Hello wonderful
family!
How are you all
doing? Sounds like things are going pretty well!
Last week we
contacted into a lady named Bong. She's probably about 60 and runs a little
shop/street restaurant. Anyway, we had a few
lessons with her this week. She has been praying and she says that she feels
like she's being blessed because of it. We have been teaching her the
Restoration, but it's been pretty slow going because she doesn't remember
things very well and we have to keep reteaching. Anyway, yesterday we gave her
a soft baptismal commitment and she accepted! So happy!
Okay, Sister Du
is doing awesome. For our last visit a couple days ago we asked her to read Mosiah 2-
about King Benjamin speaking to his people about service and other things. She
not only read it, but when a friend of hers stopped by to say hello, she asked
her friend to sit down so she could share what she had been reading. She also
gave her friend a Book of Mormon and asked her to read it! Sister Du is
becoming a missionary herself! Now, if she would just come to church! I think
there's a good possibility it may happen soon. She's so enthusiastic about the
Book of Mormon. And I think she really likes us and enjoys having us over. I
mean, for heaven's sake, she shared her Moon Cake with us and those are no
cheap treats!
B. is doing really well! She is so open with us now and it's
not awkward visiting her anymore. A couple days ago we taught her the Word of
Wisdom and the Law of Chastity. I was a little nervous to teach those because
we know she has issues with both.
However, she is totally willing to give up coffee and other harmful things to
follow the Word of Wisdom. Right as we started to introduce the Law of Chastity
her boyfriend walked into her shop and heard the whole lesson. Sort of awkward,
but it was probably good for him to sit in on this one, too. B. and her
boyfriend live together, but she sincerely wants to work things out because she
wants to get baptized! I think the boyfriend is going to make it hard, though.
So, we are just going to be as encouraging as possible and pray and fast for
her. Saturday night we bought her some bottles of chocolate milk as a (sort of)
joke to replace her coffee. We also brought her a study journal to help
her remember the things that she likes that she reads. She was excited to start
doing that. When we left she told us that she'd see us at church. We were so
excited. However, she did not show up! Ahhhh! I think it was because of the
rain. There were not a lot of people at church. When it rains, pretty much
everything stops here. So weird. President Senior said something along the lines of
"when it rains here everyone seems to lose their testimonies and not bother
coming to church..." Very true. So... although B. is doing well in many
aspects, going to church is crucial if she wants to get baptized. So, we're going to go see her today and figure this all
out. But, I am so happy that so many things are going
well with her!
Okay, so
Thursday we had Zone Conference in Udon!! It was the Udon and Khon Kaen (mine)
zones! It was a wonderful, awesome couple of days there! The plan was to
leave Wednesday night and head up to Udon (about 3 1/2 hours north). The Elders
said they'd grab bus tickets for us all, and around 12:00 on Wednesday we got a
call from them saying that the only bus leaving to Udon that day was
leaving at 12:20! Ahhh! Panic! Luckily we were packed already. But I have never
cleaned up and biked faster in my life. Right as we pulled up to the bus station
the Udon bus pulled up, too, and we hopped on just in time. Whew! And we were
sweaty messes for the rest of the day! haha Once we got to Udon we grabbed something to eat and then went to the church to help set
up and for Sister Mullen to practice the piano for the Sisters' musical number.
That evening all the Esan sisters (except for Ubon area) stayed at the Udon
Sisters' house! Soooooo much fun! There were 6 companionships and I already
knew them all. Such a fun reunion! The Udon Sisters had all sorts of snacks and
drinks and we spent the evening all catching up and eating! So fun to talk
with Sister Narayanan, Stack, Greenwood, and Phelps! They are all so cute and
doing well!
Before conference we had a few rotations to go through with
the AP's and the Seniors. We all had to write talks and give them to Sister Senior and then she chooses a couple of people to give them in the
conference. So, first I gave Sister Senior my talk, then I had to recite the 10
"how to begin teaching bullets" in Thai to one of the AP's (glad I
memorized them in time...). Then I got my planner "graded" by another
AP (B+ haha... need to write in more back-up plans.). Lastly, I had my
interview with President Senior. We talked about how things are going in
Mahasarakham, and he asked me to tell him about some of our investigators. That
whole morning was great! At 9:00 conference started and lasted until 3:00. We
got so much great counsel and advice from the Seniors and the AP's. The theme
of the conference was on conversion and miracles produced by faith. I forgot to
bring my notes to the internet cafe, so I may have to share what I learned next
week. There were some specific things I wanted to share and I can't remember
them now. But, it was an awesome conference and really motivating! And, we had
a team activity that's too hard to explain. But, my team won, so we all got a
200 Baht gift card to Swensen's! I think we may just go use that today!
The last week
has been super rainy. I have never been more wet and muddy in my life! On
Friday we had a meeting with the Elders in the evening. We had both been out
visiting people and a rain storm hit. Once we all got to the church we were all
soaked completely through and dripping all over the place! haha Yesterday
before church we rode around to try and get our investigators to church. By the
time we'd gone to all their houses and got to the church we were wet and muddy.
To be honest, I was not in a good mood. So sick of the rain and mud!!! haha But
I got over it fast enough and dried off eventually. As much as I dislike the
heat, I almost like it better than being dripping wet!
Also, this is
kind of fun... and funny. There is going to be a talent show for the Khon Kaen
district members this Saturday in Khon Kaen. The ward members asked us 4
missionaries if we would do a traditional Thai dance for it. Of course we will!
Way fun! Not totally sure why they asked the only falangs in Mahasarakham to do
their cultural dance, but it will be an awesome experience. We get to dress up
in traditional clothing, too! So we had a practice yesterday and the
members just kept laughing at us. Especially the Elders! haha They were way
funny. None of us are very good at it except Sister Mullen. So, it should
definitely be entertaining! The dance is called the "Red Ant Dance"
or something like that. See if you can look it up!
I love you and
miss you all so much! Thanks for your love and encouragement!
Love,
Liz :)
