Dear Elder Slavens

Dear Elder Slavens
Elder Trenton J Slavens
Thailand, Bangkok/Arizona, Gilbert/
Texas Houston East
Elder Dallin J Slavens Cambodia, Phnom Penh
Elder Chancellor J Slavens Idaho, Twin Falls

Monday, May 30, 2016

I am your grandma

Hey folks. 

Elder Ros and I became viral this week. 

For some reason, it is super easy for you to become famous in Cambodia. Missionaries become famous for random stuff all the time here. Someone will just take a picture of a missionary doing something and post it on Facebook and then it blows up. 

Well this week Elder Ros and I were the victims. 

We were holding a big sign that says, "Free English class!" outside of a university, and a guy rode by and asked, "What are y'all doing?"

"Telling people about our free English class. Do you want to come?" 

"Naw, I don't have time. But I can help tell people about your class! Can I take a picture of you?" 

"Sure"

So he took a picture of us and put it on Facebook. Turns out he owns a Facebook page called "HD Funny Clips" which is super popular here. 260,000 followers. 

He posted the picture and said, "if you want to learn English for free, call these guys" and put our phone number. The second he posted it, our phone started ringing. Since then (4 days ago) our phone has not stopped ringing. We can hardly leave our house because we are just talking on the phone, telling people information about our English class. As of now, the picture has 13,000 likes and has been shared over 4,000 times. 

People on the streets have asked me if I am the English class guy. They will show me the picture from Facebook. 

It is so awesome. 

On a different note, I have another story I want to share. It is one of the weirdest things serving a mission has done to me. Elder Ros and I were biking, and we had to stop because of a train crossing. As we waited at the stop, I just sat there as more and more people pulled up to a stop with me on their motos. Next thing I knew, I was surrounded by a horde of people. And then the thought popped into my mind:

"Stand up on your bike and tell everyone about the church" 

And I thought, "NO! That's crazy!"

And then the thought hit me again: 

"DO IT"

And then I didn't do it. And then the train passed by, and all the motos around me drove off, and I was left to be disappointed in myself. Why didn't I do it? Because I was nervous. What was I nervous of? I don't know. Something stupid, I guess. 

That's when I thought how weird serving a mission is. I am a 19 year old dude who doesn't get paid, and I tell everyone about Jesus Christ. What kind of thing makes a 19 year old kid want to stand up on his bike and scream to a horde of people about Jesus Christ besides a dare or a mission?

So I am going to make the rest of my mission being a full on missionary. Which means I am here already, I am already sacrificing my time and money, so why not put in all I got and just GO FOR IT. It is gonna be great. 

I know that what I teach is true.



The world famous picture with a link to the Facebook post. I find it a miracle that I didn't make a stupider face. 



He haulin' a cart. 


Me eating some foods


We helped build a house


I found a 3 inch long hair on my neck lol 

Elder Ros' email

ជាតំន់សូជំរាសួ!,

        Hey everyone sorry, this is going to be a very brief and summed up post so I'll do my best to explain how'd last week went! Here I go!

      So pretty much throughout the entire week we're still being very consistent on doing our best to help the members around the Ward in Teuk Laak such as searching for CBRs, still finding those who truly wants to learn and even those that want to learn the English language. 

       The biggest highlight of last week is since last Friday me and Elder Slavens went viral because apparently while we were contacting in the afternoon on front of a member's home about the Rean English Program, we met a guy who's in charge of one of the most famous facebook page in Cambodia know as "HD Funny Clip". Since that happened me and Elder Slavens have a huge call frenzy in our phone since the 27th of May. As that happened there's always somebody calling from different areas of Cambodia wanting to learn English so there's been a ton of re-routing people that call us to other missionaries in other area to teach English! 

      On Saturday, we spent hours on continuing to re-route people that called us on our phone for the REAN English Program after the REAN English Program in the morning along with lunch! Whoo! So many people, yet me and Elder Slavens has been pulling off contacts then inviting people to learn about the Church as well! 

       Church was great we had a couple of investigators coming to church, one of them such as Bong Seiha (who's committed to a baptismal date on August the 6th) showed up to church for all 3 hours! Which was awesome! I love investigators that chose to progress in their lives! 

        Just wanted to let everyone know that Elder Slavens and I are doing fantastic and excellent! We're working a lot harder than we usually had before, and I am living the dream of the missionary I always wanted and needed to be and best of all what God needs me to be! I testify that if we remained converted into this church each and every day of our lives we can be truly happy in this life and even after life! I love my mission! It meant everything to me! I am here to keep it up and I WILL NOT QUIT! I am called to served my divine heritage in Cambodia and I take this sacred privelige seriously! I know that with God all things are still possible! Sometimes the things we face that is complicated in life takes a load of patience, I always have to work on that constantly enable for me to endure any obstacles in life.

