I think the subject title says a lot
about my week! So if that doesn't get you excited for this e-mail, I don
't know what will!
A week ago today, at 3:35
in the morning, I boarded a train that would change my life forever....
haha okay as dramatic as that sounds, it's definitely the truest
statement I've ever made in my life. Since that point, I've been on a
plane for a total of 22 hours, been on another train for 12 hours,
melted a million times, eaten fermented fish paste, and killed cockroaches. All things that I never thought I would do in a thousand years.
I
am currently in a little town called Sisaket, with my AMAZING COMPANION
SISTER BURBANK. I can't even explain to you all the love I have for
this area. I LOVE SISAKET! It's adorable, the people are so kind and
humble and smiley, and the food is unbelievable. Also, there are water
buffalo everywhere. Doesn't get much better than that. :) Except it
DOES!! Because the Branch here is so good!! Ahhh the members are so
awesome. They make fun of me all the time, and it's the greatest thing
ever because I have no clue what they are saying! :D When the members
here are strong, they are STRONG! I mean that. We have had so many
referrals from members already, and we always have at least 5 members
willing to go to investigator lessons with us- and they all come! Which
is good, because I have no idea how to speak Thai, but they do. So
that's helpful! But the most helpful thing is the amazing testimony of
each and every member. They are such pioneers, and they have such strong
testimonies! Ahhhh I get chills thinking about them. :) So you could
say I love Sisaket :) As for Sister Burbank! We are so very similar! We
get along so well! She is the best trainer ever, even though she
sometimes throws me in with the sharks and asks me to explain the plan
of salvation on the fly to an investigator... Literally the hardest
lesson for me to teach. (I did something cool though... I stole an
object lesson idea from my MTC teacher, and compared the gospel to a
pen... basically he couldn't follow my hand unless he was grasping the
pen with me. Hard to explain in writing, but I felt like a total boss.)
Don't worry, that investigator is getting baptized on Sunday.
:) And so is his mother! I have to tell you the story of these two.
Brother Ef was a referral from a member, and we had tried to call him
throughout the week and had no success. We called again on Saturday night, with no success. Then on Sunday
morning he called us, 5 minutes before church, to apologize for missing
our calls. We invited him to come to church in 5 minutes, and HE CAME
and brought his grandma and a friend! So later than night we went to
teach him, and he committed to baptism (probably because he was
impressed by my pen analogy ;) ...just kidding, it was all the Spirit!)
After his lesson, his mom came out and sat in the spot where Ef was
sitting and said "okay. Teach me." We taught her, and committed her to
baptism as well! I was able to extend the invitation to the both of
them, and it was the greatest feeling in the world when they accepted!!
AHHH so there are 2 of the 4 baptisms we have on Sunday :)
I
have gained a HUGE testimony that this gospel is truly a gospel of
miracles, God is a God of miracles! I know that as I work hard, and
dedicate myself to this work, I will truly see so many miracles. And
that's what I'm here for! I am here to bring others unto Christ, and to
see many miracles done by the hand of God. And I have already seen so
many in the past few days. Even though this is the hardest thing I have
ever done in my life, and I can't understand a SINGLE word that is ever
said, I have been so happy... even in the saddest moments. It's hard to
describe. But it's hard not to be happy when you're literally serving
other people all the time, and serving the Lord 24/7. I have been so
humbled by all my weaknesses and inadequacies, but I know that I am
being qualified, because there is NO WAY I could do all this on my own. I
love the strength I get from my Savior every day. It's an amazing
thing.
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