Dear Families,
I get packages only on 2 times per moves which 2 times are one week apart. Therefore you can calculate the exact two dates that those two times will be. The first time is always on the Thursday of moves meeting and the second time is the week after which is zone conference. Moves meeting is always on Thursday. Moves are about one and a half months long. This moves meeting is on April 16. (Next moves is May 28 then July 9 then August 20 etc.)
So I will get the package in another three weeks. But don't let this 2 times per 2 1/2 months discourage you from sending packages my way. I get them... eventually.
Last week I was disappointed as we went to a different internet shop which blocked us from viewing any pictures that were sent. I'm never going there again. But I can see them now. I have to agree that Justin's Batman cake looks
beautiful.
Also Spencer flying in the air is awesome. My companion said that his feet showing in the air might not be very good to show Thai people. My response was "He's flying!"
I have another challenge to bring to mind. This challenge is founded on the principal of sacrifice. Since the beginning of man, God has asked us to sacrifice to become more like the Savior. In our time we are asked to sacrifice a broken heart and a contrite spirit. But as sacrifice brings blessings and shows faith, we also have the opportunity to make special sacrifices. Just like the Anti-Nephi-Lehi's buried their swords as a testimony and a promise of their sacrifice, even their lives, so that they could be forgiven and become closer to Christ, we can also make special sacrifices (so long as they are congruent with the will of God) to receive special blessings. So the challenge is to prayerfully consider something that you will sacrifice (something that is holding you back from being more Christlike, obedience, maybe something that you like but would be better off to give up, maybe your time) and pick a blessing or a need in your life that will bring you closer to our savior and take this sacrifice in prayer and make a covenant with the Lord that you are willing to make this sacrifice and ask for these special blessings. As we make special sacrifices we will be blessed, even with what we ask for. Just don't ask astray :)
I was reading in my patriarchal blessing and considering some of the blessings that the lord has promised me according to my obedience and my faithful service. I think that sometimes it seems like we make such great sacrifices, yet really in the end we always get more than we give. I can promise that.
Anyway, that's me challenge.
Sounds like I'm going to come home to a whole new generation in the family. yaaay I'm excited!
As far as Thailand's economy/government is concerned there are two major rebellious groups the Red shirts and the yellow shirts. Setthakit yeh (The economy is terrible).
There's tons of Thai people who do nothing but work all day and hardly sleep at all. One of my investigators got really sick because he drives a Taxi all night with out any breaks and then he wakes up early and drives some more( but he's awesome and he's read in the Book of Mormon up to Alma 47 since I met him). There's not too many people who sell "things" because not very many people buy "things". Selling food is much more lucrative.
President Typ told me about being a true Thai person. He was explaining how about 70% of the people are satisfied with a sabbay life, a care free problem free life. These people aren't very willing to change. They are not looking to change and they take a long time to accept the Gospel. Then there the people who actually choose to do bad, to steal, who made the wrong choices in life. There are only a few from these people who are ready to accept the Gospel. But a true Thai person is the kind of person who will spend hours to carve a master peace just to share. The kind of person that chooses good and seeks good things, who knows all of their neighbors, the kind of people that are easy to love. These are the true Thai people. They are also the people who are seeking the Gospel.
I love the Thai people.
I also like how everybody has a motorcycle. I don't know why but it's fun.
I am so thankful for everybody's prayers on my behalf. This moves has been a real challenge and opportunity to grow and learn. It's been a huge test of patience as well. But I am really happy as I feel the spirit in the work.
I love you guys,
Elder Lilly
Mar 25, 2009
Mar 17, 2009
Dear Family,
This past week was interesting. One day we had every single one of our appointments cancel at various points throughout the day so we ended up staying out in the fiery steam of Thailand's classic weather... Hot and Humid, and in an area that has very few reasons to go outside, so as you might imagine it wasn't a very conducive environment for missionary work. At the end of the day we visited a Burmese family in an apartment full of illegal residence. We seem to be running into a lot of Burmese people lately.
Right now I am trying to help my companion to have more confidence. He's a very smart and capable person, and he does well when he is comfortable. But he lacks confidence. And he struggles with the language. This week has been an interesting lesson for me as I try to find ways to help him and to progress forward in the work. I think that as long as we are working towards progression and repenting quickly of our mistakes that we will find success in the process. I've learned a lot about faith, charity and the Spirit.
