Bike Adventures & Oopsies.

So I got in a bike accident on Friday May 6th and landed right on my shoulder and side of my head. As the weekend went by my shoulder began to get worse, so I went to the Doctor on Wednesday. We had to go all the way into Houston a little under 2 hr drive and I was diagnosed with a concussion and he said "it probably won't be normal for a month"  I asked him how long I would have to be off my bike, and he said a week, so this week we were riding in style, in the 2010 Chevy Malibu which is a pretty nice car.  The negative side to being in a car is we have less exposure to people, it probably would seem pretty creepy if we jumped out of our car to contact someone verses jumping off of our bikes.  However, it was easier to use time wisely, and I figured out how many miles we bike a day too. We bike 15 to 25 miles a day!  We are on those things usually 11am to 930pm. 
 
On Wednesday after the doctor we stayed out in Texas City, (our area isn't only Galveston but Hitchcock, La Marque, and Texas City) We met two great families, but as I opened the box of Books of Mormon with our car keys and set down the keys to grab the two books and handed them to my companion and shut the trunk...I totally locked the keys in the trunk. This was our first lesson, so we were pretty much unwanted guests in the home waiting for rescue.  The homeowner seemed fine, "It's not like I would make you sit outside" she said.  Elder Rogers, one of the senior couples in charge of bikes and cars had to travel all the way from the mission office to Texas City and open our car. We spent 1 hr with them for the lesson and an extra 2 hours waiting there for keys.  We later called to invite her and her husband to church and when we heard the husband say on the phone "Its the sister missionaries" we heard a "what?!" and they hung up, if it was a mistake they would call right back, right?  Awkward...
 
 
The family we just baptized on Easter is doing great. They are having regular family and scripture study daily.  We stopped by to say hi and the mom wasn’t home so we couldn't go in the house (oldest is 17, a female over the age of 18 has to be present in order for us to enter a home) The Mom told us the next day at church "my husband said you were like vampires at the door and couldn't come in" I busted up laughing, it's so true!  They also said they want to have me over for dinner on my birthday, the 26th of this month and asked what cake and food I like. They are so nice to me, I love them so much.  Also, it's so cute! The mom is a couponer and gets things for so cheap, or free, or pays her!  She gave us juice and also much needed Tide Laundry soup.  I love this work and the people, I am so grateful I have an opportunity to serve in this great work. 
 
Numbers, never liked 'em much.

 Good numbers- This week we had 25 lessons, goal was 20, 20 is the standard by the first presidency to have.  Our goal for teaching new people was 5, so about 1 a day, we got 21 new people!  Despite being confined to a car all week this is amazing!  People with a baptismal date goal was 12, we got 19 at one point, now back down to 14 though, that's what happens when you extend it on the first lesson.
 
Bad numbers- we had 0 at church, yeah 0, planned and arranged for 29 to come to church, all said "yes, I'll be there" and 0 attended.  It hurt, and now some peoples dates to be baptized will be moved because in order to be baptized have to come to church a certain number of times. Also, our goal of 6 being baptized this month (was 7 at one point) is gone, we will have 0 this month.  Also there was an investigator devotional last night.  So we invited those who didn't come to church to come to that.  My companion says I am very persistent.  We had 11 coming though!  Then one car broke down just as they were leaving Galveston, so negative 4, then the other car load of 4, told us they didn't know it was so far, and turned around only 2 exits away from the location, so negative 8, so only 2 were able to attend.  Plus we got so lost ourselves, so maybe it was a good thing they didn't come because we arrived after the closing prayer.  So maybe it was good those 2 car loads didn't follow us, seeing as we got so turned around and arrived late, but it shows God is truly in charge.  The people who spoke at the devotional stayed after and we had a lesson.  Our investigators opened up and we now know how to better meet their concerns as we listened.  I sometimes wonder why people have to go through such hard times in life. It made me thankful for the wonderful family that I have and that Heavenly Father doesn't give us anything we can't handle.
 
