20, White Christmas, oh and June 16, 2016

I'm feeling lazy. Today will be a bunch of pictures. Forecasted: "A White Christmas"

Had 3 baptisms yesterday.

One guy had moved from another area into Rangsit so he had gotten baptized here. Then the other guy was someone that I had invited off the street. He's already Christian but learned about prophets and just loved it! He speaks Cambodian, English, and some Thai. Not too much though. He's the guy that was praying for a year to meet with Christians that he could go to Church with.

​Bro. T and his friend Tuesday. Tuesday is one of our investigators that has a baptismal date also!

​Christmas time!

​Pt. 2 with the Stake Patriarch and his family. He had us sing for him to see if we sounded good, then he took us to go caroling to his neighbors.

Fit 6 elders in this taxi. The driver was a true homie. 5 in the back, 1 in the front.

Merry Christmas. Aloha Kalikimaka. Skyped the fam bam. Hoping everyone has a good Christmas season!

Get barreled, shred some powder. Do something fun. But always be a light unto others in this Christmas season!

Light the world!

Aloha,

Elder แอลลิส

Forward Ever. Stopping Never.

Week 51/52 or something like that? Or is it 50/52? Who knows....

The man. The myth. The Legend. Elder Krebs.

The Burmese elders came by and Elder Krebs stopped through in Rangsit (This was his first area). Came over and gave me this thing. I don't actually know what it's called. But it's what all the guys (including the elders) in Burma wear. 10/10 on comfortability. 4/10 for easiness of use.

Had a Christmas party. Still haven't gotten any pics from it. But the members built this epic set in like less than 10 hours. Hopefully I'll find a better picture soon...

Pretty rushed week, did a bunch of companion exchanges this week. Practiced for the Christmas play. Got lost after sitting on public transportation for 80+ minutes then had to walk 3km to back track cause we got off at the wrong place. Saw some pretty crazy miracles this week. So many people that we have been working our hearts out with have finally started to come back. We LOVE these people.

But yeah.

Helaman 3:35

"Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God."

Miracles come from aligning your will with God's.

Alma 34:33

"And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed."

The quicker you align your will (repent). The quicker the blessings come.

2 Nephi 25:23

"For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do."

So go out. And do it

Change the things you need to change. Pick up from where you left off or just run a whole new route.

But do the things you need to do. Then give the rest up to our Savior.

He died for you. And He lives once again for all of us. 

Keep the stoke alive. Change your lives. Do something good. Let that CHRISTMAS light shine!

Aloha Kalikimaka,

Elder แอลลิส

Forward Ever. Stopping Never.

So much happened since this past Wednesday.

Well here's a pic to start things off. But I'll get to this story later on. Keep in mind, his name is Elder Hunt.

On Wednesday, after getting back from going to see the sunrise, we were in a bit of a rush. Had a few lessons set up starting from around 3 pm. We were lucky enough to slide a few of the appointments back so we could email some. But then off we went to go and teach out at Thammasat University where we had thought our recent convert, Tae, had a friend that was interested. Funny story, it turns out that he actually invited us to be special guests and commentators for his friend's final project in his third year of Global Studies and Management. Yeah. So we had no idea what we were doing until they actually presented their project. But we pulled it off so well. Asked some good questions, helped out the friend. Then got his number and yup. He was way down to come to church. Then, already short on time had to go and rush back to the church around 30 minutes away and teach. Pretty much out of time, our new friend Badger found us a ride that could get us halfway to our destination. Both of the other people in the car were familiar with missionaries and had agreed to meet up another time. Way sick. But Wednesday isn't done. Get to the church to teach this Less Active member and his friend that he said was interested. Doesn't show up. But, no worries, he goes and learns in the institute class, then after class we wait for him and teach him. They had just randomly met at the market and this member that hasn't been able to come to church for quite some while bore his testimony about...everything. Hahaha. Yeah. it was way legit. The friend, Pok, accepted a baptismal date for this month. P-Day miracles.

Pic break. Ft Crocodile at Safari World

Then Friday. Well we started off with a companion exchange with the Zone leaders over in Don Meaung. This is my 3rd exchange working in this area. And I LOVE IT. The first time I had worked in Don Meaung was with Elder Powers and we had taught 2 people that later had gotten baptized. Then the 2nd time with Elder Hancock we had taught this other awesome investigator that just got baptized. Then on the 3rd time with Elder Hunt we planned another person's baptismal program and guess who helped us teach? One of the very first people that Elder Powers and I had taught while she was an investigator. It's way trippy. Not gonna lie. I've seen people in a whole different area progress and become epic members! Don Meaung is amazing!

