November 2005

11/1/05 - From Mom and Dad on their mission

Dear Family and Friends,

Well here we are once again and it seems like we get slower each time.  Things are going great and we are really keeping busy.  It is still hot but cooling ever so slightly.  The other morning at 6 a.m. it was above 80 degrees but usually rains in the evening or during the night and that helps to cool things off for a few minutes.  We think of you often and you are always in our prayers.  Take care of things back home and we'll see you before you know it.  Time is going by fast.

Love, Elder and Sister Dickson (Lee and Veloy)

The pictures are as follows:

100_2333 - Our Khmae Workshop with Vandeth (foreground) and Rothriza (Liza) are helping some of the students.
100_2334 - Just across the street from Lucky's Market and Burger is the Olympic area.  This must be where the flame was lite.
100_2338 - Blind musician, and another musical instrument that played for the dancers on the dinner cruise.  The little boy could sure dance.
100_2352 - Houses and house boats as seen from the dinner cruise boat.  The water is still quite high in the river.
100_2363 - Elder and Sister Hayes dancing with some of the young Khmae dancers.

11/6/05 - From Mom and Dad on their mission

Dear Family and Friends,

Hi, from warm and sunny Cambodia.  We hear Morgan has had its first snowfall and have definitely decided to wait until spring to come home.  The sights, sounds and smells still amaze us.  We are having some great experiences with these special people and enjoy being here with them.  Take good care of everything and everybody back in the states.  We think of you often and pray for you always.

Love, Elder and Sister Dickson (Lee and Veloy)

The pictures are:

100_2188 - The golden shrines on the left are found in most of the Buddist homes and are used for worship.  On the right are statues.
100_2207 - Mark, how would you like to raise you loaves of bread in these trays?
100_2212 - Ovens for baking bread - pieces of charcoal wood are burned in here.
100_2218 - Chickens on their way to market

100_2251 - Re-morgue - pulled by a moto.  This is how people are transported in the suburbs or in the smaller towns, especially factory workers going to and from work and then they are really jam packed.
100_2272 - Veloy by the big plants outside the wall of the Mission Home.

Thursday, November 10, 2005 - Letter to Mom and Dad on their mission

Hi,

Sorry it's been so long since I've written.  It's been pretty crazy around here.  Let's see.  You might have heard by now, but the football team lost last Saturday.  We are done.  It was very disappointing.  Grantsville was stopping Mike Rose up the gut all the time, and it seemed the coaches panicked and started coaching a game we had never played before.  Instead of handing off to either Mike, Josh, Landon, Chase, or Jared like they have in the past, they continued to send Mike who ran 19 times and only gained 50 yards the entire game.  Josh saw the ball twice and Landon saw the ball once !  Chase had a broken had - so he only played defense.  Also, they had Alan Tucker passing the ball, which we are not a passing team !!  It showed, quite well, as we had 9 turnovers !!!!  Final score  Grantsville 14, Morgan 7.   They are a great bunch of kids, and we are very close to many many of the seniors, Chase, Mike, Brandon Mead, Colton Winchester, Alan Tucker, Bean Christensen, Jake Blazzard.

Wrestling has started up (practices)  First match is the day before Thanksgiving.  We are having a parents/wrestler meeting tonight, and getting ready for our Marie Callender Pie Sale Fundraiser.  There are no matches on Tuesdays !!!! for the first time in 4 years !!  So that means I won't have to worry about a Young women conflict !! YEAH !!!!!This is probably because of the new Region 10.  But we will have to travel to Roosevelt (Union) twice, and Uintah (Vernal) once. 

Our Evening of Excellence play, "The Excellence of One Man" is coming together.  We had out dress rehearsal on Tuesday night, and as they say, if the dress rehearsal is a bomb, you KNOW the play will be good................  Well the play will be VERY good we hope. It is Sunday night a 7 pm., and we are expecting quite a turnout.  It will be a very special event.

Just a note on what everyone is doing.................  

