July
1, 2005 - Letter from Mom and Dad on their mission in Cambodia
Gwen
requested a couple of pictures which are attached, along with a couple of bonus
pictures. They are:
No.
1451 - Our apartment building with it's green gates. Our apartment is on
the second floor in the back straight in from the green gate behind the van.
No.
1450 - A picture of Brother Som, his wife Mala and Veloy in front of his
van. This gets us around everywhere.
No
number - but seeing is believing. Eight on a moto!!!!!!
No.
1459 - The sister in the middle is named Phal Mao Wright, she was the very
first member baptized in Cambodia America Cambodia
We'll
get a picture of ourselves soon and send it. We are fine and keeping
busy.
Love
you all, Mom and Dad (Grandma and Grandpa)
July 7, 2005
Dear Family and Friends,
Sorry we have been so long in sending you our
journal. Things have been busy here and it keeps us going. The
pictures are some we took last December while touring the Tuol Sleng genocide
museum (former Khmer Rouge S-21 Prison) and the Killing Fields, and then some
taken just this last week. As I mentioned before Tuol Sleng was very
depressing to us and the Killing Fields not much better. Hopefully we can
put all that in the back of our minds and enjoy Cambodia
104 - This building was classrooms that they turned into
cells to hold the prisioners. Brother Som attended this school before Pol
Pot took over.
107 - Some of the many graves at the Killing Fields.
You can see bits of cloth from the victims clothing and pieces of bone sticking
out of the ground.
113 - One of the many markers in the Killing Fields.
It gives you a little idea of just how many were killed.
1468 - The front desk at our apartment building (Lee
Apartments). These young people work at the desk and Dy in the parking
area outside.
(left to
right) Leng Sothea (Sew-tea-a), Chan Dy (Dee ),
and Nhim Vissoth (Vee-saw-t).
1476a - Sister and Elder Dickson as requested by their
daughter Gwen. Notice we are putting a little weight back on.
We send our love and prayers, Elder and Sister Dickson
July 10, 2005
Dear
Gwen and Family,
I
decided that today was the day to write a few letters or I should say
e-mails. We were sorry to hear that Landon had hurt his ankle. I
hope by now it is all better and he's doing fine.
It is better. He is "was" wearing a brace, but was
careless and lost it at football practice. Football camp starts tomorrow,
and he will get another one from Coach Hoopes. He went to a baseball camp
down at BYU on Friday, and did really well. There were college scouts
there, and we are hoping he can play at the college level............. we'll
see.
Will
they be in place of his regular school classes? They could towards
college credit (for all instate schools) and also towards his high school
credit.
On his EDNet
College
He's taking 4 this summer, Math 1010, Speech, Theatre, and an
"online" class - Strategies.
How
did the two of you like "Fiddler on the Roof?" How did Tiana
do? The movie always makes me feel so bad because of the way the family
is pulled apart and will probably never see each other again. I think of
our ancestors leaving their homeland and loved ones, never to return.
With the way the mail system was it would have been so hard for them to keep in
touch with each other, not like we can with e-mail today.
We drove down (Landon and I) with Matt Larsen (Steph's boy) and Tim
Poll (Kent and Ellen's boy) They are in his theater class too. It
was an enjoyable night. The boys like "Tradition" song the
best. Tiana did well, but was shy as usual.
I
hope you are receiving our pictures okay. The one of Dad and I was a
timed (?) picture with our camera. We can learn a few new tricks
even though we are getting older.
Pictures looked GREAT !!! We are enjoying them immensely. I
wish I could figure out how to send "small" picture file to you.
I
guess all of Dad's worrying about Roger's hay didn't help. Even with us
not being there he stewed and worried a lot.
It took us 3 weeks (from cutting to getting it all in the barn)
It has been raining a little here off and on and thank goodness it has cooled
things down a bit.
