So this week was pretty legit!! Last pday we went to a great Mexican place, and had some delicious Mexican food. Who would've thought, Mexican food in Thailand, but whatever. It tasted great.
Tuesday was pretty fun, we had district meeting, and ate brownies! It's weird here when we get to eat white people food, especially white people dessert, but we all enjoyed it.
Wednesday, we taught a way smart lady who works selling food on the street. Ratchada Road to be exact. It was pretty cool to be able to teach her, and see what she thought about our message.
On Thursday, we had a crazy kid approach us. It was way weird because normally we have to approach people to talk to anyone. So that was cool. He really wants to learn, and has TONS of questions. So many that it was hard to actually teach the lesson. So that is interesting. This happened after a lesson with one of our investigators whom we have been working with for awhile to just get on his knees on his own and pray about God and whether not this message is true. He always says that he wants to know the truth, and he loves the lessons, and he even reads scriptures on his own, but he just doesn't pray!! So we are unsure a little of what to do with that. But we keep meeting, and sharing scriptures. He is still willing to meet and come to church though, so that's good. Everyone remember, to keep your testimony, you need to pray!!
Friday, we had alot of appts fall through, so we did alot of inviting. And then it was sports night at the church!! Unfortunately, we had choir practice since ward conference was this Sunday, and the YSA sang, so we had to practice for that. It was good though. Consider the Lilies is a great song, and the spirit was sooo strong as we practiced. This ward is probably the best one in all of Thailand. I love it!
Saturday was waay busy. We went all over our area. We left for the church, and taught a guy named Nut, he is in the picture I have attached. He's pretty cool, and seems interested. The spirit was definitely there when he asked if God was there and listening to his prayer. So I am seeing lots of potential in this guy. Then we had a lesson with a lady named สุมอลี. At least, I think that's how she spells her name. She taught school in Idaho for about a year, so she's actually pretty good at English. We brought some members though, and had a super in depth lesson on the Plan of Salvation. It was way cool. She is catholic, so she has TONS of questions. But the lessons are way good. Then we went to the edge of our area to find a recent convert that we haven't seen in a while. Unfortunately we did not find her, but we did find a girl who was interested in our message. After that, we stopped by a members house, and I had a new fruit that was way good. I think it's spelled longsat, or ลองสัด but I'm really not sure. It was good though. After that, we went to the church, and it started pouring rain. The saying cows pouring cats and dogs, but this was like cows and oxen. And it continued for about 4-5 hours. I have attached pictures of how flooded the street got. Then we had ward FHE, which was waay fun.
So Sunday we had some great miracles happen. Earlier this week, the zone leaders made a goal to get 100 investigators at church this week. To do that, each companionship would have to bring at least 6 investigators. So as a district, we had to get 18 at church. Guess what?? WE GOT 19 AT CHURCH!!! We were so pumped. Elder Bunker and I had 9, Elders Phasay and Manwaring had 8, and the sisters had 2. Actually all of the sisters investigators bailed on them, but on the way to church, they invited 2 people that just came with them! How cool is that?? Truly, when you set good goals, and work as hard as you can to reach those goals, the Lord makes up the difference. Oh yeah, and the talks today were awesome. Since it was ward conference, the Bishop, and Stake President spoke. They both talked about how we need to prepare for a temple, and we need worthy Melchizedek priesthood holders to work in the temple, so SHARE THE GOSPEL. Great meeting. Oh yeah, and we had to carry the stake president up and down the stairs to the chapel. He's paralyzed from the chest down. So that was interesting. Great weekend though.
Ok, joke of the week comes from a returned Thai missionary I met at ward conference. Why do women go first to eat? Because Eve ate the fruit first. Why didn't Adam eat first? Stay tuned for the answer next week.....
Spiritual thought is two-fold.
1. Mosiah 1:3-5 3 And he also taught them concerning the records which were engraven on the plates of brass, saying: My sons, I would that ye should remember that were it not for these plates, which contain these records and these commandments, we must have suffered in ignorance, even at this present time, not knowing the mysteries of God.
4 For it were not possible that our father, Lehi, could have remembered all these things, to have taught them to his children, except it were for the help of these plates; for he having been taught in the language of the Egyptians therefore he could read these engravings, and teach them to his children, that thereby they could teach them to their children, and so fulfilling the commandments of God, even down to this present time.
5 I say unto you, my sons, were it not for these things, which have been kept and preserved by the hand of God, that we might read and understand of his mysteries, and have his commandments always before our eyes, that even our fathers would have dwindled in unbelief, and we should have been like unto our brethren, the Lamanites, who know nothing concerning these things, or even do not believe them when they are taught them, because of the traditions of their fathers, which are not correct.
4 For it were not possible that our father, Lehi, could have remembered all these things, to have taught them to his children, except it were for the help of these plates; for he having been taught in the language of the Egyptians therefore he could read these engravings, and teach them to his children, that thereby they could teach them to their children, and so fulfilling the commandments of God, even down to this present time.
5 I say unto you, my sons, were it not for these things, which have been kept and preserved by the hand of God, that we might read and understand of his mysteries, and have his commandments always before our eyes, that even our fathers would have dwindled in unbelief, and we should have been like unto our brethren, the Lamanites, who know nothing concerning these things, or even do not believe them when they are taught them, because of the traditions of their fathers, which are not correct.
So, not even Nephi and Lehi could have made it without the scriptures!! We need to read scriptures everyday, no matter how hard it is, because it's waaaay worth the effort.
2. D&C 84:79-84
79 Behold, I send you out to prove the world, and the laborer is worthy of his hire.
80 And any man that shall go and preach this gospel of the kingdom, and fail not to continue faithful in all things, shall not be weary in mind, neither darkened, neither in body, limb, nor joint; and a hair of his head shall not fall to the ground unnoticed. And they shall not go hungry, neither athirst.
81 Therefore, take ye no thought for the morrow, for what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, or wherewithal ye shall be clothed.
82 For, consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, they toil not, neither do they spin; and the kingdoms of the world, in all their glory, are not arrayed like one of these.
83 For your Father, who is in heaven, knoweth that you have need of all these things.
84 Therefore, let the morrow take thought for the things of itself.
80 And any man that shall go and preach this gospel of the kingdom, and fail not to continue faithful in all things, shall not be weary in mind, neither darkened, neither in body, limb, nor joint; and a hair of his head shall not fall to the ground unnoticed. And they shall not go hungry, neither athirst.
81 Therefore, take ye no thought for the morrow, for what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, or wherewithal ye shall be clothed.
82 For, consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, they toil not, neither do they spin; and the kingdoms of the world, in all their glory, are not arrayed like one of these.
83 For your Father, who is in heaven, knoweth that you have need of all these things.
84 Therefore, let the morrow take thought for the things of itself.
This one has hit home to me the past couple of weeks. Especially as I have tried to learn this language, and adjust to being in a completely new country and culture, I have been blessed that the reassurance that the Lord qualifies the called. He will strengthen us in the way we need, because He knows us perfectly. So remember this scripture next time you have to do something hard!!! Because with the help of the Savior, anything is possible!!! If we prayerfully set goals, and work and put it all out on the table, the Lord makes up the difference. But we have to be ALL IN. Obedience opens the gates to the blessings from Heaven. So do the smart thing, and open that gate, the Lord loves all of you!!!
Sorry this is long, but it really was a great week!
Elder Ellsworth
pics from this week, great Thai food, a hamburger place that's really good, and has Thai people dressed up as cowboys - I thought that was funny. then the flood from Saturday, and my trainer blowing away the competition at FHE
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