A Sweet Sabbath

As far as I know this should be my last P-day with Sister S. However, we haven't heard any news yet as to which day the transfer will be. But we do have zone conference this week on Tuesday in Asoke! Way excited! I love when we all meet together and learn! So much fun!

Last Monday we went to Sister Goy's graduation at Rangkamheng University. It is a really big university and had one of the biggest graduating classes last week! Sister Goy really wanted us to come and take pics with her at the university. One thing I love about Thai people is that they are so extremely supportive of each other in everything. 

Well, this was a wonderful week!

Yesterday was especially miraculous for many reasons. First of all, there were 140 people at church yesterday!! I think that may be a record for the mission. I've never heard of that before. Normally we have between 100 and 110. Our goal is to build up the ward to have 150 people steadily coming so that they can split into two wards and increase the stakes, and then have a temple. We're on our way! Also, six of our investigators showed up to church! And, most excitingly, our investigator, Sister Pat was baptized. She was so happy! Also, four other investigators of the elders were baptized. Such an awesome Sunday. It was probably one of the craziest Sundays ever trying to work everything out. As usual, there were problems with the font and we had to fill it with buckets. haha We had issues with baptizers not showing up, but in the end it all worked out wonderfully and it was such a nice day! Everyone was so happy and cheerful. There was just such a good mood at the church yesterday! Baptism days are so happy because we're welcoming these people into our ward and church family. There is so much love and support here!

I think that hot season has definitely set in here. I'm a sweaty mess all day long, and it's only going to get hotter. I don't know how the graduates survived graduation in their robes in this muggy heat! It's funny to think about how much I hated the heat before I came to Thailand because now I don't even mind it. I would not want to live in this climate forever, but for the time being it's not even bad. It's probably a little blessing from Heavenly Father! 

Brother Somgiad is doing really well. I just loved an experience he shared with us. One day he was driving in his car and he realized that his glasses were missing. He told us he really needed his glasses because how would he read without them. So, he said a little prayer and then had the idea to go to Tesco. He started walking down the meat aisle and found his glasses on a shelf! I just love that he thought to pray for help and that Heavenly Father gave him that experience to increase his faith. So awesome! Our prayers are heard and answered! Also, he brought his 16 year old nephew to learn with us. Hoping that goes somewhere. He didn't accept a baptismal date, but hopefully next time. 

This week we had a lot of good experiences out inviting and street contacting. One lady even agreed to meet us at the church after we'd finished. We gave her a church tour and taught briefly. But then we realized she was Islamic, so we have to get special permission from P. Senior to teach her. (It can be life threatening to change religions if you're Islamic, so we have to get special permission on a case-by-case basis). Also, we met two French girls completely lost and helped them get to their hostel. They were so cute! I also had an Indian man ask if I was married yet, as well as two Cameroonians ask for my number. haha 

This week we visited a less active member who makes dresses and sells them in America. They're very pretty. It was fun to visit her. She came to church, too!

This week Sister Steele was in the hospital with Dengue Fever. She's totally fine now, but we went and switched-off with them a couple of times so her comp could go do work in their area. I stayed at the hospital one time and it was so fun to talk with her. Sister Steele is so awesome. She is one amazing missionary and she is so cute to talk to. It was just really refreshing to catch up with her and get advice, etc... 

That pretty much covers the main events of this week!

I LOVE YOU!!

Liz

Rangkamheng University

 House hunting...I think we may be looking in too hi-so of a neighborhood. haha

 I got the Christmas tree! I love it and read it every day! 

I don't know what route this package took to get to Thailand, 

but it definitely took at least four months to get here!

 Elder Gettavong with a lizard on his leg.

 These three make me laugh.

 The four sisters that got baptized.

 Sister Pat!

Sister Pat!

The wonderful sisters of the Thailand Bangkok Mission

Visit from "the other" Bishop Stevenson!

Hello wonderful family! Thanks for the awesome emails and pictures! Holy cow, it is cold in Whitefish! That is so crazy! That's not normal, right? Hopefully it warms up to at least 0 degrees so Daniel can go skiing! haha It's definitely getting hot here, we are melting allllll day long! And we're just barely into hot season. I guess next month is when it's killer! Good thing we have Songkran! (a nationwide waterfight all week long).

Thanks for finding out about the missionaries in WF. I'm excited to help out when I get back. However, I feel like I'll need some practice teaching falangs! The other day I had to give a prayer in English for a meeting we had with an Australian brother in the ward. It was probably the worst prayer that's ever been given. I haven't prayed in English since I went to the MTC and I stumbled over all my words.

  

Well, this was a great week! Lots of good things happened!

