August 3, 2005 - Letter from Mom and Dad on mission in Cambodia
Dear Gwen,
We just got an e-mail from Bruce and
Carol telling us about Veldy Bell's
death.
We told him to get a hold of you if they put our names on flowers or
whatever so that you can pay him our
share. We are enjoying the sights here
in Siem Reap but wearing ourselves
out. We are able to check the e-mail
each
night at an Internet shop. It costs $1 for an hour of Internet usage.
Take care and we will write you a
longer letter when we get home.
Love, Mom and Dad
August 5, 2005
Dear
Family, just a quick note to let you know we are back in Phnom Penh Utah
Love,
Mom and Dad
August 6, 2005
Just to let you know.
Clark and Wendy Anderson Waldron's boy Weston who is a month
younger than Landon was killed in a car accident tonight about 7 p.m. as they
were headed to Ogden
Just thought I'd let you know...........
Love Gwen
August 7, 2005
Dear Family and Friends,
We have had a very interesting week but are now back to work
and busy. The pictures we are sending this time are some we took on our
trip to Siem Reap to see the Angkor area and
its historic temple ruins. They are:
0010 - "Silk Farm" where they are taking the silk
threads off the chrysalis and putting them on a large spool.
1730 - One of the many Tuk Tuks in Siem Reap. Some are
painted and decorated fancy.
1766 - One of the many faces carved in the stones at the Bayon Temple
1813 - Roots of the strangler fig tree or silk-cotton tree
at Ta Prohm or "Tomb Raiders" Temple
1877 - Plastic hung to catch crickets at night.
1885 - Tarantulas that have been cooked - "Spider Town
1886 - Stuffed toads. Heads are cut off and then they
are stuffed. Don't they look chewy and juicy?
Thanks to all of you who keep us up to date of things that
are happening. We love the people here and enjoy working with them.
Now I can see why it was so hard back in the early days of the church to keep
everything running smoothly. With different cultures, backgrounds and
religions that the members were coming from to join the church, it would have
been hard for some of them to change their habits and ways of doing
things. Please remember these sweet humble Cambodian people in your
prayers. We send our love and prayers. Elder and Sister Dickson
August 8, 2005
Dear Mom,
I just wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday. I'm sorry I don't get a physical card off to
you. I have lots of excuses, but that is
all they are. It's been a pretty hectic
summer, as you can probably tell, as my email writing has not been what it
should. I think about you and dad often,
and wish you were home. I know that is
not what you are supposed to write a missionary, but that's what I feel. I wish I could talk to you on the phone and
hear your voice. Is that possible? I wondered if you had a phone in your
apartment, and then I thought about finding out what the phone number was at
your church? I know it would cost some
money, but maybe we could plan for this at Christmas?? I'm glad you are on a mission, and I'm proud
of you and dad. If you read in Matthew
19:29 it says, "And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or
sisters, or father, or mother, of wife, or children, or lands, for my name's
sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting
life". I know our family will be
blessed and you will be blessed for your sacrifice in serving a mission. I love you very much, and I'm proud to be
your daughter. You are the BEST mom
!!! I miss you !!
Now for the news.................
LaRue Waldron died this morning. Don't know any details. Also, Uncle Martin and Aunt Jane have a new
email address which is mpmerz@msn.com. They have not received any of your latest
journal entries, and miss them really bad.
Me and Zac have been working up Tonks hollow for Bruce. We have dug a ditch, and taken down a fence,
and trimmed some trees. We still have
some trees to trim and haul up on the burn pile.
Landon
is practicing for football which starts first game on the 19th. He also will register for school this
week.
Zac and Cj got the babies room all
done. I'll send pictures soon.
Manda is working at AOL and will hopefully
start for IHC in a few weeks.
I'm going
into the doctor on the 24th for an endometrial ablation, which will hopefully
make my periods less (maybe nothing).
Roger is waiting for Roger P to cut
second crop (should have been done a week ago).
We will go to Weston Waldron's funeral this week. Roger talked to Barclay Earl, and Preston is holding his own.