      This includes the negative parts anyone go through in their missions! So if we remain true to God and Christ's true Church each and everyday any miracles can happen. (I look forward to REAN English Program on this Wednesday and Thursday which I believe is going to explode throughout the week! 

     Rean English Program was still good me and Elder Slavens sometimes form out our own lessons just so the students that came can benefit from it. Some of you may wonder how the language's going when it comes to serving this mission... out of humility I am still learning each and everyday. People may be judge me all they want, but I am still here to put my heart into this mission not matter what people say. I WILL NOT DENY MY CALLING, I AM CALLED TO SERVE, NOT CALLED TO BE JUDGED!

        Well I'll need to dash fast looking forward to how this upcoming week will go! Stay fantastic and blessed will post a bigger post next week! Love you all!
  
សូជំរាបលា!
🌏💓 -អែលឌើរ រស់  known as Elder Ros the Elder that stills lives on! 😇💊🛡🛃

"And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed." - Alma 34:33

Sunday, May 22, 2016

Long live the Bebish. May he ever be on patrol.

Song of the week stuck in my head: "I want you back" as sung by Sarah Judd. 

A big Elder from New Zealand moved into my house. We talk about Flight of the Chonchords and admire the beauty of the misty mountains together. He doesn't say "goodbye". Only "Cheers, mate". 

I got sick for the third time on my mission. Stomach problems, man. It's a killer. Not really, but probably. 

Some little kids in the ward I am serving in made thank you notes for the missionaries, and mine was in English. It says, "Thank you Elder Sleven. We love you."

I have never had a companion finish their mission until this week. Elder Jacob Elieson, my trainer, just finished. I will now take this time to formally give a shout out to him: Shout out. 

I never was able to understand the meaning of Mark 14: 6-8, where Jesus Christ tells the apostles that they are wrong because a woman puts some expensive oils on Him, and they were like, "Hey! you could be using that money for poor people!", until this week. An angry Australian man told me this week that Mormons are bogus and that they send out missionaries stupidly to Buddhist countries, and then pay for them to live in really nice apartments. 
1.) Missionaries pay to do what they do with their own money, gosh dang it. 
2.) I don't force anyone to learn with me. They can learn if they want. 
3.) I have lived in the nastiest house in the whole mission, and now I am in the nicest. And let's just say if Jesus Christ himself were to come and visit His missionaries, that if he came to the house I am staying in now to say hello, I would feel a lot less uncomfortable then I would if He were to visit me in the nastiest house in the mission. Houses can get nasty here... 

On Friday Elder Ros and I went to the church. I saw a sign on a door that said "Seminary, starting today! Learn Monday through Friday, 4:00-5:00" yadda yadda yadda... And so I called one of the youth in our ward to tell him to come join in! He is 14 or so. There were only 2 kids who had showed up to class yet, so I wanted the class to have a lot of students and for this kid to have a good time. And then, right when he showed up, a ton of other kids showed up and asked me why I invited him. That seminary class today was actually just a party because the teacher was busy. So I asked them if he could just join in the party. They said no because he wasn't in their friend group. 

So don't be like that. I gave them  a piece of my mind! And I'll give you one too. 

If you would like a piece of my mind, email "star" to dallin.slavens@myldsmail.net 

Love you, bye. 
Elder dallin.slavens


Have I mentioned the ribs we eat weekly because of the Vietnamese Elder who live sin my house. He learned how to make barbecue ribs better than outback here on his mission. So good that our mission president heard about it and decided to come give them a try and then take a selfie with my selfie stick. It was his first selfie ever.  


It is good to know there are people in this world who will take your camera while you are sick and take a picture of you. And for that, we thank you. 



Look at those Sisters go! 


Elder Ros' email












ជាតំបន់សូមជំរាបសួរ!,

     Sup guys, I am still doing phenomenal along with Elder Slavens and this area is still burning as we keep it up here are some highlights from last week! Here are some details of what happened:

       So last Tuesday, after the Final District Meeting in Teuk La'ak of this this transfer, we continued to meet up with one of our new investigators which is Seiha! Very nice guy, it's been an excellent time meeting him, so far he's been studying the Book of Mormon already starting from the Introduction and already highlighting parts that stuck out to him! As we taught a portion of the Plan of Salvation he's committed to a Baptismal Date on the 6th of August! We'll see how he'll do as he reach his conversion every time at a time! Then later on the day me and Elder Slavens came across one of our former investigators who was super good which is Niang the one who I contacted weeks ago, what happened is while contacting we came across meeting him checking to see how's he doing around the restaurant he's working in! He's been praying that he'll be able to see us again, and I was so happy to meet him again because honestly I was praying in my heart about him and look what happened other that that.

