Yes. There is a Chinatown in Thailand.

Yes. That is all silk. To get here we went down an alley way, into a store, and then up a few sets of stairs. Asia. I love it.

​Surprise surprise. We went to Chinatown. In ASIA. Why is there a Chinatown here? Well I mean there's Chinese people so...What a weird feeling. To walk into this place and hear people speaking some other Asian language that I still couldn't understand. Flashbacks to those days of being a new missionary and not understanding Thai.

Random Pic of Honey Toast, IKEA, and an Inviting Card from a while ago...

​Working here in Samut Prakaan is definitely a huge blessing. Here we are dealing with a special situation where we have to travel through Bangkok traffic around 20km to go to Church each Sunday. And also the area that we are taking care of is rather large considering that we are in Bangkok. Through all of this, it really does matter what choice we make and when we make it. We've been learning how little choices truly do have a larger effect on the big picture in the long run. From things simple as confirming appointments multiple times throughout the day to larger things such as thoroughly planning. Each choice we make, no matter how big or small it may seem, ultimately affects our future.

"As we contemplate the decisions we make in our lives each day--whether to make this choice or that choice-----if we choose Christ, we will have made the correct choice."

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/04/choices?lang=eng

เรียบร้อยแล้ว

Aloha,

Elder แอลลิส

Forward Ever. Stopping Never.

Happy Mother's Day!

Skyped the fam, feel like there's not much to even say. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY MOM.

Congrats to all those people that ran at track states! YEEEEEEEEEE Kamehameha Boys, still holding it down every year!

So still looking for a new camera...But I saw this advertisement on a bus as I was going to this internet cafe! 

So here's a random pic... Advertisement for some good ole' fried bugs! So fancy fancy fancy!!!

Still busy here in Samut Prakaan. Lots of people, lots of traffic too >.< 

Good vibes still flowinggg

Aloha,

Elder แอลลิส

Forward Ever. Stopping Never.

Lopburi was sweet. But Samut Prakan. Oh yeah!

Wind swell was pumping here in Samut Prakan.

​
Monkey. Stop it. I dont have food...

Lopburi was sweet. But Samut Prakan. Oh yeah!

​This is Elder Bouwmeester. He likes ice cream.

Onto some real stuff....

What a week here in Samut Prakaan. This is still such a big shocker for me. So much people! So much cars! All this noise! We have had the opportunity to meet with quite a few great new investigators this week. Many of them had met with missionaries only one time and then for some reason they weren't called again. This past week we had spent a fair amount of time calling and just checking to see if there is anyone that wants to meet up with us still. The best part of it all was that many of these people, although they haven't been in contact with missionaries in a long time, are still way interested and have been waiting. Waiting! for a call.

Funny story...

As we were waiting for Scripture Class to start, we started making some calls. I handed the phone to Elder Bouwmeester and he starts going down the list, asking the usual "Hey, its the Elders, how are you doing? You still interested in learning about Jesus Christ?" and then he calls this one lady. And through the phone speaker I just start to hear this lady start talking like crazy! Elder Bouwmeester looking super confused asks one more time "So you do want to learn about Jesus Christ, right?" and then somewhere. The word for baptism pops up! So he hands me the phone, and says "Your turn talking to her." Plot twist. Who we had thought was a former investigator was actually already a member. She was taught in Samut Prakan, but then moved back home to Korat. Elders in Samut Prakaan changed her contact info but then she got baptized in Korat and was a strong member there! Then a few months ago she moved back to another area in Thailand, where there is no church within a few hours distance. So long story short, this sister who we thought was a former investigator, actually has been a member for almost a year and a half. And on top of that she was so overjoyed that she got the opportunity to talk with the Elders. Pretty trippy experience. 

Helaman 10:4-5

"4 Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou has not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments.

5 And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will."

Came across these verses when I was studying one day. Going out, and giving our heart each day, fearing nothing. Yes we come home absolutely tired and beat, but it feels so good. And we do it again and again, because of promises like this one. Just a thought about how missionary work...works.

I love Thailand.

Aloha,

Elder แอลลิส

Forward Ever. Stopping Never.

I thought I'd never see her again

Also sorry. But I forgot my cord to connect my camera to the computer so no pics either this week...

Which is rather disappointing because some sweeeeeet stuff happened.

Such as....

Played with some monkeys and a baby monkey thought I had food so tried to bite me!

Got a new companion!

Moved to a new area!

My new area is the closest area to the...... OCEAN.

THE OCEAN AS IN THE BIG MASSIVE BODY OF WATER.

HER.

