ឱ​ បាត់ដំបងបណ្តូលចិត្តអើយ

YO YO YO!!!! LET'S GOOOO!!!!!!!!!! This week was LEGIT, to say the least! Trying to be better at staying under me email time so let's get right to the chase.

I GOT TRANSFERRED! I am so sad and heartbroken. I love this city of Battambang. The title of the email is a popular Khmer song that talks about the city of Battambang, being in the center of the singer's heart. This song describes how I feel about leaving this place. It is crazy the love, friendship and care I have gained for the Cambodian people in four short months. Getting on the bus tomorrow knowing that I probably won't be coming back to this fantastic city for at least 2 years is pretty hard to wrap my mind around. I love these people. I know that the people I’ve met in this amazing city were meant to change my life and to help me have a better perspective on life. 

BUTTTTT the good news is I am going to Kampong Cham, which is another Kite (an area outside of Phnom Penh)! So basically I am just going Kite hopping haha, not a city rat quite yet, but I am so pumped! The best part about all of it is I get to be comps with Elder Cunningham!!!! HE IS A HOMIE! He went to Woods Cross before his mission and he is way good friends with Elder Sam Bennion (Elder McDougals cousin), and he loves basketball, the same music as me, and pretty much everything else that I like. I am pumped to go get work done with him.

The song Blessings by Chance the Rapper, is kinda how this week felt. There were so many times I had doubts that everything would work out, that we wouldn’t get our investigators ready for their baptism & I about gave up all hope but the Lord delivered. He always will, we were very blessed. So the big news is we were able to baptize 3 out of the 4 people we planned for! (Benjamin said that he wasn't quite ready and that he wanted to wait 2 weeks)

Dee and Mae were baptized which was pretty much a miracle. They are brother and sister and pretty much only have each other and their mother who is extremely sick. I taught them for the first time, the second week that I was in country. Fast forward four months, after dropping them a few times, losing hope, and meeting them countless times, they are now members of the true church of Jesus Christ. They are so unique, but seeing their conversion really helped me to understand that the gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone. If we keep trying and keep showing hope in these people then one day everything will work out. Dee bore his testimony about all the churches that he has been apart of and ended up talking for 13 minutes haha, but at the end, he talked about the faith that he had in Jesus Christ, and I felt peace to know that he had finally entered into the true fold of God.

My favorite story and miracle of my whole mission is the story of Pu Toic. He is the same man that about four weeks ago had nothing to eat on Sunday and was saved by the gift of one bag of rice. The lessons that we’ve had with him have been some of the most humbling experiences of my life. He collected cans for a week or two just to scrape by and to save enough money to buy his kid $60 dollar glasses, for his broken eyes. The next day, his son was playing in the road and his glasses fell off, and got smashed by a car. Toic didn't get discouraged. He kept working hard. He missed only one week of church because working was his only option to have enough money to buy food. He truly put his faith first in the Lord and made monumental sacrifices in order to do what was right (Jacob 2:18-19). As he bore his testimony at the end of each of our lessons I felt the spirit so strongly every single time. Teaching him was a breeze because he already was following the gospel in his heart. He felt the love of the Savior and did everything he could to live according to it. He never lost hope. And today he is a baptized member. He was able to take at a loan from the bank and now has a tuk-tuk (kinda like a taxi Khmer style) which is one of the best jobs in Cambodia. He has enough food and he is happy. I really can see how much better his life has gotten since that first day that we met him, and Sunday I was lucky enough to confirm him. He has been blessed both temporal and spiritually. Before he had to hand bike two hours to get to church, and now he takes our investigators that don't have a moto to church. He is one of my favorite people, and his story truly is a miracle. If I were to not have one more success story my whole mission, my mission would be worth everything to me, just because of the story of this man. I love Pu Toic.

One of my favorite things every week is reading the emails from all of the boys!!!! I am so glad to be out here doing the same work as them. I love hearing how Christian is getting bit by dogs, James is baptizing in France?, and Ty is going to the office hahahah! Michael Scott would be proud! Love all the boys! Keep doing WORK!

