CHAPTER TWO
THE CAMBODIA JOB FOUNDATION
Visiting Jackie at her home in New Mexico.
We were excited when our foundation received several thousand dollars in donations from family and friends. In a small way we were helping our poor and needy brothers and sisters in Cambodia. I look forward to the time when Zion will be established and there will be no poor among us. We cannot build Zion until we are obedient to the things which the Lord requires and impart of our substance, “as becometh saints, to the poor and afflicted” among us. (D&C 105: 3) But the Lord says, “it must we done in mine own way” (D&C 104: 16) otherwise we may hurt them. The Lord tells us that we need to promote self-reliance and not give what they can and should do for themselves. The best way for Latter Day Saints to give is through fast offerings.
THE CAMBODIA JOB FOUNDATION
We worried about the poverty of our members in Cambodia because there are very few jobs for them to support their families. After much thought and prayer we started a small foundation - “The Cambodia Job Foundation.” Mary agreed to organize branch members in Battambang to teach piano and reading. Our foundation would pay hourly wages so members could save for missions and temple trips. Mary and Sda Yin, the first Branch President in Battambang, organized a Sub for Santa program at Christmas time for the poorest families. We sent all donations to our foundation to Mary for the members.
A handicapped member teaching reading.
We hoped to help in other ways so we returned to Cambodia to look for possibilities. How quickly I’d forgotten how long the flights were and how hard it is for old folks to travel that far! Memory is always much more nostalgic than accurate! I’d forgotten about the dire circumstances and extreme poverty of the people, but returning to Cambodia brought it all back! This trip was very different and we felt lonely and far away from home, on our own errand without the mantle and calling of missionaries!
We hoped to help in other ways so we returned to Cambodia to look for possibilities. How quickly I’d forgotten how long the flights were and how hard it is for old folks to travel that far! Memory is always much more nostalgic than accurate! I’d forgotten about the dire circumstances and extreme poverty of the people, but returning to Cambodia brought it all back! This trip was very different and we felt lonely and far away from home, on our own errand without the mantle and calling of missionaries!
We stayed In Phnom Penh for a few days and visited several returned missionaries and their families. We met the new mission president and his wife, President and Sister Smedley, and we attended the International Branch. In Battambang, we visited beloved member families and attended both branches. We were all happy to see each other again and they laughed about my weight and patted my chubby middle. We did all the things I wanted to do before we left the mission, plus spent lots of time with Mary, Sda and Angel, and Elder and Sister Reynolds, our replacements.
We didn't find any other opportunities for the foundation, so we gave Mary instructions to manage the projects and took pictures of the recipients. Mary needed employment as much as the other members. We spent time with Elder and Sister Gartz and Elder and Sister Walwork, returned missionaries who were visiting in Phnom Penh. Cambodian members are forever in the hearts of the missionaries who serve them! After three weeks we were ready to return home to our life in America.
Our family was growing faster than we could keep up with them. It was time for us to get to know our beautiful new grandbabies!
Blessing day for our new granddaughter!
It was time to finish writing my book, “Conquering My Fears in Cambodia – My Mission of Miracles.” While serving as a missionary I started writing chapters, now it was much more difficult finding the time and the desire to write. Sitting at the computer increased the pain in my tailbone, but I loved recording precious missionary moments. Missionary work was the sweetest work we’d ever done! I felt an urgency to write about our mission to encourage other seniors to experience this same joy. I spent many hours writing and correcting each chapter because I am such a perfectionist! Sitting at the computer took a toll on my body and my legs got weaker and my muscles atrophied. I was very grateful when it was finished so I could resume my life! Our new mission was already unfolding and we were busy teaching firesides about Cambodia, plus making up for lost time with our children and grandchildren!
Our family was growing faster than we could keep up with them. It was time for us to get to know our beautiful new grandbabies!