Brother T

This is the story of the Cambodian guy that had prayed a year to meet with other Christians and to find a church to attend. We had gone and taught him about prophets, helping him understand this one concept. That God loves us therefor he gave us prophets to guide and help us. This was something that rang true to our investigator. He bore testimony to us that he knew that whatever the prophet would speak is the word of God. Yeee. We had yet to teach him a commandment, but we had looked back to last general conference and the prophet's address about the Word of Wisdom. YES. BAM. Not a long video at all, showed it to him in Cambodian. BAM. All addiction just got shut down. He has quit it all.

1 Nephi 6:4-5

"For the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved. Wherefore, the things which are pleasing unto the world I do not write, but the things which are pleasing unto God and unto those who are not of the world." This was his favorite verse that he felt God had prepared for him. From the personal study of Brother T.

Funny story...we didn't actually show him the video. This happened on Friday while we were on comp exchanges. But we had planned everything out and it worked flawlessly. On Saturday we met with him one more time and finished up teaching all the commandments. Almost no problems. Our whole method of teaching him has been teaching every concept and commandment out of the scriptures. This has made our study times so much more fulfilling, and has build our testimony in sharing scriptures. It's way fun, I've been able to read and understand a little more Cambodian so I follow along in the Thai scriptures cause many words are the same and we have Elder Decker reading in English. And Brother T helps us teach. It's this big mix of languages, but as we teach from the scriptures and through the spirit no worries.

Except for fasting.

Didn't do enough studying about fasting in the scriptures to explain it that well....So yeah. Gotta work on that one......

BUT HE IS ON HIS WAY.

Totally working like a missionary, bringing his friends that want to change their life. We share about prayer, they pray with real intent and a humble heart. Life. Changed.

Ether 3:5

"Behold, O Lord, thou canst do this. We know that thou art able to show forth great power, which looks small unto the understanding of men."

Something that was pointed out to me on the day of our comp exchange was this first sentence. "Behold, O Lord, thou canst do this." The child like innocence and faith. Supporting God. Knowing that he can do these things. It's been one thing to say "I trust in God that He can do all things." It's another to have this kind of faith. There was no doubt. These things can be done. This work is real.

Hey! That's me!

We want a white Christmas this year.

Aloha,

Elder แอลลิส

Forward Ever. Stopping Never.

Hah. No Time

HIGHLIGHTS!

We had a baptism. She was an investigator for 3 years. Then we taught her and she had a crazy change of heart and all the stars aligned and she was baptized.

Went to a zoo and chilled with some giraffes.

Caught the sunrise today.

Ft. Elder Ellis & Decker

Matthew 10:39 "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it."

Lose. Your. Self.

Aloha,

Elder แอลลิส

Forward Ever. Stopping Never.

YEEEEEEEEEEE 555++

You have your lows. Then you also get some highs (aka some really epic weeks ((Like this one))...)

Let's do this.

Thanksgiving at a Japanese Buffet. We ordered like 60+ trays of meat and way too much ice cream....

Translating some stuff

​Did some translating. One of the elders gets an email from some senior missionaries asking for some help in translating some people's conversion stories to be compiled into some sort of book/record. They had sent around 5 different people's stories to be translated. Got the way special opportunity to translate 3 stories, 2 of which were from members that I have served in one of my previous areas. SO SO SO SICK. Conversion stories and the stories of why people are are my favorite things ever.

Got kicked out of another market this week. But in the 20 minutes before we got kicked out we got a handful of phone numbers.

Teaching some people that aren't actually from Thailand.

Ok well this is Brother Came....He's from Lao. We had taught him over in Samut Prakaan. Saw him at a massive multi-stake stake conference! The fourth stake has been created in Thailand! Now just in Bangkok alone we have Bangkok West, Bangkok North, and the Bangkok stake. Time is flying.

Wait. Why isn't he wearing a missionary tag? Pretty crazy that I still see around one of my old companions.

But today it's not about his story. It's about a guy named T (ที). He's from Cambodia. While me and Elder Smith were on comp exchanges we had went out and invited the whole day. Walking down the street we were just going and asking people "เฮย์สนใจลองเข้าโบสถ์มั้ย." And in English that is "Hey, do you want to try going to church?" So we were walking and just having a good time talking to people then I go up and talk to T. Ask him in Thai and he has no idea what I'm saying. So I awkwardly ask him in English "Soo. uh. Yeah. Hey. You ever been to church?" He says yeah. Then I'm stuck again...so awkwardly stuttering in my now broken English "Well cool. So uh. You wanna try go to the church that has the restored gospel?" And he's just like...yeah I'm down. Get his number, give him a pamphlet don't think much of it. Sunday comes, and he walks in. But he's super busy all week long and his only day off is Saturday. But the next weekend comes and he's actually in Cambodia. Then this past weekend. Get an appointment with him. This is where it gets trippy...

