CONGRADULATIONS NANNA POOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!1111
I am so excited! Kee hee he hehe he I am smiling really big right now!
And... Happy Birthday to Brandon!! you're old....
Dear Family,
I must say that I am very happy to hear that you are receiving blessings at home. It's relieving to hear about some if these blessings. This work is not easy. And sometimes the effects of the work are hard to see, or slow in coming.
Right now is the hot season. Sometimes the air is so humid that sweat seems to protrude from my skin without any control. My arm sweats where I didn't even know it could. Sometimes It feels like I just came out of a steamy pool of stinky water and without drying off I put my church clothes on. That sounds pretty bad. But no worries, I make sure to shower twice a day. And a handkerchief helps a lot.
The branch here in Ayutthaya is tiny compared to Bangkhae. And though there are four missionaries here, our progress has been steady. Right now I am focusing the most on the ward members. Elder Manop doesn't like inviting at all, and will plan several other activities in order to avoid inviting. Because of this we have had the opportunity to work very closely with our branch members. I feel like if the Branch members are strong then they will spiritually and instinctively fellowship and find investigators. And, so very importantly, they will be happier. There's a hope that is brought from the gospel that is firm and true. If I could pick a song to be my banner so far in my mission, and probably for the rest of my mission, I would choose hymn number 135 My Redeemer Lives, written by President Gordon B. Hinckley.
I hope to carry this banner with humility and with a happy smile. Sometimes humility may seem like an attribute that can't be worn with a smile. But when we recognize our reliance on our savior and have him as our banner, forgetting ourselves then his love will shine in us and we can properly give him our gratitude, our service, and credit Him for our happiness. Then just like the Angel said to Nephi of old "Rejoice!" we can be happy.
There's two virtues that we talked about in zone conference that I would like to mention. The first is Integrity and the second is Patience. All I have to say is that Integrity is most important and patience is learned with hope and an eternal perspective.
I don't have a lot of time. I want to express my love for you all. You make me happy and excited to work harder. I pray for you as well as my investigators and I know that the Lord will bless you.
Love,
Elder Lilly
Apr 29, 2009
Apr 23, 2009
love from home
Dear Family,
Soengkhran was amazingly fun. I enjoyed getting wet very much. It seems like everyone wanted to throw water on us and I made sure to give them the opportunity, it was way fun that way. There were tons and tons of truck loads of people with buckets of water driving down the road and dumping water on everything and everyone. Since we had little buckets when the cars would come up to us to spash water we would get up and use their own source of water to fight back. We returned home in a bus soaked.
Moves went very smoothly. I moved to Ayutthaya!!!! It's the old capital city of Thailand. For some reason it reminds me of Micheal... Probably because the roads are all very wide and long, there's hardly any stoplights at all, and there's very very little traffic. And I have to smile at Thai road designs because instead of making a four way intersection they love to make giant bridges that turn around for you so as long as you merge to the bridge and keep following the road you can turn around without ever slowing down. Neat-o.
Then there are old Buddhist temples everywhere. They are the older, mostly made of brick, and abandoned. There are fancy gates surrounding most of them and a name sign and that's it. They are beautiful too. In fact, Ayutthaya is probably the most beautiful place I have ever been too. There's green grass everywhere, organized and Lord of the Ring like houses, and unlike the thick of Bangkok where I started at, you can see the blue sky! Before I could look at the sun without blinking. I tried it too.
My companion's name is Elder Manop. He is a native Thailander from Korrad. He makes speaking Thai all of the time very easy. :) He's also teaching me in some of the ways of Thai cooking. I learned how to make Gaengmasuman. Mmmm
I live in a house connected to the main river. We have a nice hammock in the back and we can go fishing whenever we want to. It is a very sabbay house. It's only place of lacking is it has no oven. It's also a four man house and I'm rooming with Elder Willey and Elder McCoy.
The protests have ended as far as I know, and right now they are no problem for us.
Last week we went and took a visit to the Mortal Combat Temple. Or rather the Giant Temple that they used to screen the Movie Mortal Combat. I have some several excellent pictures that I would love to send to you guys.
And yes, there are Elephants Braden. Next week we are going to go ride them.
Conference was awesome. I especially liked the talks from Elder Christofferson and Elder Holland. I watched Elder Holland's talk again in zone conference as they spoke of the events surrounding Christ's Atonement and how most other religious specialists do not understand the reality and efficacy of Christ's Divine birth and the Atonement. We moved some couches together and watched conference and was able to see it with some investigators too.
