August 5th, 2018: Transfers!

Hi everyone!!

So I got my transfer call, and I am going back to Phnom Penh! I will be in the Chamkamorn area with Sister Eckman! I am seriously so excited to be back in the city! I will miss Keansvay, but four transfers in one area is just a little long for comfort :) I anticipate that I will be there my last three transfers before I go home, but we will see! 

This week we were able to pick up a new investigator and several potentials! Keansvay will be progressing really well for the Sisters serving here next transfer! Sister Um is staying and my old companion Sister Soeur will be coming back to Keansvay. They will be super busy!!

Gospel Principle: The Restoration

Most people rejected Jesus Christ as their Savior and Redemmer while He was on the earth, and crucified. They later killed all of the apostles. Good took priesthood power for the earth because of wickedness, leaving the world in a state of apostasy. For over a thousand years, wickedness prevailed, but many were seeking for the truth. In the year 1820, a young boy named Joseph Smith was searching for the truth. From a young age he was always curious about religion, and as he grew older, he was concerned about receiving salvation. With so many religious groups pulling poeple this way and that way, he did not know which church he should join. His father gave him the advice to search God's word, and in James 1:5 he read, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." He decided that he needed to apply this scripture and "ask of God" through prayer. At Age 14, Joseph went to the woods near his home and prayed vocally to God, asking which church he should join. In an attempt to stop Joseph, a dark power seized him and bound his tongue so he could not speak. He said, "Just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me... When the light rested upon me i saw two personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. one of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other --- This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!" 

God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith and told him to join none of the churches because "they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." He later was called by God to be the first prophet in this dispensation, and received the proper priesthood authority to reestablish Christ's true church on the earth. With the restoration of this priesthood power, God's plan for His children could finally be understood and saving ordinances could be administered.

I know that all of this is true and that God and Jesus Christ truly did appear to Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove. I have prayed and received an answer myself that this is the true church of Christ on the earth. I know that through the priesthood power that was restored, all of God's children that have ever lived and will live on this earth will have the opportunity to be saved and receive exaltation if the come unto Christ, accept Him as their Savior, and perform the saving ordinances and make covenants with God. I know that God loves all of us and will do everything in His power to help all people know about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I love you all and hope that you will all take the time to think about why the Restoration is important and how it has effected your lives. I know that as we continually study about the Restoration, we will come to understand more clearly the love that God has for each of His children and the happiness He has in store for us all.

Love, Sister Bashford

Pictures:

1. Service

2. My little best friend in Kean svay

3. Bong Srey Niang (my fav RC in KS)

4. KS/CA District at this creepy witch doctor Wat

 

Hi. I had a nice bday this week. Dad bought me my normal dove chocolate and then a surprise...a 90 minute massage! After dinner we went to ice cream Sammie’s instead of cake and ice cream at home. Then for the weekend we went to Encinitas with Derek. The weather was amazing.

Dropbox: As soon as you see the volleyball videos, delete then so you have more room. I didn’t delete any of them.

Spring Break Vacation: I was thinking about our vacation over Spring Break and I dawned on me that maybe you don’t want to go back to Cambodia just yet. Would you prefer a Western European vacation instead?  It’s up to you, I should have asked you first. I haven’t made any firm plans other than we’ll be gone March 9-19. I’m game for whatever you want to do; I don’t care where we go, I just want to be with you.

I went to lunch with Kim this week, she is so awesome. She loves you. :)

I talked to a lady on the beach yesterday that spent a couple months traveling all over Southeast Asia. I was telling her about you and Cambodia which is what sparked our conversation. She told me that she loved every country she travel to, but Cambodia was by far the saddest. She loved Cambodia, but felt the country never recovered from the Vietnam war era like surrounding countries. She said she loved the people she met there, but just felt a sadness in the country. What do you think about her assessment of Cambodia? Is it accurate, or do you feel differently having lived there for over a year?

I’ve been thinking about you all week!!! Did you get transferred? What happened to Sister Um? Do you have a new companion?

Whatever situation you are in, I hope you are at peace with it!

Love you,
Mom

Hi Mom :)

Happy Birthday!!! It sounds like you guys had so much fun. California sounds amazing right now and so does ice cream sammies. What are you going to do for dad's birthday? was it a combined celebration? I hope you really loved your birthday because I sure did. I was on an exchange with Sister Eckman that day in CKM and it was so fun. then i got transfer calls and.... i am going to be in CKM with Sister Eckman!! Hahaha I am seriously so pumped to be back in the city and with an american companion. Sister Eckman is soooo cool too I am way excited to be her companion. Sister Um is staying in Keansvay and Sister Soeur is coming back to be her companion. Lol. Sister Soeur is not happy about it hahaha. In the mission, Sister Soeur is my older sister, my comanion, and my husband. Super funny. But now i am going to be seeing Kanika all the time so be expecting pictures all the time until I come home :) I am just relieved because i will be with a companion that is easy to get along with and an area that has a lot of progression so i am way pumped.

I couldnt upload all the pics because it was going to take 3 hours and sister stewart wanted to also get the pics so i just let her start downloading them and i will just show the rest of them to you when i come home. not too far away!

I honestly have no idea what i would like to do for spring break. both of those options sound awesome. Maybe give me a week or two to decide because i really have no clue. is it cheaper if we get tickets and stuff now? sorry i am so indecisive. 

Aww tell Kim I love her too. I think she is my best mom friend haha.

I love you a lot Mom!  You are my role model and I love you so much!!!!

Maile