Monday- We got lucky and ate dinner with Sister Sally Sin, her son, and the Olesons. Super neat. Super delicious cambodian food. After that we went to teach Ming Savorn. Then we went and did some contacting for the Oakland 9th ward!
Tuesday- Studies. District meeting. Help the District. Teach ming savorn. Teach Pream. Pream is being frustrating, and we might have to drop him cause he won't read... sad...
Wednesday- We got to go eat lunch with Moley downtown again, that was nice. We went to do service for Sokhom plek, and I literally had the most disgusting experience of my life. She had us help her move all the trash out of her backyard from the last like 25 years since she came to america. Let me tell you a thing. That was the most disgusting, awful, worst smelling thing I have ever done, But I mean I'm happy to do it because what are missionaries for y'know? We moved boxes that she puts all her left over potatoes in at the end of the year, where they sit and rot away until there is nothing left, then she fills it up again the next year. I have not a single idea why. It had this awful film all over it that made your skin tingle when you touched it, It was so disgusting. After that, we moved bags of clothes that had been stored in a shed since who knows when, and they were totally covered in Mold and nastiness. Then we got to the book shelf in the back. It looked like it had been painted with the feces of all the animal life in the bay area, and let me tell you, never has a smell before given me chills, except it be this book shelf. Then she asked us if we could move it out for her. I sat there for a second, thought to myself "You want us to touch it?" and then looked at Elder Ey, and he Looked at me, obviously thinking the same thing. We put our brave faces on and grabbed some rags and took hold of the beast, gently guiding it. All of a sudden, Elder Ey says "I want carry different" in the clearest english he possibly can, I respond "ok wait one second while I move so the poop doesnt fall in my face", but something you should know is that Cambodians have selective hearing, and I definitely should have said it in Cambodian, because all he understood was "ok'. I turn to look behind me, turn back to tell him ok, and to all horror of the Imagination, I receive some of the signs of the Bays wild life right into my mouth.
Never have I been more disgusted In. My. Life.
I threw my head down and tried my best to get it all out, the smell of it stuck in my head. I had to much adrenaline pumping through my body to recognize the taste, and I luckily was right next to a faucet. I cleaned my mouth the absolute best I could. Oh my gosh. The smell was unreal. Imagine the hole in the ground toilets and the Boy scout camps, with random little animals running around all over in it, then add the smell of throw up, and that is starting to get close.
Anyways. That was the end of that. We actually honestly had to go home and shower and go to an appointment after that. Whew. but we left and went home and I drank mouthwash and we showered, ate and went to splits. Good stuff. Splits went ok, We didn't get to see the people we had planned for, but that is ok, we got to know Siphal and Poamrong a little better!
Thursday- not a whole lot happened. We tried to go and contact a potential we met on monday, nothing huge there.
Friday- planning and got to teach Ming Savorn and jonathan. He is our saving grace every week. I love Jonathan.
Saturday- we went to eat lunch with the AP's and the sisters that serve in the 9th ward with us. Fun stuff, I love them. we went and taught our Cambodian class after that, unfortunately no one came... too bad. next we went to meet a referral from the Oakland ZL's, and they let us in! they didn't really want us to teach, but we got to know them, and are planning to go back tomorrow and introduce the church more to them, and why there is that big temple on the hill and what not. next we went to dinner with one of the members in the 9th ward, her name is Pamela Miles and she is this wonderful huge african amercan woman that loves missionaries and MoTab and Roast Beef. It was the first time since I started my mission that I have had a genuinely american meal. Potatoes, Roast beef, green beans and gravy. Awesome. next we went to om Tii, and it was an awesome lesson. We have been teaching this cool lesson on faith that has been having awesome effects on everyone we teach.
Sunday- I translated for Stake conference. That was fun. We went to the 9th ward too, and I am a very big fan of the 9th ward. the members are awesome. I kind of forgot what it is like to have priesthood holders. Good stuff.
Well friends and family, missions are really neat. I love being a missionary. I have learned very, very clearly that their are many things about missions that drive you into the ground really quick and ruin your day at the drop of a hat, but the thing that keeps all us missionaries out here is the reason we leave. It's all about Christ. Everything. Every time we see people walking down the street, we think of what Christ did for them. Every time someone rolls down their window just so they can try to make us feel like idiots, we remember what Christ did for them and how important that specific Individual is to their heavenly father. Every we see someone realize what it means to be happy, what faith is, what it means that God loves them, we remember Jesus Christ. The savior is at the source of everything. He is the source of all happiness. One of my favorite scriptures lately has been in Ether 12:4. "Wherefore, whoso believeth with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh and anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God". Our faith in Jesus Christ will lead us to everything that is Good and available for us in the world. It will lead us to Glorify God for everything we are blessed with at any point in our lifes. I want to be an example of this scripture. If you ever see me around, make sure I'm in the process of abounding in some kind of good work. Become as a child. Do good things. Life is easier when you're seeking to do good. I love y'all, sorry for the long email, have an awesome week!
Love,
Elder Tolman
#400
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