So,
I got the Fudge. It was the sweetest and most delicious treat that I have tasted since the last batch of fudge that grandma sent a year ago. Thanks Grandma.
Also I got the Card and it is signed and ready to go.
It's exciting to hear that the weather is cool and crazy back home. The more I hear about the weather changes the more I think about what the Prophets have prophecied the last days will be like. And just like it was prophecied, so it really is.
Speaking of distant future events. Last week I was confronted by an interesting decition that we need to figure out by next week. My scheduled time to go home is Sep. 3rd. That's after school starts up already. My group has the opportunity to go home a moves early in order to catch the new semester or stay here and miss it. Most of my group is planning on catching the new semester... infact I'm pretty sure all but Elder young is planning on staying. Personally, I don't mind missing a semester and staying till Sep. 3rd. If I did go home a moves early, then I would come home around the end of July. What parental advice would you give?
I have a question for Braden... What is a Gibbon?
Last sunday I gave a talk in sacrament meeting about our life on earth and the Spirit World. I find it interesting to study about the purpose of life and happiness. It seems like the Lord has shown us through the scriptures who He is and how He will react to our obedience. The Lord loves us and always want's us to be happy. He gave us commandments so that we can be happy. That leaves being happy up to us.
I've been enjoying reading the scriptures and marking only the parts and verses about Jesus Christ. It's helped me to see more clearly how everything is focused on Him. It's helped me to understand who He is more. And that's a sweet blessing, especially everytime I pray.
Last Saturday one of the Lord's investigators that we are teaching was interviewed for Baptism. He is 87 years old. He's great. I'm sure interviewing wasn't easy for him. We are going to teach him for about one or two more weeks before he will be completely ready for Baptism.
His family are members and they are super supportive. I'm sure he'll make it. It's been a pleasure teaching him.
I'm amazed at how rare it has rained where I have been assigned. In other areas it's flooded and they have pictures of water up past their Bicycle tires. I still think that the Sun followed me around the World.
How's Brandon's dream journal going?
Elder Tom and I are going to go visit a member who plays the guitar at restaurants for his job. He just moved in to a new house with a friend. That member (Brother Frog) is going to learn about the Restoration with us. It's a small house, maybe if his friend is home...
Next time we'll come back and teach more about Joseph Smith and how to gain a testimony.
I love you all very very very much times two,
Elder Lilly
P.S. Ready, setty, spaghetty...
Jan 25, 2010
Jan 18, 2010
Game on.
Dear awesome family,
Today the Sisters from Roy Et came to switch off with Sister Hulme and Sister Akagi. We had a blast renting out a vehicle and going to visit Khao Yai National Park. While we were there we saw some film directors and actors who were making a movie close to where we were taking pictures. We said hi and as we were leaving the lead actor asked for our phone number. We gave it to him for fun. Sister Vigitara and Sister Usara (the Roy Et sisters) said that he was a famious Thai actor. Maybe I'll watch the movie when it comes out. If it's good that is. It was a really fun time.
Sister Larson happened to get a new camara for Christmas so she is letting me use her other one for another 7months. I'll send you all some of the pictures (Yessss, finally). It's a nice camara.
I love you tremendously,
Elder Lilly
Today the Sisters from Roy Et came to switch off with Sister Hulme and Sister Akagi. We had a blast renting out a vehicle and going to visit Khao Yai National Park. While we were there we saw some film directors and actors who were making a movie close to where we were taking pictures. We said hi and as we were leaving the lead actor asked for our phone number. We gave it to him for fun. Sister Vigitara and Sister Usara (the Roy Et sisters) said that he was a famious Thai actor. Maybe I'll watch the movie when it comes out. If it's good that is. It was a really fun time.
Sister Larson happened to get a new camara for Christmas so she is letting me use her other one for another 7months. I'll send you all some of the pictures (Yessss, finally). It's a nice camara.
I love you tremendously,
Elder Lilly
Jan 11, 2010
Where all I wish... to catch a fish so juicy sweet.