Young Women's was really special today. Gayla Durrant gave a wonderful lesson on
"A Change of Heart". We all
bore our testimonies, and had a good cry.............
Landon is pretty whooped on Brigitte Mellott
(Dave and Vivian's girl) I wish he
wasn't, but oh well -
I'm working on my Young Womenhood Medallion, and along
with all of the other leaders, hope to earn it by January. We are having a Medallion night this month,
and 6 girls, and 1 leader will get theirs this month. I am working on putting a slideshow together
with all of the girls in white dresses at blessing day, baptism, and temple
sealing (Leaders and SOME of the recently wed YW - Janel Fisher, and Lindsey
Anderson, and me and my family at our sealing, and Kim Mikesell and her family
at her sealing). The Bishop is going to
sing a song to go with this. I'll see if
I can attach the mp3 sound file to this so you can hear it. and picture
it. The dad's talk about their
daughter's at this special night. I was
wondering who I could have talk for me in January, because you know Roger won't
and Dad is gone, and so I asked Landon, and he said he would. I love him so much !!
Well I better go for now.
Sorry this is so mixed up. I love
you and am proud of you and dad. We pray
for you always.
Love Gwen
August
12, 2005 Letter from Mom and Dad on mission in Cambodia
Dear
Gwen and Family,
I thought
it was about time to answer some of your questions from your past
e-mails. So here goes.
Yes,
we have heard about double dipping concerning the water. We had 1-1/2
shares so we still have 1/2 share that we can irrigate with. That is
about all we know. We are sorry Zac is having to deal with that from
his neighbor. That reminds me. I'm sure CJ will have some baby
showers. Treat them the same way we did Amanda. Take whatever money
you need to help buy them something that they would like. We trust your
judgment.
As
for phone calls. Dad said to scope out Skype on the Internet. Some
of the senior missionaries have this and say it works fairly well and is quite
inexpensive. We do have a phone in our apartment but very seldom us
it because of the cost going through the switchboard - 15 cents a minute.
I'm afraid that I will spend all my time on the phone crying instead of talking
to you.
It
sounds like you are the kind of a Young Women's President that everyone should
have. It's too bad Amanda couldn't have had the experiences the
girls you are involved with are having. The baptisms at the temple, girls
camp, Dads and daughter's night, and all those other extra special things
that you do. Dad and I are so proud of the way you
are magnifying your calling and always seem to be going the extra mile.
You and the other leaders must really be inspiring the girls to have six
of them getting their Young Womanhood Medallion this month. It will be
wonderful for you to get yours in January. Good luck. How did the
Girl's Camp at Camp Zarahemla
I
didn't know you were having any (female) problems. We will be thinking of you on
the 24th and you will be in our prayers. I had an endometrial
ablation a few years ago and have been doing great ever since. If
you haven't already had it done, have them check you for pernicious
anemia also. My doctor said it was hereditary and that my children should
be checked when they are around forty years old.
Landon
is as good a choice as your Dad and will give a good talk about you. I
know he thinks the world of you and Roger. You have both been good
parents. I guess Landon is all excited about the football game on
Friday the 19th. Is this just a pre-season game? Who are they
playing? You will all have to yell extra loud since we won't be
there to cheer him on. What classes will he be taking in school this
year? You mentioned that he was registering. Just think, your baby
is a senior in High School. It's a good thing you have sweet little
Camryn around to squeeze and hug. Have you pretty well child proofed your
house by now?
You said
your tomatoes were doing great. What kind did you plant? I
can't remember if Amanda likes tomatoes or not. Do you think Camryn will
follow after you and like tomatoes or will she be like the rest of your
family? Personally, I think they are crazy not to like tomatoes.
I
thought I had added Aunt Jane's e-mail address to our journal but in checking
more thoroughly I found it was not there. Thanks for reminding me.
I received a nice e-mail from her on my birthday.
