On a songtow
Going inviting with Sister Gatay
Monday, January 27, 2014
Monday, January 20, 2014
I AM a child of God
Hello
Khrobkhrua!
So, this week
was amazing! So many miracles!
First and
foremostly, Sister NamLeg got baptized yesterday! She was planning on being
baptized on the 26th, but changed her mind because she felt ready and wanted to
be baptized sooner! So exciting! So, we finished up teaching our lessons and
then she interviewed. She was so nervous. She literally memorized chapter 3 of
Preach My Gospel for the interview! haha She knows her stuff! Anyway, yesterday
she was baptized and she was so happy and excited. It was such an amazing day!
Two of the Elder's investigators were also baptized yesterday. Sunday was so
awesome! There was so much joy and happiness welcoming these three into the
ward! I feel so blessed to be serving here right now!
We also have a
couple new investigators from street contacting who have baptismal dates for
next month! The Elders are experiencing miracles as well! We are all so
grateful to God for His help and direction in this work.
Tuesday was
fun! Teaching English has all of a sudden become much more enjoyable with the
Lao Elders' program! Last week's grammar principle was on "be" verbs.
At the end of the lesson we played the Mormon Message "I AM a Child of
God." We taught the whole class the song and they all sang along to the
music video. It was really special to see all these students singing that they
were children of God. It brought the spirit to that English lesson.
So, the mission
now has a new standard for inviting. We have always been asked to go street
contacting for two hours every day. Now, we are asked to invite at least 20
people to be baptized every day (per person, not companionship). It's fun! And
when we go inviting I'd say we invite at least 40-50 each. We're seeing
results! Lots of interested people just from street contacting.
President Senior really has an amazing vision for this mission
and pushes us to work really hard. Really grateful to be serving under him! We
also have new baptismal pass-along cards that have a place to fill out their
name, our name, our number, and their baptismal date when we go inviting.
Awesome! So far for the month of January there have been 100 baptisms! There is
still one more week and I am way excited to see how many more are baptized next
week!
This weekend
there was an Australian RM and his daughter who came to Bangkapi. The
daughter's name is Emma and she's 12. On Saturday there was a YW activity at
the church that we invited our investigator to, and Emma showed up as well. So
they asked me to translate for her and join in the activity! Way fun!! I also
got to go to YW's on Sunday and translate. I haven't been to YW's here,
so I really enjoyed that. Also, Emma's dad was a missionary when Brother
Goodman (my mission prep teacher at the Y) was mission president here. They've
kept in good contact and have done some work together here. He's going to tell
B. Goodman hello for me! So fun!
Today I read
Alma 44. It was so intense! Holy Cow! I would be way scared to not obey
him if I was a Lamanite! Anyway, today our district is heading to Asoke to have
lunch with President Senior!! So, I'm going to start sending pics so we can
head out soon!
I love you all
so much!
Have an amazing
week!
Love,
Liz :)
Monday, January 13, 2014
Chocolate Ville and Children's Day
Hello hello hello!
I hope
Sam has an awesome time at mission prep! What do they do for that? I've never
really been to one for the stake. I think it would
be so fun to teach mission prep when I get back and share all my crazy stories
and get kids excited for missions!
Also, good luck
to Samuel with finals! You will survive!
Today
we had planned to go to the Crocodile museum to go ride elephants; however, the
government has shut down the roads in BKK so we can't really leave our area. :(
Maybe next week? Sister S is going to teach us how to make Thai food, though!
Tell Daniel that it WILL happen! I will ride an elephant in the near future!
Okay, so this
was a great week!
Last Monday
after emails we went shopping at the Minburi market. I got some fun stuff to
send/ bring home! We also had FHE in Lad Phrao. The traffic was waaaay bad
though. That's something I need to remember to take into account here now. haha
On Tuesday
English class was really fun! The Lao Elders have come up with a new program
that is more interactive and fun. We even got to watch clips from Tangled! So,
I'm enjoying teaching English a lot more!
Last week I
contacted into a lady who's a leader of a Roman Catholic church here. She
invited us to come share our beliefs with her. I was nervous a little bit
because we never really teach Christians. I haven't been taught how to teach
Christians! haha Anyway, we shared from the Bible and Book of Mormon and shared
the restoration message. It went fine and she and her son had a lot of great
questions. They invited us to come back and share whenever we want. I don't
think they're that interested, but they're super friendly and welcoming.