Last Monday we had a fun get together with the missionaries and some recent converts. For FHE we went to eat together at a seafood place. When we were finished eating we went to the ice cream bar for desert. I drizzled some sauce over my ice cream, which I thought was coconut milk. It was so nasty. I went back to read the label and it was actually durian juice. So gross! haha Always read the label first! Actually, here in Thailand, it's normally better to just eat, don't ask questions! Sometimes you don't want to know what you're eating.

A couple of days ago both Sis. Sawangwong and I ended up wearing pink. I told her it was pink day, but then she emphatically told me it was actually yellow day. I was so confused and asked why. Apparently in Thailand every day has a color. However, she does not know why. But, just fyi, every day in Thailand has a coordinating color. haha

Last week our phone’s touch screen broke, so we got to go to Asoke and get a new one. It's pretty hi-so and fancy. However, our numbers didn't transfer, so we're working on increasing our contact list.

This week the AC repair man finally came! Now the air that comes out is cold!! In fact, maybe a little too cold. Our electric bill has been suuuper cheap lately!

This week we also went house hunting with the Elders. They live in a sketchy little house that's pretty far from everything, so they're trying to find a new place. It's helpful having Sister Sawangwong there to talk with the apartment managements. There are some pretty sweet places around here! I never thought I'd enjoy looking at houses. The mission changes you in more ways than you realize!

Brother Israel, an Australian member in the ward, gave us a training on the "stop smoking program" that he used when he was a missionary. It sounds pretty great! I have never had an investigator with a smoking problem, but it'll be really useful in the future if I do. And it'll help some of the elders with their current investigators. I also found out that Australian accents are easier for Sis. S to understand. B. Somgiad as well! So, I've been trying to speak in an Australian accent lately. Definitely do not have the gift of accents! I don't think she can understand me at all when I try to speak like that.

So, we have quite a few new investigators this week! Everyone we taught accepted a baptismal date, but for either the end of this month or next month. We have some great investigators, with sincere desires to search out the truth.

Yesterday was an awesome day at church! We had 7 investigators at church and the elder's investigator was baptized! Afterwards we went crazy trying to teach everyone! It was crazy trying to get it all in, but I just love teaching! I used to be so afraid to teach when I was in Mahasarakham because we taught so rarely. Here we are teaching all the time and it is so fun! I just love it! It really has made me realize how not very well I understood the doctrine of our church. Everyone should study Preach My Gospel! Especially chapter 3. It defines things so clearly. I love PMG!

Okay, yesterday was probably one of the most exciting days of the week because the Presiding Bishop of the church came to speak to us!!! Bishop Stevenson and his wife were touring Asia and stopped to talk to us in BKK! It was so awesome! We got a lot of really great counsel from the Stevensons and the Seniors. Bishop Stevenson focused a lot on the process of moving progressors to being daters. It was really helpful. However, at this point in the mission it seems like we are counseled to not really spend time on people that aren't going to be baptized in the very near future. Everyone is supposed to be a dater! He also shared his experience of being able to sit in on the mission selection process. He told us we were sent here for a very specific reason, and part of that reason is the people that we are going to find and teach. He told the story of Cornelius and Peter in Acts 10. I had just barely read that in my personal study and was so excited that he shared it. I love it! He encouraged us to find our own Cornelius! It was a really great meeting! Such a huge boost! I love meeting with the Seniors and I love when we get to hear from our leaders. What an awesome experience. 

So, those are some of the main events of this week! It was really great! And the basketball game we were playing is way popular here, we used to play it out in the Esan all the time, too. It's called "chairball." 

I love you all so much! Thanks for being the most amazing, loving, supportive family! Have a great week!

Love,

Lizzy! :)

 Muugaataa!

 cool picture of a building from the Khlong monster

 Chicken talons, cow brain and coagulated cow blood. Bon Appetit! 

That's not what I intended to order.

 We love our Montana shirts! Thank you!

 House hunting with the Elders.
The sun looked so cool, the camera just doesn't quite capture it.

 Want to be baptized?

Our Elders on our way to the meeting in Asoke. haha

Blessings in Burma!!!

So, your sleuthing is correct! I am staying in Bangkapi with Sister Sawangwong! She's been here for a long time, but it was definitely an inspired move.  We have a few investigators that we are both really attached to and want to be here for their baptism. It really worked out perfectly because we found out that Sis. S will be moving at the mini-transfer in about three weeks when the new Thai missionaries come in. So, we will only be companions for three more weeks together. But our investigators will be baptized before then. When I found out she was staying, I felt so much peace and I knew it was right. I know that Heavenly Father knows what is best for our companionships and for our investigators!  