Dear Family,
This past week we have been exceedingly busy. We have had appointments layed out for every hour of the day until it's time to go home. Although not all of the people that we have visited were open hearted to the message that we came to offer, the Lord has blessed us greatly with a lot of work. I can think of a few factors that have helped us to be ready for such blessings. The first is that we are working towards 100% obedience. The book says to brush our teeth everytime we leave the house... so we brush our teeth. However big or small, we are trying to obey it. Another factor that I think is important is that we have done our best to keep track of, and contact, and remain consistent in our work with our investigators. We are treating each person as if they are a sacred responsability. Some of the investigators that we taught last week, we first invited a few weeks ago. We kept in contact until they were actually available for us to go visit. I'm sure there are several other factors involved but I feel like these few have been the extra consistent effort that brought us the success that we hope for.
I'm glad to hear your goals. I rejoice in the blessings and the excitement that comes from personal progression. And the great thing is that the more we progress the less we think about ourselves. And the more we think of others the faster we progress. It is God's work to bring to pass the imortality and eternal life of man. As we come closer to God we come closer to fulfilling our purpose in life. God want's to help us, we just have to choose.
Tomorrow is Zone conference and I already have gotten a glimps of what's comming up. President Smith is going to give us all new Book of Mormons. He is going to ask us all to re-read the Book of Mormon one more time and highlight every verse that talks about Christ with one color. Then, re-read the book again and highlight every verse that talks about the Gospel. And again with other subjects. Something like that. I remember seeing such a suggestion in Preach My Gospel. I am excited to try it out. I'm sure that it will be a valuable activity.
Over the past week I've been doing my best to use the Book of Mormon while inviting. It's been pretty effective.
Elder Tom is doing very well. He's been one of my favorite companions to work with so far. :) He's jumped right into missionary work like a
champion. It really isn't hard. It just takes willingness, desire, and love.
Thailand is as awesome as ever. Asian people sound funny when they speak english with an accent, but when they are speaking their own language then they are normal. It's interesting to see how the Spirit works with people. Language is not a barrier to the Spirit.
I'm trying out all of the different kinds of food that I can while I can. A few days ago I even had a meal that Elder Tom has never had before. Khaw Pat Plaa (fried fishrice as aposed to fried rice with fish). He said it was weird. I agree. But we both agreed that it was okay. At least it was edible. Fish is tasty.
Keep on being awesome!
Love,
Elder Lilly
This past week we have been exceedingly busy. We have had appointments layed out for every hour of the day until it's time to go home. Although not all of the people that we have visited were open hearted to the message that we came to offer, the Lord has blessed us greatly with a lot of work. I can think of a few factors that have helped us to be ready for such blessings. The first is that we are working towards 100% obedience. The book says to brush our teeth everytime we leave the house... so we brush our teeth. However big or small, we are trying to obey it. Another factor that I think is important is that we have done our best to keep track of, and contact, and remain consistent in our work with our investigators. We are treating each person as if they are a sacred responsability. Some of the investigators that we taught last week, we first invited a few weeks ago. We kept in contact until they were actually available for us to go visit. I'm sure there are several other factors involved but I feel like these few have been the extra consistent effort that brought us the success that we hope for.
I'm glad to hear your goals. I rejoice in the blessings and the excitement that comes from personal progression. And the great thing is that the more we progress the less we think about ourselves. And the more we think of others the faster we progress. It is God's work to bring to pass the imortality and eternal life of man. As we come closer to God we come closer to fulfilling our purpose in life. God want's to help us, we just have to choose.
Tomorrow is Zone conference and I already have gotten a glimps of what's comming up. President Smith is going to give us all new Book of Mormons. He is going to ask us all to re-read the Book of Mormon one more time and highlight every verse that talks about Christ with one color. Then, re-read the book again and highlight every verse that talks about the Gospel. And again with other subjects. Something like that. I remember seeing such a suggestion in Preach My Gospel. I am excited to try it out. I'm sure that it will be a valuable activity.
Over the past week I've been doing my best to use the Book of Mormon while inviting. It's been pretty effective.
Elder Tom is doing very well. He's been one of my favorite companions to work with so far. :) He's jumped right into missionary work like a
champion. It really isn't hard. It just takes willingness, desire, and love.
Thailand is as awesome as ever. Asian people sound funny when they speak english with an accent, but when they are speaking their own language then they are normal. It's interesting to see how the Spirit works with people. Language is not a barrier to the Spirit.
I'm trying out all of the different kinds of food that I can while I can. A few days ago I even had a meal that Elder Tom has never had before. Khaw Pat Plaa (fried fishrice as aposed to fried rice with fish). He said it was weird. I agree. But we both agreed that it was okay. At least it was edible. Fish is tasty.