Well,
its time to fix our lunch. We have a wedding at 1 p.m. and the reception
at 4 p.m. so our afternoon is pretty well taken up. Dad and I did house
inspections this morning. We had to visit three houses or apartments of
the missionaries and check to see what condition they were in. The
Sisters apartments were very good and the Elders apartment was a lot better
than it was last time we checked. Dad is a lot harder on them than I
am. I never was good at telling people they needed to change or improve
certain things. I wouldn't make a very good boss. Instead of
bawling someone out or getting after them, I end up apologizing and giving in.
Next week we have a very, very busy schedule Monday through Thursday.
Besides an Employment Workshop class (Khmae) each morning for about 4 hours, we
have our own English class plus an English class in the evening for Sister
Larsen and Sister Gunderson who are going to the Hong Kong Temple
We
love all of you very much and will soon have half of our mission behind
us. It doesn't seem possible. The time is going so fast.
Take
care of each other while we are gone. You are always in our prayers.
Love,
Mom and Dad
PS,
Gwen when I think of you and Landon and what you are doing my whole being is
affected and I feel like I'm ready to burst with pride. What a wonderful
daughter you are! Love Dad
August 12, 2005
Now some answers back to you !!
Zac and CJ had .75 shares in the ditch, so they are alright
too in both flooding and sprinkling. . If they only had .33 or something
then it would be a different story. We are planning on a baby shower for
her on the 24th of Sept. CJ is getting a BIG belly just lately, but
has only gained about 13 pounds since she got pregnant. She lost quite a
bit at first through her sickness.
Girls camp was fun, I had to come home each night so that I
could be here when Manda left for work at 5 a.m. and get Camryn to Diane's and
then I went back up. We had fun tubing down the creek, which is where
most of the getting wet happened.
Landon is way excited for the football games to start.
The first game on the 19th is with Roy
I can't remember what kind of tomatoes we planted. But
there are 3 plants, and a bunch of tomatoes. Some are as big as a
baseball, and alot of smaller. Hopefully they will turn red. None
have yet. I am so proud I grew them !! Amanda doesn't like tomatoes
either. I'm the only sane one in the family. Camryn, who likes
EVERYTHING it seems, turns up her nose at them too !!
Just another note about Landon, I know you like to hear good
things about him like I do. Last night Kovi Christiansen (one of the
coaches) came over to the sidelines at practice and told me what a
"stud" Landon was.............. I thought, well, yea, he's a
good a player, and then Kovi went on to tell me that the night before, when all
the kids were running sprints, that one of the Freshman boys was struggling
really bad, and Landon ran along side of him, encouraging him along, and then
would run back to get in line with the Seniors for HIS sprints, and then again
with this boy, helping him along. Kovi just about started bawling when he
was telling me about this. He said that the coaches had noticed it, and
REALLY appreciated Landon and his leadership. Landon in one of the 4 team
captains this year. The others are Michael Rose, Chase Kimbal and Alan
Tucker. Doesn't that make you so proud??
Also - to let you know. Zac went up Maple Hollow and
dug a small ditch to divert the water off the road, and then I went up a little
later, and me and him took down part of a barb-wire fence (one night)
Then another night we went up and took down the rest of the fence. There
were 4 strands of barb wire and fox netting at the bottom. Zac said it
was the hardest fence he had ever taken down. We also cut down some
branches that were crowding on the road. Then last night, Mark and Carrie
and me and Zac and Landon went up with the Truck and trailer, and gathered up
all the branches and wood along the side of the road, and along in by the
bathtub trough and took it up to the burn pile. This was all stuff that
Bruce had told us to do up Tonks Hollow. I guess Moe and Richard and Troy
Our Babysitter is off this week, so Manda went to Carrie's
on Monday, Annette's on Tuesday, LuAnn's on Wednesday, and Joni's on Thursday,
and I took today off (Friday) to watch her.
LaRue Waldron died, did I tell you this?? Also that
little Kimberly Richins (Vicki Tonks' sister-in-law) at age 36 was the worlds
oldest living baby with Trisomy 18. Weston's funeral was nice on
Wednesday. I guess they won't have to worry about him
now. Barclay's boy and the Flitton boy are still in serious condition in
the hospital.