I love being a missionary and sharing the gospel to all my brother and sisters.  I love seeing people repent and come closer to our Savior and Heavenly Father.  I love that I am called by a prophet to do this amazing work.  I know when  I talk to someone their conversion has just begun or I am a part of their conversion that has already begun.  I am so happy we all have our freedom of choice and He loves us so much he gives us chance after chance to choose Him and His true church.  “This church,” as I heard from a person who just got baptized a month ago, "It just makes sense... Why would God stop speaking to us after Revelations [in the bible]"  He has spoken to us through a prophet since the beginning of time, why would he stop,  He loves us.
 

May 9th letter / Happy Mothers Day

Hope you all had a Happy Mommy Day! I know I love mine! We had an amazing steak dinner and waited for parents to call. It was so much fun to get the call from home yesterday. I love my family so much. I love them lots and lots, I wish I could give them all a big hug soon. I heard they are going to Maui, lucky! I wish I could lay out on a beach and read the scriptures in the sand. I feel like everything I like to do is against the rules like swimming, dancing, snowboarding, listening to music with a beat, flying in the plane with dad, babysitting, playing with my dog etc.

We had transfers and I have a new companion! Her name is Sister Pope, she is from Orem Utah, actually all the elders in my district are from Utah, pretty funny, huh? Sister Pope finishes her mission in July so she will stay in Galveston until then. I will be here for this transfer, and if I am here for the next one then I will be here through August. I don't know if I want to be here through the summer, seeing that lots of people come in from out of town and most of the people I talk to would be referrals for other missionaries.


I never knew how hard it would be to get people to church.  In order to get people baptized they have to come to church a certain number of times.  Which makes sense, seeing it is a commandment to renew the baptismal covenants we enter into by going to church every week.  So they have to attend so they will get into that habit.  It is very hard though- night before we call investigators to confirm they will be coming, call members and have them pick them up, and then Sunday morning it's like a mad frantic, calling investigators to make sure they will be coming and are up arranging rides, wake up calls, and if not up cancel the ride or send it anyways or ourselves knock on the door so that they can come to church and make the date they have set as a goal.  If they don't come to church they won't make their baptismal date.  And of course we have a number goal to how many people will attend church, which we fell short of this week, again.  
 
 
I love being a missionary but I don't like updating records, managing time, figuring out who to see, what time , coordinate a day to have minimal travel time, when members can help us, depending on others, etc.  I like sharing the gospel but that's it. I have no other joy.  I hate goals and recording numbers that reflect my efforts because most are a reflection of people's freedom of choice like getting baptized, the standard is one a month, or lessons, like 20, or new investigators or how many lessons and how many new people say yes, or someone progressing. People have to choose to keep commitments, the list goes on and on. 
 
Our area not only covers Galveston but Texas City, La Marke, and Hitchcock, which is overwhelming trying to schedule time to go off the Island and contact referrals and set up appts, because if they cancel we have to have good backup plans and we don't have GPS, and already got a lost a few times for our one trip out there. There is a difference between Virginia and Virginia St.  And they are not exactly close to each other.

 

Baptisms on Easter day in Galveston

I hope everyone had a great Easter!   Our side of the area is mostly college students because we are by UTMB (university of texas medical)  I think one of the members overheard me say to my companion right after Relief Society "No one signed up to feed us "in reference to the calendar.  She was about to invite us but we ran off to do something, later she came back to us and asked if we had any dinner plans.  For easter this nice family made red mashed potatoes, green beans, french bread, pork chops, and white cake with coconut chocolate frosting.  Yesterday we baptized a members 4 children. Yay for Baptism!!! 
 

At the baptismal service I had to give a last minute talk on "The Holy Ghost." Because the person assigned didn't come back into town for the Easter holiday like he had planned.  I was so happy to give the talk that I told them "I would be doing a happy dance right now if missionaries were allowed to dance."  I felt so happy and felt this amazing joy, not because I got a baptism but because THEY were getting baptized.  I told them "this is the beginning of your happily ever after"  Soon after the thought came into mind "And where are all your investigators?  How many came to church?  Who do you have to see today?  Who has a baptismal date? who is progressing? You have so much work to do!"  We had 5 investigators at church, 4 of which got baptized.
 