Anyway, Chinese New Year's was this week and everyone loves it here. We went over to a neighbors place and they hooked it up with some random cakes, noodles, and soda hahah! Kinda hard to meet people because everyone was way drunk, but it was fun to have a little celebration. This week was a perfect week to say goodbye to these people that I love. We also went to the Bamboo train on Monday which was way fun!!!!!! It was the most Americanized place I have been for a good minute. The church is true. Read the Book of Mormon. Joy in the journey.

//Elder G

Joy In The Journey

Phnom Simpov

So the first news of the week is I officially reached 180 lbs. on the mission....! WHAT THE. 

I guess all I have to say is oops hahaha. This country will really do it to you. The good news is that I am just packing on the pounds because Dengue fever has increased by 300% in Cambodia.... So just in case I catch it I will have a few extra pounds to lose :) (don't worry mom I wear bug spray)

Anyway super amazing week this week! I LOVE MY MISSION! I am just gonna cut right to the chase. We had a lot of success this week and hopefully, we will have four baptisms this week. I don't know why, but the Lord is really helping us out here. Please pray that everything can go smoothly and that they can enter into the straight and narrow path because life can get pretty crazy here sometimes.

A really humbling experience happened this week. We got a referral from this recently returned missionary and he led us to their house. These people were poor. Like really really poor. They are both about 55 years old and they have a two-year-old child. The Dad has hurt legs and is hardly able to walk, and cannot leave the house because they don't have a Moto and he can't ride a bike. The wife collects aluminum cans all day, every day and yet she only makes about 50 cents a day. Yes, 50 cents. She works about five to six hours every day for fifty cents. I don't really know how they eat. I don't know how they survive, but yet they still have hope. They let us share about God and you could really see the hope enter into their eyes as they gained the knowledge of an ultimate being that loves them limitless. This place is really humbling. I feel so spoiled for the things that I used to take for granted back home. That couple, who has nothing, scraping by with the raw necessities of life, had happiness. And although they don't know if they are going to eat tomorrow they still smile and laugh. Humbling. 

Other than that we had a fun trip to Phnom Simpov last week again! It is pretty amazing there. Look up pictures if you don't know what I am talking about cause I can't send any. Lot's of monkeys, shrines, and caves! Also went on an exchange with Elder Lackey on Friday. He is a great guy!

I don't really want to write much more this week so I am gonna keep it pretty short... Pretty crazy that I hit my 6 month mark this week. 

One thing that I realized when I was studying is that our earth life is a lot like when missionaries go out and serve a mission. We came to earth to learn, grow, gain experiences and be tested. I came on my mission to share the gospel, but also to strengthen my own testimony, to learn, to grow, to live on my own, to become independent. The similarities are crazy. When Adam and Eve fell they were cast out of the Garden and were taken away from the gift of being in the presence of our Heavenly Father. Here in Cambodia, I am very far from the presence of my amazing Earthly parents. We have trials in life that allow us to become stronger and help us to learn for ourselves. I have had trials on my mission that have tested my faith, and allowed me to learn for myself. When I first got to my mission I was looking forward to the day that I could go home and step off the plane and just have everything be over, but this week I have realized (with the help of my Dad) that it is always about the JOURNEY! 

Right now I don't want to go home, but I am learning that that is part of the process.  I do look forward to the day that I can be reunited with my family. This week my thought process has changed a lot. I have realized how much I love these people of Battambang, and of Cambodia in general. I fear the day that I have to leave these people and say goodbye to this amazing, fun and unique culture. 

I think that is how our earth life is too. We come to Earth and we build relationships, friends, and meet amazing people. We don't want to leave them. Death is a part of our earthly life and no one looks forward to death but it is a hope for us to live with our Father in Heaven again.  I know I am not making much sense, but what I am really trying to get across is that LIFE and this mission is all about the JOURNEY!!!!! 

I was thinking about 2 Nephi 2:25 "Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have joy." This holds true for my mission too. I left my parents, friends, and home to come to this place. But that shouldn't be a sad thing. It should be something that allows JOY!!! So, in the end, I just want to say that I am trying to find joy in this journey. I am trying to enjoy every single day whether it is sweating in the hot sun, gaining weight, killing spiders, or fixing my bike. I would invite all of you to find JOY IN THE JOURNEY as well. Don't waste time waiting for life to be perfect and to be in a situation where everything is going smooth. Every situation and place in your life should be a time of happiness. Don't be someone that is always waiting for tomorrow to be happy. BE HAPPY TODAY. Those good days will come, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy the bad ones too!