Take care, we love you
I've attached some pics of Zac's house for you to see
LOVE GWEN and all
August 17, 2005 - Letter to Mom and Dad on their mission in Cambodia
Hi from wet rainy Morgan.
You guessed it Roger's 2nd crop
is soaking wet............. This has NOT
been a good year for us. Oh well, it
took us 3 weeks to get 1st crop cut, rained on, dryed out, rained on, dryed
out, turned baled and put in the barn, hopefully it won't be quite that bad for
2nd crop. Rick Charlesworth is buying
all of it, although now we won't be getting as much money as we expected from
it. I should have gotten my front lawn
(out on the berm and out to the mail box and around the pine tree planted. It's all ready to plant, just need the seed
thrown out on it. Hope it clears up (and
it's supposed to) by Friday for out first football game with Roy
Love you both, and pray for you always........... Keep up the good work. Write when you can.
Love Gwen and family
August 18
Hi,
just a quick note. It is 4:40 a.m. Friday morning. We are headed
out for a P-day that we managed to squeeze in. Elder and Sister Johnson
have invited us to go with them to Pusat (north and east of Phnom Penh) where
they have some business and then we will board the bamboo train and travel to
another outlying village to check on some Latter-day Charities projects.
The Bamboo Train is like the little hand cars or carts that some of the workers
use to move about on the train tracks. This however is motor driven and
is on the main track (two rails). They are built so that if you meet
another bamboo train, whichever one has less people and supplies on must
disassemble their car and remove it from the tracks (wheels and all) so the
other one can pass. The car is then assembled back on the tracks and they
continue on. They are scheduled though so they won't interfere with the
regular train the travels along the track. This should be very interesting
and exciting.
We
have had a very busy week but are looking forward to this little outing.
Things are going well and we are enjoying being here in Cambodia
Love,
Mom and Dad (Grandma and Grandpa
August 23, 2005
Well, school starts today, and my baby will be a senior
!! This year will be a hard year of
"lasts".................... I don't know if I told you, but
Landon is going to try and get his associates degree by the end of summer next
year. He has two college classes this first trimester, Intro to writing
and Intro to chemistry. The game last Friday went well, and we won Roy
Here are the words to the song that goes along with the show
that the Bishop will be singing.
Sent to this earth
You were saved through the ages for this
day and time
Child of great worth
Child of promise, daughter of the Divine
Pure and holy in a little, white dress
You were held in a circle and you were
blessed
And the Father looked down
And the angels surrounded that place
They knew the truth—all that you could do
And you will, too, if you have eyes to see
What heaven sees in you
Dressed in white once more
Making promises to follow in God’s way
So much lies in store
For the little girl who enters at the gate
Pure and holy in a little, white dress
You were led into the water and you were
blessed
And the Father looked down
And the angels surrounded that place
They knew the truth—all that you could do
And you will, too, if you have eyes to see
What heaven sees in you
Do you understand who you are?
Part of the Father lives in you
If you continue on this path
Every promise God has given will come true
Heaven on earth
In the house of God,
So much fills your heart and mind
Woman of great worth
Woman of promise, daughter of the Divine
Pure holy in a long, white dress
You promise forever and you are blessed
And the Father looks down
And the angels surround that place
They know the truth—all that you can do
And you do, too, ‘cause you have eyes to
see
What heaven sees in you
Will you have eyes to see........
What Heaven sees in you ?
I have pics of the girls in there blessing dresses, and then
in there baptismal outfits/dresses, and then we have the leaders in there
wedding dresses, or with their families after being sealed (if done
later). It's pretty nice. I can hardly wait to show it !!
We are hopefully getting the grass planted out in front of
the house this week (out on the berm, and next to the road, and around the pine
tree. Also I can't remember if I told you or not, but I have eaten (4) !!!!!!
tomatoes from MY OWN PLANTS !!! Here is a pic of Camryn holding one
of them.
