Little Miracles

Last Sunday, I had the opportunity to attend a conference downtown [Bangkok] where Elder Stevenson and his wife spoke (along with a few other speakers). They were so cute! I will share my favorite part about both of their talks. Sister Stevenson told us her favorite candy was M&M's because the first M stands for members and the second M stands for missionaries. So she told us to eat lots of m&m's and every time we do, remember that every member is a missionary! Elder Stevenson focused on just how important the Book of Mormon is. He promised us that as we read the Book of Mormon and pray every day, we will be filled with happiness.

Right now my companion and I are looking for some miracles. We don't have tons of investigators but we are looking and praying for finding opportunities! I was reading in Alma chapter 8-9 about Alma going to the city of Ammonihah to preach to the people, but no one listened. So he left, but then got spiritually prompted to go back again and that's when he found Amulek, a man who had been prepared by God to help Alma with his work. Then after that, they find Zeezrom, who also repents and changes his ways because of the words Amulek proclaims to him. It's so cool to see how everything in that story is threaded together. God has grand designs that are so intricately threaded and I love when He lets us see little glimpses of those threaded moments--it helps me know there's a plan in store.

I wish I could count the number of miracles I've seen and been able to be a part of since I've been here. There are so many. Something my teacher in the MTC told me that I've really tried to apply here on my mission and for the rest of my life, is that miracles happen when you seek them out. As I've sought to see God's hand in everything, my eyes have focused to His divine hand.

One particular miracle is an old man named Greet who's from my last area. He is about 70, we found his phone number off of an old English referral card. We met him the first time at church, he talked our ear off for about 45 minutes. I didn't understand a word he said, other than he's allergic to light and his friend killed a cat and he was blamed for it. He wears the flip-up sunglass lenses and has a baseball cap with a glittery NBA embellishment. He fell asleep in the first lesson we taught him. I think lessons with him we had exerted the most effort into trying to help him understand. I left before he ever got baptized. Yesterday though, I spotted him at a big meeting that we had--Elder Stevenson came to Thailand to speak to everyone there. He was wearing a white shirt and tie, slacks, he'd combed his hair and had the biggest smile on as he told me in a Thai that I've never heard, "Sister Smith--I am baptized!". His whole countenance was shining, I was nearly in tears with joy.

I will end with my most recent miracle, perhaps it is a little TMI, but it's a miracle nonetheless! Sunday morning on the day of that conference downtown with Elder Stevenson, I woke up with food poisoning and I thought I was going to die. So I prayed to Heavenly Father to feel good enough to go to the meeting. Right after I prayed I ran to the bathroom and threw up, and then I was totally fine for the rest of the day.

Have a wonderful week! Sending love from Thailand,
--Sister Smith

New Area: Bang Khen

This week was transfers so I moved to a new area called Bang Khen. It's only about 20 minutes away from where I was before in Pakkret.

Bang Khen is one of the 50 municipal districts of Bangkok, Thailand.

Also my new companion is a native Thai. Also I do NOT understand Thai at all haha! Lots of improvement for me :)

I'm way excited to work in this area though. It's so promising, the members are so awesome. They are very willing to help. For some reason though this past year numbers have gone down a lot here in this area, but we have compared the area to a classic novel that's fallen behind the shelf. Now that we are here our goal is to grab that book and dust it off because there is so much potential here! I'm excited for the work:)

I also love this area a lot because, guess what? We are right next to Chatuchak, a super famous market in Thailand. I haven't been there yet because it's only open on Saturdays but if I get a chance I'll takes pics and send. Also in general there are more markets and fun things here to see and it's kind of "high-soh" here too...like, our apartment is way nice.