Simple Is Best

HEYYYY Y'ALLLLLL!!!!!!

What is good in the hood!? I want to start out this letter with a few shout outs! 

• First, shout out to Paul Strigham for trying so hard to meet up with me here in Cambodia and sacrificing so much, but being respectful and understanding. He is a great man!  

• S/O to my mom for two packages halfway across the world. BEST MOM EVER! 

• S/O to Caroline Pinnock and Elizabeth Dale going on missions. DOPE! Put in the work! 

• S/O to Ralph and Abby for having a kid soon. Sad that their favorite uncle won't be there (sorry Will)! 

• S/O to the Olympus Titans for absolutely dominating everyone. I bleed green and silver baby! Someone go give Rylan Jones a hug for me for almost averaging a triple-double and tell Matt Barnes that he is doing a good thing (also Harry is balling too)! TTTE! 

• And finally S/O to Zion Williamson going to Duke. BALLER! Blue Devil Nation Baby! 

Okay, now I will actually get into the details of the week! Just a regular missionary week. Elder Chaparro is an awesome example for me of someone who works hard and is obedient. He is an example of the blessings that you can receive when you live your mission right. Tons of stuff happened this week but I can't even remember anything. I ate a lot of rice! That was cool. Hahaha jk

So first thing was Seda's baptism! It was so awesome and Seda is someone who really has been changed by the light and the love of Christ. When we first tried to meet with him and talked to him he was the shyest person I have ever met. He didn't like to open up or talk to people or be in public, however as we started teaching him and introducing him to what the love of the Savior feels like, he started to light up! I literally could see a palpable difference in his actions and his smile from the day I first started teaching him, to Saturday when he got baptized. He is an awesome kid that doesn't have much, only his brother and his mom, but now he has this gospel that brings so much joy in his life. He is still so humble and meek and at the same time so happy. He truly is one of the reasons I know that the Lord called me to Battambang. 

 A very interesting experience that happened this week. After a few dropped appointments and contacting, Elder Chaparro and I decided to say a prayer to receive direction on what we should do. Literally the second I ended the prayer and opened my eyes, there was this white man on a bike, in the middle of nowhere in Cambodia. My first thought was WOW what an answer to my prayer to be able to talk to this guy and help him out! However, that thought quickly changed as he started belittling us. He said that he believed that Mormonism was a good religious institution, but he told us that it was all fake, a lie and that Joseph Smith was a conman. He then continued his opinions for about 10 minutes, views and calculated thoughts about God, and all that exists in the world. He pretty much defiled everyone's religion and explained how the endocrine system of the human body causes humans to have joy even through hardships. To sum the situation up he was probably one of the most educated people I have ever met and he had obviously studied every religion there was to study. After proclaiming how wrong we were he hoped on his bike and rode off, refusing to let us respond and try to share a few our beliefs.

So let me tell you, it was a very interesting answer to my prayer.  

I really have been thinking a lot about why God put that man into my life. I found a few answers. 
The first reason was that even though that man was so knowledgeable, and so studied he wasn't happy. I could tell from the way talked and interacted with us. It was all about him. It was such a contrast to the two members that we saw right after that man because we parked our bikes at their house. Sure they might not be the most studied and intelligent, but they were joking with each other, with us and they were genuinely happy. I could see it in their eyes and hear it in their laugh. They hadn't studied the complicated human endocrine system but their lives were not simple either.  Yet they found joy in simply having faith in Jesus Christ and finding joy in being good people. 

I also read something in a book called "Teachings of the Presidents: Heber J. Grant." One of his most famous quotes is as follows: "No amount of knowledge, of inspiration and testimony as to the divinity of the work of God, will be of benefit to us unless we put that knowledge into actual practice in the daily walks of life. It is not the amount that any individual may know that will benefit him and his fellows, but it is the practical application of that knowledge." 

I simplified this into my own quote "Someone who LIVES the scriptures or teaching that they believe, is a lot more effective than someone who knows them but does not live them." Therefore, I would invite all of you to live what you believe. That man I met on his bike, may have been the most studied scholar in the whole country of Cambodia, but yet he treated us like nothing. Therefore all this knowledge that he had seemed to me to be wasted. Please don't be like that man. LIVE WHAT YOU BELIEVE. Live how the Savior would live. If you believe in Jesus Christ, then LIVE like him. 