A quick quote from President Hinckley "Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed. The fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef in tough, most children grow up to be just like people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, and most jobs are more often dull than otherwise.

Life is just like an old time rail journey…delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling burst of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.”

Anyway, that is all I got for this week! Sorry, I wrote so much. FINAL SHOUT OUT TO RALPH AND ABBY FOR MAKING ME AN UNCLE!!!!! SO EXCITING!!!! I LOVE THAT CUTE BABY OLIVER JAMES!!! And also you named him after me without even realizing it hahaha YUP! In Khmae James and Jacob are the same name, so yeah, taking after his favorite uncle already. OOPS! 

P.S. I took James McDougal's advice and tried to use the quote "I am not a businessman, I am a business, man." by Jay-Z in Khmer and let me tell you, it didn't work out. 

JOY IN THE JOURNEY!!

Elder Gochnour 

Rollin' With It

HEYYOOO

This week was probably the most fun week I have had out here in the Bodi! I loved every second of the week and had some really funny, spiritual and awesome experiences. 

My companion and  Elder Peck's companion went to the city for MLC (because they are Zone Leaders) and then did exchanges with the Siem Riep District so I was at a different house, with Elder Peck (the biggest homie)(from my group) for the whole entire week, in two different areas with twice the people to meet and we put in work!!! The Lord was truly watching out for us and helping us. It was so much fun. One day we kinda ran out of stuff to do and when we were planning we just decided to put "Head out!" from 3 till 7:30 and trust in Lord. Although I don't want to make it a habit, it felt like everyone we talked to was willing to accept our message or at least sit and talk with us. God was guiding our work.

We also had some of the funniest experiences I have had in my whole mission. 

• While riding our bikes down the road a stray cow came OUT OF NOWHERE and just about knocked me off my bike but at the last second, he turned, narrowly missing me and my first collision with a COW.

• Elder Chaparro got locked in one of the bathrooms so I legit kicked the door down, James Bond style. 

• On the exchange, we didn't have enough bikes for the other elders so I rode this kids bike that was the smallest thing in the world. It was hilarious. The bike was called "The pumpkin party"  and we just rolled with it... literally. 

• We were walking around in my area and saw some kids playing soccer, and so I and Elder Peck went full MESSI on them. It was pretty comical. Two white dudes in shirts and ties on a dirt/trash field, playing with kids half our size that had no shoes. I took a second and looked around and thought to myself that this is kinda like what you see on all the pictures, advertisements, etc. back home and yet here I am living it and I couldn't be happier. 

• There was a blood moon on Wednesday and in Buddhism, everyone goes nuts about it haha so we went to the roof and watched the floating lanterns that they sent of to celebrate. I ate this stuff called snake fruit and it was MONEY! It kinda tasted like sour patch kids (or as close as you can get to it) and it was delicious. 

I had a very humbling experience this week. We taught this Pu (man) who is usually super duper drunk and although he told us he hadn't been drinking. He was just kinda rambling and I was just thinking to myself, "Why are we wasting our time on this guy who will never be able to give up drinking and probably never get baptized." I ended up just saying to him that we weren't going to be able to come back and visit very often, and that we needed to go. As Elder Peck and I picked up our backpacks I noticed that he started to cry. I was really confused. Here is this man that seemed so okay with his life and seemed like he would probably never be able to accept this gospel, however as we sat down again and talked to him I was greatly humbled. 

He told us how his son had passed away four or five years ago. While walking to school by himself his son was hit by a car and killed. I could feel the sadness that filled this man from head to foot. He started drinking because of the loss of his son, and his life was never the same. Here we were, the exact people who could give him the hope and knowledge to overcome his sadness and we were about to leave, taking away that opportunity for him to change. We shared a scripture and taught about the plan of salvation, and promised him that we would come back to see him. Although I know that change will be really hard for him, I know that he needs the love of our Savior in his life. He needs the hope of this gospel. We all do. We all need the eternal perspective that maybe one day we can rest from our labors in the kingdom of God and that man can hold his son in his arms again. It was very humbling. I vowed to never make this work about me, but to be able to spread the love of the Savior with everyone I come in to contact with and to be a respecter of all persons. 