Two days ago my Thai companion explained to me that I was sleep talking in Thai. I was having a bad night's sleep, but I don't remember what I was dreaming about. Sometimes I dream all in Thai. I actually think that I am progressing well in my language speaking because I feel like I am doing my best to learn it. I carry a handy paper around that I created to write down words that I don't recognize or words that I don't know and want to look up. The paper gets bigger and bigger.
Our branch is tiny compared to Bangkhae and we do not yet have our own church building built. Right now we have a rented building. But I am very excited and hopeful to build up the Church here in Ayutthaya.
Love you all,
and I'll get pictures in a wie bit.
Elder Lilly
Soengkhran was amazingly fun. I enjoyed getting wet very much. It seems like everyone wanted to throw water on us and I made sure to give them the opportunity, it was way fun that way. There were tons and tons of truck loads of people with buckets of water driving down the road and dumping water on everything and everyone. Since we had little buckets when the cars would come up to us to spash water we would get up and use their own source of water to fight back. We returned home in a bus soaked.
Moves went very smoothly. I moved to Ayutthaya!!!! It's the old capital city of Thailand. For some reason it reminds me of Micheal... Probably because the roads are all very wide and long, there's hardly any stoplights at all, and there's very very little traffic. And I have to smile at Thai road designs because instead of making a four way intersection they love to make giant bridges that turn around for you so as long as you merge to the bridge and keep following the road you can turn around without ever slowing down. Neat-o.
Then there are old Buddhist temples everywhere. They are the older, mostly made of brick, and abandoned. There are fancy gates surrounding most of them and a name sign and that's it. They are beautiful too. In fact, Ayutthaya is probably the most beautiful place I have ever been too. There's green grass everywhere, organized and Lord of the Ring like houses, and unlike the thick of Bangkok where I started at, you can see the blue sky! Before I could look at the sun without blinking. I tried it too.
My companion's name is Elder Manop. He is a native Thailander from Korrad. He makes speaking Thai all of the time very easy. :) He's also teaching me in some of the ways of Thai cooking. I learned how to make Gaengmasuman. Mmmm
I live in a house connected to the main river. We have a nice hammock in the back and we can go fishing whenever we want to. It is a very sabbay house. It's only place of lacking is it has no oven. It's also a four man house and I'm rooming with Elder Willey and Elder McCoy.
The protests have ended as far as I know, and right now they are no problem for us.
Last week we went and took a visit to the Mortal Combat Temple. Or rather the Giant Temple that they used to screen the Movie Mortal Combat. I have some several excellent pictures that I would love to send to you guys.
And yes, there are Elephants Braden. Next week we are going to go ride them.
Conference was awesome. I especially liked the talks from Elder Christofferson and Elder Holland. I watched Elder Holland's talk again in zone conference as they spoke of the events surrounding Christ's Atonement and how most other religious specialists do not understand the reality and efficacy of Christ's Divine birth and the Atonement. We moved some couches together and watched conference and was able to see it with some investigators too.
Two days ago my Thai companion explained to me that I was sleep talking in Thai. I was having a bad night's sleep, but I don't remember what I was dreaming about. Sometimes I dream all in Thai. I actually think that I am progressing well in my language speaking because I feel like I am doing my best to learn it. I carry a handy paper around that I created to write down words that I don't recognize or words that I don't know and want to look up. The paper gets bigger and bigger.
Our branch is tiny compared to Bangkhae and we do not yet have our own church building built. Right now we have a rented building. But I am very excited and hopeful to build up the Church here in Ayutthaya.
Love you all,
and I'll get pictures in a wie bit.
Elder Lilly
Apr 15, 2009
-Surely the Lord God will do nothing save he revealeth His secrets unto His servants the Prophets.
Today is a Thai water festival called Soengkhran. Actually today is the last day of the three day festival. It is crazy. But first I would like to relate the events that occurred in the past two days.
