Vignettes from Siem Reap- A Reunion and Children of Cambodia

[For a more comprehensive account about my trip, please see my earlier post, "Fabulous Siem Reap"]

A Reunion

October 2007: I had just been sent to Las Vegas, my first proselytizing area as a missionary for my Church, (pending my visa to Taiwan). Three weeks after I arrived, we had a mission "transfer" (missionaries learn if they are transferred to another area in the mission). One of my companions left to another area, and Sis Kuntheavy Seam transferred in, a petite Cambodian whom I grew to love in the three weeks I served there before I left to Taiwan. We reconnected after our missions via Facebook, never thinking that we would see each other in person again till the next life.

May 11, 2014: I sent Kuntheavy a Facebook message asking her if she would recommend any places to visit in Siem Reap. Through our correspondence, I also learned that she lived in Phnom Penh, a four and half hour drive away from Siem Reap. I was bummed that I wouldn't be able to see her, but it couldn't be helped.

May 26, 2014: Kuntheavy wrote on her Facebook status, "Going to Siem Reap by Golden Bayon Express van for 5 hours drive..." I could not believe my eyes, and excitedly commented on it. Turns out that she was helping to coordinate the same church work meeting that my father was attending!

Who would have thought that almost seven years later we would meet again? All I can say is, the world is truly smaller as a member of the Church, and all hail Facebook.

Children of Cambodia

My parents and I went to church Sunday morning. The beautiful building is smaller than the standard size chapel, but it was clean and welcoming. The attendance that day was low (around 70 people while usual attendance is around 150 because most of them had traveled to Phnom Penh to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Church in Cambodia); nonetheless the testimonies heard that meeting bore witness of the members' faith and humility. I can't imagine how they find the strength to pay tithing and refrain from working on Sunday, and yet, they do (at least the stronger members).
As we were sitting in the chapel, I noticed the children and their big grins. Remembering that I had a stick of Hi-chew candy in my bag, I gave them out to the children at the end of sacrament meeting, just as we were about to leave.

Before each child took a piece of candy, they clasped their palms together and bowed their heads (the Cambodian way of greeting and expressing gratitude) and only then would they accept the candy.

Expressing thanks before accepting the gift.
And every single child did the exact same thing.

I wished I had more candy to give away, and left with a heart touched by the spirit that morning.