Keep on being awesome!
Love,
Elder Lilly
Jan 4, 2010
hey hey hey
Dear Family,
Happy New Year! This year's proceliting efforts were better than last years. There were only a few people who told us that they could meet us Lang Pi Mai (after new years). Christmas is not consitered an official holliday in Thailand. They don't get work off during Christmas day. But new years is a holliday. And it's big too. They celebrate new years three times each year. They celebrate the Christian, Chinese, and Buddhist new years. The Buddhist new years is when they hold a huge week waterfestival-war. The tradition for new years weekend is to go home and visit your family. Usually that entails going out of town to visit your place of birth or wherever it is that your parents are. That's why it's hard to procelite on New Years. Well, that and the other unofficial but widely held tradition is that you stay up drinking with your friends all night. New years is the time when the most deaths are caused because of drunk driving. Then the roads are usually packed the next day with people trying to go back to where they usually work/live.
As for me, I ate dinner and lunch twice with members to celebrate New Years. Then I slepped peacefully all night. But I was awake when you guys were celebrating New Years in America.
Elder Tom and I are doing well. We are getting better and better at applying principals from Preach My Gospel.
Today we listened to the Cd of general conference that Spencer and Crystal sent to me. It was Elder Tom's first time of hearing conference in English. He was impressed by the power of the emotion that was in the words of the speaker (Elder Holland). I told him how much I enjoy general conference and how much better the English version is from the bland translation to Thai. And today is his day to practice speaking only English. Hopefuly that will modivate him to learn English better. Heh heh
In Elder Hollands talk I noticed some sweet things about The Book of Mormon that I hope to apply more to our inviting and teaching. The Book of Mormon is the word of God, which is theIron rod that we need to cling to for safety. And the Iron Rod is the way and the only way that leads to happiness, and salvation. The Book of Mormon is an instructions manual for salvation. It leads us to receiving the power of Christ to overcome every trial, trouble, or tribulation. It leads us to receiving help, hope, healing, and happiness. The Book of Mormon keeps us safe. Right now I'm reading about the epistle of Helaman to Moroni. There were some amazing examples of all of these promises being given to the people in that story. And those promises can apply to us. That's pretty awesome.
On saturday Elder Tom and I were tired from working out in the Sun all day, and we felt that we needed to call our investigators/potential investigators to schedule appointments and wish them a happy new year. So, we went to the church and started calling them when one of the members, Broth O, came and started talking to us. He was concerned about another member who was offended by him. We ended up praying and teaching an unexpected lesson to him. I feel like that lesson is just what he needed because he left a better person than when he came.
In that lesson that we taught Brother O, we talked about an interesting point that we don't need to talk to eachother as if we all have problems, because Christ overcame all of our problems already. But rather we can speak to eachother about our trials of which we can overcome through faith in Jesus Christ. And with faith in Jesus Christ we can overcome all things. So we don't really have problems, but rather we have a lack of faith, and an opportunity to grow.
I have not bought the camera yet but I have a plan for it. I might be using some of that money to send a presant home for the family. That would be fun!
Keep working hard and being the awesome people that you are. And don't forget to cling to the rod of iron by reading and studying the scriptures. I wish you all a happy and awesome new year!
Love,
Elder Lilly
Happy New Year! This year's proceliting efforts were better than last years. There were only a few people who told us that they could meet us Lang Pi Mai (after new years). Christmas is not consitered an official holliday in Thailand. They don't get work off during Christmas day. But new years is a holliday. And it's big too. They celebrate new years three times each year. They celebrate the Christian, Chinese, and Buddhist new years. The Buddhist new years is when they hold a huge week waterfestival-war. The tradition for new years weekend is to go home and visit your family. Usually that entails going out of town to visit your place of birth or wherever it is that your parents are. That's why it's hard to procelite on New Years. Well, that and the other unofficial but widely held tradition is that you stay up drinking with your friends all night. New years is the time when the most deaths are caused because of drunk driving. Then the roads are usually packed the next day with people trying to go back to where they usually work/live.
As for me, I ate dinner and lunch twice with members to celebrate New Years. Then I slepped peacefully all night. But I was awake when you guys were celebrating New Years in America.
Elder Tom and I are doing well. We are getting better and better at applying principals from Preach My Gospel.