I love in Chapter 4 of Preach My Gospel the activity that explains the feelings of the Spirit. I think there are times that we feel the Spirit strongly and we hold onto those times that we recognize that feeling, while perhaps other times we are impressed by the spirit without knowing the source of our impressions. As I learned, the feelings of comfort and joy also come from the spirit. I have felt a lot of joy and happiness in my life time. There has been plenty of times when I have been impressed by a scripture or I have felt encourage to repent or keep the commandments better. There have been lots of times where I have felt the need to humble myself and be more patient and submissive. These feelings all come from the Spirit too. After learning about this I feel like I have felt the promptings of the Spirit much more in my life than I ever realized before.
So I would like to ask which of Brother Trazdahl's dishes were his favorite? And are there any other meals he suggests? If you guys download the program that lets you type Thai script then I could type the actual names/spellings of these words. My key board is lovely equipped with script letters. Although in my experience with Thai food, there's a general flavor to the dish but no two cooks make one meal exactly the same. There's phadthay that is way sweet with some peanut sauce and shrimp and then theres the phadthay that is not sweet and it's loaded with sprouts.
Oh man I love gangmatsuman. I just recently tried khawbugapi. Mhhhmmm
Love you gtg
Elder Lilly
This past week was interesting. One day we had every single one of our appointments cancel at various points throughout the day so we ended up staying out in the fiery steam of Thailand's classic weather... Hot and Humid, and in an area that has very few reasons to go outside, so as you might imagine it wasn't a very conducive environment for missionary work. At the end of the day we visited a Burmese family in an apartment full of illegal residence. We seem to be running into a lot of Burmese people lately.
Right now I am trying to help my companion to have more confidence. He's a very smart and capable person, and he does well when he is comfortable. But he lacks confidence. And he struggles with the language. This week has been an interesting lesson for me as I try to find ways to help him and to progress forward in the work. I think that as long as we are working towards progression and repenting quickly of our mistakes that we will find success in the process. I've learned a lot about faith, charity and the Spirit.
I love in Chapter 4 of Preach My Gospel the activity that explains the feelings of the Spirit. I think there are times that we feel the Spirit strongly and we hold onto those times that we recognize that feeling, while perhaps other times we are impressed by the spirit without knowing the source of our impressions. As I learned, the feelings of comfort and joy also come from the spirit. I have felt a lot of joy and happiness in my life time. There has been plenty of times when I have been impressed by a scripture or I have felt encourage to repent or keep the commandments better. There have been lots of times where I have felt the need to humble myself and be more patient and submissive. These feelings all come from the Spirit too. After learning about this I feel like I have felt the promptings of the Spirit much more in my life than I ever realized before.
So I would like to ask which of Brother Trazdahl's dishes were his favorite? And are there any other meals he suggests? If you guys download the program that lets you type Thai script then I could type the actual names/spellings of these words. My key board is lovely equipped with script letters. Although in my experience with Thai food, there's a general flavor to the dish but no two cooks make one meal exactly the same. There's phadthay that is way sweet with some peanut sauce and shrimp and then theres the phadthay that is not sweet and it's loaded with sprouts.
Oh man I love gangmatsuman. I just recently tried khawbugapi. Mhhhmmm
Love you gtg
Elder Lilly
Mar 10, 2009
For your viewing pleasure... yes Crystal, it's here!
Dear Family,
Today I don't have a lot to say. Mostly because these pictures took so long to upload and manage and what not.
Today I want to talk about our vision of the future. Because, this week we were inspired by President Dodge to consider creating one. He asked us to prayerfully consider our vision for 25 years in the future, 5 years in the future, and the last day of our missions. This has been quite a productive activity for me. Where do I want to be, what do I want to become? I considered my potential. After careful consideration I then thought about what I can do now to fulfill my vision. I'm way excited!
God's plan for us and our purpose in life is to become like Him. God is the source of happiness. Happiness is a gift from God. Happiness is also a choice. The commandments are the way that we earn that gift and the way that we become more like God. Why then do we sometimes resist his commandments? The more we submit ourselves to His will the more access to his strength we have. Man's extremity is God's opportunity. If we are keeping the commandments then we can always choose to be happy.