Roger is hating work as usual.  We wish the bakery would close, so he would have to find another job, it makes his life miserable.  

Zac got his garage foundation back-filled, and was supposed to have sand hauled in so the floor can be poured tomorrow?  I don't think that's going to happen, but we'll see.  I'll have to send pictures soon.  

CJ will go back to work on December 6th.  for 3 days a week.  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.  McKenzie will tend on Mondays, her friend Lindsey Wardell (Moroni's wife who is expecting a baby in February) will tend on Wednesdays, and me and Carrie (I hope) will alternate on Tuesdays.  We only have to do this until mid/end of January, when Diane can take him all the time.   

Landon is plowing on through his EDnet homework, and keeping up on everything in his life, school, friends, etc.  We need to get him registered for a baseball camp in Phoenix AZ in December.  He might need to miss a wrestling tournament for this, but that's okay.  He took the ACT a couple of weeks ago, but we haven't heard back on the score yet.  He's scheduled for another on Dec 10th.  We took wrestling pictures yesterday up at Rees Gravel Pit, this is for the poster to hang in all of the businesses around town, promoting the team.  

Manda is working, and while it is stressful, she enjoys it.  

Camryn is learning more and more every day.  You will not believe it when you see her.  She's saying a bunch of things now, and loves to have you read/look at books with her, and we love her so much. 

Well, I need to get working on some other computer stuff, so I'll close for now.

Take care, we love you and pray for you.

Love Gwen and family

11/11/05 - Letter from Mom and Dad

Hi,

Sorry to hear about the football game, we were cheering from way over here in Cambodia.  It is too bad things went the way they did.  At least the boys did a great job all season and they can be proud of that.  I still can't figure out why the higher ups decided this was a good way to pick who goes to state.  It should definitely be the best team, the team that has won the most games.  Well Landon has wrestling to look forward to now.

We were also sorry to hear about Cody Watkins.  Dad and I have said quite often that we would hate to change places with the young missionaries.  They enter a completely new world and a lot of adjustments have to be made by some.  I don't know what I would do without Dad here with me, and visa versa.  But the growth and development these young men experience is amazing.  We have just been involved with teaching the Employment Workshop to eleven American missionaries who are finishing their missions and will be released next Tuesday.  At the Zone Conference today they all bore such powerful testimonies and are all so special.  I can just picture Landon doing the same thing.

You will have to write and tell us all about your play, "The Excellence of One Man."  We enjoyed reading all the things that your family is involved with.  It sounds like you are all really busy.  I wish we could be there to help Zac with his garage, CJ with Treyson, and hear Camryn talk.

I have to go.  Brother Som is picking us up in 5 minutes.  Will write another time.

Take care, we love you very much.

Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa

11/15/05

Dear Family and Friends,

Yes, we are still alive and kicking.  Things are going well and the time is flying by sooooo fast.  It doesn't seem possible that next week will be Thanksgiving but don't feel sorry for us because we are going to be able to celebrate it with a big turkey dinner, too.  We don't envy you and the cold freezing weather but wish it was a little cooler here.  Right now at 2 p.m. is it 88 degrees outside (in the shade).  They keep saying we are past the rainy season but it keeps raining every few days.  We are presently right in the middle of celebrating the Water Festival (3 days) and will have the opportunity to watch the boat races and fireworks tonight.  Hope all is well back home.  Thanks for keeping in touch.

We love you, Elder and Sister Dickson 

100_2370 - Elder and Sister Hayes
100_2371 - Khmae teachers & secretary (L to R) Liza, Rama, Linda, Pisey and Vandeth
100_2382 - Looking over ingredients for cookies
100_2384 - Khmae Employment Workshop class - "Hooray, we're finished"
100_2421 - Elders with certificates after three days of workshop

November 21, 2005

I wrote this letter to Lori London (one of my young women who had moved on to college at USU) 

So how's it going? Now that you've gotten into the swing of things.......... are the classes harder than you expected? When are finals? What are some of your favorite classes?