Today we listened to the Cd of general conference that Spencer and Crystal sent to me. It was Elder Tom's first time of hearing conference in English. He was impressed by the power of the emotion that was in the words of the speaker (Elder Holland). I told him how much I enjoy general conference and how much better the English version is from the bland translation to Thai. And today is his day to practice speaking only English. Hopefuly that will modivate him to learn English better. Heh heh
In Elder Hollands talk I noticed some sweet things about The Book of Mormon that I hope to apply more to our inviting and teaching. The Book of Mormon is the word of God, which is theIron rod that we need to cling to for safety. And the Iron Rod is the way and the only way that leads to happiness, and salvation. The Book of Mormon is an instructions manual for salvation. It leads us to receiving the power of Christ to overcome every trial, trouble, or tribulation. It leads us to receiving help, hope, healing, and happiness. The Book of Mormon keeps us safe. Right now I'm reading about the epistle of Helaman to Moroni. There were some amazing examples of all of these promises being given to the people in that story. And those promises can apply to us. That's pretty awesome.
On saturday Elder Tom and I were tired from working out in the Sun all day, and we felt that we needed to call our investigators/potential investigators to schedule appointments and wish them a happy new year. So, we went to the church and started calling them when one of the members, Broth O, came and started talking to us. He was concerned about another member who was offended by him. We ended up praying and teaching an unexpected lesson to him. I feel like that lesson is just what he needed because he left a better person than when he came.
In that lesson that we taught Brother O, we talked about an interesting point that we don't need to talk to eachother as if we all have problems, because Christ overcame all of our problems already. But rather we can speak to eachother about our trials of which we can overcome through faith in Jesus Christ. And with faith in Jesus Christ we can overcome all things. So we don't really have problems, but rather we have a lack of faith, and an opportunity to grow.
I have not bought the camera yet but I have a plan for it. I might be using some of that money to send a presant home for the family. That would be fun!
Keep working hard and being the awesome people that you are. And don't forget to cling to the rod of iron by reading and studying the scriptures. I wish you all a happy and awesome new year!
Love,
Elder Lilly
Dec 28, 2009
Yup it's Monday
Dear Family,.
It was good talking to you all.
My companion is awesome 'possom. He is adjusting really well to missionary life. He is humble and so willing. I am confident that together we can find the Lord's will and accomplish it.
I love you all,
Elder Lilly
It was good talking to you all.
My companion is awesome 'possom. He is adjusting really well to missionary life. He is humble and so willing. I am confident that together we can find the Lord's will and accomplish it.
I love you all,
Elder Lilly
Dec 23, 2009
Dear Family,
Merry Christmas!
Our awesome and crazy neighbor, Dennis, cooks food and gives it to the missionaries. He is full of crazy stories, yet the more I get to know him the more I call see how he knows what he is talking about. He has helped a lot of missionaries prepare for their future jobs. He has a lot of connections too. Well, we made friends with him really fast and every once and a while will drop bye and say hi to him. He has always given nicknames to the missionaries. I know other missionaries who have served in Korat before. There's Jew boy, Magic Man, Red, Wimpy the hamburger man, Sister Arizona, and others. But for some reason he has not given me a nickname. He calls me Elder Lilly. Then one time one of the sisters asked him why he didn't give me a nickname and he said it was because I am so old. I don't know what that means but he respects us and is very nice to us. We were talking about clothes a couple weeks ago and he found out that I am a big fan of vests. Just recently he gave me his own "lucky" blue vest and a couple of his own Ties. He's sweet.
Right now I am in SapanSung. Tomorrow I will meet my new Companion.
I feel good. Recently I have been working on simply befriending people and being sincere with them. Most people aren't open hearted at first. They are friendly, and nice, but not openhearted. It's amazing to be able to talk to someone and befriend them. They start to talk about things that they care about and things that are on their mind. Almost everything they say can be brought to a gospel principle. But there is a balance between boldness and overbearance. The Thai people usually don't have a Christian background. Most of them look for good things and accept good things. And they can easily recognise that we are good people. But they might not understand how practical and applicable the Gospel is. Simply testifying straight out usually doesn't enter their hearts. I think there needs to be a desire to seek after the Gospel first. Ammon sought to serve king Lamoni first, then later the king opened his heart. So, hopefully I can become better and better at being more like Ammon.