We have been fasting sugar to show the Lord our sacrifice for receiving baptisms and it worked!  Easter candy felt like a bucket of frosting, quite sickening and not as enjoyable as I hoped.  So in a way that is a blessing, not desiring, granulated sugar, corn syrup, bees wax, and the huge list of crazy ingredients I can't even pronounce that is in candy.  I hear "blue bell" ice cream is amazing and huge in TX so we will eat that today and then begin another sugar fast. 
 
I eat healthy.  I make breakfast 6 days out of the week. I love to cook!  And I hate washing dishes.  The dish washer is not very good so we wash dishes all by hand.  But my favorite breakfast to make is smoothies, I make those like 4 times out the week and all sugar free!
 
This week in District meeting my khuu and I gave a training on "Relying on the Spirit"  It took longer to prepare than I would of liked.  Primarily because our lesson planning for the day was affected.  And the night before she said she didn't feel like we taught in Unity, so we made a goal to lesson plan every day to decrease the result of that.  And then it didn't happen.  I feel like I get stressed very easily and worry a lot.  I am not sure if that is normal.   A mission is stressful, no matter what language I speak.  My companion says I worry too much and over think a lot.
 
I am glad this mission doesn't have "house money" which a companion has to budget and document and request a reimbursement for things such as:
 
All travel expenses
water bill
electrical bill
office supplies
cleaning supplies (laundry soap, 409 etc)
kitchen tools
- basically anything you need as a missionary to fulfill the 'work'
 
The missionary saving fund (MSF) included items such as food, product for self, like soap, and anything not listed above but here there is no housing fund or need to keep track of the numbers or calculate . We just use MSF for everything!!   No reimbursement, just a set amount I have to figure out to finance. This requires the need for budgeting which I have limited experience with in my life!  All house utility and rent bills are paid for, but EVERYTHING else you have to manage to pay out of MSF which is a very small amount of money, less than I had in Thailand actually.  And as you know Thailand costs are a fraction of what they are here.  So I now have to budget my money.  This is very stressful.  Any tips?
 
There are a lot more "key indicators" here too.  Like a number of people you have to talk to per day, which is 10, a total of 70 a week.  which is called "OYM= 70 per missionary per week" OYM= open your mouth.  I talked to (OYM’d) 70 people in 2 days.  And man, that was intense!  I wish I had more time to write in my journal.  People aren't very nice like even before you start speaking "I'm not interested in what you have to say" and many similar responses "I have already accepted Jesus as my Savior" "Why are you telling me that,  I already know that"  From the 70 people I talked to only 5 of them chose to have us contact them again later. Plus those 5 are not in my area, yeah, none of them will be taught by me and my companion.  How do you keep a smiling face and positive attitude and outlook when this happens?
 
This week we had a total of 24 lessons, and at one point we had 18 people with a baptismal date.  Most days it's like "We have so much to do and no time to do it all" then others are like "shoot, what do we need to do, no members can come teach with us, we can't get a hold of anyone to teach, we are out of phone minutes.  All of our teaching records need to be updated; but what can we do right now?"  I am not very good at prioritizing and worry ahead of time a lot.

Teaching Successes in Galveston

My trainer, that sounds so weird since I have been a missionary for over 6 months now, finishes her mission in July.  She actually got an extension, she would be only having one transfer (6 weeks left) but she extended so now she has 2 transfers left. 
 
I can't believe I have less than a year left!  Time has been so slow.  3 months in the MTC, and 3 in Thailand. Both felt like it lasted forever, I hope time goes fast because we are sure hitting the ground hard.  We have 15 with a baptismal date. 
 
Last week we had 8 investigators attend church however on Saturday we had 20 confirm "I will be there for sure" "I promise" and only 10 came.  Sunday morning is always crazy frantic arranging last minute rides, being everyones alarm clock, etc.  Hopefully people will come on Easter. 
 