He's been Christian since around 2004/2005. He has had a ton of miracles asking where if Christ was real please heal him and provide for his family in Cambodia. And his faith and prayers are so real and powerful. So he's been a super strong Christian in Cambodia. Then this past year he had moved here to Thailand to work. He's working, but he had said it's hard to be Christian when you are here by yourself. He faces all these temptations around him but he knows he must withstand them. And he does, through diligent scripture reading in the bible! Oh and get this. 

HE HAS BEEN PRAYING FOR 1 YEAR EVERY DAY FOR US TO MEET. 

It's so real. People have been prepared well beyond what we can even imagine. Right now he is progressing like fire towards his baptismal date in December.

Teaching some people that are from Thailand...

Got some way awesome new investigators. That are actually from Thailand! Stoked to see how they will progress.

Baptism in sign language

We are indoors and my eyes are still closed...I don't understand. how?

Other companionship (Elder Smith/Bunker) got their first baptism here in Rangsit! They have been working like spiritual machines! They came into this area with literally nothing. Having to start from scratch with investigators. Didn't even have a house. But now they have investigators and a house. Yup. You could say they're going places.

Oh funny side story. So we were in Bangkok at a hotel for the stake conference, but we had prepared the church building the night before for the baptism. Everything was good, water was in the baptismal font, it was clean, white, and ready. So we lock up the church. Go to the meeting, then come back around 1:45, for the baptismal service to happen at 2. Well surprise. NO WATER IN THE FONT. Yeah. We came back to a font that was dry. Like my skin in Utah dry. Dry.

So we rushed and filled the font and eventually got the baptism under way at 3 pm hahaha. But it's all good. The sister that was baptized is way amazing with such a strong testimony and desire to serve in this church.

Baptism

3 Nephi 13:21

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

This was definitely the top used scripture this week when teaching everyone. Again. It is a question that takes a bit of pondering. Where is your heart. Where are your desires. Don't want to say too much, cause having everyone ponder on these things is part of the good stuff. This scripture is also found in the bible. Straight out of the teachings of Jesus Christ. Where is your heart? (also if you're a missionary and still reading to this point. KEEP THAT THING LOCKED UP)

​Baptism.

Aloha,

Elder แอลลิส

Forward Ever. Stopping Never.

Welcome to the Bridge

Well here we are. Transfers have come and gone. Our whole group has almost stayed the same. Except for our favorite red headed missionary. He has transferred out. Welcome to the bridge Elder Bair (yes as in หมี ).

This week started off a bit rocky with some soaring 102 degree fevers and the usual stomach problems cause of some spoiled chicken that we ate for a few days in a row....But we knew that this too shall pass. And it did.

A member asked for some help in painting a few rooms. We ended up painting her whole apartment. Good, fun, and a great project the whole 6 elders got to work on together.

We've been trying to do a whole lot more service and less active and semi active member work here in Rangsit to maintain steady growth. And this week has been way productive in these aspects of the work. We have been so blessed with opportunities to be serving others and meeting with a lot more members that haven't been able to come to church because of various reasons. Working with these people is so much fun and just such an amazing opportunity. We get to learn about their stories, why they first came into the church, why they converted to Christianity. All of these people have got such an amazing story and truly have seen their lives change from the gospel. It's such a sweet blessing to be working here in Thailand and an even BIGGER blessing to be working here in Rangsit.

The child.

Yesterday to finish our Sunday on a good note we went out as a District and just did a mass district inviting blitz. Went down to some bus stops and just talked to everyone.

Fun highlights from this super short 30ish minutes of finding...

• Motorbikes drive wherever they want. Including the sidewalk. Yes it is illegal. But they do it. So as 6 Americans are walking along the sidewalk. We sorta make a barricade. Usually they just honk their horn and we move but we were inspired by some members to not let them go....Of course not the best. But they did slow down and it gave the new missionaries and opportunity to practice talking to people on the go. No way you can get past us if we don't move out of the way. And no way are we moving out of the way if you haven't been invited at least 3 times.
• Sometimes there are people that we always talk to. Love them so much, this one lucky guy got invited by all 6 of us. As we are talking we don't always keep the best track of who has already been talked to.
• Got some people really pumped to quit smoking by smashing their cigarettes and throwing them off the bridge.