So there's just a few thoughts.
I challenge everyone at home to consider their vision of the future. What do you want to become? How do you want to be? What do you want to be doing? Don't be weak in your vision. Be hopeful! Are we obeying enough to be blessed with more commandments and personal revelation?
We are Children of God! We have so much potential. Thailand has so much potential. So, remember, 25 years, 5 years and then 1 year or at the end of the school year. What are you going to do now to accomplish your vision? Stay on the path and review weekly.
Enjoy the Pictures,
Love,
Elder Lilly
P.S. Sorry I haven't sent more than E-mails for a while.
P.S.S I hope you are all reading and praying in personal time each day. I ask that a lot from my investigators. It has a powerful influence.
Today I don't have a lot to say. Mostly because these pictures took so long to upload and manage and what not.
Today I want to talk about our vision of the future. Because, this week we were inspired by President Dodge to consider creating one. He asked us to prayerfully consider our vision for 25 years in the future, 5 years in the future, and the last day of our missions. This has been quite a productive activity for me. Where do I want to be, what do I want to become? I considered my potential. After careful consideration I then thought about what I can do now to fulfill my vision. I'm way excited!
God's plan for us and our purpose in life is to become like Him. God is the source of happiness. Happiness is a gift from God. Happiness is also a choice. The commandments are the way that we earn that gift and the way that we become more like God. Why then do we sometimes resist his commandments? The more we submit ourselves to His will the more access to his strength we have. Man's extremity is God's opportunity. If we are keeping the commandments then we can always choose to be happy.
So there's just a few thoughts.
I challenge everyone at home to consider their vision of the future. What do you want to become? How do you want to be? What do you want to be doing? Don't be weak in your vision. Be hopeful! Are we obeying enough to be blessed with more commandments and personal revelation?
We are Children of God! We have so much potential. Thailand has so much potential. So, remember, 25 years, 5 years and then 1 year or at the end of the school year. What are you going to do now to accomplish your vision? Stay on the path and review weekly.
Enjoy the Pictures,
Love,
Elder Lilly
P.S. Sorry I haven't sent more than E-mails for a while.
P.S.S I hope you are all reading and praying in personal time each day. I ask that a lot from my investigators. It has a powerful influence.
Mar 4, 2009
The Road goes Ever On and On
Dear Mom and Dad,
I've had the opportunity to do a lot of studying about the gospel and other things. Mostly I try to prepare the lessons I am going to teach for the day but then after that I have some to read in the Scriptures and ponder about the many things that God has revealed to us. I love reading the articles from Elder Joseph F. Smith. Something I am really working on right now is making my prayers more simple and meaningful, asking for things that I need, and giving thanks throughout the day for the blessings that I received. I have seen the difference in the power and strength of prayers when they are expressed with deep thought and feelings and ended with trust and confidence in receiving an answer. And if we are innocent and pure and ask for that which is good then we do receive.
I want to express just a very small portion of the gratitude that I feel for you, Mom and Dad. I learned well from your examples. I've seen and felt how much you've sacrificed and how much more you are willing to sacrifice on my behalf. Thank you so much. I can't wait to raise my own family in a home of strength, security and prayer. Similar to the Sons of Helaman, I can not doubt that my parents knew it. I can't sufficiently express the slightest bit of what I feel. I will always cherish the time I have spent learning from you. In the here and now you can rest assured that you're influence on your Son has helped him to be happy and has led him to trust in God like you have trusted and to share these things with others. Happiness cannot be found without sacrifice. Oh then how great is the happiness that is found in the home.
This moves ends tomorrow and I will be moving onto my fourth moves here in Bangkhae. Elder Olinger and Elder Blackhurst will stay as well and we get to bid Elder Miles farewell as he moves on to be the Zone leader in another part of Thailand--we won't know where until tomorrow.
Therefore we also get to greet a new district leader and welcome him to the awesomeness of Bangkhae. I love this area. I still have work to do here.
