Wooohoooooooo.
New Year.
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
On to some awesome stories of awesome people
Referrals are miracles. Buriram is a place of Miracles. Thailand = Miracles.
So grateful for this opportunity to teach this amazing sister! Sister ดา is the boss of one of the recent converts in the ward. Our first time we had met with her we weren't too sure what to expect. Buriram had 4 elders before but now we were down to just me and Elder Powers this transfer. And she was previously a referral to the other set of elders here. So we honestly had no idea what to expect. We had just thought "Hey, looks like she doesn't have a baptismal date. Let's try and give her one." She had come to church a few times before and then recently accepted to start meeting with the missionaries. So we go and meet with her with some members. When we give her a date to get baptized in 2 weeks, she stops us. And just says "If these things are important as you elders and church members say, I think I need to be baptized sooner. What about this week Sunday?" BOOM.
Done. We can do that. We got you. No problemo.
Here is a picture of how awesome our Primary is. They got up on stage and danced for Christmas. So much energy so much excitement. Children.
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| This is how Thai people celebrate Christmas. With Karaoke. And a dance party. |
"The Best is Yet to Be"
In honor of this New Year, here's a talk from Elder Holland.
We experience a ton of things in a year. Often even the day to day things that influence us could possible shape our lives. But hey. What about those other things. What about those things that we had to struggle to overcome? Do we let them define us? No. We look back at those times to gain experience but we don't let those things hold us down. There's nothing wrong with reflection. But what we shouldn't do is let past experiences limit us.
Just a quick tidbit from the talk
"As a new year begins and we try to benefit from a proper view of what has gone before, I plead with you not to dwell on days now gone nor to yearn vainly for yesterdays, however good those yesterdays may have been. The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead and remember that faith is always pointed toward the future. Faith always has to do with blessings and truths and events that will yet be efficacious in our lives."
"Yo dog. My name is Victor. The boys call me West Win. I ain't no West Lee. That's some Chinese stuff yo!"
Last lesson of 2015 happened to be in English to this awesome fellow. Came to Thailand to get away from the madness and trouble in South Africa because he had some friends tell him about how peaceful and safe Thailand has been for them. Therefore he comes to Thailand. He was in Bangkok where some sister missionaries had originally contacted him, but then they found out that his house is actually here in Buriram. After a few days of trying and never being able to meet with him, we get a finalized appointment and he shows up. Yeeee stoked. Teaching in English is a lot harder than I thought. But then again, the real language we need to speak is the language of the Spirit. He's been scared of going to church here in Thailand because he will enter the church and then not understand anything. While we were teaching him. Wow. Just such an amazing feeling. Here is someone genuinely searching for Christ. Having this desire to change his heart and move forward with Christ's help. Breath taking amount of desire
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| Triple Shakas yo! |
So quick story about this sister. She randomly had walked in to the church and asked to learn English because she had saw the "Free English Class" sign we had in the front of the Church. At the time, it was the last week of the transfer so the Elders didn't get an opportunity to really teacher. So like we had said, because there are only 2 elders in Buriram and before there were 4, our companionship was crazy busy. So we worked and taught her every day the past week trying to prep all our different investigators to get baptized. Also PLOT TWIST. Shes not even from Buriram. Actually lives in Korat, but was just here in Buriram to see her sister. So she's getting baptized in KORAT! By ELDER KREBS. Yeee same MTC District.
Why is Thailand so amazing?
Happy New Years all.
Aloha,
Elder แอลลิส
Forward Ever. Stopping Never.