I also was reading the Book of Mormon and I stumbled across Alma 32! What a baller chapter from the truest book on this earth!!!! Please, please go read it. It helped me so much because of the last verses. ALMA 32:34

34 And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand 

Although I don't know the answer to every single question and I still need to strengthen my faith, I know that I have had so many personal experiences where I have felt the truth of this gospel in my life. My faith can be perfect in those experiences. Although that guy can persecute me and call the Church of Jesus Christ false, he cannot take away the quiet whispering of the spirit I have felt from the Holy Ghost. No one can take that away from me, and therefore my faith is perfect in that thing. 

GO READ Alma 32!

In closing, I just want to say that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is simple. We receive joy and purpose when we follow his example and have faith in our perfect Savior. I promise if you have faith in Jesus Christ and live like you believe you will be able to feel His love for you. Simple, but true!

Anyway, that is all I got for this week! I love you all! OOPS!

Elder Gochnour

One bag of rice

So here are a few things that happened to sum up my week:

• I was crossing the street like a normal human and this chick on a moto comes legit out of nowhere. Like on those Gatorade commercials where it says come out of nowhere she did that. I guess she didn't see me crossing the road because she nailed me hahahahaha. I landed on her moto and she was still holding the throttle so I tried to get up without putting both of us in danger, so for a second I just was kinda laying on top of the moto, chilling. Anyway, we both got up, dusted ourselves off, decided to call it splits and went on our way! Few scrapes and sores, but I think sometimes the Lord has a really funny sense of humor.

• While we were riding the bus down to Phnom Penh I was feeling really sick, but that wasn't the bad part. The bad part was the AC vent above me started dripping and then starting pouring hahaha. I was bummed I didn't pack my rain jacket with me on the trip down. Raining on the BUS?

Anyway, things are still all good in the hood with Elder Gochnour! Our week got messed up because everyone had to go down to the city because of transfers, but it was really fun to be able to connect with everyone and to be able to talk to all the boys! I was sick (I will leave it at that) and so we got a late start to the day and couldn't get much done, but Friday, Saturday, and Sunday we went to work! Elder Chaparro is a hard worker and we have already seen increased success in this area! There were lots of miracles that occurred!

The biggest miracle I think I have seen so far, started when we had the idea to try to contact all of the former investigators in the area book. I just called everyone and invited everyone to church. A few said they were interested and that they would come. 

Fast forward to Sunday. A man walks in with his son, walking with a very bad limp, truthfully hardly able to walk. I didn't get a chance to talk to him in sacrament and then he went to a different class second hour and left before we could converse with him. Luckily a member of our branch actually taught him and was one of the missionaries who found him so he could lead us to his house. 

We planned to meet with him that night and called him, but he said he was busy. We felt we should still go find his house anyway. Long story short we met Toic (or something like that in English) and he is by far the poorest man that I have ever met in my life. His wife left him and he has no money, no job, he can't use his legs, and he has a five-year-old son who is practically blind, because of a terrible eye disease. He showed us his "house" which had been flooded the night before. There was nothing but a covering, a mat, and lots of garbage everywhere. He told us how he had left at 7 AM to ride his hand bike to church because it took him two hours. He has been saving all his money to pay for surgery for his son and they had no food to eat on Sunday, but he still had decided that he was going to go to church so he got up early and started making the trek. He told us how he has to stop every twenty minutes or so just to rest his arms. On his way home from church, a lady handed him a bag of rice. Simple, but the answer to his need for dinner that night, a true miracle from our Heavenly Father. 

I will never forget the light he had in his eyes as he expressed gratitude for this gift of one bag of rice from God. Sitting in front of me was this man that had nothing, and yet the gratitude he showed and expressed to his Heavenly Father was more real and tangible than anything I had ever felt. I was someone who had everything, and yet this man seemed happier, more hopeful and more peaceful than I had ever been. It changed me. That experience is why I am here in this crazy country. You can't see things like that and not be changed forever. You can't hear the testimony of that man for his little gift of rice and not know that there is a loving God that will make everything fair. I could never deny the spirit I felt as I looked into the light of that mans eyes. The spirit was thick. God knows that man by name, and although things aren't fair for him now, he has the hope and knowledge of a life without hardship and pain. 