Elder Olinger and I are doing well. I am told that Elder Olinger has changed a lot from the beginning of his mission. He struggles with communicating with people, specifically in the social aspect. It takes a lot of courage for him to open up and speak to strangers. He is a very intelligent person. He speaks Thai, french, English and Spanish. And he is very very good at using the scriptures in teaching. I am his first junior companion. Elder Miles was explaining how when he first became the senior companion he felt like he had just come in to Thailand for the first time again. Ouch.
I would like to mention that I have seen so many miracles happen on my mission so far. Not too long ago we dropped a lot of our investigators who weren't progressing and we felt weren't ready. The missionaries can only carry investigators so far. We are looking for those people who are willing to change and put trust in God, those people who have followed the promptings of the spirit and are prepared to receive his gospel. Anyone who can be persuaded into the Gospel can be persuaded out of it. They need a witness by the Spirit. We set out one week with a goal to find 15 new investigators. Then we prayed and worked and by the end of the week, and on the last day of the week we met that goal. Right now we have 14 investigators who have a goal to be baptized. I think as we prepare more and focus on every single one of these people with the same special attention that the Lord will give us more than this. And hopefully all of these people will make it up the rough step to baptism and onwards to the end.
Well, I'm out of time. This is an occurrence that is a little to familiar. ;)
Love,
Elder Lilly
I've had the opportunity to do a lot of studying about the gospel and other things. Mostly I try to prepare the lessons I am going to teach for the day but then after that I have some to read in the Scriptures and ponder about the many things that God has revealed to us. I love reading the articles from Elder Joseph F. Smith. Something I am really working on right now is making my prayers more simple and meaningful, asking for things that I need, and giving thanks throughout the day for the blessings that I received. I have seen the difference in the power and strength of prayers when they are expressed with deep thought and feelings and ended with trust and confidence in receiving an answer. And if we are innocent and pure and ask for that which is good then we do receive.
I want to express just a very small portion of the gratitude that I feel for you, Mom and Dad. I learned well from your examples. I've seen and felt how much you've sacrificed and how much more you are willing to sacrifice on my behalf. Thank you so much. I can't wait to raise my own family in a home of strength, security and prayer. Similar to the Sons of Helaman, I can not doubt that my parents knew it. I can't sufficiently express the slightest bit of what I feel. I will always cherish the time I have spent learning from you. In the here and now you can rest assured that you're influence on your Son has helped him to be happy and has led him to trust in God like you have trusted and to share these things with others. Happiness cannot be found without sacrifice. Oh then how great is the happiness that is found in the home.
This moves ends tomorrow and I will be moving onto my fourth moves here in Bangkhae. Elder Olinger and Elder Blackhurst will stay as well and we get to bid Elder Miles farewell as he moves on to be the Zone leader in another part of Thailand--we won't know where until tomorrow.
Therefore we also get to greet a new district leader and welcome him to the awesomeness of Bangkhae. I love this area. I still have work to do here.
Elder Olinger and I are doing well. I am told that Elder Olinger has changed a lot from the beginning of his mission. He struggles with communicating with people, specifically in the social aspect. It takes a lot of courage for him to open up and speak to strangers. He is a very intelligent person. He speaks Thai, french, English and Spanish. And he is very very good at using the scriptures in teaching. I am his first junior companion. Elder Miles was explaining how when he first became the senior companion he felt like he had just come in to Thailand for the first time again. Ouch.
I would like to mention that I have seen so many miracles happen on my mission so far. Not too long ago we dropped a lot of our investigators who weren't progressing and we felt weren't ready. The missionaries can only carry investigators so far. We are looking for those people who are willing to change and put trust in God, those people who have followed the promptings of the spirit and are prepared to receive his gospel. Anyone who can be persuaded into the Gospel can be persuaded out of it. They need a witness by the Spirit. We set out one week with a goal to find 15 new investigators. Then we prayed and worked and by the end of the week, and on the last day of the week we met that goal. Right now we have 14 investigators who have a goal to be baptized. I think as we prepare more and focus on every single one of these people with the same special attention that the Lord will give us more than this. And hopefully all of these people will make it up the rough step to baptism and onwards to the end.
Well, I'm out of time. This is an occurrence that is a little to familiar. ;)
Love,
Elder Lilly
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