One day we
didn't know where we wanted to go street contacting, so Sister S decided to
take me to "Chocolate Ville!" I had no idea what on earth that was,
but it sounded pretty good to me! So, after a 45 minute walk we finally made it
there. Turns out it’s a little replica of a 50's style American town. It's way
cute! However, it was closed. So, we did not have any success there. But it
definitely made me miss home!
This week we
got an online referral and we were able to set up an appointment with him. He'd been to English in Chaengwatna and wanted a Book of
Mormon. So, we met with him, introduced the Book of Mormon and scheduled an
appointment for this week. We'll see where that goes!
We also got a
referral from a lady in our ward. She's
friend of a less active member. We were able to give an introductory lesson and
schedule another appointment for this week also.
Also, last week
I contacted into a lady who wasn't that interested in our message, but her 16
year old daughter is! The mom is way supportive of her learning with us and we
taught them two days ago. I'm really excited. I think the daughter really liked learning, coming to the
church, and wants to keep meeting! So excited!
Yesterday at
church I sat by one of the Elders' new investigators. They contacted her on the
street and invited her to church. She came, had lots of great questions, and
seemed to enjoy it. She asked me "When do we know when we're suppose to be
baptized?" Whoa! Right now! haha
These are just
a few of the awesome things that happened this week. I can definitely see God's
hand in our little area here. It really is amazing. So grateful for His help
and guidance in helping people come to Christ. We are seeing miracles!
This week we
Skype-taught Nadia and she gave us a tour of her house. (She lives down in the
South Panhandle.) She's doing really well!
Sister NamLeg
really wants to understand our lessons completely and she decided that she will
be ready to be baptized on the 26th!
Also, yesterday
Sister Boat was confirmed a member of the church! Happy day!
Oh, also! Really
good news! In Mahasarakham Sister Bu finally got baptized! Sooooo excited and
so happy!
Okay, other fun
things this week:
Saturday was
national Children's Day! All the little เด็กๆ s had a great day receiving gifts, candy, balloons, etc… So, Daniel.... Happy
Children's Day! Way fun!
The other day I
contacted into a falang from Texas. We've actually talked before. He told me
that we missionaries haven't always had a great reputation in the past and then
compared us to the Crusaders. "Kill for Christianity!" haha I
explained that's definitely not our approach. We work hard to share our message
but we do not force it on anyone. Interesting.
At church
yesterday I translated for a Sister from China who only speaks Chinese and
English. She's way cute. I'm not a good translator. Pretty sure I made up at
least half of what was said. haha Also, as I was translating in Relief Society
the teacher asked me to come up to explain something. I hadn't really heard
what she was talking about because I was explaining something to the lady I was
translating for. Anyway, I went up, the teacher handed me a microphone and
asked me to talk about "personal beings." She'd written it in English
on the board and wanted me to explain it. I had no clue what she was going for
and looked like a complete fool trying to come up with something. haha I'm sure
the RS was way confused.
This week I
finally found someone here selling my favorite taro banana leaf treat that I
used to buy in Sarakham! Made my day!
Also, I think
today I had the most confusing language study of my mission. Try reading 2
Nephi 13 in another language. It makes no sense. I was reading it and didn't
understand any of it. So, I pulled out my English scriptures and figured out
why- it's all about bonnets, mufflers, tinkling of feet, etc.... haha Made me
laugh!
Anyway, Mom,
you asked if I am a city mouse or a country mouse. I'd say in non-missionary
life I'm still definitely a country mouse. However, as a missionary, I LOVE the
city. I feel like I'm able to accomplish a lot in a day and I feel like I'm
actually making a difference here! I love it! So grateful to be in Bangkapi
right now! Heavenly Father really is blessing us!
Here's a quote
from Elder Ballard in "Our Search for Happiness" that I really like:
"The Gift
of the Holy Ghost intensifies our relationship with that member of the Godhead.
In a way, it is like living next door to the firehouse. Although everyone is
entitled to the fire department services, the safest person in town is the one
who lives next door to the fire station. And that's what the gift of the Holy
Ghost does, it makes Him a part of our lives." I was so excited when
Sister Boat received this Gift yesterday. She's going to have that constant
companionship, safety, and comfort for the rest of her life if she stays worthy
of it! Amazing! God blesses us in so many ways.
I love you all
so much and I love being a missionary! Have an awesome amazing week!
Love you!
Liz :)
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