ระยอง - WHAT!? THE BEACH!?!

​WHAT!? THE BEACH!?!

Had an amazing ward activity down at the beach (no I did not get in the water....)

You could say this was a pretty great week....

This week seriously flew by way too fast! I can\t believe how quickly this past month has felt in Samut Prakan. The work here is different. But oh so rewarding. Because our church building closed due to parking inconveniences, they started to go to church at another building 20 minutes north. But then because of construction, that building closed down so now 3 wards meet in 1 building. And this building is 20 minutes (no traffic) to around 1 hour (with some traffic). The building has been bouncing around so much that often times members don't even know where to go to church...therefore they sometimes just dont. Which leaves it up to us, tracking them down and then getting on the bus and taking them to church. Step by step, little by little, each person we bring is one person that now remembers the path to get to church. Hopefully by investing this extra amount of time we can set a strong foundation here and really get things started! 

AWW YEAH STAY STOKED!

Oh the things you find in Thailand. She was raising them to be sold as pets.

​Went on a switch off with the amazing Elder Walker out in Lat Krabang. Wow. Just the amount of amaziness. Its simply off the charts. Right from 6:30 am! Got the day started off right! Studied! Went out and it was such a beautiful day. Full of grabbing cigarettes out of peoples hands to get them to quit smoking to eating 3 baht donuts to this picture. There is so so so much work to be done. When both companions have got their heart into the work and are loving every bit of it. Woah. That is the very time when the miracles come. Going out, teaching, and just loving these people. Hoping that they'll take a chance to open their hearts and try listening to the message we have to share. Thailand is the place that I need to be. Right here. Right now. Everything is just clicking into place.

Now onto a somewhat unrelated but still absolutely awesome talk that I had studied this week...

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

Gotta give a shout out to the people that have influenced me the most. My family. I always thought "family councils" were so silly. Even if it was just a quick sit down at the dinner table to plan out the week on Sunday night. I used to think it was so boring, just the same repetitions. At the time I had no idea what a blessing these few minutes were for our family. Looking back, reflecting, pondering, and then talking with some other missionaries. Those times where our family put aside 10-15 minutes to just be together and talk. That really made all the difference. It's silly, yes. But if it works, I want it. If it works I'll do it.

ALSO CONGRATULATION TO ALL THE HAWAIIANS GRADUATING! 

I MUA KAMEHAMEHA

Woooo! My sister is old. I'm old....No one is getting any younger...oh well....

I mua!

Aloha,

Elder แอลลิส

Forward Ever. Stopping Never.

Sometimes I question....How?

I dont think we have a comp picture yet....Elder Bouwmeester & Elder Ellis

Being here. Its a grind. The time is moving way way toooo fast. Looking back, I can hardly remember what we did. Open up my planner to a day before and I just sorta look at it. Way confused. Did we really do all of that stuff? Woah.

Woah...how? How do we do this, two 19 year old boys from America. In Thailand. Getting on buses, riding taxis, teaching Thai people about Jesus Christ....SPEAKING THAI?

How?

Alma 26:12

(Pretty much explains our feelings on the daily)

Some random thoughts

-Soda is so cheap here, we buy a ton of it. There was a week where we were both drinking at least a liter of soda each day. 1 liter minimum...Yeah thats a habit that we needed to cut

-TRAFFIC. I thought traffic in Hawaii was bad. Still bad here in Thailand. Being impatient as I am, we did get off a bus, started walking pass the traffic then proceeded to get on another bus. I don't like this traffic thing. It's not fun.

-Thailand internet is good. But it isn't high speed. Problems of having to use an internet cafe...The list is long. But at least its cheap?

So here's a video that I had found last week Monday. Absolutely amazing. 

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2015-01-010-strive?lang=eng&category=youth-media

This is what we need to do! Strive. Push on! This video literally encompasses everything that I love. Watched this video once every morning to get pumped up. Silly? Yes a little. But whatever works. Strive to do the best and be the best because the time is now! Hold on tight cause it's a wild ride.

Aloha,

Elder แอลลิส

Forward Ever. Stopping Never.

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.