Yup. This is the her I am referring to. The ocean. Weeehaa

On to more important matters:

My new companion is Elder Bouwmeester or Elder เบา. He just finished training so it's a little different to now be the senior companion. I can't just look to my companion and expect him to help me out, because now we sometimes look to each other and we both have the same confused looks on our faces! But it's great, he's awesome, and we are gonna get some great things moving in this area.

Being here in Bangkok is different. The pace of work here is faster, there is so much people EVERYWHERE! Great things are gonna happen, I feel them coming. We are so excited to be here working hard and just giving it our all. It's crazy how fast time has gone since I've been here in Thailand. One second I was this clueless new missionary in the middle of rice paddies, and now here I am in Bangkok, still a bit clueless and confused but it's all good.

D&C 6:36: Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.

Faith and a whole lot of trust in God right now. It's gonna be a great 6 weeks with Elder Bouwmeester.

Serving here in Samut Prakaan is going to be epic.

This feels so empty with no pics.

Aloha,

Elder แอลลิส

Forward Ever. Stopping Never.

I emailed like 4 days ago...what do I even say?

So I mean. I guess some cool stuff happened or something?

So so so so so much people and water and it was hot, and the water was cold and here is me and my comp and its just so sweet. Think of a huge street, just blocked off, and huge 50 gallon tubs full of water and all you do is squirt and dump water on everyone!

Yeah. Thats songkran water festival. You know I was stoked.

Wow this transfer felt really really fast. It was literally a blur. Riding the truck taxis and biking in the hot sun. Quite a lot of interesting stuff happened.

It's a pretty special experience to see how people are so willing to change but have no idea what to do or how to do it. This is one of the greatest blessings that I'm experiencing here in Thailand. Seeing people change themselves for the better. Having a pure and genuine desire to follow the example of Jesus Christ, and to being trusting and having a relationship with God. It's such a special thing. And I'm forever grateful for this opportunity to be here in Thailand.

I still haven't finished re-reading all of General conference but just some big picture ideas that have come from studying.... We need to be willing to accept the will of God, we need to try our hardest to receive the change. We can't expect everything to just be done for us, but rather we should take what we hear. Learn more about it, live it, apply it, and just recognize all the blessings that come from living the gospel.

Some guidance stuff....

Forgive. Over and over there is such a big focus on forgiveness and I love it.

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/04/the-healing-ointment-of-forgiveness?lang=eng

Take the time, read the talk (or watch the video).

But really think about how big a blessing forgiveness can be. In our life and especially in the life of others. Forgive and try to see each person as our Heavenly Father would. This is a good life we live, so much to be grateful for.

Yeee. Happiness.

Stay stoked.

Aloha,

Elder แอลลิส

Forward Ever. Stopping Never.

Songkran

So the water festival is today.

Lots of stuff happened. I wont be writing much

but just get stoked for some sweet pics because Lopburi has been absolutely amazing, investigators, church members, Less active members. Everyone this ward is so great.

Quick thought for life, Jacob 6:12. look it up, ponder it, i really dont have much time.

Ill email hopefully better in a few days. p day just got switched cause of the timing of the water festival, henceforth the lack of an email earlier this week.

Life is good. Thailand is hot. It averaged 44 degrees celsius this week in Lopburi. I felt like i was going to melt.

But I didn't melt.

GOOD LUCK WITH FINALS!

Aloha,

Elder แอลลิส

Forward Ever. Stopping Never.

I went to the zoo

The zoo in Thailand is officially 10x cooler than the zoo in America. Two tigers were fighting.

But onto some real stuff that happened...

There are some absolutely amazing people here in Lopburi. Within the past week and a half we have had the opportunity to begin working closely with some really amazing investigators.

We have these two older grandmas. One is 92, the other is around 80. One is actually the mother of our investigator and the other is the mother of a bunch of members of the church. They both have decided to open their hearts to the message that we share and are pretty much stoked. Yes. That is how I will describe their happiness.

Then we've got another male, he's almost 50 but looks like he's 20, drives a Harley Davidson in THAILAND. And right now, he's on the search for something more, and feels like this is it. This is what he needs and wants in his life right now. All he asks for is some time to think, pray, and ponder. We're glad to be working with him.

Onto some even more exciting stuff....

Because of the super hard work of all the missionaries that have served in Lopburi before us, THE WARD IS SPLITTING INTO TWO

Yup. Two new wards, we even have a (slightly) bigger building. So sweet. So good. I love Thailand.

Just a quick thought for this week

Mosiah 2:41 "And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."

This week we felt like so much of our time teaching LA's, Recent members, and investigators we have been touching upon the commandments. This is it. This hits home on the purpose of commandments. Blessings on blessings on blessings.

Take it easy.

​

Aloha,

Elder แอลลิส

Forward Ever. Stopping Never.