I just want to close by testifying that the gospel can change people. When I first got on my mission (not too long ago) I struggled to contemplate what blessings these people would receive for joining the church. I was thinking much too temporally. Although the changes are small, they are real. I have seen people open up, smiles grow and friendships form. It has changed my life. If I may echo the words similar to Elder Hoole- I am still the same me. I will still always cheer for the Duke Blue Devils and be upset if the Tar Heels beat them. I will always love going golfing with my dad and my brothers. I will always love having a sarcastic sense of humor. I may even watch the NFL on Sunday after my mission, but I will never forget the feelings that I have been felt in this country. I don't feel it all day every day and in fact, sometimes I might not even feel it at all, but this mission is changing me. Slowly, but surely. I can promise that God loves you. And if you try to be changed by his love you will be able to look back at all your efforts and see how much you have grown. 

Read the Book of Mormon. Call a friend. Tell someone you love someone. Make someone's bed. Write a letter. Compliment someone. And make a difference!

"Start by doing what is necessary. Then do what is possible and before you know it you will be doing what is impossible" Melinda Crandall

Joy in the journey,

Elder Gochnour

New Year 2018

Hey everyone!

We got transfer calls! I finally finished my training, and I am so happy because I will be staying in Battambang. I got called as District Leader which is scary and humbling all together, but I know that it is a call from the Lord so I will just try my best! My comp is Elder Chapparo and he will be one of the Zone Leaders for our zone. I am very excited for the work that is going on here in this crazy city and the future looks bright! 

Obviously, the sad news of the week was the passing of President Monson. He is an amazing example of service and love, and I know that he truly was a prophet of God. It was really interesting though because the day after his passing, I studied from the topical guide: Jesus Christ, Head of The Church. It really gave me comfort in knowing that although it is so sad to lose President Monson, I know that Christ is in charge. He will lead and guide us to happiness and peace if we put our trust in him. We must build our testimony on our Savior, the one who is perfect and who will never fail. I know that Jesus Christ stands at the helm of this amazing and true church. I am grateful for President Monson and happy that he is in a better place and no longer suffering. 

Last Monday we went to Phnom Simpov for P-Day and it was the coolest place! We explored caves that actually have a super sad past. But it was so cool to be on top of a mountain overlooking many Buddhist temples and statues and feel the reverence of this place. As we explored we walked up some stairs and there were monkeys walking passed us and then one of them stopped and hissed at Elder Peck. The monkey grabbed his pants and lunged at him, but didn't bite which was good. We all made it safely up the stairs. A little later I was trying to take a picture of one, and it made eye contact with me AND started coming at me, but I got away haha. Monkeys are NUTS! It was a fun and funny adventure (and yes even a little bit scary).

We also had a baptism on Saturday!!! It was a fun, but crazy experience. On Thursday we interviewed our investigator and he told of something that meant he would have to be interviewed by the Mission President. Luckily, President Christensen was in Battambang doing training so we worked out an emergency interview and he passed. 

And then on Saturday I and Elder Obray were on another exchange (two trainees) and both of our investigators were getting baptized, but our comps were in Siem Riep. We had to do our best to organize the baptism and stall it so that they could make it back in time, but the Lord helped us out and everything fell into place right at the end. The baptism was awesome. The man was baptized by his son.  Everyone in their family was a member except the Father. The wife was overjoyed and it made me so happy to see the love that they have for each other and the blessing of the gospel in their lives. I feel really blessed to have grown up in a family where that was so readily available. I know that all the little coincidences that occurred came from the Lord watching over us.

I also had an interview with President and Sister Christensen and learned so much from them. They leave it all on the field (sports reference) and they really have helped built the church here in Cambodia. I love them and am grateful for their example. 

This week was also BOILING HOT like the hottest I have been the whole mission! And also we found out who our new Mission President is gonna be and he is from AZ so maybe he knows Elder Owen!?

Anyway, that is it from me! 

My challenge this week is to reflect upon experiences in your life where you have felt the spirit or learned the truth of a gospel principle. It seems like out here on the mission everyone has these crazy powerful stories, experiences, and testimonies, and I just feel like I have had 18 years of going to church and knowing that it is right. I am trying to remember the moments where I received my own confirmation of the truth of this gospel and I invite you to do the same. ALSO, read the Book of Mormon. Thanks for the love, prayers, and support! 

#churchistrue #thebesttwoyears #justmormonthings #hatecauseyouaint #missionarymoms #LDS #YUP!

