Week 67: Sting Sunday

Sting is an energy drink in Cambodia and it's gas. I'm gonna miss it in America. They say if you drink Sting women will love you.

Anyway, on Saturday night my comp and I bought a Sting to save for after sacrament meeting on Sunday and it was much needed. I had to conduct sacrament meeting for the first time and the bishop (from the supporting ward) didn't show up. Since he didn't show up, we waited for like 30 minutes hoping he would, but he never did so Elder Jones, a senior missionary, said we should go ahead and start. It was stressful but we made it happen. Some of our friends attended and an inactive member came for the first time since church has started here which made it all worth it. We were burnt afterwards though and absolutely slammed the Sting.

This past week has been kind of hard, I won't lie. Some days I feel like our days just never go to plan, but the Lord still provides a way, even if we don't know what's going on. I've been thinking a lot about why I am here and I'm still not sure, but I've definitely been able to see some huge blessings being here.

When I was in Battambang there was this 16-year-old boy named Bort that got baptized in Branch 1. I taught him a couple times on some exchanges and would see him at the church pretty often with his cousin. A little bit after I left, he ended up moving to the city and stopped going to church because there wasn't one near him. Turns out he moved to Kambol and the Elders have been meeting with him for a while, but he hasn't been able to come to church. When I saw him when I got to Kambol it was so awesome. He just seemed a lot happier and I was happy to see him. He ended up coming to church for the first time here in Kambol on Sunday and gave a talk. He brought his mom too which was so special. I'm not sure what else is in store for me here in Kambol, but I'm happy I was able to help Bort come back to church. Hopefully he keeps coming, hahaha.

I was also reading in Ether 6 this week and this verse really stood out to me.

7 And it came to pass that when they were buried in the deep there was no water that could hurt them, their vessels being tight like unto a dish, and also they were tight like unto the ark of Noah; therefore when they were encompassed about by many waters they did cry unto the Lord, and he did bring them forth again upon the top of the waters.

I've read this verse quite a few times before, but I never really understood it. This time when I read it, I had a thought that the vessels that the brother of Jared prepared are like unto our faith. When our faith is tight like a dish and we stay strong, the deep waters and waves of the seas (sins and temptation) cannot penetrate our vessel (faith). And when we are drawing in sorrow and things like temptation, when we cry unto the Lord with a sincere heart, He will pull us back out and put us on top.

Because of Him we can overcome.

Love,
Elder Mendenhall

📸 This week's photos:

Ta Khmau photos:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/tzWgFE7cJhuxBrgf7