      Because what happened since his phone was lost he was worried that he won't be able to see us again and so the miracle happened. I love my investigators so dearly! Other than that we visited a Less-active member does need work but can take a lot of "thinking" to, that's an inside joke by the way.... "I think so, I think you know". Then after that we joined in another family home evening along with our recent convert Sou, he's still awesome! 

     Unfortunately, at last Wednesday Elder Slaven's needs to rest because of stomach problems, so we couldn't do to much but I am okay with that because you can't really work if anyone's too sick to proselyte. REAN English Program was great, took the time to teach the Alphabet and Unique work involving with them ...YEAH! That tags along with Saturday as well - on that day I had the opportunity to share a spiritual thought concerns Honoring our Families, and even shared how's Family History's important for us today! 

      Last Thursday, we had President Christensen (my Mission President) came over to have Lunch with us having Ribs. Throughout Lunch I found it funny that as President's aware that I took on the "Crazy Lion Burger" challenge weeks ago (last Transfer), he explained how disgusting that was but I did ate the entire burger eating it casually and I did beat that challenge. Anyways after Lunch and Planning for next week. For the rest of the day we just contact around our area to find new investigators! 

     Last Friday, we made an attempt to advertise for REAN English then we realize that as we want to make the attempt it's a holiday that's has to do with sacrificing... so we couldn't proselyting the English Program close to the Asia Euro University. Then for the rest of the day we just keep contacting as we find other members in the area! 

        Last Saturday, (already explained about the English Program teaching the same topic of the week again)  we took time to visit a member who's super nice named Ousaphia, as we met him he's pretty skilled at English, we shared a message with him about how we need to take sometime every day for us to study the Book of Mormon daily as a family. Then we met with Poo Kosal later on along with Poo Daren one of the chillest members I ever met in my mission, we had a decent lesson with him about Prayer, and Poo Kosal admitted that he did prayed for ounce by himself which is a miracle because he used to have a hard time praying we were very happy to hear him take that leap of faith to practice praying! Then lastly, we just continued to contact around our area invite some to church this Sunday! We also shared about REAN English Program to. 

          Yesterday, Church was great Elder Kamakon showed at our ward today! He's one of the area 70s that's coming around this mission oftenly! Before Church though we had a new investigator name Rith, very cool guy! We found him because of yesterday, see what had happened was me and Elder Slavens contacted him days ago, but we lost his number or messed his phone number as we saved it so we visited a Restaurant where his family lives and works and even contacted them on that time WHOO!

Well, gotta get going again, down below are some photos of last week went, I still love this mission, I love this church, and I treasure this mission deeply! Stay fantastic and blessed see you all next! Will being "killing" it or rescue many more who needs the gospel! Peace out Allons-Y!

P.S. Sneak Peek of my new Planner as of this Transfer. (Compare to my first planner when I came into the field for today's time serving in the mission more diligently as necessary!) #MYPLANNERSONSTERIODS

🌏💓 -អែលឌើរ រស់  known as Elder Ros the Elder that stills lives on! 😎💊🛡🛃

     "Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God." - Ether 12:4

  "And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial" - 

Monday, May 16, 2016

Where's Bobby Fischer?

Tron, Tron, you light up my life! 
Tron, Tron, you light up the night!

The motherboard of confusion
Is this game an illusion? 
You cannot fight what is right!

Tron, Tron, you light up my soul!
But without you, Tron, my life would be dull!
*key change*
Tron, Tron, the end is in sight!
Tron, Tron, you must conquer and fight! 

Just a little musical I wrote senior year of high school. I still can see the costumes and stage set up I'll use when it goes Broadway. 

This week I got a call while I was on the road. It was from Sister Leavitt, the lady in the mission office who does all the paper work and is my future mother in law. And she said, "Elder Slavens, it is time to discuss your departure date". 

I fell off my bike, I was so shocked. 

We also had transfer calls this week. Which means they call us to tell us where to go and who to be with. And I will be where I have been for the last 6 months with the same person I have been with for the last 6 weeks. Which means the same area for 7 and a half months. WOOT! Suck on that, people who hate me in this area. Looks like you'll either HAVE to love me, or just suffer for another month. 