Near the center of Bangkok there came a large gathering of rioters wearing red shirts. They drove public buses to a large round-about and blocked the roads. There were warnings all over the news and us missionaries were asked to keep our phones on and nearby. If we saw any rioting we were instructed to go home and stay there. Some people did. And to us it already felt like a war because we were trying to avoid the mobs of people who were casting water bombs at us and shooting water at us from hoses and slopping goop onto our faces. At the end of the first day Elder Israelson and Elder Blackhurst's clothes took exceeding casualties. At the start of the next day we received a call from our leaders that the rioting had escalated. We were not to leave our house. Of course we kept working and used the opportunity to do work at or on the house. We didn't wait an absurd amount of time before we were again granted permission to go forth and work on. As the productiveness of inviting was reduced considerably, we instead spent our time in finding old or inactive members to go visit and support. We weren't as successful in avoiding the water and goop as we travelled on bikes on this day. With no opportunity to change clothes we moved in to President Typ's house with his entire family and President Nopadone and his entire family. They compelled us by force to eat their delicious food and deserts until we were not capable of eating more. This was an especially exciting occasion put together to celebrate our times together before I leave Bangkhae this Thursday (tomorrow). We ended the day by helping teach and advise President Typ's son Brother Bun as he prepares for his soon coming mission.
And finally today we make war. The riots are over and the military is already deployed but Soengkhran is not over and we still have a lot of Thai people to soak in water and a lot of faces to smudge goop on. We are dressed already and as I finish writing the war will commence!
Also, it is indeed confirmed that I am moving tomorrow. After we play in the water festival we will need to return home and I will begin packing. I won't know who my companion is or where I am going to until I am packed and we, all of the missionaries, meet in Pakkret. I'll relate my experience with moving to my second area next week.
I'm going to miss all of the people here a lot. They are awesome. The deep feelings of respect that I hold for these people are hard to describe. But I am excited to move to the next area that the Lord has prepared for me. I leave here with good memories and with a feeling of satisfaction in my work.
I love you all!
Also, conference was inspirational.
Love,
Elder Lilly
Today is a Thai water festival called Soengkhran. Actually today is the last day of the three day festival. It is crazy. But first I would like to relate the events that occurred in the past two days.
Near the center of Bangkok there came a large gathering of rioters wearing red shirts. They drove public buses to a large round-about and blocked the roads. There were warnings all over the news and us missionaries were asked to keep our phones on and nearby. If we saw any rioting we were instructed to go home and stay there. Some people did. And to us it already felt like a war because we were trying to avoid the mobs of people who were casting water bombs at us and shooting water at us from hoses and slopping goop onto our faces. At the end of the first day Elder Israelson and Elder Blackhurst's clothes took exceeding casualties. At the start of the next day we received a call from our leaders that the rioting had escalated. We were not to leave our house. Of course we kept working and used the opportunity to do work at or on the house. We didn't wait an absurd amount of time before we were again granted permission to go forth and work on. As the productiveness of inviting was reduced considerably, we instead spent our time in finding old or inactive members to go visit and support. We weren't as successful in avoiding the water and goop as we travelled on bikes on this day. With no opportunity to change clothes we moved in to President Typ's house with his entire family and President Nopadone and his entire family. They compelled us by force to eat their delicious food and deserts until we were not capable of eating more. This was an especially exciting occasion put together to celebrate our times together before I leave Bangkhae this Thursday (tomorrow). We ended the day by helping teach and advise President Typ's son Brother Bun as he prepares for his soon coming mission.
And finally today we make war. The riots are over and the military is already deployed but Soengkhran is not over and we still have a lot of Thai people to soak in water and a lot of faces to smudge goop on. We are dressed already and as I finish writing the war will commence!
Also, it is indeed confirmed that I am moving tomorrow. After we play in the water festival we will need to return home and I will begin packing. I won't know who my companion is or where I am going to until I am packed and we, all of the missionaries, meet in Pakkret. I'll relate my experience with moving to my second area next week.
I'm going to miss all of the people here a lot. They are awesome. The deep feelings of respect that I hold for these people are hard to describe. But I am excited to move to the next area that the Lord has prepared for me. I leave here with good memories and with a feeling of satisfaction in my work.
I love you all!
Also, conference was inspirational.
Love,
Elder Lilly
Apr 8, 2009
Ahhh, I see you've played knify spoony before!
Dear Family,
Wow. I am very excited for Scott and Sue! Awesome.
This Saturday and Sunday we will be able to view conference. The main screen will be prepared with the Thai translation playing while us foreigners will get to wear headphones and enjoy conference in our native language. I am very excited. Elder Olinger somehow got a copy of the last conference and we have listened to almost all eight hours as we have traveled around in Taxis to zone meetings and such.
Mother mentioned that they talked about being a member missionary in conference. I must say that my understanding and my approach to being a member missionary has changed as I have become a full time missionary. Back home I hardly knew the missionaries. I was unfamiliar with the extent of all of their tasks and responsibilities. I didn't have a very good view of their influence on our ward. And especially here in Thailand where their are mostly branches that haven't yet grown into wards, I have come to learn of a missionaries role.