Love,  Elder Gochnour

#goals

HELLO, HELLO, HELLO!!!

I haven't talked to you guys since last year... (classic Jr. High joke) so what the heck is up?

I will tell you what is up with me: contacting! This week was an awesome one, but kinda a sad one too. Sad because I just want everyone in the world to accept the message of hope from the gospel, but unfortunately it doesn't work out that way. We dropped one of our investigators, who was SO READY and has learned all the lessons, but we saw him drinking beer and now he won't meet with us. Super sad! Then we had to drop a ton of other investigators and then it seems like everyone that we didn't drop went to the city for the New Year!

So anyway we spent a lot of time hitting the dirt roads searching for people to teach. My favorite thing about contacting is the tender mercies that you really come to recognize when you are walking around for hours. One example: we were heading to a meeting at the church after talking to a lot of people that weren't interested, and I rolled up on this homie repping a DUKE hat! I was so pumped! I got a pick with him and told him to keep repping because BLUE DEVIL NATION baby! We found a lot of great people though and hopefully we can follow up with them next week. Another small miracle: after a full day under the sun we headed back to the church and a guy came in and said that he wanted to learn about the church. We spend so much time out and about and didn't find anyone, and then this homie just pulls up and is interested. The Lord knew that we were trying and he still wanted to reward us. Tender mercies YUP!

I don't have too many specific exciting stories this week. One of our investigators came to church with his child who had a soiled diaper and then he let him sit with us for the whole sacrament meeting haha pretty brutal. The primary program was yesterday and it was the best thing ever! On Christmas, we ate ham, rolls, baked potatoes, and green beans. It reminded me of a good old Sunday dinner at Grandpa Gochnour's. We had a service project where we cleaned up trash for three hours and it was really fun to spend time with the young men and young women. They are awesome.  We got to watch the Christmas devotional and I felt the spirit very strong. Christmas was different. It felt a little lonely not hanging with the whole gang, but it felt right because my focus was the Savior. He is the reason for the season.

Anyway, I am just rambling and I don't really know what else to say... I promise I work hard all week, but I sit down at these run-down computers and I can't even remember what I ate for dinner last night. I will just end with two challenges this week:

1. Set goals- You aren't going to achieve every goal that you set. Actually to be honest I don't know if I have even achieved one goal that I have set hahaha. Example: We set a goal to baptize 12 people in training. We are probably only going to get 3 maybe 4. Not exactly what we wanted, but the most important thing is that you try to reach it. Any progress made is good progress. Be optimistic. If you don't fulfill your goal today then do it tomorrow. We have the potential to eventually become like our Heavenly Father, a perfect, all-powerful being. Keep that in mind. Every step whether small or big toward that ultimate goal is a step in the right direction. Just try your best!!!!!!!!!

2. Go to the topical guide and study the scriptures under the topic: Jesus Christ, Exemplar. I have been working hard to study every topic relating to Jesus Christ in the topical guide. I invite you to at least study Exemplar and ponder what it means to follow his perfect example in your life. Here is a start, John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Anyway, that is all I got for this week. Shout out to Elder Smith for his birthday 2 weeks ago! Shout out to the DOM Squad for spreading this glorious message! Shout out to the D.T.I! Shout out to the Running Utes and Blue Devils! Shout out to the JAZZ. Shout out to the Titans for being number 1 in the State. Shout out to my family for being the best family ever! Thanks for all the love and support. Catch ya next week!

//Elder Gochnour

Jesus The Christ

I don't have a lot to write this week because I already skyped home which was AMAZING!!! I loved seeing everyone and it was so good to talk just like I was home again! I LOVE MY FAMILY. Anyway, things are good here in Battambang like always. The Christmas party was DOPE! I had so much fun. It was a mix of Khmer and American culture and it was a real blast. I love Christmas!!!!!!!!! But more importantly, I love Jesus Christ. He is the light, the life and the joy of the world. He is our Savior, our Redeemer, and our Advocate. He is our second chance. He is our best friend. I invite you all to take a second to reflect on the best gift all of us have ever received. The gift of His perfect Son. I love the Babe of Bethlehem and I am grateful for his eternal sacrifice. That is pretty much all I have for this week. Peace, love, and blessings! Cambodia is my place and these are my people.

EVERYONE HAVE AN AMAZING CHRISTMAS!

Love,

Elder Gochnour

Every day we LIT!