From Left to Right "Ellis, Bair, McKay, Decker, Bunker, Smith"

Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven"

There was some talk about how if you are good, you should go out and be straightforward and say and exclaim how good you are. Correct. To an extent. But so much more powerful is when your actions exceed that of your words. I've seen some of the best examples of really quiet people that were just the most amazing workers. Go out and let your actions show who you are. Do it with all your heart, might, mind, and strength.

Stay stoked.

Aloha,

Elder แอลลิส

Forward Ever. Stopping Never.

Respecting People's Agency

Yup. Probably the hardest thing I have to deal with being a missionary in Thailand. But because of this, I had one of the most amazing weeks ever. Yeah. Ever.

The story starts last week Tuesday.

​These were the goals. We want to be balanced missionaries, working every aspect of the missionary game. Having to Serve, Contact, Retain Recent Converts, Active less active members, and work with strong Members. We wanted it all. Then on top of that we decided, we need to get stoked again. So we made another goal to get a total of 300 phone numbers within the whole district. The goal setting was Tuesday.

Wednesday. Oh yeah....

​Companion exchanges this time. Due to my poor planning. I had done companion exchanges almost every day this past week. Yeah. Forgot that there were a total of 4 elders that I need to do exchanges with.....

We planned our day and it looked way sweet. We had lessons with new investigators, progressing investigators, Recent Converts, Less Actives. We were going for the full SCRAM. But then that morning. We go and start making calls. And then yeah. Hah. Well. Every single appointment CANCELLED! Haha. Yeah. So Elder Ellis and Smith went hard. And by hard I mean from 10:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. we went out inviting. Took a little time for lunch and dinner. But when it came down to it. We were every where, opening our mouths with everyone. And ended up doing alright. The total count for the day was 60 people contacted (Or in other words, a total of 60 phone numbers of people that expressed an interest to meet with us and change their lives) and probably a thousand other "seeds" planted. It was way too much fun. And we also found these sick Christmas lights at a store for like $5 dollars. It's like a 8m strand and has 6 different type of settings.

"Rangsit is lit"-Quote by Elder Decker ft. Elder Ellis x Smith

Thursday another switch off this time with Elder McKay. He's pretty epic. Not gonna lie. And we went from a day that looked like it was gonna be another 10 hours of contacting. But as we went throughout the day, appointments were made and new investigators were picked up. We got like 3 new investigators and a bunch of member lessons and just like wow. Things are working in mysterious ways.

Saturday was the 50th anniversary of the church in Thailand! Went over to the biggest church buildings in Thailand and had a huge meeting with members from all over the country and also from missionaries all over Bangkok. Got to see a member that I knew from Hawaii, and also a bunch of good friends from the other areas that I had served in. Apparently the pics are on Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/mormonthai/>.

Sundazed.

After like 4 months of teaching this investigator, she finally got baptized! Her name in thai means shrimp. So Sister Shrimp was invited to learn more about the church. She was Protestant but eventually felt so strongly that she needed to start coming to church here. And as she continued to pray, read, and study the scriptures she progressed. Not gonna lie. This was a true test of patience and respecting people's personal agency when teaching her. And then Elder Decker baptized her. Rangsit is pretty awesome.

So to come full circle.

Respecting People's Agency.

Missionaries always say that they "Love the people where they serve." People often times will just say these words, then there are times when you show that your words are true. Serving with my heart, might, mind, and strength I tried my best to show to these people that I truly love them all. But for some reason, I had hit a metaphorical stumbling block. We were going out, working as hard as we could, but for some reason I was just so frustrated. So we had a discussion as a district about what we needed to do to become better. And this topic came up. Some really amazing advice was given. 

"When your eyesight isn't working, pray to ask that your sight to be removed and replaced with God's sight." 

This is so much more than just praying for charity. This is a specific and earnest call for help. So I did. And this made me so much happier. Seeing and loving and trying even harder to push and love even more than I thought was possible. As my sight was removed and replaced with a bit of how God sees these people, a lot changed. The work became happy and successful once again.

Mosiah 4:10 "...and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them."

Learn. Believe. Do.

Aloha,

Elder แอลลิส

Forward Ever. Stopping Never.

Is Daylight Savings A Thing in Thailand?

I'm pretty much done trying to do that video thing. If anything it'll just get thrown up on the blog if I try to do it again....

This week was pretty amazing. Typical Thailand. Run down on the week....

Monday-After going out to a mall, we had rushed back to the church to help teach a Cambodian man how to read Thai!

Tuesday-Went over to immigration to do renew the visa. I went down with another missionary in the district because he was a fully year younger than me and had to renew his visa also. Plot Twist. In the queue line I got number 4. He drew number 104. Therefore, I was done in 20 minutes, and we had to wait until 3 pm to get his visa renewed. But no worries, because the work went on, and English was still taught.