Well enough of the interrogation......... Just wanted to write you a note and tell you about the "play" that the Young Women and Young Men put on for our Evening of Excellence on the 13th. It turned out really good, and you could really feel the spirit. Natalie Nicholas suggested we sing the new song from EFY called Praise the Man, and we did and it was the highlight of the evening. We sang it again in sacrament meeting yesterday too. Jared Rose played the part of Joseph, and it was alot like the play at camp this summer, as far as we had readers doing the
voice-over, and the actors on the stage just moving around. Marcie Terrell did the music between scenes and it really added to the spirit. I wish you could have seen it !! Here are a couple of pics from the play - of course all the girls were drooling over Joseph, I mean Jared !

Your mom gave another great inservice lesson last week, and in it she mentioned that you have befriended an older man who was moving into an assisted living center. I just wanted to tell you how great I think that is. I'm sure you will both benefit from this friendship ! You're the
greatest ! Keep up the hard work, and hang in there. We miss you !

See you later :)
Gwen

Wow a picture of Jared Rose!  It couldn't get any better than that.  Thanks so much for keeping me updated.  I miss young women's so much and I love to hear what's going on.  Finals are sneaking up on me as well as a 10 page paper so that has put a damper on things.  Of course I make lots of room for fun (perhaps too much).  I have found that I really love country swing dancing and I go every Thursday night and I'm signed up for a class next semester.  How is your new grand baby doing?  I bet your the best grandma ever.  I hope you have a great Thanksgiving and thanks again for the pictures.  You are great!

Love ya

Lori

November 21, 2005

Sorry I haven't written - busy busy......... I know, no excuse

Quick question - can I make the pumpkin pie stuff (Dickson way) today (Monday)

and leave it in the fridge and will it still be good for Thanksgiving on Thursday??

We are going to Joni's and I need to bring pumpkin pies

I'll write more on the Evening of Excellence program (last week) later

Love you both - please write back ASAP - I'm planning on making it tonight (Monday)

because I'm too busy Tuesday (YW) and Wed (wrestling) first match

Love GWEN

November 23, 2005

Dear Family and Friends,

We wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving and wish we could be home with you to celebrate it.  There are so many things that each of us should be thankful for.  After seeing the conditions other people in the world live in and what they have gone through, it gives you a different outlook on life.  It was just about a year ago that we were getting packed and wondering what our mission would be like in CAMBODIA of all places.  Well, a year has passed quickly and we have really had some unique and memorable experiences.  The Lord has truly blessed us and continues to bless us each day.  As we have said before, the people here are so friendly and loving it's hard not to love each one of them in return. 

We love the gospel and the opportunity of being in Cambodia.  President Towers, our mission president, said - "Cambodia is the best kept secret in the Church" and we believe him.  Thanks for your prayers in our behalf, you are always in ours. 

Love, Elder and Sister Dickson 

                                               

100_2449 - Boats that have already raced in foreground.  Boats in background are racing.
100_2457 - Two boats racing.  The golden barges in background are the floats that will be lit after dark and displayed.
100_2459 - Some of the crowds.  The pavilions are for dignitaries, etc.
100_2478 - One of the barges with hundreds of lights.  Moon in the background.
100_2480 - Decorated barge or float.
100_2496 - Decorated barge or float.                                                                                     

November 24, 2005

Dear Brother and Sister,

What did everyone do for Thanksgiving?  We stayed home and had Thanksgiving ALL BY OURSELVES for the very first time!  It was really weird not to have grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins around.

After dinner, Brian, Lance, Aaron, and I went to the new Harry Potter movie.  Tiana and Colton did not want to go.  (I didn't enjoy the movie as much as I thought I would.)

Well,  I love you both very much!  Hopefully, all of us (including Mom and Dad) can be together next Thanksgiving, and it will seem NORMAL!