One of our jobs is to help train and establish the leadership in our branch. We work closely with the Branch President, honoring his requests and encouraging him to make goals. Together we coordinate the vision of our Branch.
Member Referrals are Gold. As I look at our branch it is easy to see that the majority of our members originally were introduced to the missionaries as member referrals, and they are mostly families too.
Teaching with members is one of our "key indicators." We try to have a member with us at each of our lessons. Having a friend and some one to help fellowship and answer questions is vitally important for our investigators.
We also have the opportunity to go and fellowship members, teach "referral lessons," and visit those who are struggling or less active. In this activity, namely helping less active members, I have found a lot of success. There are a lot of reasons/concerns that these people have that prevent them from coming to church. Many of them are simple. But in each of these cases I find that these people have stopped reading scriptures and praying regularly and personally/with a family. As I teach these people, many times I don't focus on church at all. I simply help them to recognize the strength that comes from reading and praying, and remind them of the power of the atonement of God and the feeling of joy, renewal, and love that come from obeying the commandments. As they commit to these tasks of reading and praying usually they end up coming to church on their own accord.
If feel like if everyone was being nourished and strengthened from service, powerful prayer, and studying and pondering the scriptures that everyone would start to be a missionary naturally. And usually it's the little things that make the biggest difference.
I know that when I get home I don't want to stop serving and sharing the gospel. And I think that I will be much more involved in helping friends to meet the missionaries, and to be right there with them when they do it.
Then there's always the power of bringing friends to church.
Missionary work is most efficient when the missionaries are the teachers and members are the finders.
I never really understood what exactly the missionaries were looking for as they asked for referrals from me. But I wouldn't suggest giving a referral of a friend that you have never talked to about the gospel before. The missionaries are looking for the "elect." For those who are interested and prepared to receive the Gospel.
Recently I have been memorizing and translating hymns. As it turns out there are a lot of awesome words in the hymns which are organized into the simplest form of sentences. And I can sing them! It's great.
There are 150 missionaries in Thailand, but the number will steadily reduce to about 130.
As we leave the house and especially as we set time apart for "inviting," we review our goals in prayer with our Father in Heaven and then we proceed to our intended destination, talking to everyone. Yes, we talk to everyone. Some people don't want to talk, usually these people get a hello and they don't care to respond, sometimes they don't even look at us. This would be the least amount that we say to people. Those who respond and especially those who are interested get a lot more than a hello.
well, I have to leave now. Congratulations to Scott, Sue, Fawn, Kevin, Dad, Justin, and everyone who I missed.
I love you all!
Elder Lilly
Wow. I am very excited for Scott and Sue! Awesome.
This Saturday and Sunday we will be able to view conference. The main screen will be prepared with the Thai translation playing while us foreigners will get to wear headphones and enjoy conference in our native language. I am very excited. Elder Olinger somehow got a copy of the last conference and we have listened to almost all eight hours as we have traveled around in Taxis to zone meetings and such.
Mother mentioned that they talked about being a member missionary in conference. I must say that my understanding and my approach to being a member missionary has changed as I have become a full time missionary. Back home I hardly knew the missionaries. I was unfamiliar with the extent of all of their tasks and responsibilities. I didn't have a very good view of their influence on our ward. And especially here in Thailand where their are mostly branches that haven't yet grown into wards, I have come to learn of a missionaries role.
One of our jobs is to help train and establish the leadership in our branch. We work closely with the Branch President, honoring his requests and encouraging him to make goals. Together we coordinate the vision of our Branch.
Member Referrals are Gold. As I look at our branch it is easy to see that the majority of our members originally were introduced to the missionaries as member referrals, and they are mostly families too.
Teaching with members is one of our "key indicators." We try to have a member with us at each of our lessons. Having a friend and some one to help fellowship and answer questions is vitally important for our investigators.
We also have the opportunity to go and fellowship members, teach "referral lessons," and visit those who are struggling or less active. In this activity, namely helping less active members, I have found a lot of success. There are a lot of reasons/concerns that these people have that prevent them from coming to church. Many of them are simple. But in each of these cases I find that these people have stopped reading scriptures and praying regularly and personally/with a family. As I teach these people, many times I don't focus on church at all. I simply help them to recognize the strength that comes from reading and praying, and remind them of the power of the atonement of God and the feeling of joy, renewal, and love that come from obeying the commandments. As they commit to these tasks of reading and praying usually they end up coming to church on their own accord.