How is Camryn adjusting to her babysitter? She is doing really well at
Dianes
I'm so glad that Amanda is getting a new job and one closer to home. I
know it is just my imagination but Layton seems
a lot farther away than Ogden Layton
Manda only has 2 1/2 more days at her internship. She is
hating it, and the lady (chiropractor's wife) who is the office manager.
Manda thinks she has mental problems.
How
are things going at the office? Did you get everything done on
time?
Yes - all done, now we start all over again............ Round
Valley, Taggarts, Croydon, Lost Creek area is in our next reappraisal area.
I
sure don't feel old but I think Dad and I are some of the oldest senior
missionaries here. We just found out that the ones that we thought were a
lot older and going home in September are our age. In fact, I
was sitting by the District President's wife yesterday and she asked
how old I was. In return I ask her age. I couldn't believe she was
only 45 years old. I told her that I had a daughter that was 44 and that
I was old enough to be her mother. I guess I just must be young at heart.
Dad
still has his bad days along with his good, but is able to live with
it. I just wish something could be done to make him feel good all the
time. Dad is interested in how Roger's oats and alfalfa is coming
along. Has he watered it yet, etc.? Did they get the hay
all hauled?
I'm glad dad is feeling a little better. Why do you think he's
having problems? Is is because of where you are, and the change and all,
or do you think he would be feeling like this at home too?
Roger has watered the alfalfa on all of the pieces we run. He
has NOT watered the oats behind Mark's house yet, and will cut them next week
for oat hay. (This is already sold) He baled the grass hay in the bottom
of our field yesterday, and Ron Hansen will buy this. In fact they are
hauling some thing morning.
I
hope our journals aren't boring. We don't have any what you would call
outstanding miraculous things happening, just the everyday experiences like
back home but are enjoying being here and meeting and learning to love all the
people. The young people are so special and seem so strong in the gospel,
just like Landon. So many of them want to go on missions but are having a
hard time financially. It takes about everything they make just to
live. The Church pays for most of their mission I believe, but they are
expected to buy their clothes and contribute a little.
Well,
I hate to close but need to get other things done. Take good care of
yourself and family and give them our love.
Love,
Mom and Dad
We love hearing every little
thing from you, and it's the FIRST thing I do in the morning, is click on JUNO
and click on GET NEW MAIL, and the most exciting thing is when we have
something from you guys. I guess I'm selfish, but I hope this next year
goes fast. I miss you both alot, and will be glad when this is
over. Maybe you can do a Temple
Square
Take care - we love you !!
Gwen and family
Dear Family and Friends,
Besides our journal, here are a few recent pictures you
might enjoy seeing. They are:
# 1436 - Fruit called "rambuton"
# 1521 - Elder Meas, Elder Loomis (from Weiser, Idaho
# 1512 - Elder Howard, Elder Men. These two
missionaries are also in Branch 6 and we have learned to love them also.
The boy and girl on each side are brother and sister. They are from the
10th Branch and their mother is the Relief Society President. I went
visiting with her.
# 1511 - Kov Measmary (bride) this is not her wedding dress,
Socheata (one of the Khmae teachers in Employment), and Sot Sovisal
(groom). They are sitting on the curb at the church waiting for Elder
Davis to take them to their hotel.
# 1507 - The wedding cake.
# 1493 - Lee keeping the pencils sharpened for our
Employment class.
Things are going great. We send all of you our love,
Elder and Sister Dickson
July
11, 2005
We
appreciate your e-mails. We had a very busy day today. Up at 6,
employment class from 8-12, back home for lunch, English class from 1-2, Family
History from 2-4, then grocery shopping and Lucky Burger for supper
and finally back home. Tomorrow will be much like today except in place
of Family History Mom has a dental appointment. Take care.
