🇰🇭

My sincerest apologies to you very few and faithful readers of my attempt to give you a piece of Cambodia in these emails. It's been three weeks since I last emailed and a lot of miracles have occurred! Here are the updates. God be thanked for this time I have to serve here in Cambodia. 

• We had two baptisms two weeks ago! They were amazing and spirit filled. The funny thing was that both our investigators were supposed to get baptized at the same time before church on Sunday, but Vuth didn't show up until sacrament so we had a baptism before and after haha. A long day at the church! Sopheap was baptized before church and it was an amazing experience.

• Pu Tum Vuth is a very strong christian and has believed in christ for almost thirty years. Ever since we met him and taught him the restoration he continues to proclaim that this church just feels right and he believes in the Book of Mormon. The most solid foundation of testimony that we can have. He has had diabetes but after he was baptized and confirmed he has said that his health has gotten significantly better and he really loves God. Anything that happens in his life he always manages to say, អរគុណព្រះអង្គ which means thank you God! He is an optimist and has faith to move mountains. I can't wait for him to be a holder of the priesthood and strengthen our ward! He also spoke this week in sacrament and for lack of a better word it was flames!! He even talked about agency and shared from 2 Nephi 2. It was cool to see him already having a big influence in our ward. He is one of the many reasons why I feel that these are the best people in the world.

• Sopheap is a very meek and humble person. She was married and has a child, but her husband passed away. Ever since then she has been searching for some hope and some purpose and she found it when we explained the Plan of Salvation to her. Although she is super new to Christianity and believing in a living God, I can see that she can feel the truth of it in her heart. She has been welcomed by the amazing relief society in our ward and loves going to church. She also has already entered the Isaiah chapters in second Nephi! Champ!

Both of them continue to read the Book of Mormon and build their testimony on the truth found in its pages. I am grateful for the most powerful tool we have as missionaries, this special 

We had the chance to spend a few hours doing missionary work with an Area 70 from Thailand named Elder Khanakham. It was amazing! I loved to see a 68 year old guy more excited and more eager to preach the gospel than two 20 year old young men. He was excited! Whatever words left his mouth were full of power and pure love.

Recently, I just have realized how LUCKY we are coming from America and especially Utah, to be taught and to believe the gospel. Sometimes we are too lazy to even follow God when nothing is holding us back except ourselves. As of late it seems I have seen a lot of people not be able to learn because of parents, family, culture or their bosses not letting them. They want to believe but sometimes they just can't. Pretty sad stuff and makes you grateful for the easiness of the gospel back home. That being said, it has been amazing to see the faith of some of the people we are working with to stand strong and raise up their light even when darkness is all around them. That is true religion and true courage. 

I think over the past three weeks I have a million things that I could share spiritually with all of you about justice and mercy, the power of the Book of Mormon, the final events of the Saviors life and on and on and on. But I think even better than me sharing a scripture or quote is just telling you all that I know that God does live. Jesus Christ is His Son. And the Holy Ghost is the way to truth and light. I would just like to echo the humble words of 

Nephi 16 And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God?

17 And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.

It was crazy today to see the prison where 20,000 prisoners were kept during the Khmer Rogue. Those were some horrifying and heavy times in this countries history. The good news is this gospel is the means to light and hope and forgiveness. It has been amazing to share that light to these people that need it so much. 

Sadly this will probably be my last week in the heart of the city, but I am excited to see where the Lord wants me for the last 6 weeks! I can't wait to go forward with faith and leave my heart and soul on the field (the fields of Cambodia). I also am excited to make 1 Nephi 4: 6 the focus of my mission and my life because I love that scripture. 

Sorry I forgot to put any humor in this email. But today I ironed my shirt with the iron off and that probably will make someone laugh

Love you all

Elder Goc