If feel like if everyone was being nourished and strengthened from service, powerful prayer, and studying and pondering the scriptures that everyone would start to be a missionary naturally. And usually it's the little things that make the biggest difference.
I know that when I get home I don't want to stop serving and sharing the gospel. And I think that I will be much more involved in helping friends to meet the missionaries, and to be right there with them when they do it.
Then there's always the power of bringing friends to church.
Missionary work is most efficient when the missionaries are the teachers and members are the finders.
I never really understood what exactly the missionaries were looking for as they asked for referrals from me. But I wouldn't suggest giving a referral of a friend that you have never talked to about the gospel before. The missionaries are looking for the "elect." For those who are interested and prepared to receive the Gospel.
Recently I have been memorizing and translating hymns. As it turns out there are a lot of awesome words in the hymns which are organized into the simplest form of sentences. And I can sing them! It's great.
There are 150 missionaries in Thailand, but the number will steadily reduce to about 130.
As we leave the house and especially as we set time apart for "inviting," we review our goals in prayer with our Father in Heaven and then we proceed to our intended destination, talking to everyone. Yes, we talk to everyone. Some people don't want to talk, usually these people get a hello and they don't care to respond, sometimes they don't even look at us. This would be the least amount that we say to people. Those who respond and especially those who are interested get a lot more than a hello.
well, I have to leave now. Congratulations to Scott, Sue, Fawn, Kevin, Dad, Justin, and everyone who I missed.
I love you all!
Elder Lilly
Apr 1, 2009
Dear Family,
Hooray for Suzanne! She has already experienced April fools in this baby business, it would only be fitting to have the baby around this time. :p
Sorry that MY letter is off so late, or perhaps so early in the morning of the next day (for you). Today we went out tiawing (exploring) a Buddhist wat (Temple). We also explored the king's palace a bit. It is the kind of place that you read about in books and see pictures of in postcards. There was quite an assortment of languages being spoken. I felt just a little bit out of place when Elder Blackhurst and I entered the Buddhist shrine and we sat down marveling at the enormous and intricate designs all over the walls while people were bowing and worshiping the Buddhist statues around us. We didn't stay in there for too long. I would love to come back with family and view it all together. Yet, the place is very dead to the spirit.
I would like to throw out a good Amen to brother Traasdahl. Especially about the deliciousness of naam doek and Thai fruit. And the waxy un-arroyness (undeliciousness) of Thai Khanoms (candy). Some Thai candy is squishy and green, then throw in some coconut butter juice with it and you've got slimy too. mmmhhmmm I'll have to get a picture of some sometime. (also I like brother Traasdahls spelling of gueteo. I never know how to spell these Thai words with the English Alphabet.)
As far as moves is concerned I am going to move soooon. But I haven't moved yet. I will move after the Thai water holiday on April 16.
Sorry for the shortness of this letter. I have noooo time. We might come and finish writing in the morning. I'll have to ponder about a birthday wish list. :D
Love you all,
Elder Lilly
P.S. Does Michael still rock the backboard?
Do ya?
Hooray for Suzanne! She has already experienced April fools in this baby business, it would only be fitting to have the baby around this time. :p
Sorry that MY letter is off so late, or perhaps so early in the morning of the next day (for you). Today we went out tiawing (exploring) a Buddhist wat (Temple). We also explored the king's palace a bit. It is the kind of place that you read about in books and see pictures of in postcards. There was quite an assortment of languages being spoken. I felt just a little bit out of place when Elder Blackhurst and I entered the Buddhist shrine and we sat down marveling at the enormous and intricate designs all over the walls while people were bowing and worshiping the Buddhist statues around us. We didn't stay in there for too long. I would love to come back with family and view it all together. Yet, the place is very dead to the spirit.
I would like to throw out a good Amen to brother Traasdahl. Especially about the deliciousness of naam doek and Thai fruit. And the waxy un-arroyness (undeliciousness) of Thai Khanoms (candy). Some Thai candy is squishy and green, then throw in some coconut butter juice with it and you've got slimy too. mmmhhmmm I'll have to get a picture of some sometime. (also I like brother Traasdahls spelling of gueteo. I never know how to spell these Thai words with the English Alphabet.)
As far as moves is concerned I am going to move soooon. But I haven't moved yet. I will move after the Thai water holiday on April 16.
Sorry for the shortness of this letter. I have noooo time. We might come and finish writing in the morning. I'll have to ponder about a birthday wish list. :D
Love you all,
Elder Lilly
P.S. Does Michael still rock the backboard?
Do ya?
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