Heyyyyyyyyy Y'ALL!!!!! What is up!?!?! Christmas is in one-week WHATTT! I am so pumped! If anyone is at home, thinking about what to do with Christmas approaching this is what I would invite you to do: Turn on the Taylor Swift Christmas album (specifically Christmas Must be Something More) or any Christmas album for that matter, make yourself some hot chocolate, go sledding, watch a Christmas classic (Polar Express, Home Alone, etc.) and eat some Christmas Treats! Those are things you miss when you are out here grinding :) BUTTTT I wouldn't trade it for the world! I love it out here.

This week was fantastic!! We had another baptism this week for a 19-year-old guy, named Benha (pronounced Benyaa) and it was really a spiritual experience. After his baptism, he talked a little bit about his story of how he entered the church. His friend invited him to come to church and he agreed. The first day Sunday he came he felt so awkward and was so scared to go into the church because he didn't want to feel left out and weird. He said that when he came into the church he felt right, and as he started meeting new people there was something different about them. He felt like he left the outside world and came into a place where everyone is kind and cared about him. The spirit was so strong in the room, and I know that he felt the love of the Savior. It was a really powerful experience, and I am so happy for him. He has already started trying to share the gospel with his friends and his brother! I love him. 

I was also lucky enough to confirm him a member of our church and give him the Gift of the Holy Ghost. I stumbled a little, but I know that Heavenly Father helped guide me to say what was necessary. Anyway other than that just a regular week. We have been struggling to find more investigators, but we are working hard! Lot's of contacting and sweating and all that good stuff! ..........YUP!

We had zone conference on Tuesday and it was so fun to see Elder Bohman, Elder Enloe and spend time with our whole zone. We played Siem Riep in soccer (PSG v.s. Real Madrid) and I went full out Neymar on them! Just kidding hahaha I am terrible at soccer but we managed to pull out the W! I learned a lot from zone conference though and I loved what Sister Christensen said about how every time that the angel appeared to tell of Jesus's birth he started by saying "Fear not." We must not fear! We have the Savior of the world on our side. 

Recently, I have so much gratitude for 1 hour of personal study every day. I have been targeting all my studies on the Savior, as Christmas comes. He means so much more to me and every day He plays a bigger role in my life. After every personal study, I gain more gratitude for the Only Begotten and have a stronger desire to follow him. I am especially grateful for Christ in my life at this time. I know He lives. I know He succors his brothers and sisters. And I know he makes up for everything that is weak, unfair and wrong in this life. I am so grateful for that knowledge especially in this country where people aren't given many opportunities. He truly is the light of the world. 

At this time I urge you consider the story of Jesus Christ and how Joseph and Mary tried to find room in the inn before they went to the manager. Please consider your life as the inn. We are the innkeepers. We decide who gets to stay in our inn. Sometimes social media, sports, school, or other things that are still good, take away all our time from focusing on the Savior. I URGE YOU TO MAKE ROOM IN YOUR INN! Find some time and some space to allow the Son of God to enter into your inn and to dwell in your hear this Christmas season. Serve others. Study the scriptures. Develop Christlike attributes. And remember that he is there for you at any moment, in strength and weakness, in happiness or hardship. And that he loves you!

Anyway, that is all I got for this week. Everyone has the best Christmas and allow Christ to keep your life LIT! Everyone go read Alma 7 or Mosiah 4. They are bomb chapters. Thanks for all the love and support. I love you all!

//Elder Gochnour

P.S. I performed a musical number for zone conference with my comp, and two sisters haha BRUTAL. I am still tone deaf people, but I am learning to laugh at myself one day at a time!

#justmissionarythings

This week was absolutely insane!!!!!!! I have so many things to write haha, and I have no time to write them all so I will just do a few highlights. 

Yesterday was seriously like the craziest day in the world. We were biking on the road and right as this huge semi-truck was passing us on the rode its tire popped and it was so scary I thought there was an explosion, haha, but it didn't hit us so we are good. 

We saw this guy in a wheelchair and I pushed him back to his house on dirt roads and it was so far away haha. He was mute though (like unable to talk) and he was just making the weirdest noises and yelling so loud, and then he wanted to keep going faster so at the end I was straight up running this man through the dirt roads of Cambodia, but we got him home safe. 