Another thing to work on is using the scriptures more. I use them in every lesson, but, I can still improve. Sometime missionaries get discouraged about using the Scriptures in Thai because it uses a higher form of the language and it's hard for people to understand. But that is only a minor challenge. The Book of Mormon is our greatest tool in conversion. I believe that a large part of my own conversion came from reading the Book of Mormon. There is a lot of Power in the words of the ancient and modern prophets. And anyone who prays and is open hearted seems to get something from reading them.
Well,
I love you guys.
The best time to call me according to my schedule would be your Christmas morning or your Christmas evening. If you plan on calling during your Christmas eve evening then just know that I have an appointment to teach at a school at 8:00 am my time. Okay?
Love,
Elder Lilly
Merry Christmas!
Our awesome and crazy neighbor, Dennis, cooks food and gives it to the missionaries. He is full of crazy stories, yet the more I get to know him the more I call see how he knows what he is talking about. He has helped a lot of missionaries prepare for their future jobs. He has a lot of connections too. Well, we made friends with him really fast and every once and a while will drop bye and say hi to him. He has always given nicknames to the missionaries. I know other missionaries who have served in Korat before. There's Jew boy, Magic Man, Red, Wimpy the hamburger man, Sister Arizona, and others. But for some reason he has not given me a nickname. He calls me Elder Lilly. Then one time one of the sisters asked him why he didn't give me a nickname and he said it was because I am so old. I don't know what that means but he respects us and is very nice to us. We were talking about clothes a couple weeks ago and he found out that I am a big fan of vests. Just recently he gave me his own "lucky" blue vest and a couple of his own Ties. He's sweet.
Right now I am in SapanSung. Tomorrow I will meet my new Companion.
I feel good. Recently I have been working on simply befriending people and being sincere with them. Most people aren't open hearted at first. They are friendly, and nice, but not openhearted. It's amazing to be able to talk to someone and befriend them. They start to talk about things that they care about and things that are on their mind. Almost everything they say can be brought to a gospel principle. But there is a balance between boldness and overbearance. The Thai people usually don't have a Christian background. Most of them look for good things and accept good things. And they can easily recognise that we are good people. But they might not understand how practical and applicable the Gospel is. Simply testifying straight out usually doesn't enter their hearts. I think there needs to be a desire to seek after the Gospel first. Ammon sought to serve king Lamoni first, then later the king opened his heart. So, hopefully I can become better and better at being more like Ammon.
Another thing to work on is using the scriptures more. I use them in every lesson, but, I can still improve. Sometime missionaries get discouraged about using the Scriptures in Thai because it uses a higher form of the language and it's hard for people to understand. But that is only a minor challenge. The Book of Mormon is our greatest tool in conversion. I believe that a large part of my own conversion came from reading the Book of Mormon. There is a lot of Power in the words of the ancient and modern prophets. And anyone who prays and is open hearted seems to get something from reading them.
Well,
I love you guys.
The best time to call me according to my schedule would be your Christmas morning or your Christmas evening. If you plan on calling during your Christmas eve evening then just know that I have an appointment to teach at a school at 8:00 am my time. Okay?
Love,
Elder Lilly
Dec 17, 2009
Big Change
So,
I got the pictures. Very nice. Also, I just got a pretty sweet looking package from Crystal. Thanks so much! It would probably be easier and cheaper to send money in the mail for me to buy a camera, but that's all up to you guys. Getting packages is always fun.
Yesterday was moves day. Moves was a week early in order to allow the fourteen Elders to go home for Christmas. There are three new missionaries coming in this next Thursday. And I am called to train one of them. Also, he is a native Thailander. In mission life/language I am a dad. But now this leaves a good week without my companion. Therefore am I switching off with Elder Jolley for a week who is also training but in Bangkok. We are going to be in Korat till Monday. Then we will go to his area in Supansung. Finally we will go to Pakkret in order to meet our new companions. But the catch for me is that my companion will not have gone to the MTC to train yet. Therefore he will be trained by the Assistants to President Smith and I will take a part in helping him from ground zero. We will be back in Korat for Christmas on the twenty fifth.
As soon as this next group of missionaries goes home all of the remaining missionaries will have been under the direction of President Smith longer than President Dodge. And there are a lot of changes being made. Starting on the 28 of Dec. our preparation day will be on Mondays. This means that you will need to change the day that you write e-mails to me! There are several several more changes but they will not take effect until that day as well.
