May 30, 2009
May 27, 2009
HAPPY BIRTHDAY on FRIDAY!!!! yaay
Dear Family,
Haaaaaaaay! It's my birthday. I haven't been home for my birthday for a long time now. Whats up with that? In order to make my birthday a very special occasion I have made it a point to announce it to everyone and stress it's importance. I still don't know what I am going to do on my birthday besides all the things that I normally do. I'll think of something clever and get back to you on that one.
Today, because as it turns out Elder Manop is moving and I am getting a new companion, one of the members took us out to eat. We dined at a seafood restaurant. They served the food from large dishes that we would all share food from. There was a plate of crab salad with huge crabs in it, a plate of fish and mango salad, a bowl of curry, and also squid. The crab was waaay good and the squid was very chewy as usual.
I'm so glad that Brandon graduated on time. He must have read his scriptures. Great things happen when you read the scriptures.
It's weird to think that President Thornock isn't the stake president anymore. As it just so happens to be, I was thinking about his example a lot this week. I set a goal last week to observe all of the members in our branch during sacrament meeting in order to be more aware of how they are doing and see if there was any way I could help them. There was quite a few things that I noticed that helped me as I sought to help them. Then after church I tried to talk to members and be friends with them. Going out and talking to members is very inspiring but not something that I am very used to yet even though I do it often. There are also a lot of female members in our branch. I am trying to find the right balance of talking to people, being friends with them, and also staying professional, talking about inspiring and uplifting topics rather than simply talking or teasing, especially with some of the members who love to tease and be sarcastic. One thing that I have learned since I have been here in Ayuthayaa with a Thai companion is how to be clever while speaking Thai. But I always try to make sure to be light hearted and not light minded. To help me as I was considering this subject I thought of the example of President Thornock. I think that it helped inspire me to know how to befriend the members in the best way as a representative of Christ. He is a great example of love and hard work.
Well, I am out of time but I am sending you all a birthday present through e-mail. Pictures! Some of these pictures were inspired by Jackie Chan. They were good fun.
I love you all,
Elder Lilly
Haaaaaaaay! It's my birthday. I haven't been home for my birthday for a long time now. Whats up with that? In order to make my birthday a very special occasion I have made it a point to announce it to everyone and stress it's importance. I still don't know what I am going to do on my birthday besides all the things that I normally do. I'll think of something clever and get back to you on that one.
Today, because as it turns out Elder Manop is moving and I am getting a new companion, one of the members took us out to eat. We dined at a seafood restaurant. They served the food from large dishes that we would all share food from. There was a plate of crab salad with huge crabs in it, a plate of fish and mango salad, a bowl of curry, and also squid. The crab was waaay good and the squid was very chewy as usual.
I'm so glad that Brandon graduated on time. He must have read his scriptures. Great things happen when you read the scriptures.
It's weird to think that President Thornock isn't the stake president anymore. As it just so happens to be, I was thinking about his example a lot this week. I set a goal last week to observe all of the members in our branch during sacrament meeting in order to be more aware of how they are doing and see if there was any way I could help them. There was quite a few things that I noticed that helped me as I sought to help them. Then after church I tried to talk to members and be friends with them. Going out and talking to members is very inspiring but not something that I am very used to yet even though I do it often. There are also a lot of female members in our branch. I am trying to find the right balance of talking to people, being friends with them, and also staying professional, talking about inspiring and uplifting topics rather than simply talking or teasing, especially with some of the members who love to tease and be sarcastic. One thing that I have learned since I have been here in Ayuthayaa with a Thai companion is how to be clever while speaking Thai. But I always try to make sure to be light hearted and not light minded. To help me as I was considering this subject I thought of the example of President Thornock. I think that it helped inspire me to know how to befriend the members in the best way as a representative of Christ. He is a great example of love and hard work.
Well, I am out of time but I am sending you all a birthday present through e-mail. Pictures! Some of these pictures were inspired by Jackie Chan. They were good fun.