THEN last night we were just chilling out our house. I hear a knock on our door and it is like 8 o'clock (the schedule here is different) so we are supposed to be in our house and not open our door. I was downstairs doing my laundry and I didn't want to open it but then I hear this person yell "Elder!" I ran to the door and open it and one of the investigators who reminds me of a Khmer, Nate Owen, falls into the room and starts seizing up. He was freaking out and I didn't know what the heck to do. I ran him to the bathroom and he starts throwing up. He was SO OUT OF IT. Long story short he crashed on our couch for thirty minutes and we gave him his pills until his friend could come pick him up. He has diabetes and was low on blood sugar and I am pretty sure he almost died. 

On Saturday we had Soteb's (pronounced like so-tape) baptism. It was really fun, awesome, and spiritual experience. There were five baptisms and they had members baptize the investigators, and not one of the people said the baptismal prayer right on their first try. It was awesome haha. The room was jam-packed and I just felt the love, energy, and the true spirit of the Cambodian people. Soteb had the biggest smile on his face and I really felt true genuine happiness. As we biked home, I couldn't help but smile ear to ear. It just felt right, and I just know that this church is true.

Last Monday, we went to some old temple ruins (not Angkor Wat) and it was so dope! I legit felt like I was Legolas in Lord of the Rings when he is roaming the ruins looking for Orks to kill in order to protect Frodo. SO DOPE!

I had a small miracle happen on Wednesday. We had been contacting for three hours, under the hot sun and not one person was interested. My comp was letting me take the lead to work on the language and I was literally talking to everyone and no one cared. After 2:30 hours I didn't know what the heck to do, where to go or who to talk to. I just said heck I am just gonna say a prayer. Simple, and short I got back on my bike. 10 minutes later we find our new investigator Heang and he is a super cool guy. There have been many times on my mission where I have prayed and nothing happened, but Heavenly Father knows me. He knows I needed that one. He knows I needed a little victory to boost my morale. He is a god of love, compassion, and mercy. I am so grateful for his guiding hand that I can see every day on the mission. He knows when we are at our lowest and he will be there, but he also knows when we can go a little further and do a little more. He is still there. If you are struggling with anything, just go a little further and do a little more and I promise you when you look back you will see how he guided your steps. Hindsight is 20-20

Anyway, things are good here. I love this crazy life. I love living where you don't know what might happen next in this unpredictable country. It is fun, it is raw and it brings real happiness. I love you all. READ THE SCRIPTURES. I AM BEGGING YOU! Read Alma chapter 32 or any chapter because they are all SO GOOD! Until next week! 

//Elder Gochnour

BIKE BATTLES

Well, this week was a really fun one! I am just gonna cut right to the chase and inform you of some crazy, but fun stuff that happened. 

So first things first, we had three baptismal interviews this week to be scheduled for next Saturday. They are all homies, BUT it didn't go so smoothly. We are teaching a young kid (I hate writing their names in English and don't have time to do them in Khmer so sorry) and he drank three cups of tea on the day of his interview... C'MON man! He said that they give it to you at school so he just thought it was okay, but he is still good, just has to wait a few weeks! A pretty similar story with the next guy. He is really close to my age and he loves the gospel, but he thought that if he put milk in his coffee it wasn't breaking the word of wisdom so he has to wait too hahaha. He just needs a few weeks though and then he will also be ready. But our third one is ready! He passed his interview and will be baptized next Saturday. YAY! The lord is good. Our work has been slowing down a little bit, and we haven't been able to find many new people, but you just have to keep having faith and pushing on. 

The most interesting thing that happened was 4 BIKE CRASHES HAHA. YUP! And 3 of them involved yours truly, but I am totally fine and none were a big deal. Just funny stories:

1.  So I was just riding on my side of the road, just being a regular guy, and I look down at my bike to see why my gears weren't shifting. After looking down for maybe 3 seconds I just felt a whack on my hand. I looked back and saw the side view mirror of a car in the middle of the road, and the car slowed down. He realized that it was his fault though (because he was passing a car and was on my side of the road) and so he just drove off. A guy on a moto went and grabbed his mirror and chased after him. My hand was bruised but I think I did pretty well in the bike v car battle

2. A guy on a moto and I got mixed up in which way we were going because it is pretty much a free for all getting onto the bridges here. He just bumped into my bike, but while he was riding away he grabbed my butt. Just a casual thing here

3. I was biking super fast to grab onto the back of a truck and right as I grabbed on the brake checked me. I graced the fall so it wasn't bad, just kinda embarrassing haha. I wasn't sure if it was intentional by him or not.