Love
Dad
Dear
Loved Ones,
I
have just a few minutes this morning before leaving the apartment. We
have been busy this week so far with Employment workshops each morning from 9
to noon, home for a quick lunch and then to our English Class. I
made up a hidden word puzzle for school yesterday with names of family members
(sister, brother, uncle, aunt, mother, grandparents, etc.). It was
suppose to be homework and we gave it to them just at the end of class.
They usually leave as soon as we tell them goodbye but yesterday they all
stayed for about fifteen or twenty minutes afterwards working on the
puzzle. In fact they stayed until they finally finished it.
We
went visiting with the missionaries (two elders and two sisters), the Elder's
Quorum president and the Branch President last night from Branch 6.
Brother Som and his wife drove us about fifteen miles to the members little one
room grass shack. Everything they owned was in the one room
(approximately 12 x 24 feet) including their moto for transportation. He
has been a member for a few years but his wife just joined the church and was
baptized a couple of weeks ago. They have two little children, a boy and
girl, who are so sweet and well behaved. They have taught them
well. It was a very special experience for us.
We
love you and appreciate hearing from you. Drop us a line (Dad says ASAP).
Thanks
for being our wonderful family.
Love,
Mom and Dad
July 14, 2005
It’s our anniversary today !! 28 years………………….. I can’t believe it !!
Dear Mom and Dad,
Sorry I've been neglecting writing. It's been hot
here, I think it broke 100 degrees down below. It's so nice when it cools
off here at night though. Manda's extern job didnt' go so well at the
chiropractor, and she is at Morgan Clinic now for her last few days. The
job at IHC will not be for another few weeks -4-6-8-?? So she is going to
work for AOL (probably) until then.
Zac is getting the painting on the
babies room worked on. All the walls are painted, bumble bee yellow,
tinkerbell green, and bippity boppity blue !! Isn't that cute !!
They will stripe them now....................hope THAT works out.
Landon
is so busy. This week is football camp 3 times a day, plus his EDnet
classes, plus mowing the property, plus helping Mark over at the WBBA field
(they are having their all-star games there this week) Dev and Dal both
made the all-star team I suppose Mark told you. Jaden has been at scout
camp this past week.
Roger P cut the oat hay behind Mark's house (I don't
think it had to be watered once !! The grass hay down in the bottom of
our field was cut last week, it's all baled, and almost all gone (from the
llama guys who buy from us every year). I'm still working on that
football program booklet - be glad when that's done !! Well, better go
for now - Take care, it sure sounds like you are busy. We surely
enjoy hearing from you, and I can hardly wait till your home !! Love Gwen
and family.
July 17, 2005
Gwen,
I have another request for a recipe. This time it is for my lasagna recipe.
Brother Som wanted to know if I had ever made lasagna and if so could he have
the recipe as he would like to try it. Also, could you send me my recipe
for applesauce cookies. It takes me forever to bake cookies as I can only
bake eight at a time but they sure taste good fresh out of the oven.
It
sounds like you are really busy too. We do hope things work out well for
Amanda. What will her hours be at AOL?
The
colors for the baby's room sound darling. Who would have ever thought of
naming ordinary colors those names. We are excited about another little
great-grandchild and can hardly wait to get home to see everyone. Even
though we are enjoying it here in Cambodia
It
sounds like Landon is keeping out of mischief, especially with his busy
schedule. Just think he will be a mighty senior next year. I never
dreamed when he started playing sports that we would miss seeing him during his
junior and senior year. Wish him good luck in all he does. Dad and
I often speculate where he will go on his mission.
Dad
is still worrying about Roger's crops, but that is just natural for him to
worry. He has stopped commenting on how he feels, but I can see that it
is wearing on him.
Give
our sweet little Camryn a big kiss for us. And as for you, slow down a
little if possible.
Well,
I had better close. It is Sunday afternoon and I need to get birthday
cards ready to send so everyone will get them before their birthdays. My
talk went well in church. It was on Family History. Would you
believe that I took all the time so Dad will have to give his talk next
Sunday. Actually, church was about fifteen minutes late in starting and a
young boy also gave a talk. It takes twice as long to give a talk here as
everything has to be repeated again when it is translated. Oh
well, I guess he will forgive me.