I love you all,
Elder Lilly
May 20, 2009
Dear Family,
Congratulations on graduation! I'm sure that everyone is happy that school is out, except for those who enjoy peace at home and open roads with no school aged drivers. This is the season of craziness and choices. There's so many things going on in the world right now that are worth our thought and consideration. These past few weeks I had the opportunity to visit with a member of the church about choices and getting answers from God. Right now she has some questions about what to do for her future. She is at the point of making choices that will effect the out come of the next few years and beyond that.
I would like to share a little bit of our conversation. I explained to her that when we have a choice that will effect our lives we need to consider which option we feel is best. After some consideration we come to the Lord in prayer and wait for an answer. If we don't get an immediate answer then sometimes it takes patience. The Lord always answers and in His own time. Sometimes we don't know enough, sometimes there's another option that we haven't yet explored and when it comes we will feel that it is right. Or it could be that both options are acceptable before the Lord and it is up to us to simply choose. Either way after we have prayed the next step is always to act. The Lord will not let us choose the wrong path without warning. We need to trust him. We need to choose and then go. If we choose and go but it is the wrong choice then God will let us know. If we choose and it is right then we are free to be happy and satisfied with our choice.
I feel like she felt satisfied that her question was answered and she knew what it was that she needed to do. Sometimes the hardest choices are between right and right.
This week I pondered about how awesome and simple the Gospel is. Yesterday I switched companions with Elder Willey (what are the chances we ended up together). I worked so hard. By the end of the day I felt the best satisfying tiredness that there is. But better than that, through out the day I was smiling and happy. I personally believe that the reason why I felt so good was because of how diligently I was working. We didn't waste a second of time and we always brought our activities before the Lord in prayer. As we taught I felt a great enthusiasm and warm feeling as we explained the simple doctrines of the Gospel. We taught to an investigator names "Iss." We talked about heaven and asked her what she felt like she needed to do to go to heaven. One of the things she mentioned was obey. We talked about the importance of being clean through baptism and she agreed to get baptised. She asked me what she would have to do to get baptised. I explained that If she read the scriptures daily, prayed often, went to church every week, and learned with us that we would explain all of the commandments and she could start to keep them and then get all of the blessings from them, and as she does these things that she would be ready for baptism. Truly the savior taught us to not worry as as long as we keep the commandments we will be blessed and prosper. I love the simple truths of Christs teachings. Obey and be blessed. Ask and receive. Seek and find. Come unto Him and be saved. Come unto Him and find peace, hope, charity, faith, happiness, love, life and light.
As a missionary we get the special opportunity to promise blessings. After we explain a doctrine or principle we ask the person to commit to doing something that helps them to build faith and repent. Then after they commit to the commitments that we ask of them to help them improve their life we promise them some of the blessings that will follow. It is exciting to see the investigator use their faith to do change or break from work to go to church and then see how during the rest of the week they sell better than normal!
I learned that Keeping the sabbath day is just as important as tithing when it comes to our temporal well being.
Anyway. Sorry to speak so much about my thoughts and feelings rather than who my investigators are and how they are doing and that sort of thing. There will be plenty of time to talk about all the craziness that goes on when I get home. :)
I love you guys very much.
-Elder Lilly
One more thing!
Communication solves more problems and builds more love than any other activity that involves the mouth.
Congratulations on graduation! I'm sure that everyone is happy that school is out, except for those who enjoy peace at home and open roads with no school aged drivers. This is the season of craziness and choices. There's so many things going on in the world right now that are worth our thought and consideration. These past few weeks I had the opportunity to visit with a member of the church about choices and getting answers from God. Right now she has some questions about what to do for her future. She is at the point of making choices that will effect the out come of the next few years and beyond that.
