Hello amazing
family!
Well, this was
a great week!
It started off
on a really high note with an awesome district meeting lead by Elder Klein. He
asked all of us
to come prepared to share a favorite scripture and our testimony about the
Atonement. It was one of the most powerful district meetings I have ever
experienced. Everyone shared powerful testimonies and gave wonderful insights.
I felt the Spirit so strongly in that meeting and I just felt so full of joy
and gratitude to our Savior, Jesus Christ! I am so happy and so honored that I
get to represent Him and share His joyful message with the world!! I also just
love the people that I serve with. Sister Ference and all of the elders in our
district are just amazing and have such burning testimonies and awesome desires
to give it their all in this work! It's so amazing to be serving here
with them all. I am so blessed!
So, I'll update
you on a couple of investigators:
First of all,
Sister Fanta was baptized! She has amazing faith. She's had quite a few
obstacles to overcome, including her disapproving family and her terrible fear
of water. She decided she wanted to be baptized, no matter the sacrifice, and
then had a dream that confirmed her decision. So, Saturday between conference
sessions Sister Fanta was baptized! It was a little traumatic, she was
literally crying because she was so scared of the water, but she was just fine,
and came out of the font so happy. She described the experience as
"beautiful" so I think it went well. And she gave a wonderful,
sincere testimony afterwards. Such a happy day! Also, on Sunday each of the
elder companionships had at least one baptism. So, there were six investigators
baptized this last weekend and we are all so happy and so grateful. All of
these people are so solid and have such great faith. It really is so amazing.
We were so happy. So happy in fact, that we tim tam slammed last night,
as well! It is so humbling to see these people accept the Gospel, change
their lives completely and make the necessary sacrifices to become a member of
this church. It is such a testimony booster to me to see the people feel the Spirit
and follow Him. I love being a missionary so much!
Brother Manid
is doing sooo well! He has a date to be baptized on the 26th (because he's
going to be out of town next week for a wedding). He absolutely LOVED
conference, especially President Monson's talk. Brother Manid is 80 years old,
but he is up to date with his technology! With every speaker at conference he
would look up their biography on his iphone on lds.org. Then in between
sessions he sat in the chapel, plugged in his earphones and watched mormon
messages on his phone. He is so awesome. He's the sweetest man. So happy for him!
We have other
investigators that are progressing, but I’ll write more about them once we get
to teach them more. Oh, I’ll tell you about this one guy named Boat really
quick. So, Sister Ference contacted into him and he agreed to meet with us at
the church. When we called to confirm the appointment he asked if the church was
beautiful and we told him it is very beautiful. He showed up to his appointment
all dressed up, make-up, hair and all, ready to take pictures for college
graduation. So that day we had both a photo shoot and a first lesson. haha Went
pretty well, he wants to be baptized. We just need to teach him the
commandments so he knows what he's committing to. Anyway, that's brother Boat!
On Wednesday
night we got to go to the farewell of Sister Pookie and Brother Bow. They are
siblings both heading to the states on their missions. They both left yesterday
to go to the MTC in Provo. Sister Pookie is going to NYC, and Brother Bow is
going to San Diego! I am so excited for them! It was so fun to go spend a
little time with them and with the members of the ward. They've got quite the
adventure ahead of them! I hope they adjust to the states well. Yesterday they
were practicing listening to conference in English. Can't wait to hear how
they're doing!
On Friday we
went to Chiang Rai to do a switch-off with the sisters! It was so much fun. I
went with Sister Sawangwong and Sis. Ference went with Sis. Barber. It was so good to spend time with Sister Sawangwong. I really have missed her, but
I've been lucky to have lived with her again in Khon Kaen, and to serve together
here in the Chiang Mai zone. Anyway, we did a lot of inviting and visiting less
actives, which turned into a fun little adventure out in the boonies! So,
Chiang Rai is quite different than I expected. I thought it would be much more
mountainous. There are definitely mountains, but they are way out in the
distance. Chiang Mai is much closer to the mountains than Chaing Rai. Where we
went out to find LA's it was very lush and jungley. Soooo cool! I tried to
capture some pictures. Honestly, it reminded me of the Isaan, but a little
prettier.
We met with a
14 year old less active named Chompuu. Her mother was there as well. Her mom
used to be a Thai dancer and I was asking her about it. She let me try on her
fake nails and then taught me how to dance. Sis. Sawangwong videoed it, so I'll
show you when I get home. It was way fun! I've always kind of wanted to do
that! The only reason Chompuu wasn't coming to church was because she couldn't
wake up. So, she agreed to let Sister Sawangwong call her and wake her up on Sundays.
Anyway, it was
so fun to meet members in Chiang Rai. We had a great time and I learned a lot
from Sis. Sawangwong and Sis. Barber. Love the sisters in our zone! They are
all such amazing missionaries! Lucky me I get to serve with them all.
This weekend
was absolutely wonderful! I just loved conference so much! So many amazing
talks. I feel like I really felt the emphasis on following and sustaining our
dear prophet and being obedient to the commandments. Amazing conference, I'm
excited to go back and study it. And it was so good for our investigators to
hear. They all really loved it!
This week was
amazing. So many blessings and miracles. I am just so happy and I love my
mission so much! I love this Gospel and I love my Savior. I am so grateful for
this time to share his message and help people have happier lives and receive
salvation. Does it get better than that?!
Thank you all
so much for your love and support and encouragement and prayers. I love you all
so much!
Love,
Liz
