Laboring in the Spirit, plus Eating Food!

A Buddhist temple we visited. 

These past few weeks have been full of events and travel. I got to switch of companions with some Sister Training Leaders, who helped me know what I can do to be a better missionary.

Eating corn on the road to Chompaa

The view all the way to Chompaa

Then the next day on Saturday, we went to go visit a less active member who lives an hour and a half away from the church in a place called Chompaa. When we were there, she introduced us to all of her friends who weren't members and we got to share the gospel with them.

A member's home in Chompaa

A little pavilion where we taught a member's friends

In other news, I am also beginning to understand how laboring in the spirit can be an affliction, as mentioned in Alma 17:5. The verse reads this:

"Now these are the circumstances which attended them in their journeyings, for they had many afflictions; they did suffer, both in body and in mind, such as hunger, thirst and fatigue, and also much labor in the spirit."

I believe it's truly an affliction to teach investigators that don't heed invitations. I pray and hope for them, try to help them understand the gospel, and in the end they don't make the right choice. It hurts inside, mainly because by then I love them and want them to have success. It's an affliction that has really made me reflect back to the feelings our Savior had while suffering in Gethsemane. Jesus Christ suffered for everyone's sins knowing that not everyone would use the atoning gift He offered. This week investigator after investigator didn't read, didn't pray, didn't want to go to church, etc. It was difficult to hear this, knowing that only hearing our message but not applying it wouldn't provide the spiritual benefits they sought. I still have hope that they will eventually make the right decision.

Through all this, I am grateful for these experiences though because they help me to understand the Savior more. Even though I'm always afflicted every time someone we teach doesn't do the things necessary to repent and follow Christ, I know that everything happens in the Lord's wisdom. I also had the opportunity to read a story about some sunflowers, which reminds me of this experience because it gives me hope for those who aren't yet ready to make commitments.

At first these sunflowers were carefully planted and looked after, but they weren't ready in time for the wedding bouquets. In fact, they bloomed right after the wedding. But they were strong and beautiful and once they bloomed you could watch them as their centers followed the sun the whole day.

In terms of our investigators, hopefully they will one day "bloom" and be ready to commit to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Maybe right now they aren't ready and we still have work to do. As missionaries, we can't change the time church starts in order for our investigators to come. But perhaps they will be more faith-filled and committed in the future, and when they are, they will be strong in all things as they focus their attention on the Savior.

Everything happens in the Lord's time. Or in other words, "But behold, they are in the hands of the Lord of the harvest, and they are his; and he will raise them up at the last day." (Alma 26:7) For now, I just need to keep declaring repentance to all, teaching those who will receive our message, remaining hopeful that they one day too will receive eternal life.

But despite all that, this week was also the funnest week ever!

We made and ate food together with Sister Wendy

One of our investigators

This is our investigator's family.
The man on the left reminds me of my Dad.

Our investigator's grandmother

Khon Kaen District Missionaries

Remember to Look Upward

Sometimes our perspectives are upside down

This week we taught a lesson to one of our investigators who had a hard time praying and asking God for help, because he felt like it was a show of weakness. He would just always do things himself. I was trying to explain how that's not the case when all of a sudden I realized, wait. I'm exactly like that sometimes too. We had a really good connection with our investigator at that point because none of us are perfect but we have to get over our personal pride and pray at all times. It was a good reminder for me too, sometimes I rely too much on my own resources to do missionary work. Instead of trying to swim against a current, it makes more sense to humble ourselves and ask God for His opinion and His divine help in all things.

I hope that you can use this experience and apply it to your life too. Love you lots and have a good week!

Mission Life in Khon Kaen

On our way to visiting contacts

[In my scripture reading] I finally got to the Helaman chapters of the Book of Mormon, and this morning I got to read in Helaman 5, which is definitely a favorite of mine. I want to point out 2 specific verses that I read and feel prompted to share with you.

7 Therefore, my sons, I would that ye should do that which is good, that it may be said of you, and also written, even as it has been said and written of them. 

8 And now my sons, behold I have somewhat more to desire of you, which desire is, that ye may not do these things that ye may boast, but that ye may do these things to lay up for yourselves a treasure in heaven, yea, which is eternal, and which fadeth not away; yea, that ye may have that precious gift of eternal life, which we have reason to suppose hath been given to our fathers.

The two main reasons I want to share this is because 1) always be a good example to others so that you can help lift others up instead of tear them down and 2) focus on having the right reasons for doing things. The biggest temptation in this world is pride, and I never realized exactly how apparent it is until I came on my mission. Even now, I have to kick myself and remember to let go of my pride. For example, it's important not to do things just to look good in front of others or post on the internet. Being an example to others and sharing posts aren't bad things, but they can be if our hearts aren't in the right places. I'm still telling myself this too.

I love you all and hope you have a great week.

Yes, Subway is one of our favorite food stops

Yummy "blocks" at District Conference

One of our members is leaving for his mission in Provo, Utah

Found a drink shop in Khon Kaen that we love

Eating shabu before fasting

A pedestrian street on a Saturday evening where we invite

Helping members make cardboard scripture cases

In the "Isan" (large region in Northeast Thailand
bordering Laos and Cambodia)

Our morning exercise view

Our district at a Khon Kaen park

Mothers Day Skyping

Thank you so much for skyping me! Sorry today I don't have a lot of time to email but I wanted you to know that I was SO happy to skype and it was just what I needed. I love you all and I love to see all your bright faces. It makes me happy to see everyone growing-- but not at the same time, a lot of the good same things. 

I'm sure you've noticed that I don't ever explain lots of things in detail, it's way too hard to! It would be better to just have you here to experience these things for yourself, I feel like if I explained my experiences here I wouldn't do enough justice. Jokes. But really...

I will say this: the work is great. As missionaries, they say we are divine instruments under the use of God. Although sometimes I wonder if I am able to help my investigators as much as I am being helped in this mission...

I have a testimony that God cares about all of us, and he will bring miracles. I have a testimony of Christ and of the Atonement and that none of my experiences would be happening if it weren't for the Restoration of the fullness of Christ's gospel here on earth. I believe that it is true.  

This week I challenge you all to find some way to serve someone new. Look out for opportunities, even if it might be out of your comfort zone. My companion and I have made the same goal here. Since I can't bring you here to experience the mission with me, at least we can experience the same good feelings brought by acts of service. 

I love you all and I hope you have a good week! Stay safe. 

Update on New Area

Okay so the update on everything here: house=good. Little one room apartment but it's cute. The occasional bug. Sink smells weird.

Being new in the area is rough but also way good. We don't have a ton of people to teach, but the few we found are way sweet and we are so excited to be working with them.

The food is nice too. Lots of places here, we even found a milk shop which has the best drinks! Biking is scary, but I love it. After a week my bike needs fixing again but that's pretty normal I hear.

Today I had the opportunity to study a talk that President Johnson recommended, and I love this quote. It's helped me appreciate all the moments that come in my mission, and I hope it encourages you to find joy in all that goes on.

"This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now."