Wednesday was a way special opportunity to meet with Elder Wong of the 70, he had came and really spoken to us giving some great guidance. He touched upon using new methods and being memorable as missionaries in how you worked. Also another big part was teaching those people that are truly willing to act upon the message. Which had us reflect on our current investigators. The number of people willingly acting and changing upon this message has been decreasing. This only means that we need to find more new people! So that's the goal, and that is what we'll be doing. And what we have always been doing. 

Major takeaways from the conference

1-Be memorable, don't be basic

2-Teach those that are prepared and actively changing

3-Teach Repentance and the Atonement a whole lot better

The famous Rangsit pig. I gotta get a better pic of it in its full magnificent glory.

Probably the highlight of my week was coming and meeting with these two members from Surin. Surin was my first area. It's been a little over a year. While in Surin, Elder Sayavong (my trainer) had baptized this family but right when I moved into Surin, two of the daughters moved out and into other provinces. We would try stay in contact with these members but it was sorta hard, so we decided to change up how we use our time and just started calling other people. Fast forward a year. Here I am in Rangsit, getting a call from the missionaries over in Surin asking if I know these people. Well I don't. So we get the number, get an appointment. And now finally a year later this mystery has been solved. For a long time these two sisters were just a name and a picture, but now after meeting with them and seeing how their faith has just kept on building, they are so prepared to come back to church. There is so much being planned, our vision truly doesn't compare with that of our Heavenly Fathers. Pretty sweet. Can't forget the little things.

Alma 43:45

"Nevertheless, the Nephites were inspired by a better cause, for they were not fighting for monarchy nor power but they were fighting for their homes and their liberties, their wives and their children, and their all, yea, for their rites of worship and their church."

To explain the context of this verse a bit, there are two groups of people Nephites and Lamanites. At this time, the Lamanites were about to over power the Nephites in war but then they (the Nephites) remembered why they were there. And this motivation led them to overcome their enemies.

Yeah. Staying motivated through love and through a desire and willingness to do. It's a game changer. I'm doing the things I do cause it's all real and it's all worth it. God is real, Christ lives and atoned for our sins. It is what it is.

What is your cause to work. To do. To live? When things get slow or a little difficult it's time to go back to the basics and just figure out what is your why. So yeah, take some time. Ponder on this for a minute. 

Why do you do what you do?

Aloha,

Elder แอลลิส

Forward Ever. Stopping Never.

Have a sat. Relax. It's Sunday.

​From last week Monday. Went out and played football with Recent Converts, Less Actives, Members, and some Investigators. Pretty much this day showed how out of shape I was and how I should definitely practice a little bit before the next time we play soccer again with a bunch of Thai people.

We are starting from scratch again. It's time to start grinding and finding new investigators! So much potential and SO MANY PEOPLE. Ever since my first area, I feel like each new area I move in has more and more and more people.

Then there's this guy....who threw his own cigarette away. The power of asking politely. Yeee.

​It's always a good day at the bus stop. Everyone's being talked to, one missionary is looking for the bus, we've got members with us. Like come on. This is a sweet Sunday night.

But really.

Well this week was a week of last lessons and phone calls to set the foundation for the next week. Taught a bunch of people, sad to see when they just aren't serious about what we have to share with them. But it's alright, their time will come, and now is just not their hour to rise and shine.

Also, the importance of effectively using Sundays. On Sundays we have such a great opportunity to be with all the members. We are able to go and talk and meet and even better....SET UP APPOINTMENTS! Yeah. Because although everyone has a cell phone...they don't always pick up. One of the best things I've learned is that the hour you spend right before Sacrament meeting is crucial when it comes to setting up appointment. Probably a quarter of our upcoming week has already been planned. You buzz around talking to people, but 10-15 minutes before it starts. Have a sat. Relax. It's Sunday.

After having an epic companion exchange with ELDER HANCOCK (we came into Thailand at the same time) I had picked up some new ways to teach. We had taught a lesson about justice and mercy helping this one member understand this concept more and just gotta share one quick verse.

Alma 42:27 "Therefore, O my son, whosoever will come may come and partake of the waters of life freely; and whosoever will not come the same is not compelled to come..."

Never compelled. God's love is there. He's waiting for YOU. But it's chill. It's always up to you. But just saying....our Heavenly Father loves you. Jesus loves you. There's a lot of love in this world and it ain't ever going away. 

So try it out and loveee.

Aloha,

Elder แอลลิส

Forward Ever. Stopping Never.