Missionary work is so cool. I'll tell you more about it later. Love you.

Check out some sweet scriptures:




Elder Ros is real life action! 


We went bowling for pday and randomly ran into someone from the bishopric there, so we joined in his game. And he told us it was so fun, that he would take us bowling any day, any time, and he would pay! I can't tell if it is a test or something... Because I really want to go everyday 


Elder Ros' creation this week called "stuffed bell peppers". Stuffed with mac n' cheese. Look at how cute he is. 


Big big 

Sunday, May 8, 2016

I wanna eat your toes

So... Lazy.... to write more. 

Mothers day=when we skype our families. So I feel like there's not much more to say even though I haven't said any of it to any of you. 

Today I just want to write fun stuff from the week. 

1.) We were handing out fliers for our free English class, and a kid walked up to talk to us. He was maybe like what, 6? But he would just mouth words at us. I am pretty used to that since no one thinks I know their language, so they just mouth words at us, but then when he wouldn't even respond to anything we said to him in Cambodian. And then we realized he didn't know how to speak! He was on mute mode! So we asked him what he wanted and he pointed to the other side of the rode. He wanted the tall Americans to help him cross the busy street. So we did and it was really cute. 

2.) I was sitting when all of the sudden my pants just RIPPED OPEN. Rips all up and down my legs. I don't even know where it came from. BUT, we were luckily at a copy shop where the guy had a stapler so I stapled my pants nice and shut. 

3.) There was one night where Elder Ros and I had nothing to do for like 3 hours. So we tried finding people on the streets who want to learn, and then we quickly had a feeling that there was something else we should do. Elder Ros asked me if there were any members we should visit. I thought of one who is this sick dude who has a wife and daughter who come to church every week but he can't because he is sick. So we went there. It turned out he had just went to the hospital and came back, and we had no clue. He was getting worse. So then I wanted to share with them about hope and read a scripture in Revelations that I like to read, but I couldn't think of it. So I asked them if they had a bible. They did. They let me borrow it, and I opened to revelations, and the first page I opened to was the one with the scripture I wanted to share on it. HOW, do you ask, did I remember which verse the scripture was? BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY VERSE ON THE PAGE THEY HAD HIGHLIGHTED. I told them I was confident we were lead to their house to share that message. 

So ya. Good week. I feel like my mission is coming to a close and life is moving really fast. Does anyone else feel that way? If so, I know how you feel. 

Bye.



It was super boring talking to them.


American food 


"Free English class”


Sometimes we take these Elders out with us because they are Vietnamese, and they don't know Cambodian. So we show them how its done, basically.


A picture of me standing.



My newly stapled pants


The one in the middle with the yellow shirt is my favorite. She is my best friend. 


Posh


My companion and I, and our Mission President who I love with all my heart. I deliberately capitalize the first letters in his title. 


art


art


art


art


This art was brought to you by The Old Testament

Elder Ros email and pictures


59th Episode of អែលឌើរ រស់ - Vore Contacting #DOWORK (Mother's Day Special)













Here lie's the main picture of the week! Aligning with why's my post's title that.... This was Elder Vore! 

ជាតំបន់សូមជំរាបសួរ!,

          How's it going everyone I would like to make this post short and sweet as necessary! Before this post I would like to wish everyone a Happy Mother's Day! I love and miss my mom! Moms are the best! 

        So this week was straight forward we've been slowly receiving new investigators here and there in this area! Visiting people around the area still searching for those who wants to learn about the Gospel! 

Any particular details well, we started teaching a new investigator who thought church was at 3PM over but Stake Conference was on 9AM on that morning. So instead to make-up for him coming to church yesterday, we just taught him about the Restored Gospel! This new investigator's name Look Poo Piset! This is a Look Poo I contacted weeks ago and he's been going to our church constantly already! He's still cool and really loves to pray! 

I come across another investigator name Poo Kosal! Another cool guy, but does take work! And more encouragement on helping him pray to help him communicate with God! 

North Stake Conference was great! However, none of our investigators participate or attended it! Argh! Oh well! We'll still keep inviting them closer to Christ though! It was still great to see the members in the North Zone stay strong by attending this conference! 

So, sorry I had to cut this post short, but I just want to let you all know I am doing great hope the pictures I sent to you all with explain how'd last week went! I still love to serve my divine heritage I am here to stay! Plus, I am still here to work hard! Stay blessed and fantastic! Will be a posting a better post next week! Here I go! Gotta get busy with the reality of Missionary Work! If any of you all are praying that I don't get to "trunky" lately God bless you all because I really want to keep helping others come unto Christ to keep the gospel spreading!

"Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed."- 3 Nephi 18:21

🌏💓 -អែលឌើរ រស់ known as Elder Ros the Elder that lives on! 


I wanna eat your toes

So... Lazy.... to write more. 

Mothers day=when we skype our families. So I feel like there's not much more to say even though I haven't said any of it to any of you. 

Today I just want to write fun stuff from the week. 

1.) We were handing out fliers for our free English class, and a kid walked up to talk to us. He was maybe like what, 6? But he would just mouth words at us. I am pretty used to that since no one thinks I know their language, so they just mouth words at us, but then when he wouldn't even respond to anything we said to him in Cambodian. And then we realized he didn't know how to speak! He was on mute mode! So we asked him what he wanted and he pointed to the other side of the rode. He wanted the tall Americans to help him cross the busy street. So we did and it was really cute. 

2.) I was sitting when all of the sudden my pants just RIPPED OPEN. Rips all up and down my legs. I don't even know where it came from. BUT, we were luckily at a copy shop where the guy had a stapler so I stapled my pants nice and shut. 

3.) There was one night where Elder Ros and I had nothing to do for like 3 hours. So we tried finding people on the streets who want to learn, and then we quickly had a feeling that there was something else we should do. Elder Ros asked me if there were any members we should visit. I thought of one who is this sick dude who has a wife and daughter who come to church every week but he can't because he is sick. So we went there. It turned out he had just went to the hospital and came back, and we had no clue. He was getting worse. So then I wanted to share with them about hope and read a scripture in Revelations that I like to read, but I couldn't think of it. So I asked them if they had a bible. They did. They let me borrow it, and I opened to revelations, and the first page I opened to was the one with the scripture I wanted to share on it. HOW, do you ask, did I remember which verse the scripture was? BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY VERSE ON THE PAGE THEY HAD HIGHLIGHTED. I told them I was confident we were lead to their house to share that message. 

So ya. Good week. I feel like my mission is coming to a close and life is moving really fast. Does anyone else feel that way? If so, I know how you feel. 

Bye.



It was super boring talking to them.


American food 


"Free English class”


Sometimes we take these Elders out with us because they are Vietnamese, and they don't know Cambodian. So we show them how its done, basically.


A picture of me standing.



My newly stapled pants


The one in the middle with the yellow shirt is my favorite. She is my best friend. 


Posh


My companion and I, and our Mission President who I love with all my heart. I deliberately capitalize the first letters in his title. 


art


art


art


art


This art was brought to you by The Old Testament

Elder Ros email and pictures


59th Episode of អែលឌើរ រស់ - Vore Contacting #DOWORK (Mother's Day Special)













Here lie's the main picture of the week! Aligning with why's my post's title that.... This was Elder Vore! 

ជាតំបន់សូមជំរាបសួរ!,

          How's it going everyone I would like to make this post short and sweet as necessary! Before this post I would like to wish everyone a Happy Mother's Day! I love and miss my mom! Moms are the best! 

        So this week was straight forward we've been slowly receiving new investigators here and there in this area! Visiting people around the area still searching for those who wants to learn about the Gospel! 

Any particular details well, we started teaching a new investigator who thought church was at 3PM over but Stake Conference was on 9AM on that morning. So instead to make-up for him coming to church yesterday, we just taught him about the Restored Gospel! This new investigator's name Look Poo Piset! This is a Look Poo I contacted weeks ago and he's been going to our church constantly already! He's still cool and really loves to pray! 

I come across another investigator name Poo Kosal! Another cool guy, but does take work! And more encouragement on helping him pray to help him communicate with God! 

North Stake Conference was great! However, none of our investigators participate or attended it! Argh! Oh well! We'll still keep inviting them closer to Christ though! It was still great to see the members in the North Zone stay strong by attending this conference! 

So, sorry I had to cut this post short, but I just want to let you all know I am doing great hope the pictures I sent to you all with explain how'd last week went! I still love to serve my divine heritage I am here to stay! Plus, I am still here to work hard! Stay blessed and fantastic! Will be a posting a better post next week! Here I go! Gotta get busy with the reality of Missionary Work! If any of you all are praying that I don't get to "trunky" lately God bless you all because I really want to keep helping others come unto Christ to keep the gospel spreading!

"Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed."- 3 Nephi 18:21

🌏💓 -អែលឌើរ រស់ known as Elder Ros the Elder that lives on!