The weather was rainy last week and rained on Roger's 2nd
crop, but it's all dried and baled and the guy is slowing getting it hauled
away. It's been nice weather as far as the heat, only in the 80's and low
90's.
What did you think about Erika being put in as Primary
President ?? She was pretty excited. Mark's boys have started
little league on Saturdays. I don't know how they did last week
though. Mark is having a party at the property on Labor Day, and David
Smith is having a little get together with his wife's family on the 4th of
Sept. (Sunday). He was very appreciative of being able to use the
property. Also the city party on August 2nd went good too! The mowing
and trimming is being done twice a week, by Landon and Jaden. They
are taking good care of it.
Did I tell you that my girls placed a time capsule down on
the property? Here is a pic of them doing that too !!
Well, better get going !! Take care, love your
pics from the bamboo train, etc. Keep up the good work, you are working
hard !!! We are proud of you.
LOVE Gwen and family
August 23, 2005
Dearest
Gwen,
Just
thought we would let you know we are thinking of you and that you are in our prayers.
Try to take it easy and don't overdo.
We
received your last e-mail but had a slow and hard time in getting the
pictures to come up on the screen. What is Landon's number? Did
Morgan win or loose? What position does Landon play?
We
love you. Keep being just as thoughtful and sweet as you are now.
Love,
Mom and Dad
My
reply - Aug 23rd
Landon is #21
Morgan won 24 to 14
Landon plays fullback on offense and outside backer on
defense
I'll let you know how tomorrow goes...
Love Gwen
August 24, 2005
Gwen,
your e-mail about the hay made me think of Roger's new alfalfa that he planted
with the oats. Did he get a good stand of alfalfa? And will he get
a second crop off of it?
What
a tomato and what a cutie of a great-granddaughter!
We
are so proud of you and Landon and all that you are doing in and out of the
church. Keep writing.
Love
Dad
August
24, 2005
Yes, the alfalfa came up pretty good. They
lengthened the ditch across the front of the hay (by the road) on the south
side of Mark's house, hoping to get the water out further so it could go down
and hit that bottom corner, and not just come out of the culvert and run down
the side of Mark's yard. This did help somewhat, but that bottom corner
must be higher (even though Roger land planed it very good both ways) because
it did not water, and even when Dee watered Ada
See you later :)
Gwen
August 25, 2005
Well, I'm as good as new !! The endometrial ablation went well. I hurt a fair amount yesterday afternoon, but
was able to rest comfortably last night, and feel almost 100% today !! Also, I got your mission picture turned in so it can be in
the video that they play in Stake Conference on Sept 18th. I am so excited to see it !!!
Take Care
Love Gwen
August 29, 2005
The football game against Ben Lomond
was good last Friday. We won, and Landon
played awesome. Saturday he went boating
all day with Garret Durrant and friends.
Sunday we did the church thing, and Sunday night the YW Medallion night
went great! Had a lot of compliments on
the slideshow presentation and the pictures we had done of each of the girls
“exemplifying” the 7 different values, Faith, Divine Nature, Individual Worth,
Knowledge, Choice & Accountability, Good Works, and Integrity. Tonight he’s at a swimming party to celebrate
Josh Wilson’s 18th birthday.
I guess we will be going to a baseball tournament in Grand Junction Colorado
I don’t know if Mark has emailed you, and I haven’t heard back from him, even though I called him on his cell
and home and left a message, but Dallin hurt his arm? Hand? In football on Saturday, and I heard
through the grapevine at church that they were taking him to see if it was
broken but it wasn’t.
I guess we are
having CJ’s baby shower on the 1st of October . I’m inviting all those we did for Manda. How much did you want to spend? I can’t remember what you did with Manda.
Zac will be getting a building permit for his
detached garage tomorrow, and we are painting his new front door tonight. Roger is mowing the back yard right now. It surely is growing and looking good, as
well as the front yard. Well I better
close for now. Hope all is well with
you, haven’t heard from you for awhile.