Love Always,

Erika

           

November 24, 2005

(I'm sending this to mom and dad too - I'm too lazy to write another letter.........................:)

Hi Kuk,'

It's about 11 p.m. on Thanksgiving night, and I can't sleep  - I ate too much I guess.  We went over to Joni and Kerry's and had dinner with their family and Ben and LuAnn, and Kerry's family (Lyle, Kimlyn, Kyle & Jennifer, and their kids) Also, Kelly and Michelle came with their three boys, and Zac and CJ and Treyson dropped in for a little while too.  I had to bring 2 pumpkin pies and 1 banana creme pie, and french green beans in mushroom soup with almonds.  We also painted on wood, and then put sayings on the wood (they are doing this in relief societies all over now, maybe you know about it)  I did Return with Honor, LuAnn did Live, Laugh Love, Families are Forever, etc.  It was really fun.   I don't know if you know, but Jaden Dickson and Chans Porter are both Freshmen, and they are both taking after their cousin Landon, and they are wrestling.  We had a meet at Morgan last night (23rd) and Both Jaden and Chans won their matches, and Landon won both of his also.  The one Landon had was tough, but Landon didn't wrestle very good.......... but pulled it out in the last second literally, to break a tie and win. The kid he wrestled took state last year in 1A at 145.  Jaden's match was WAY intense, neither wrestler really knew what he was doing, and it kept going back and forth and back and forth, but Jaden eventually won.  It's a way fun time, because Aunt Pam and Uncle Norris are there to watch Tyler and Jayden Carrigan (Lisa's boys) and we just love all the boys, and there was a really really big crowd out to watch them.  Wrestling is coming around in Morgan.  It seems 4 years ago when Landon was a Freshman, it was not "cool" to wrestle............... but now, we had 15!!!!! freshman come out this year !!!  It is FANTASTIC !!  When Landon did, there was only 3 !!!!

I wish you could come and see a match sometime, but I know how busy busy you all are.  Mark and Carrie don't quite know what to think of wrestling I guess............. they are so big into their boys baseball (Dev and Dal) but Jaden has never shown any interest in sports, and now he is wrestling, which is a GOOD thing, but it's kind of hard for Mark and Carrie to get into it I think.  You have to really love it I guess.   You know there are a BUNCH of Friday Saturday tournaments, and it makes for a lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggg day sitting in the gym if you are not really into it.  Weber Duels, Bobcat Brawls, Evanston Tournament, Delta Duels, Region, State....................   It's GREAT !!!  We love it - can you tell?????    I guess Mark and Carrie went to Smith's for dinner.  I felt the same way you did about Harry Potter Erika - it was okay, I like the books better than the movies.  I guess it's hard to put all that was in that book - in the movie.  Manda and I went and saw it last Saturday night at 10 p.m.  I was way tired before it was over.  Manda is going to Green River Wyoming tomorrow by herself to meet her friend Therese and then they will come back here Saturday night, and Manda will take Therese back to the airport on Sunday morning.  She will have fun, and I'll have fun tending Camryn.  Do you have all of your Christmas shopping done??  I don't - not any at all.  It seems my life is sooooooooooooooo crazy.  Maybe next year it will slow down (haha)  I agree with you, I’ll be glad to have mom and dad back too, and things back to normal - whatever that is.................  Take care  Love YOU!!! 

Gwen

November 27, 2005

Dear Family and Friends,

Another week has rushed by and we can't believe it will soon be the end of November.  Where in the world has August, September and October gone.  We have been really busy as you can see from our journal entries.  Two more days and we will have been on our mission for one full year.  It doesn't seem possible that that much time has passed.  Thanks for keeping us up to date on the happenings back home.  We really look forward to your Emails and then too it gives Lee something to worry about.  He hasn't changed at all.  We miss all of you very much and try not to think about home but keep ourselves busy which isn't hard to do.

Love, Elder and Sister Dickson

100_2514 - Lee and Elder Hayes setting up for power point presentation.
100_2520 - Taha (Bangladesh)
100_2521 - Primus (Cameroon, Africa)
100_2522 - Sara (Eritrea, Africa)
100_2523 - Mency (Phillippines
100_2530 - Elder and Sister Briggs (North Carolina) - their farewell speech