I loved the quotes you sent to me from some of the sisters! They are all so awesome! Seriously, this mission has amazing sisters and elders! It made me realize I should probably make my emails a little more inspiring! haha 

But I really understand how Sister Hughes is feeling. I feel like a mission has a lot of hard circumstances just with trying to find people to teach, rejection, problems with investigators, etc. However, I feel like the biggest struggle really has been what sister Hughes described-- realizing how extremely human you are. I feel like this transfer, especially, I have discovered so many weaknesses in myself. I always felt like I was one that had things pretty well under control. I realized I had things I needed to work on, but I felt happy with where I was at. As a missionary, and especially the last transfer, I think God decided it was high time He helped me take a good look at myself. I found out a lot of things I don't really like that I need to seriously improve. It has been a really great thing, because I think Heavenly Father wanted to cut me down just a little bit so that I could realize how far I need to go. 

Do you remember the talk given by an apostle about the currant bush? In it he talks about a little bush that the gardener chopped down, even though it was seemingly growing well. When the bush asked why the gardener cut down his branches the gardener replied that by cutting him down, the bush would then be able to flourish and grow more than the bush itself expected. I feel like missions do that to you. Even though I felt pretty good with my progress as a missionary and in life in general, I feel like this transfer brought me to a low point so that I could realize what I needed to work on and then grow from there. The thing with God, though, is that even when he humbles you a bit, He still loves you so much. This transfer I have felt God's love more than ever before, for both me, my companion, and our investigators. It's been a huge testimony builder for me, and it's given me the motivation to do the very best that I can to be the best person I can be. So, that is my sermon on my personal progress!

Okay, this week was great!

On Tuesday we had our last district meeting together with Elders Pyne, Jensen, and Calderon. It was fun! Sis. S made pad thai for us all! Arooooy!

On Wednesday Sister Orchard and her trainee came to stay the night. Sis. Orchard finished her mission, so she came to BKK early for interviews, etc... It was fun to have them here.

Anyway, Thursday was transfer meeting and we all got invited to go, whether or not we were moving! And I'm glad because it was probably the most exciting transfer meeting I've been to! First of all, as always, it was soooo fun to see everyone! I got to talk to Sister Mullen, Crockett and Narayanan for a long time. They're all doing great! Sis. N wants to come to BYU when we get back and be roommates together! How fun would that be!

So, first exciting news: There are now Sister areas open in Chiang Rai, Nong Kai, and Bangbuathong! Sister Crockett and Sister Madsen are opening up Chiang Rai! Sooooooo sweet! That is where I want to go next! haha Also, President opened up a sister area in Gamphengpet and sent Sister Mullen to be the first sister there!!!!! (that's where her family is from!) Soooooo excited for her! 

And, lastly: BURMA IS OPEN TO MISSIONARIES! (Myanmar) Amazing! President sent the first two missionaries to Burma! Soooo crazy awesome!

Also, President took sisters out of Mahasarakham and Galasin and just left one pair of elders at each place.

So, that was one awesome exciting transfer meeting! We now have Elder Black, Elder Wolfley, and Elder Gettavong! They are an awesome bunch. I'm so excited to have E. Black in our district. And E. Gettavong is from Laos. He has a pretty awesome story! E. Wolfley is in E. Hartman's group- he's great! I am just so impressed with all of our missionaries. This is going to be a great transfer!

Friday was way fun because we had a sisters meeting in Asoke with Sister Senior. We had some wonderful talks from a few sisters, including Sis. Sawangwong, as well as from Sister and President Senior. Very uplifting and way fun to see everyone. Afterwards we went into the gym and they had decorated it super cute and springy. We had chicken croissant sandwiches with delicious salads. Soooo much fun!

Okay, as far as investigators go:

On Sunday Brother Dtam and Sister Opal were baptized!  I contacted into Dtam at Fashion Island. He came to church the next day. We taught him all last week and then he was baptized yesterday. He was definitely one that was prepared and ready. He was already Christian, so he had a real firm base in gospel knowledge. He is a soldier and has had a lot of haunting experiences but has a strong testimony in God that has helped him get through tough situations. He loves to serve others and is really sweet. Opal has been coming to church for the last month or so. She's 16 so she had to come 4 times before she was baptized. She was so happy! She's adorable. Her mom also came to support and it was a great day!

We are being so blessed here in Bangkapi! We are being blessed with amazing investigators that are ready to be baptized. I am also learning so much about myself and trying to improve. Sis S. and I are really happy that we have these next three weeks together. It's inspired and a blessing! 

I love you all soooooo much! Have an awesome week!

Love,

Liz :)

 Sister Narayanan!!!

 Sister Mullen!!!

 It's a missionary tradition to go eat at Que Pasa
after every transfer meeting. Finally went this time!
Muy Sabroso!

 Lunch at the Sister's meeting.

 This was in the bathroom. So cute!

 Sister Opal and Brother Dtam

This is called the Earthquake.
Elder Clarke and Sister Sawangwong ate that whole thing!