Alison Fabricius still alive and kicking in Cambodia

Dear Family,

    Guess what, I am in Cambodia, I thought you ought to know.  First things first Jennifer, I have a blog you need to look up and get a link for    NomadicTurtleinCambodia.weebly.com   this is the blog of Chi Hoa (Sister Hays) and she has more adventures from the MTC and here in Cambodia, we are in different areas and only see each other once a week, but she is very detail oriented and you might enjoy reading about other adventures.  I apologize for not sending pictures, my computer today is a bit ghetto, but next week.  Second thing, I have received dear elders that were sent Aug 7 and the "package"from Jennifer which I love, it only took 14 days to arrive.  However a senior couple tells me that is not the norm, usually it takes at least a month.  So if by chance anyone is thinking of Christmas yet (I am starting early due to shipping time) think fruit snacks, which don't exist on this side of the planet, and leggings, slips don't breath in the humidity and I feel bad having my skirts whipping all over the place...so just some food for thought.

   My time is short, I still am not used to having a timer count down the last moments I have of communication with home, but I shall still try and share some random things.

  First, I am SSOOOO grateful I started growing our my hair last November, so it is hot and my hair gets big with the humidity, but at least I can put most of it up so I'm not quite so hot and sweaty.

  Next, dear family and who ever else might be reading I would ask you all to read the introduction to the Book of Mormon and the introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants.  Those two documents remind us how blessed we are and what knowledge the Lord wants to bless us with.  Heavenly Father is so good and sometimes I don't think we realize how much he has to share with us.

  Third,  the Lord taught me something this week that rather caught me by surprise.  I have suffered this week from some ""indigestion"" as my body adjusts to the new food, which meant there were a couple days where food really wasn't looking all that great.  Feeling thus enhungered I admit my attitude could have used some work.  But the more I prayed and the more I focused on what the Lord called me to do the more I was able to do the work and feel capable to survive to the end of everyday.  As I talked with my companion about certain challenges we face being Vietnamese missionaries in Cambodia (and believe me there has been a time or two when my comp corrected every word that came out of my mouth or I wanted to say something so badly and literally couldn't or when i was so hungry and just missed string cheese and potato chips, when I asked why am I in Cambodia) we realized something significant.  Each trial we face or each challenge we overcome is simply training wheels for something amazing the Lord is preparing to put in our path.  If I learn about hunger myself I can better relate to the people I teach and have greater empathy as I teach them.  If I face frustration about the language and truly learn how to listen and discern the intent of people I can use that skill in classes, in marriage and at work.  Each thing we face is simply preparation for something awe inspiring the Lord has for us.  I don't know what trials will come to each of us, but I know if we face them with the knowledge the Lord will bless and help us and that he is simply helping prepare us for something greater, which in the end is eternal life with our family, we can and will do hard things.

  Lastly, dear family and those I love, please, please go to the temple.  As a plea from one who is so far away, make the temple apart of your life.  My companion and I talked about the blessings of the temple use them in your life.  I am so proud that Chris is preparing right now to go and I know whether it is the first time or the fiftieth, the Lord has something special for us to learn.

   I am thankful for the miracles the Lord shows me everyday here.  Whether it is thinking we had to give up our best investigator to another area only to realize she is ours to keep, help, teach, love and prepare for baptism (we extend the invitation to be baptized tomorrow) or whether it is a 24 yr old young man who finds us, asks for rice, but when we tell him to pray to God he does and receives ten dollars from his uncle. Because of that one act of faith he met with us everyday last week, is meeting with us this week, came to church, attended a baptism and wants to be baptized.  When I told him the Lord would bless and take care of him, I didn't mean money, but the Lord is providing for him as he needs and Anh Hoang has such a desire to serve and learn.

  I know the Lord knows us and he knows how to help us.  I know the relationship with Heavenly Father is as personally and loving as we want and allow it to be.  I love you all so much, I know this church is true, I am at long last excited, oh so very excited to love and serve his people, dried tofu, full shrimp with heads on, octopus legs or not, this is his Gospel, a Gospel of forever happiness and He is letting me bring special deliveries of joy to the children of God.  

May we each find joy in our journey is my prayer, 

 Sister Dao Fabricius