4. Elder Herrera was crossing the road and this moto came out of nowhere and just smashed him haha. The dude was HAULING! Everyone was okay though. After we went to a members house and I had a cut on my arm so everyone thought that I got in the crash and were like giving me band-aids and stuff and I was like I AM NOT HURT! Funny times.

That pretty much describes my week! Mine and Elder Obray's comps went to the city again, so another three days with a newbie like me! it is all good though. We figured everything out and worked hard. We even taught District Meeting and English Class by ourselves!

That's all for me. Have a happy and healthy week everyone! 

A quick spiritual message before I finish: DO THE LIGHT THE WORLD CHALLENGE. It can work miracles. I have already seen the power that service has had in working miracles this week. If you are having a bad day or are frustrated with someone then serve them. It will make your day 1,000,000 times better. 

3rd Nephi 18:24:

 24 Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up that which ye have seen me do. Behold ye see that I have prayed unto the Father, and ye all have witnessed.

Hold up your light to the world. Be the light in others lives. Lead by action and example. Focus on light!!! The light of Christ. Light overcomes all darkness. Every single one of you can be a light in someone else's life. I love you all. Thanks for all the support. Happy and healthy out here in Cambodia!

P.S. Yay that Lucy is home! She is the best and I am so happy for all of you

P.P.S. We had maggots in our house this week and huge spiders. GROSS!

P.P.P.S. GO BLUE DEVILS and JAZZ

P.P.P.P.S. I know that pictures are the most interesting parts of emails, but mine doesn't work in this crazy country so I am sorry! Maybe sometime later

Love,

//Elder Gochnour

The Dream Team

Elder McDougal out there in France gave me some really good advice in a recent email. He said something along the lines of "We are out here wearing the same jersey (or plaque) and playing for the same team." 
That could not be more true! In the NBA this year there are a few big super teams as they call them. The Cavs, Celtics, Warriors, Rockets, Thunder, Jazz (HAHAHA JK) and a couple more. But the SUPEREST team of all is the Lord's team baby! We always know who will win the game (the game of life): whoever is on the Lord's team. It isn't easy to be on the team and sometimes it takes a lot of sacrifice, faith, and diligence. But at the end of the day, I promise you that you won't regret it if you take your seat on the bus of the Dream Team headed straight toward the promise land. The only tryouts and off-season acquisitions being made are reading your scriptures, keeping the commandments, being a disciple of Christ, accepting the Lord's will, and all that good stuff! I feel blessed to be able to be a part of this glorious team!

Some bad news to start the email. The baptism this week was a no go because he said he wanted to wait until the New Year in order to start his year (and his eternal salvation) on a good note. I guess I can't blame the guy, and at least it is something that is important to him! Anyway, the work is progressing out here in the city of Battambang! Not a whole lot of news and missionary work-wise, a pretty normal week! We have a lot of investigators getting close to baptism and we just need to make sure we tie off all the loose ends! I am excited for what we have in store for us!

Logistically, this week was a little strange:

• We had Zone Conference in Siem Riep and celebrated Thanksgiving down there. Siem Riep is such a cool city! We went to the night market and they had such cool art and jerseys and everything in between. I learned a lot about how to be a better missionary and it was a really fun time to see some old buddies: Elder Bohman and Elder Enloe. I loved it!

• Wednesday night we were back in Battambang and my comp couldn't proselyte because he was too sick. I just chilled and studied for four hours, but I actually learned a ton so it was a good time. 

• Thursday/Friday: Elder Peck and I went on an exchange. We have both been here for 5 and a half weeks, but surprisingly it went pretty smooth! I know that the Lord was helping us out and loosening our tongues. We taught a lesson about the Book of Mormon and while we were teaching I felt deeply that it is true. 

Nothing too crazy to write about here. Funny little things happen that would have shocked me, but now it just feels like regular life out here. People still laugh when I talk and read, and I still don't know what is going on most the time, but the most important thing I learned is to quit worrying about it and do my best. Hopefully my email next week is a little bit more interesting! Go read Moroni Chapter 7! It is boss!!! And I hope the Blue Devils keep balling out and bring home the ship in memory of me! Thank you for all your love, support, and prayers

//Elder Gochnour