It was time to finish writing my book, “Conquering My Fears in Cambodia – My Mission of Miracles.” While serving as a missionary I started writing chapters, now it was much more difficult finding the time and the desire to write. Sitting at the computer increased the pain in my tailbone, but I loved recording precious missionary moments. Missionary work was the sweetest work we’d ever done! I felt an urgency to write about our mission to encourage other seniors to experience this same joy. I spent many hours writing and correcting each chapter because I am such a perfectionist! Sitting at the computer took a toll on my body and my legs got weaker and my muscles atrophied. I was very grateful when it was finished so I could resume my life! Our new mission was already unfolding and we were busy teaching firesides about Cambodia, plus making up for lost time with our children and grandchildren!
Our granddaughter, Brittany 's graduation.
On a snowy April morning we drove to the MTC to see Poyi Sorn, our sweet young housekeeper in Cambodia, who had been called to serve her mission in California. She earned the money for her mission by working for our foundation, teaching illiterate members to read. She worked hard for us in Cambodia, now we were blessed to help her in our country. When we arrived at the MTC we saw three beautiful young sisters anxiously waiting for us to escort them to the Provo Temple; Poyi and her two beautiful companions from Mongolia and the Marshall Islands. Poyi ran into my arms and we hugged each other. She was very brave coming to America all by herself. These three young ladies knew very little English but were going to English speaking missions. We spent the next four hours in the temple, with these young women. Each one wore a headset for her own language.
Poyi and companions at the Provo Temple.
It was a wonderful blessing being Poyi’s escort as she took out her endowments. She loved the temple and received everything with humility and great joy. We took pictures outside the temple; even though it was cold it was still beautiful. Poyi was very happy; she loved the snow, the flowers, the fountains and the temple! It was a privilege for us to be with her on that special day, just one of the many blessings from our amazing mission and our foundation!
I wondered how Poyi would handle living in the United States. Life is so glitzy and modern compared to Cambodia - the stores, the theaters, the homes and decorations - no wonder Americans are spoiled and worldly! I was worried about her eating the standard American diet which causes health and weight problems. Our health and weight were already suffering. We have such an abundance of food and everything else in America, so much we cannot receive it all! It would be a blessing for every American to live in a third world country, even for a little while, perhaps more of us would share our abundance with the poor and the needy.
Our mission made us much more aware of the poor people around the world and in our own country. We thought about Jackie, our Navajo foster daughter, living on the reservation in New Mexico and we decided to visit her after all these years. It was very sweet reconnecting with her and meeting her husband and seven children. We had been unaware of her situation and her hard life until then. In our own country there are people as poor as those in Cambodia. Financial worries are one of the primary causes of depression, even in our country. I am grateful to awaken from the dream that all is well in Zion and especially grateful that we can help our foster daughter. If we are dedicated to helping others our lives will never lose meaning, but if our purpose is financial success then we will never attain true happiness.
Visiting Jackie at her home in New Mexico.
We were excited when our foundation received several thousand dollars in donations from family and friends. In a small way we were helping our poor and needy brothers and sisters in Cambodia. I look forward to the time when Zion will be established and there will be no poor among us. We cannot build Zion until we are obedient to the things which the Lord requires and impart of our substance, “as becometh saints, to the poor and afflicted” among us. (D&C 105: 3) But the Lord says, “it must we done in mine own way” (D&C 104: 16) otherwise we may hurt them. The Lord tells us that we need to promote self-reliance and not give what they can and should do for themselves. The best way for Latter Day Saints to give is through fast offerings.
Food and gifts for this member family.
"Behold, I say unto you, that ye must visit the poor and the needy and administer to their relief, that they may be kept until all things may be done according to my law which ye have received. And remember in all things the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted, for he that doeth not these things, the same is not my disciple." (D&C 44: 6, 52: 40)
"Behold, I say unto you, that ye must visit the poor and the needy and administer to their relief, that they may be kept until all things may be done according to my law which ye have received. And remember in all things the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted, for he that doeth not these things, the same is not my disciple." (D&C 44: 6, 52: 40)
It’s a great time to be alive, a time when latter-day glories are unfolding. I’m grateful to be here for such a time as this! If we have good health we can be part of the great day of the Lord, but if we are among the sick it could be the terrible day of the Lord! If we have poor health we won’t be able to serve missions and build Zion, especially in those developing countries where missionaries are so urgently needed!
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