You
and your family are always in our prayers.
Love,
Mom and Dad
July 19, 2005
Dear
Family,
Just
a quick note. We are doing fine but are very busy. I will try to
get our journal sent off to you this evening before we go out visiting.
The Davis ' are trying to get us up to speed on
everything involved with the Employment
Center and Family History
Center
Love
you all, Mom and Dad
July 21, 2005
Dear
Family and Friends,
As
you can see from our journal, we are keeping busy. We are sorry we aren't
able to write individual letters to each of you but hope this will
suffice. The pictures we have added this time are:
1575a
- the dead rat we saw on our way to the mini mart. That's a size 8 shoe
next to it.
1563
and 1569 -- flooded streets around the corner from our apartment. This
was caused by a rainstorm early one morning. Life goes on as usual.
1552
- diffeent kinds of fruits we have here in Cambodia
1592
- corner pub or beer garden that just opened down the street from our
apartment. We don't go there much (actually not at all).
We
miss you all but are enjoying our time in Cambodia and learning to appreciate
America more and more each day.
Elder
and Sister Dickson
July 25, 2005
Hi
Everyone,
Just
a quick note to let you know we are fine but busy. Things get
really involved when we spend all morning at the Employment Workshop and
an hour each afternoon in English class. On top of that with trying to
learn the ins and outs of Family History with the Cambodian names is something
else. Thank goodness Dad is helping out by keeping me straight on new
procedures on the computer and how to interface back and forth between the two
computers. It looks like we will be going to Siem Reap after all.
Elder Johnson put the trip off a week and it now falls between both our
birthdays (Aug 1-5). This will be a nice outing for both of
us.
Sorry
I haven't had time to personally answer your letters but we are thinking of you
and always remember you in our prayers. Take good care of each
other.
We send
our love, Mom and Dad
July 25, 2005
Sometimes
when we haven't received any new e-mail I read some old ones. Such was
the case this morning. As I read one of yours I came across a
comment that you wished you could figure out how to send small picture
files. I will attempt to tell you how to reduce them and save them away
so that you can attach them to any mail you send.
To
compress pictures for e-mailing, go into My Computer (I have a "My
Computer" icon on my desktop) and find your picture files. Select
those pictures you want to e-mail.
On
the left-hand side of the screen you will have a section titled Picture
Tasks, File and Folder Tasks and Other Places. If you don't have
this, click on the Folders button on the taskbar at the top of the
screen. This toggles you between a view of the folders and the Picture
tasks, etc.
In
the File and Folder Tasks section click on E-mail the selected
items.
When
you do this, you will get a pop-up screen titled "Send pictures via
e-mail" with an option to resize your pictures.
Choose
"make all my pictures smaller." When you do this, after a
noticeable delay, an E-mailing screen will pop up with the selected and
compressed files attached.
You
can then click on File and save the compressed attachments for later
e-mailing. Then to send them, just attach them to your e-mail as you
would any other file.
This
process should in no way affect your e-mailing system. I hope this works
for you as we would love to receive some pictures.
Also,
did Roger get the oat hay up without any rain on it?
Love, Dad
July 25th
I'm so sorry I haven't written much lately. I have
been so busy................. getting ready for Girl's Camp tomorrow at Camp Zarahemla
in Porterville Salt
Lake Temple
Manda worked today (AOL) and I tended because Diane took the
day off (24th of July). Then I had to run to Ogden
Zac and CJ bought them a Saturn VUE, it's an SUV.
