It's been kinda weird winding down my mission and I have had a lot of things running through my head with thoughts and feelings. The other day I was riding my bike down the rode in the forests of Battambang, and I had an interesting thought. I was really concerned about if I had done my best and had a successful mission. Had I really worked my hardest? Had I really helped as many people as possible? Did I really give my all to the Lord? And on and on.
I realized I was really focused on the past and what I HAD done. I think I had a little bit of a moment where God gave me a friendly nudge and told me "it doesn't matter what you have done before, all that matters is what you are doing right now." I should not be dwelling on all "the would have's" and "could have's", but I just need to focus on the things that I AM doing and WILL do to serve the Lord and help others come unto Him. Don't live in the past! Just do as much as you can right now to make the most out of these last couple of weeks. I'm grateful for God and nudges.
As far as missionary work goes things are going pretty good! This week we were able to help some less actives make their way back to church. The first guy was a kid named Rithi who is a 17 year old that just need some friends and encouragement and the other guy also just needed someone to vent to. He is a little different but they both went to church and seemed happy to belong. It's been a good reminder that we ALL just kinda want someone to reach out to us and let us know we are loved, so why don't we just take them time to be those people who are doing the reaching out to and the listening and make this world a little bit of a better place.
We have found a lot of new investigators, but the hard part is getting them to church. That seems to be a common problem in this country. I guess you cant blame a country of people who have never gone to church except to the local Wat (buddhist temple monastery thing) on holidays. One cool short miracle that happened: we are teaching this guy named Ra and he showed up to the church to learn in english class. We also asked him if he wanted to learn about the church and he said he was interested but the only problem is he didn't have a phone. Well we said "okay if you can we will meet you tomorrow at 5" and he said "yeah" as all unsure and unpromising 16 year olds do. The likelihood of him actually going to the church was about 1 in 1,937,493,840 because no one ever just does that. But HE CAME! And now he is progressing and has a date and always comes to church. So yes miracles do happen and I love the tender mercies in the mission.
I have had some amazing personal studies lately and I wish I could share everything I have learned, but have no time. Here are a few short ideas:
I read in Jacob 5: 71 and I am grateful for the opportunity that I have had to labor with the lord of the vineyard and for this last time that I get to go and see the fruit in His work.
I read a talk yesterday by Elder Bednar which talks about having the faith not to be healed! He says it much better than I do so give it a read. It is called "That We Might “Not . . . Shrink” (D&C 19:18)" and it is a CES devotional. It was something that really helped me understand what true faith is.
Finally, I had the chance to attend my last zone conference and give my last testimony. Here is a quick quote "I don't know if any of you have heard this song which was one of my favorite songs in high school. I think the song is by Big Sean. It's called 'one man can change the world,' after serving here in Cambodia the song has kinda taken on a different meaning.
One man has changed the world . And his name is Jesus Christ.
He changed the world for all of us and everyone in Cambodia too. It's been amazing to be in a country so different from back home but yet so similar too. Similar because through Jesus Christ they can have the same hope that I have. They can receive the same strength that I have received. They can feel of the same love that I have felt. His gospel and especially His sacrifice has no bounds nor borders. It doesn't conform to countries or languages. It is universal. And because He sacrificed His life I have the privilege of helping these beautiful people realize that their lives can be saved. I will never fully be able to know what it is like to put on my sun hat and harvest rice. I will never be able to fully know what it feels like to work construction while only making $5 a day. I will never know what it is like to have your whole countries history scared by the past and to have your grandparents tell stories attempting to flee their own country to escape a genocide. There are some things I cant ever feel that these people have felt, but luckily there is someone who can. He really did change the world forever.
Well that's all I got this week
We found a guy gutting a snake to eat for dinner this week which was interesting.
Love you all
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