liposuction

I love the rain.  VIDEO: https://www.dropbox.com/s/26pyl8dnmbamu28/SDC10403.AVI?dl=0

Life is good in the Democratic People's Republic of Cambodia. My area is especially good. Things are happening. Well, not really. But we like to think they are. Elder Khiev cares a lot about the people he teaches and it's contagious. We are doing well together. It's a non-stop party. Well, we stopped twice this week to go to the dentist and get a root canal for him. The couches at the dentist are super soft and it really helps with personal revelation. The view is good too: 

We went to the dentist to get his mouth looked at. We were scheduling a return appointment and Elder Khiev starts telling the lady we can come in on Wed, Fri, Sat, next Tues, next Sat.... etc. and I'm like "What are you doing?"  Apparently before his mish he got work done on this same tooth 3 times and each time he had to go into the little Cambodian dentist every other day to get his teeth drilled and cleaned for 2 months at a time! He had no idea they could fix everything in just a day or two. Cambodia.

We had a party for all the branch missionaries. Om Kalin will tear you apart with her boldness and swearwords on the street and in lessons; but when she get to the pulpit she melts hearts: 

In Cambodia everyone has a cell phone. But they are all in English. This means that nobody ever texts. When nobody texts, calls become much more important. So important that it is uncommon for anyone to ever not pick up a call. Even during lessons. It was way weird to me at first because I didn't understand. But now it's way normal. Cambodia is weird.

Spiritual thought: Go watch General Conference. This Saturday and Sunday. Actual apostles of the Lord will stand and speak to us. That's pretty much all I need to say. I know that if you watch and listen, you will feel the truthfulness of their messages. 

I'm super stoked.

I love Cambodia.

Love, 

Elder Osborne

My blog: elderosborne.blogspot.com

A bird pooped on my head.

Literally. I was sitting at the church waiting for somebody and then I felt something splatter on the back of my head. It was bird poop. I think that's a good luck sign in Cambodia though. #blessed

Elder Khiev and I are livin' it up: 

This week was crazy cool. I decided on Monday that I was going to do at least one act of service every day. Every morning I prayed for an opportunity to serve. And the Lord delivered. We helped a lady peel her vegetables, we helped people move, I taught 30 people how to speak English for an hour. 

Wednesday was my favorite though. We were riding home at night and about to cross over the bridge when we spotted a stopped trailer full of charcoal. Apparently a bridge boost had not been very successful and these guys were stuck. So Elder Khiev jumps off his bike and I follow and we proceed to help push the whole thing all the way up the bridge. It was super dope and what's even doper is that I got pics.

I was pushing with one hand and shooting with the other: 

Smiles all the way: 

This is probably my favorite picture that I have ever taken:

 

When we got to the top this guy turned around and thanked us super respectfully. It's blurry because I was in the process of thanking him back. I love Cambodia.

I teach English everyday now. Elder Khiev wants to learn but hasn't had a comp who was willing to help him out yet. So this week I have been speaking only English. I don't think he understands much but he will improve eventually. English is way more important for his life than Khmae is for mine. Plus I learn from investigators every day so I will still get better too. 

Fishers of men: 

Well that's all. I gotta go take my comp to the dentist because his crown fell off and has to get two root canals. He's been hurting for 2 months but has put it off because he wants to focus on the work and save the mission money. What a good guy.

I love Cambodia and serving and my comp and everything.

Love,

Elder Osborne

newnew

It was hard to say goodbye: 

But everything will be alright:

Now I speak Khmae a lot:

Elder Khiev (rhymes with pee-yew, the "v" is more of a "w" here) is the coolest person of all time. He is 24 and has a degree in banking from a college in his hometown, Kampung Cham. He doesn't speak 2 licks of English so I've been learning a lot of cooking words.

 

Cambodians are very blunt and Elder Khiev is definitely blunt. Yesterday in our BM meeting he asked our BM how much weight she had lost since she returned from her mission a couple of months ago because she used to be so fat. Rekt. Elder Khiev has the most beautiful lisp so every new word he teaches me I have to factor that in first. It's a fun life.

This week I also went on an exchange with Elder Jensen, my zone leader. 

His area is a little bit farther out of the city and it's way beautiful: 

I'm learning a lot out here. We've got a couple of good investigators. A lot of them give us some hope for a week and then get really busy tho. Right now we are working with a guy named Sok Naa. He is way smarter than all of us and he has come to church the past 2 weeks. He just needs a confirmation that it is all true now. Pray for him.

I love my mission. It is hard sometimes but mostly it's just fun and rewarding. 

God answers prayers. Go pray for a miracle today and watch it happen.

love,

elder osborne

Khiev

A week of selfies in my disgusting bathroom.

Wednesday

Thursday 

Friday 

Saturday 

Sunday

Monday 

I've been thinking about this concept from the lectures on faith recently:

"Let us here observe, that three things are necessary, in order that any rational and intelligent being may exercise faith in God unto life and salvation.
"First, The idea that he actually exists.
"Secondly, A correct idea of his character, perfections and attributes.
"Thirdly, An actual knowledge that the course of life which he is pursuing, is according to his will."

To ask for blessings through prayer and receive them from God faith is required. 

For Elder Osborne to ask a blessing from God he must have faith.

I want to find a new investigator that will learn with us. First, I need to know that God exists. Second, I need a correct idea of his character. I need to know that He is just, merciful, loving, kind, caring. Third, this is the big one, I need to know that the course of my life is according to His will. I need to know that I'm doing what He wants me to be doing. Am I keeping his commandments? Did I put in the full effort in comp study this morning? Language study? Did I get out of the house on time? If not, my faith is less because I do not have the knowledge that the course of my life is according to his will. I do not have the faith, the power, to pull down the blessings of heaven through my prayers. Because I don't believe, have the faith, that God will give me what I ask for.

If I have faith and ask, I will find a new investigator, every single time. Actually, that's on the condition that it is God's will for me to find a new investigator, but it usually is because these people are ready.

Moral of the story: Be obedient, ask for new investigators, profit.

Through the crack 

Man's best friend

New adventures ahead. New companion next week. He doesn't speak English. I'm stoked.

I love Cambodia. I love the Lord.

Love, 

Elder Osborne