all!

Elder Gochnour

The Chains are Unleashed

Hello everyone!

Let's cut to the chase and skip my sad excuses for jokes: 

We were able to be a part of some baptisms this week which is always an amazing experience. Quick explanation of those that were baptized: Srey Nong and her brother Nathan are children of a part member family. Their mother was just baptized recently and the kids loved going to church with her and had a chance to get baptized! 

Heab is the daughter-in-law of a member and we had the chance to teach and baptize her son two transfers ago. By a miracle she was able to get her marriage certificate and her little cute family is my favorite. 

Sokhun is our golden investigator that I have talked about recently and she is one of the most prepared people I have ever met in my mission. It is amazing to see how far she has come from about 2 months ago when we first talked to her on the side of a dirt road, and see the hope and joy she has in this gospel. Whenever she had doubts or questions or was hesitant she always would say, "I always had a feeling of warmth inside, and that's how I know it is true." 

And then lastly was this younger girl named Kimleang who is the niece of a really strong member. Her mom was hesitant about her joining the church, but because God is a God of miracles he was able to soften her mother's heart and allow her to get baptized. 

It was an amazing day and maybe one of the most spirit filled days of my life. 'These are days never to be forgotten.' I think my favorite part about the whole thing was that it wasn't just about us and the investigators, every one of the investigators had a direct relation to a member except one, Sokhun, and for her, she had the best member relations out of any investigator I have ever worked with. It felt like the baptism service was just a big happy party. Just like one big family of members welcoming in those they love and care about so much. Welcoming the lost sheep into their fold of the meek and loving members. I think one of my favorite moments of the day was when Heab got up to bear her testimony she started crying a lot. She is a very humble, and reserved person, not to mention that crying publicly isn't much of a cultural thing here. It was so touching how much this gospel means to her and to her little family. Our other investigator Sokhun got up and hugged her, and it was one of those moments where everyone in the room just kinda says, "aww"

I apologize because that paragraph does such a poor job of expressing how amazing it was to be apart of all of that, and it does a poor job of expressing how much I love this work. I can testify with all my heart that I do love this work with and I know that it is the work of the Lord. I know that it is all because of God that amazing things like this happen. I was studying a little bit about the mercy of God recently and I came across something that stuck with me. It comes from the True to the Faith book, "Every blessing you receive is an act of mercy, more than you could ever merit on your own.

Mormon taught, “All things which are good cometh of Christ; otherwise men were fallen, and there could no good thing come unto them” (Moroni 7:24). 

For example, you are a recipient of divine mercy when Heavenly Father hears and answers your prayers, when you receive guidance from the Holy Ghost, and when you are healed from sickness through priesthood power. Although all such blessings come as results of your obedience, you could never receive them through your efforts alone. They are merciful gifts from a loving and compassionate Father"

I am so grateful for the Mercy of our loving Heavenly Father, especially that He was merciful enough to put me here in this country and to be serving these people. They mean so much to me. I am so grateful that He was merciful enough to allow us to be apart of this week. May we all be a little bit more grateful for the mercy of God.

I love you all!

Elder Gochnour