His little car has just about bit the dust, so he got yours all registered and
is driving it. His lawn looks soooooooooooooooo nice. He has flood
irrigated it along with the sprinklers, and his nosy neighbor told him he was double dipping, but Suzanne Carrigan said they haven't passed
an ordinance yet, stating that if you have hooked up to secondary water
(sprinklers) that you CAN'T use the irrigation water. Do you know
anything about any of this?? Don't you do both??? Mark took Dallin
and went to Arizona
Landon has a new girlfriend - Brigitte Mellott - Vivian and
Dave's daughter. She's only 15............. I wish he would
just play the field, but you know how that goes. He finally got his hair
cut, THANK GOODNESS !!
Here's some pics dad. I can't get them resize YOUR
way, but I have another way that isn't as easy. Hope they aren't too big
..
Take care, we love you.
By the way, Roger and Landon got their birthday cards and
appreciate them very much. Especially the nice personal letter that goes with
them. Dad you have a nice birthday too. We love you both so
much. I'm glad you have gone a mission, but I hope this next year goes by
fast. I hope you have fun in Siem Reip ??
PS MY tomatoes are doing GREAT !! I'm so proud.
I"ll have to take some pics and also of Zac's yard and baby's room and
send next time.
LOVE GWEN
July 29th 2005 – Roger D’s Birthday
Dear Roger,
Happy Birthday! We
hope you have a wonderful day, and don't work too hard!
We love you! Thanks
for being a good uncle/brother-in-law to us.
Thank you for being a great husband to our aunt/sister, a wonderful dad
to Amanda, Zachary, and Landon, and the "cutest grandpa" we have EVER
seen to Camryn!
You're AWESOME!
Love Always,
Erika, Aaron, Tiana, Lance, Brian, and Colton
Hi Roger,
Happy Birthday to a great son-in-law. I'm sure your family didn't forget
your birthday like I forgot Lee's. You probably had to go to work but we
hope you were able to celebrate it anyway. Thanks for taking such good
care of our daughter and you family.
Love, Mom and
Dad Dickson
Letter from Mom and Dad on their mission in Cambodia
Dear
Gwen and Family,
Thanks
for the great pictures. Camryn is a doll and has really grown. Tell
Landon we much prefer him with his hair cut. He looks so much more clean
cut and handsome!!! Your ward surely has a nice big group of girls.
We're glad that had the chance to go to the Salt Lake Temple
Just
a quick note. We kept pretty busy all day with running errands, attending
Pioneer Day celebration and everything else. We did eat at Lucky Burger
(like McDonalds) but plan on going to the Sorya Mall tomorrow for lunch.
A new pizza place has just opened up there and I am going to treat Dad to a
pizza.
We
have both Seminary and Institute graduation tomorrow plus a Fireside
tomorrow night. Sunday church and getting ready to leave Monday morning
early for Siem Reap. I will try to send our journal before we
leave. We are not taking our computer so will be unable to keep in touch
until we return on Friday night, August 5. Take care of everything.
Love,
Mom and Dad
Letter from Mom and Dad on their mission in Cambodia
Dear Family, we just received an e-mail from Bruce and Carol
up in Round Valley
Any way, would you make contact with Bruce and see what the
men of the family can do to help up there before the summer is gone.
Thanks, Dad
July 30, 2005
Dear Family and Friends,
Sorry we are so slow in sending our journal but time just
keeps slipping away before everything gets done. I am sending this much
and hopefully will be able to send the rest of it tomorrow. We are both
fine. Lee is now officially one year older than I am and he keeps
reminding me that since he is the eldest I have to treat him with
respect. Thanks for remembering him on his birthday with your cards
and e-mails, he really appreciated them since I forgot that morning to wish him
Happy Birthday until later. It sure tickled him that I goofed up.
We
send our love, Elder and Sister Dickson
July
31, 2005
Dear Family and Friends,
Thanks for keeping in touch and letting us know what is
happening back home. It sounds like things are going along as usual with
everyone. We'll drop you a line when we get back next weekend. We
can't believe that tomorrow will be August 1st. Where did July go?
Love, Elder and Sister Dickson
