Email 9-16-08

Dear Family,

Thank you for your letters as usual. I was having a letter famine when suddenly I get pictures in the mail! Yay. I ended up using those pictures for the TRC teaching; which teaching the whole week revolves around. I was able to show the picture of my family and talk about it with the investigators in Thai. The experience was actually quite amazing. It was the last time that I'll be teaching in English. The spirit filled the room and I could see as we taught the Sister's composure change as we answered her many difficult questions such as If we were created in God's image then why do we look different? (she was Thai), why can't I drink a little bit of wine when it is good for you?, etc. As it turns out these were her real concerns and questions that she asked the missionaries. I feel like she was moved in someway by the spirit, and I felt great as we left the room. Now the challenge is to be able to speak Thai for the same amount of time and teach the lesson with the spirit. Yet I feel that the Spirit almost has the opportunity to be stronger as long as I do everything in my part to learn the language because I'm even more dependent on the Lords help, and through him can weak things be made strong. Thai is certainly a weakness for me right now. Not that I'm not learning so much so fast!

Opposite to that experience was one where a simple matter of throwing a ball around at night escalated into a mini feud. I was astonished at how easily these Brethren were aroused against each other and how great the matter became so fast. I could see so clearly how we have opposition in all things and how when Satan's Power found it's way in it came at full force. Our potential is so great here as Missionaries. We are called from the Prophet of God to represent Jesus Christ. The adversity to match this potential is great. We were able to resolve the situation and calm things down. One Elder managed to break his hand in frustration hitting it against the door. It sounds really silly doesn't it? Well it is, but it's real.

Nevertheless I am doing really well. This last week has been the most productive week so far, I think. My companion and I have worked out an effective system and now were getting a lot more vocabulary memorized and using them throughout the day. And now we are the PhiiThays (older Thai people). Next week the younger Thai group will come in and we will help them where we can. There's a sort of approved tradition among the Thailand Elders that involves initiation into PhiiThay-ism. We had to "trust" the Phiithays as they compelled us into the bathroom with our toothbrushes out. They stuck some haggard looking brown... stuff onto our toothbrushes while we closed our eyes. Then we began brushing and opened our eyes. It reminded me of brushing my teeth with herbal shoe shine. It turned out to be Thai tooth paste! It was fun.

As for the socks I don't know where they disappeared to. But you could send me some new ones if needed and maybe some goods, like hmm cookies and cream, and goods, eh?

I have more to say but can't Later!

Hopefully I can send you some pictures.

Love,
Elder Lilly