Also, the number of missionaries in the country is going to go down from 140 to 94 in the next few move periods. That alone changes a lot. I am excited to take on the challenge and to be an even more obedient missionary.
One more thing. Because I am training, Elder Milton moved to Sesagate. If I count Elder Correa who was and Elder Jolley who will be companions with me for 1 week then the new Elder coming in will have been my twelfth companion.
One more thing. A killer wale can swim up to thirty miles an hour... that's fast.
I need to go work more because today is not preparation day, but I love you all very much. And I am excited to talk to y'all soon.
Love,
Elder Lilly
I got the pictures. Very nice. Also, I just got a pretty sweet looking package from Crystal. Thanks so much! It would probably be easier and cheaper to send money in the mail for me to buy a camera, but that's all up to you guys. Getting packages is always fun.
Yesterday was moves day. Moves was a week early in order to allow the fourteen Elders to go home for Christmas. There are three new missionaries coming in this next Thursday. And I am called to train one of them. Also, he is a native Thailander. In mission life/language I am a dad. But now this leaves a good week without my companion. Therefore am I switching off with Elder Jolley for a week who is also training but in Bangkok. We are going to be in Korat till Monday. Then we will go to his area in Supansung. Finally we will go to Pakkret in order to meet our new companions. But the catch for me is that my companion will not have gone to the MTC to train yet. Therefore he will be trained by the Assistants to President Smith and I will take a part in helping him from ground zero. We will be back in Korat for Christmas on the twenty fifth.
As soon as this next group of missionaries goes home all of the remaining missionaries will have been under the direction of President Smith longer than President Dodge. And there are a lot of changes being made. Starting on the 28 of Dec. our preparation day will be on Mondays. This means that you will need to change the day that you write e-mails to me! There are several several more changes but they will not take effect until that day as well.
Also, the number of missionaries in the country is going to go down from 140 to 94 in the next few move periods. That alone changes a lot. I am excited to take on the challenge and to be an even more obedient missionary.
One more thing. Because I am training, Elder Milton moved to Sesagate. If I count Elder Correa who was and Elder Jolley who will be companions with me for 1 week then the new Elder coming in will have been my twelfth companion.
One more thing. A killer wale can swim up to thirty miles an hour... that's fast.
I need to go work more because today is not preparation day, but I love you all very much. And I am excited to talk to y'all soon.
Love,
Elder Lilly
Dec 9, 2009
Christmas in Korat (that could be a movie)
Dear Family,
Thanks for the short update on how things are going with our family. Some of the news is exciting and some sad. But truly the Lord is looking out for us. I didn't think about it before but I wrote down a seven step pattern of success that I have found in my mission (coming from me and no official source) that I would like to share with our family.
1. Envision
2. Pray
3. Study
4. Sacrifice
5. Endure
6. Show gratitude
7. Increase Mightily
Each of these steps are deep and applicable to every situation I have found myself in. Often times I find myself doing every step at the same time. I will try to explain and expound simply on each of them as they apply to missionary work.
Envision. Vision is the first step. It is the eye of faith. We need to work out our vision with God and ask for His inspiration. Our vision could be distant or near at hand but we need to be able to envision what sort of changes we want to see in our lives or in the lives of others so that we can apply our faith to making the vision become reality. My vision for Korat included an increase in happiness of each of the members, excitement in spreading the Gospel, and an increase in church attendance, etc.
Pray. Pray mightily. Don't give up after a week or two. Pray several times per day. Praying can be a spiritual experience. How do you want Heavenly father to feel? We can't accomplish our goals without God's help. The prayer of faith is how we invite the Spirit to be with us.
Study. Eat the scriptures up. Our preparedness and intensity makes it powerful. We can find personal direction and revelation from studying the scriptures. Scripture study is another way that we can find the spirit and God's will for us.
Sacrifice. Sacrifice your sins, your time, your pride, obedience, hard work, and anything else it takes. Sacrifice is a principal of power. Sacrificing is how we show our faith.
Endure. Endure through the trial of our faith. There's definitely going to be a trial of our faith. Sometimes it takes time before we get what we want. Sometimes we go on in the dark and it doesn't seem like things are going according to our plan. We must pass through the trial. That means we need to be willing to give up everything and accept God's will. After we prove that we are willing, usually God gives us according to our desires. But not always. Sometimes we can't see the effects of our sacrifice but we can be assured that God will take it and use it for good. God will prompt us and let us know that we are on the right path. That's how we know that we still need to endure.
