We made it! July 11-13, 2016

Hi EVERYONE!    Well here's what I know for sure... We are a long, long, long, way from home.  We were supposed to leave at midnight from LA turned  out  - we boarded at 1:00 a.m.  Probably took off a half hour or more later.    We landed about 6:00 a.m. (Hong Kong time)  in a driving rain storm. They announced it is Wednesday.   We barely  touched down when Captain came on and said there was nothing to be nervous about BUT there was smoke coming from the right wing and they were going to stay out on Tarmac until emergency vehicles arrived to assess the situation.  Lots of chatter in a lot of different languages.  The plane was surrounded with fire trucks, cars lots of flashing lights ..... It took about an extra hour but determined some hydraulic fluid was leaking onto the engines. Whew! Kind of a scare.   They didn't taxi in but instead had some sort of a "tug" vehicle push us away from the terminal.. So rather than unloading into the Terminal we had to wait for busses to come out on the Tarmac to get us off - had to deplane ....run through the rain dragging our carry on bags to busses.  I thought I looked disheveled before ..but the rain finished off the job.   All but one of the young missionaries left for Vietnam an hour ago ... only one young Sister from Kaysville was assigned to Cambodia ...so she is spending the 8 hour wait with us and seems relieved not to be alone.      We are scheduled to arrive in Phenom Penh around 5:00 this afternoon...that's when the REAL adventure will begin.   Just wanted to let you know we made it this far...thinking of you ALL and missing you already.  Thanks for your help and concern and support. Love Mom & "D" P.S.  Can't feel my body parts from my shoulders down .... But other than that ALL is well. ___________________________ Hi EVERYONE... Man... Please forgive length of time to get this off to you.  Can't believe it's only (4) FOUR days we have been here.  Having all kinds of trouble with my computer and getting internet set up.   Tried to download  some pictures tonight and computer really went crazy.   Haven't drawn a breath running every minute since landing on Wednesday night - each day we have been up before 5:00 and on road to different places by 7:00 (even Thursday after we arrived jet lagged) with the Van Brocklins (the ones going home).  They are incredible people - and trainers.  They have left every thing ready and so organized.  Terrific teachers...and doers!  We have been right there with them  to appointments already scheduled... trying to learn our job before they leave.  We get home sometimes anywhere from  8:00 -9 pm dog tired.   Unbelievably we have traveled 2-3 hours different directions -one day 4 hours round trip out to Kompang Cham where a new building will be dedicated in 4 weeks.  D &  I will have responsibility for open house invites to mayor / police chief...governor and Province dignitaries as well as coordinate ribbon cutting , food, tents, tours, advertising.  Then write and post articles/pictures in Mormon  Newsroom.org they Cambodian arm Mormon the newsroom.  Still being trained on that too!!! Also met with Minister of Religion here in (Phenom Penh) Fridayabout upcoming plans for 1000 bicycles and 60 (water)wells in a city (Province) another hour in a different direction.  Then directly after went and Met to coordinate this plan with Humanitarian Missionaries and Council @Service Center.  On to meet Mission President briefly at mission office to get our new Cambodian drivers license turn in our visa's and get our Cambodian phone # iPads etc. transferred.  Having glitch on Lance's phone transferring from U.S. (Aggravation.)   Yesterday we were assigned inspections that happen every 6 weeks of Elders and Sisters apartments (heavy rain) it was over an hour out of town.  SO...?We Haven't unpacked yet...iron what we're gonna wear that day (like Janine) Haven't shopped yet.  No ironing board so used flat iron spread a towel on the kitchen table and did the best I could.  Sweet Senior missionaries had gotten us some basic stuff  for apartment it was like a "kitchen shower" sheets were on the bed ... 2 towels... (Thickness of a paper towel)  Toilet paper some utensils, plates, bowls, a toilet scrubber, dish soap  milk and some bread, eggs etc. so lovely so appreciated.  We left for Church today @ 6:45 a.m. To travel to Sin Sok chapel 1 1/2  hours away.  Some of the poorest people and conditions I've ever seen (in person)  But there they were at church smiling so eager to greet us...young deacons in ties - sandals.  It was both sobering, humbling.  We then travelled to 4 different chapels (and branches) so we would know how to find them  when our trainers leave on Tuesday.  Got back here at 3:00 - then left again at 5:45 tonight introduced to one of Stake President a meeting about a big service event with 600 YSA kids... Which we will cover for Mormon newsroom - KH... The Cambodian arm of newsroom. in September.   Frustrated about computer... But ALL is well.  However; We...really haven't had time to recover Jet Lag, our time to get ready or our MTC...but  when VanBrocklin's leave this week we'll catch our breath .  YES it is HOT ... Humidity 94%  today ....thank goodness for air conditioning when we have it.  Still feel like we're melting.  We are a blessed people...His plan is for ALL his children. Will try to send pictures when I can figure out what's happening to the hard drive.??Sure love you!  Haven't even emailed our family since Hong Kong...  We just fall on the bed when we get home... It'll be better when we get our bearings... Crazy driving just can't comprehend it. Love to ALL Grammy/PopPop