Write when you can
Love Gwen
August 30, 2005
Dear
Family,
Well
we just passed the halfway mark in our mission yesterday. Nine months and
we should be on our way home.
We
are really having some great experiences here but miss our family
terribly. There is so much happening that we would like to be part of so
take plenty of pictures and write often and tell us what is going on.
We
just received a couple of e-mails from Bruce telling of all the things that are
being done up Tonks Hollow. You might want to check with him to see if
there is anything you can do. Dad is chomping at the bit wishing he were
home to help. Enclosed is one of his e-mails.
Gwen
we are glad your operation went okay. Take care of yourself and don't
overdo until you are fully recovered. It sounds like you have a lot of
yard work and we are concerned about you overdoing it. Also, eat one of
those delicious tomatoes for us. You are lucky that the rest of your
family doesn't like them so you can enjoy them all by yourself. We know
you will enjoy watching all those boys that Roger has been involved with
playing football this year. Tell Landon to take care and not get hurt.
Mark
keep us in touch with what your boys are doing with their sports and any other
things that you and Carrie are involved with. How do the boys like being
in different schools this year?
Erika
good luck in keeping up with everything. What is the theme for the
Primary Program this year? Hope Aaron and his allergies are okay.
It sounds like the kids are busy with everything they are involved with.
When does Tiana start at Junior High? Sorry we can't offer any advice on
your garden. It could be the heat, lack or water or too much water, etc.,
etc., etc.
Amanda
and Camryn we love the both of you. We can't believe how much Camryn has
grown.
Zac
and CJ it shouldn't be much longer. The time just keeps moving a
long. CJ be sure to take it easy.
Well
guess we had better close. It has been another full day. Three
hours this morning in Employment Workshop and four hours this afternoon in Zone
Conference, but we are enjoying it.
All
our love, Mom and Dad (Grandma and Grandpa)
Letter to Mom and Dad on their mission in Cambodia - From Bruce Tonks
Notes from Round Valley
Hi,
Lee and Veloy
Bruce
has had Walt Boyce up here the last two days working on Chit Creek, I don't
understand a lot of what Bruce tells me, but he did say there is a lot of water
there. It will take another day maybe two to finish and then they will
move on to the bend in Tonks Hollow. Bruce has the Trough by the reservoir
ready to pour, as soon as they get finished with Chit Creek done
he can set the tire and put the forms in and order the cement; when he
does pour he will need a least 4 people at each trough so we won't hold up the
cement truck.
We've
rented the little apartment again, I hope these people are better that the
last 4 renters we've had. Being a landlord isn't fun when you get
people that don't think they have to pay their rent.
Marie
is doing OK; she'll probably live a long time. She doesn't know
us. Carol Ann, who takes care of her needs to have an operation, so
when she goes in we will put Marie in a home and take a little vacation; We
haven't been anywhere for over a year. It probably won't be until
November.
Hope
all is well with you
Love,
Carol and Bruce
Email from Mark to Gwen
On Tue, 30 Aug 2005 09:25:48 -0600 mark dickson <mldickson@gmail.com> writes:
Gwen:
I'm glad your surgery went well, although I didn't know you
had had surgery. Hmmm, I guess you inherited some privacy genes from Dad
& Mom !!! I hope you know I'm just kidding....if I had minor surgery
(that's what I'm assuming it was), I wouldn't have bothered to tell you either.
Please call me in advance so I can plan on helping up at
Tonks Hollow. Saturdays are horrible for me unless they were very
early. Are the emails to Dad & Mom from Bruce his way of soliciting
help from our family, or are they purely informative. What I mean is,
does he contact you and let you know that he needs help with pouring cement, or
is the request going through Mom & Dad? Let me know.
My reply to Mark
You are so funny - I had an endometrial ablation last
Wednesday, outpatient at David
North Medical
Center
I need to call Bruce again, and find out what's going
on. I can't remember if he said He'd call, or if I should call him.
I'll do that tomorrow.
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