Anyway, that is pretty much all that I have for this week! Another amazing week in Cambodia! I love you all and I hope you know that I miss you. I hope you know that this work is truly the work of the Lord. I truly know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. I truly know that we are all children of the same loving Heavenly Father.

Oh... and GO EAGLES, BLUE DEVILS, and MY NEW NIECE/NEPHEW OOPS!

//Elder Gochnour

This is the Work of our Savior

Well, the only shout out that is worth giving is to the big, soon to be grandpa, 59-year-old man, named JEFF!!! What a legend! If anyone has some extra time send him a happy birthday because he deserves it. I love you, Dad! Thanks for being my role model and paving the way. 

Lets cut right to the chase! Another week down in the lovely city of Battambang! A few things that happened this week:

• We had a FHE with the whole district of Battambang (3 branches) and it was a great time. We spent all of our companion study and lunchtime making some authentic, Italian cuisine.  Spaghetti! I was basically chef Ratatouille cooking up that tasty red sauce oops! Hahaha (Lucy, you would have been proud!) It was fun to make something that was kinda American. That night I stuffed myself with all different types of Khmer food!  I love every single member of our district!

• On Wednesday I was cutting carrots and I bit into a big carrot and I broke my retainer... I was kinda like "OK what am I supposed to do now?" We found this ghetto dentist place and this guy just opens up my mouth and went to WORK! He could give Bishop O'brien a run for his money (jokes)! He actually did a great job, and I handed him a $10 dollar bill and all is good.

• We play chess every night as a companionship and I am still holding the title as reigning champ. Elder Chaparro almost had me, but I was able to stalemate him and we called it a draw. We are trying to get good so we can play the Cambodian's at Khmer chess, finding things to have in common with them. 

• I did a baptismal interview for this guy who is basically deaf and it was an awesome experience. The other Elders helped me out and wrote out all the questions and he knew all the answers, but if he was ever confused I had to try to yell to get him to understand. Picture me yelling in broken Khmer, it is a pretty funny image. He has an amazing story of faith that I will have to tell later. 

The big news was that I was able to baptize Sela! He is the self-referral  He has always been super prepared and I feel lucky that I was able to be a part of his seeking. We had to postpone his baptism until Sunday, but when church started on Sunday he wasn't there, so I was stressing a ton, but he came in late and everything worked out well! 

The baptism went smooth and when he got up to bear his testimony he told a crazy story. He said that after the first few times we met, he prayed to Heavenly Father in order to know if what we were teaching is true. He didn't get an answer, but he just got the feeling that he shouldn't worry about it and that he should just go to bed. He said that as soon as he went to bed he started having this vivid, insane dream. It was super detailed and long, but long story short he was walking on the ocean and then all of the sudden millions of people started to appear in the water. They were all telling him what he should do, and he was confused, but there were two that were giving off light. They were glowing. They said that what he was learning was true. He knew that those two people were me and my companion who he was meeting with and he knew it was true. The real dream was way better than that, but it is kinda confusing and hard to explain, but the important part is that God works in miraculous ways. The Cambodian people always have these crazy dreams, and it was pretty crazy to listen to him standing there bearing his testimony on this crazy story. 

Also, we had zone conference and it was super good!  Lately, I have been so worried about what to do to be the best missionary. The best ways to use my time, best methods of finding, most effective way to teach, etc. I stress myself out and get so caught up in the auxiliary of the missionary work.  President and Sister Christensen reminded us that this is the work of our Savior!!!! Don't ever forget that. If I go out and do my best every single day, no matter what happens, the Lord promises that he will be with me. The most important thing is that I just try my hardest and give my all. I listen to the spirit and do all I can and then God will make up the differences. That is what I am working on right now! Stop worrying about "the how so much" and worry about the WHY! For the salvation of these amazing people that NEED this gospel in there life. 

Anyway, I love you all so much! FLY EAGLES FLY! Cheering for the Eagles this upcoming Sunday, halfway across the world (sorry Briggs). I hope everyone has a great week! The Book of Mormon was given to Joseph Smith in the northern hemisphere on September 22, the day that begins the harvest festival. Coincidence? No. The field is white all ready to harvest and this is our tool! Read it! (Mosiah 18)

Goodnight Big Al

Love,

//Elder Gochnour

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