I would like to share a little bit of our conversation. I explained to her that when we have a choice that will effect our lives we need to consider which option we feel is best. After some consideration we come to the Lord in prayer and wait for an answer. If we don't get an immediate answer then sometimes it takes patience. The Lord always answers and in His own time. Sometimes we don't know enough, sometimes there's another option that we haven't yet explored and when it comes we will feel that it is right. Or it could be that both options are acceptable before the Lord and it is up to us to simply choose. Either way after we have prayed the next step is always to act. The Lord will not let us choose the wrong path without warning. We need to trust him. We need to choose and then go. If we choose and go but it is the wrong choice then God will let us know. If we choose and it is right then we are free to be happy and satisfied with our choice.
I feel like she felt satisfied that her question was answered and she knew what it was that she needed to do. Sometimes the hardest choices are between right and right.
This week I pondered about how awesome and simple the Gospel is. Yesterday I switched companions with Elder Willey (what are the chances we ended up together). I worked so hard. By the end of the day I felt the best satisfying tiredness that there is. But better than that, through out the day I was smiling and happy. I personally believe that the reason why I felt so good was because of how diligently I was working. We didn't waste a second of time and we always brought our activities before the Lord in prayer. As we taught I felt a great enthusiasm and warm feeling as we explained the simple doctrines of the Gospel. We taught to an investigator names "Iss." We talked about heaven and asked her what she felt like she needed to do to go to heaven. One of the things she mentioned was obey. We talked about the importance of being clean through baptism and she agreed to get baptised. She asked me what she would have to do to get baptised. I explained that If she read the scriptures daily, prayed often, went to church every week, and learned with us that we would explain all of the commandments and she could start to keep them and then get all of the blessings from them, and as she does these things that she would be ready for baptism. Truly the savior taught us to not worry as as long as we keep the commandments we will be blessed and prosper. I love the simple truths of Christs teachings. Obey and be blessed. Ask and receive. Seek and find. Come unto Him and be saved. Come unto Him and find peace, hope, charity, faith, happiness, love, life and light.
As a missionary we get the special opportunity to promise blessings. After we explain a doctrine or principle we ask the person to commit to doing something that helps them to build faith and repent. Then after they commit to the commitments that we ask of them to help them improve their life we promise them some of the blessings that will follow. It is exciting to see the investigator use their faith to do change or break from work to go to church and then see how during the rest of the week they sell better than normal!
I learned that Keeping the sabbath day is just as important as tithing when it comes to our temporal well being.
Anyway. Sorry to speak so much about my thoughts and feelings rather than who my investigators are and how they are doing and that sort of thing. There will be plenty of time to talk about all the craziness that goes on when I get home. :)
I love you guys very much.
-Elder Lilly
One more thing!
Communication solves more problems and builds more love than any other activity that involves the mouth.
May 13, 2009
Well, there's another ginormous rain storm outside and as I was writing the power went out. And my companion lives in Thailand and his parents haven't converted yet, therefore he starts waiting for me as soon as I finish reading my letters.
It was great to talk to you guys!!!!!!
I love you all!!!
Today we sacrificed some of our preparation day to go help our investigator get interviewed with president Dodge. He recognised that he has gotten a witness of the gospel. He wants to pray again to have a more powerful witness. President Dodge, our investigator Ood, Elder Manop and I are going to fast and pray together.
When he is ready, next time, he won't have to get interviewed with President Dodge again.
As far as the difficulty of a mission is concerned, well, it's way difficult.
A mission takes everything you have and requires more. It puts us in the fire at the hottest temperature for the longest time then it pours us into a perfect frame and beats us till we fit. It is as if we are on a different time frame than the world and we are exercising in a furnace without rest. It's tiring, but it's rewarding. It's worth the wait.
I neeeeed to go, but I Love you all!!!!!!!!!!
Elder Lilly
It was great to talk to you guys!!!!!!
I love you all!!!
Today we sacrificed some of our preparation day to go help our investigator get interviewed with president Dodge. He recognised that he has gotten a witness of the gospel. He wants to pray again to have a more powerful witness. President Dodge, our investigator Ood, Elder Manop and I are going to fast and pray together.
When he is ready, next time, he won't have to get interviewed with President Dodge again.
As far as the difficulty of a mission is concerned, well, it's way difficult.