Show Gratitude. Even if we worked really hard, really the one who really did everything and gave us the strength we needed wasn't us. It was God. Gratitude is important. It is a sin to not be grateful. God blesses us with more when we are grateful. Gratitude goes a long way.
Increase Mightily. This is my favorite step. Increase your faith. Increase your commitment, sacrifice, humility, love, strength.... God want's us to learn from our experiences. So take every trial as an opportunity to grow. And make it mighty!
Yesterday I interviewed 3 more investigators. 2 of them passed and the other will be ready before this coming Sunday. Em and Sally's 2 kids Eve and Oy will be getting baptized this Sunday. God has blessed us a ton.
When would be the best time/day for you to call for Christmas? I suppose it doesn't really have to be Christmas.
I love you all so much.
Love,
Elder Lilly
p.s. I didn't get the Thanksgiving pictures. Also I wasn't the one behind the camera for Christmas, I've been grabbing other peoples cameras and using their pictures. I would like a really nice digital camera that I can go crazy with and take a lot of sweet pictures with for Christmas. That would be the greatest.
Thanks for the short update on how things are going with our family. Some of the news is exciting and some sad. But truly the Lord is looking out for us. I didn't think about it before but I wrote down a seven step pattern of success that I have found in my mission (coming from me and no official source) that I would like to share with our family.
1. Envision
2. Pray
3. Study
4. Sacrifice
5. Endure
6. Show gratitude
7. Increase Mightily
Each of these steps are deep and applicable to every situation I have found myself in. Often times I find myself doing every step at the same time. I will try to explain and expound simply on each of them as they apply to missionary work.
Envision. Vision is the first step. It is the eye of faith. We need to work out our vision with God and ask for His inspiration. Our vision could be distant or near at hand but we need to be able to envision what sort of changes we want to see in our lives or in the lives of others so that we can apply our faith to making the vision become reality. My vision for Korat included an increase in happiness of each of the members, excitement in spreading the Gospel, and an increase in church attendance, etc.
Pray. Pray mightily. Don't give up after a week or two. Pray several times per day. Praying can be a spiritual experience. How do you want Heavenly father to feel? We can't accomplish our goals without God's help. The prayer of faith is how we invite the Spirit to be with us.
Study. Eat the scriptures up. Our preparedness and intensity makes it powerful. We can find personal direction and revelation from studying the scriptures. Scripture study is another way that we can find the spirit and God's will for us.
Sacrifice. Sacrifice your sins, your time, your pride, obedience, hard work, and anything else it takes. Sacrifice is a principal of power. Sacrificing is how we show our faith.
Endure. Endure through the trial of our faith. There's definitely going to be a trial of our faith. Sometimes it takes time before we get what we want. Sometimes we go on in the dark and it doesn't seem like things are going according to our plan. We must pass through the trial. That means we need to be willing to give up everything and accept God's will. After we prove that we are willing, usually God gives us according to our desires. But not always. Sometimes we can't see the effects of our sacrifice but we can be assured that God will take it and use it for good. God will prompt us and let us know that we are on the right path. That's how we know that we still need to endure.
Show Gratitude. Even if we worked really hard, really the one who really did everything and gave us the strength we needed wasn't us. It was God. Gratitude is important. It is a sin to not be grateful. God blesses us with more when we are grateful. Gratitude goes a long way.
Increase Mightily. This is my favorite step. Increase your faith. Increase your commitment, sacrifice, humility, love, strength.... God want's us to learn from our experiences. So take every trial as an opportunity to grow. And make it mighty!
Yesterday I interviewed 3 more investigators. 2 of them passed and the other will be ready before this coming Sunday. Em and Sally's 2 kids Eve and Oy will be getting baptized this Sunday. God has blessed us a ton.
When would be the best time/day for you to call for Christmas? I suppose it doesn't really have to be Christmas.
I love you all so much.
Love,
Elder Lilly
p.s. I didn't get the Thanksgiving pictures. Also I wasn't the one behind the camera for Christmas, I've been grabbing other peoples cameras and using their pictures. I would like a really nice digital camera that I can go crazy with and take a lot of sweet pictures with for Christmas. That would be the greatest.
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