Hello family and friends!
Well, this has
been a really wonderful week. Super crazy and tiring, but awesome!
Last Monday was fun because we had FHE at the Darting's house. They are this cute little
family from California that is here on military assignment. They've been here
for about 2 years or so. They have three cute little kids. It was so nice to
just be in an American home! We had a delicious dinner and then Sis. Darting
and the kids led a FHE lesson that was so good. Then we all ate cheesecake in
honor of B. Darting's upcoming birthday. Amazing Monday!
I just want to tell you about
some of our investigators and then tell you about MLC in BKK!
So, we have a
handful of awesome investigators right now. The first is Sister D. She is the sister-in-law of a recent convert of ours. Sister D is Christian already and her
husband is Buddhist. They live in BKK, but she's pregnant right now so she came
up to Chiang Mai for her pregnancy to be in the clean air. Anyway, her sister-in-law
is quite the little missionary and now Sister D wants to be baptized. She
loves what we've taught so far and was at church yesterday. She is not legally
married, so we'll have to take care of that first. In Thailand I've met a lot
of people that are married according to tradition, but never get around to
actually signing marriage papers. It's pretty common. So, hopefully she can get
the marriage papers signed soon! She is so cute and I just love the amazing
support and encouragement she has from her sister.
Another
investigator that I love that is just so cute is Brother Md. He's an 80 year
old man that we invited off the street. He has come to church twice and we've
taught him once. He's pretty set in his Buddhist ways, yet he loves coming to
the church. We'll see what happens this next week with him! He's just the
cutest man!
We have a
mother and daughter that are investigating right
now, as well. These two were not satisfied with Buddhism and wanted to find
something more. When we taught the restoration lesson along with some of the
commandments, they absolutely loved it! They understand that commandments are
important and that we actually need to follow them if we want to see the
benefits in our lives and receive blessings from God. Anyway, they love church
so much. They have not accepted a baptismal date yet, but we'll be meeting with
them again soon and I think it should not be much longer. They are just so with
it and they support each other so well and love this Gospel!
On our way back
from Bangkok a Philippino man was on the same bus as we were. We got talking to
him and it turns out he had a lot of Mormon friends back home. Right now he's
here for a year working. He asked us what the difference was between the big
white churches and the churches with basketball courts. haha Anyway, he said he
had a friend that all of a sudden went missing for a couple of years and then
randomly was back at home. He asked this friend where on earth he had
disappeared to and the friend told him he had been serving a mission in another
country. Anyway, he's been well-exposed to Mormonism and he agreed to come to
church yesterday. It was a really good experience. He just had a huge smile all
day long and made friends with some other members in our branch from the Philippines.
We'll be meeting with him again soon and begin teaching him lessons. Oh, this
made me laugh. In Sacrament meeting the opening hymn was "The Morning Breaks."
It's kind of a tricky song. I was sitting next to him and he said, "If
this was a test, I would fail." haha Love this guy!
Anyway, those
are a few of our investigators right now! I'll keep you updated. Sister Bee is
doing SO well! She loves loves loves church and she is so involved and just
loving all the members. It makes me so happy! Yesterday she was confirmed a
member of the church! Happy day!
Also, yesterday
was miraculous because we had 9 investigators at church! Two of them are from
China and we are teaching them tonight! There are so many people to talk about
but just not enough time.
Oh, yesterday
as I was waiting in the lobby for our investigators to show up to church I saw
a farang couple walking up to the door. When they came in I almost died because
I realized that it was Alicia and her husband! I visit taught Alicia my
freshman year- we were in the same dorm! I was so beyond excited to see her!
She and her husband have been living in China for a year and came to Thailand
for a weekend vacation. They are so cute and it was so nice to talk to her for
a few minutes. Made my day!
Also, last
night was our last dinner with the Ures. So sad, they are being transferred to
BKK to take the place of another senior couple that is going home. We are going
to miss them SO much! I love the Ures to death!
Okay, so MLC in
BKK was so great! We left Friday evening and got there early Saturday morning
and crashed at the church. Unfortunately, I accidentally left my nice clothes on
the bus, so I was in my bus sleeping clothes for the whole day... not as
professional or as put together as I was hoping for. Oh well! haha Anyway,
Elder Allen is the head of the missionary department. He headed up "The
District" videos and many, many other things. Elder Funke of the 70 was
also there. They are so amazing, I learned so much. I can't even tell you
everything, but I'll highlight some of the main points that I liked.
Okay,
first of all we had MLC in the morning, but then later in the afternoon we had
a meeting for all the BKK missionaries and people down for MLC. Well, Elder
Allen is really straight forward and does not sugar coat anything. He
congratulated us for doing so well with finding and baptizing people but then
he chastised us for forgetting a lot of other really important things. He
quoted President Hinckley a lot. President Hinckley taught that there is a much
better way to work than just tracting/contacting/etc... it's through the
members! So, he really focused on referral work, formers, etc... He also talked
about linking our recent converts to members in the church better so they are
more solid. Also, he told us that as leaders we don't need to hold our
missionaries accountable, but help them feel the need to be accountable. So,
there are so many awesome things I learned, can't even write them all down.
It was a great time in BKK and I learned so much! After the meetings we
headed back to Chiang Mai. Got into town Sunday morning at like 5 am. So we got
a little bit of sleep, got ready and then went to an amazing day of church. We
definitely crashed last night once we got home, though. And we may just crash today,
too! haha
So, it's been a
great week! We have a lot of potentials, and a lot of great investigators! We
are being blessed so much and are so grateful to be serving together here in
Chiang Mai!
I love you all
so so so much! I hope you have an amazing week!
Love,