A mission takes everything you have and requires more. It puts us in the fire at the hottest temperature for the longest time then it pours us into a perfect frame and beats us till we fit. It is as if we are on a different time frame than the world and we are exercising in a furnace without rest. It's tiring, but it's rewarding. It's worth the wait.
I neeeeed to go, but I Love you all!!!!!!!!!!
Elder Lilly
May 6, 2009
Talk to you this Sunday
Dear Family,
Today I don't have a lot to say. I just feel really grateful for all of the many many blessings that God has blessed us with both noticed and unnoticed. I stared wide eyed at the pictures that Crystal sent of Aaron and Diana. And the pictures of Suzanne, Scott and their Baby.
It seems like every time I come to E-mail I forget what I've done during the week. Hmm. Well, we have an investigator named Oot. He learned all of the missionary discussions before I came here but I have had the opportunity to help him further build faith and receive a testimony. Right now he is a little weak in his conviction and faith. He has a major Buddhist background. He has a testimony of the Commandments and how they help his life but he hasn't yet accepted Jesus as his Savior. When he prays, sometimes he remembers the written Buddhist Priest prayers, because that's whats on his mind, even though he has gotten rid of all of the Idols and other things in his house. He lives with a LDS family, but some of the members aren't very strong and their child has started smoking. Also, he needs to be interviewed by president Dodge in order to help him get baptised. Yet his life has changed so much already from the time that he started learning the gospel, attending church and following the commandments. He is scheduled to get interviewed on the 13 of may. We are going to collectively fast this Saturday evening to help him cast away his doubt and fears and choose faith. When he does I know that the Spirit will enter his life and answer his prayers for an answer.
I hope you all are able to enjoy this great time in life and not get too stressed out from the business.
I have not yet bought a new backpack but I will. My shirts are being cut as we speak.
Due to illness, we have not yet ridden on the Elephants, but it seems that that little part of the adventure is soon to come.
Love you all,
especially Dad,
and Mom,
and Grandma Lilly
(she had a birthday!)
Elder Lilly
P.S. My companion is asking for Thanksgiving recipes. Turkey, stuffing, gravy, rolls, pie, jello. He's quite the chef it turns out, I would love to show him how to make "farang" food.
Today I don't have a lot to say. I just feel really grateful for all of the many many blessings that God has blessed us with both noticed and unnoticed. I stared wide eyed at the pictures that Crystal sent of Aaron and Diana. And the pictures of Suzanne, Scott and their Baby.
It seems like every time I come to E-mail I forget what I've done during the week. Hmm. Well, we have an investigator named Oot. He learned all of the missionary discussions before I came here but I have had the opportunity to help him further build faith and receive a testimony. Right now he is a little weak in his conviction and faith. He has a major Buddhist background. He has a testimony of the Commandments and how they help his life but he hasn't yet accepted Jesus as his Savior. When he prays, sometimes he remembers the written Buddhist Priest prayers, because that's whats on his mind, even though he has gotten rid of all of the Idols and other things in his house. He lives with a LDS family, but some of the members aren't very strong and their child has started smoking. Also, he needs to be interviewed by president Dodge in order to help him get baptised. Yet his life has changed so much already from the time that he started learning the gospel, attending church and following the commandments. He is scheduled to get interviewed on the 13 of may. We are going to collectively fast this Saturday evening to help him cast away his doubt and fears and choose faith. When he does I know that the Spirit will enter his life and answer his prayers for an answer.
I hope you all are able to enjoy this great time in life and not get too stressed out from the business.
I have not yet bought a new backpack but I will. My shirts are being cut as we speak.
Due to illness, we have not yet ridden on the Elephants, but it seems that that little part of the adventure is soon to come.
Love you all,
especially Dad,
and Mom,
and Grandma Lilly
(she had a birthday!)
Elder Lilly
P.S. My companion is asking for Thanksgiving recipes. Turkey, stuffing, gravy, rolls, pie, jello. He's quite the chef it turns out, I would love to show him how to make "farang" food.
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