Also a family just walked into church, we thought they were just new to the ward because the mom said she was a member, back in the 90s. None of her kids are members so we have been teaching them.  The dad is not too open, even though he was a member a long time ago too.  He seemed to get upset when he shared the plan of salvation, about the judgement.  The kids are scheduled to be baptized Easter Day.  In this mission it is required that investigators attend church at least 3 times before they are baptized.  The children ages are 9, 11, 14, and 17.  The 14 year old has the most questions.  She likes the plan of salvation, and she said in the church she is in if someone is not baptized they go to hell she said "what if both your parents didn't believe in God and you didn't learn about it, I don't think God would make you go to hell forever just because you never had the opportunity to learn about it".  I asked her what she thought.  Which was great, she understands great that God loves all of us and there are many people who die without the knowledge of the true church of Jesus Christ.  We explained everyone will have the opportunity to accept it. 
 
We told the family when they offered us sugar we weren't having any until we got a baptism, the 17 year old said "oh, so that's why you are pushing this whole baptism thing, huh" lol.  So yeah, haven't eaten sugar, and members don't really feed us so I have a feeling I will be shedding some pounds.  We have a car in this area but only to get to church on Sundays and like once a week to go off the Galveston Island.  Our area covers Galveston Island and some of Texas City but most of the time we are working in Galveston.  I am not getting too sore from biking, my back does, but my legs are good, and I haven't fallen off yet, well almost, but we don't talk about that.
 
Since we teach most people between the hours of 4 and 8pm we never eat dinner.  But I like to cook, so I make breakfast.  It is so nice to have a kitchen not covered in black mold and micro ants. It is also great to have more than just a hot plate and a microwave, and there is hot water that comes out of the faucet, its amazing! We even have hot showers, such a blessing!  So I cook in the morning, I make sugar free smoothies too, I have a blender!  I make eggs, and omelets, and waffles and pancakes and turkey bacon. I have a waffle maker! My companion told me today "your husband is going to love you"
 

This week we had our temple trip too, on Friday. This mission has a temple trip every time there is general conference and when a missionary leaves to go home.

Miracles in Texas

I have a testimony that Heavenly Father loves everyone and has a plan for each us, that is very individual and personal.  I know he provides a way for all of to have happiness in this life.  It is hard and kind of disapointing when members and other missionaries ask "oh, why are you here?" Answering, the Thai language was destroying me isn't the best response to give so I say, truthfully "the Lord has a work for me to do here"

Members so far have only fed us once, my weekly funds are much lower here because it is anticipated that we won’t have to provide for all meals.  Most days we choose to eat or accomplish our goals of 3 lessons a day and inviting 10 people a day. The mission president sent out a "standard of excellence" for becoming excellent missionaries. One is to be exactly obedient among others but the one that worried me the most was extending the baptism commitment during every first lesson.  This checks for desire and among other things, such as what concerns they may have that we need to overcome early on etc.  I would never do that in Thailand they don't even know how to pray, but I see why in the bible belt that is needed.  It doesn't make it any easier though. 
 
We have five new people with a baptismal date this week.  WooHoo!  But, in order for them to be baptized they have to go to church.  If they don't go to church, they can not get baptized.  Because after baptism we make a covenant to always remember Him and renew our baptismal covenants through partaking of the sacrament weekly.  If they don't go to church they can not renew their covenants they made at baptism.  If baptism was a drivers license then church is the DMV.  You can't tell the cop you once had a drivers license and let it expire.  Same with Baptism, in order to go to heaven we have to keep our Covenants or promises we made when we were baptized.
 
 
I am so blessed to witness and now hear (in english) the miracles.  People still exercise their agency, for freedom of choice though.  On Saturday a girl wouldn't let us into her home telling us we aren't the person she is looking for. I told her we prayed less than 5 minutes ago and testify about prayer, God, his love for us, and answers to our prayers.  She was touched by the spirit and began to cry and told me about the day she had that God answered her prayer.  Her sons skateboard was stolen and he was beaten up and a Mom in the neighborhood, no idea how they got it, returned it.  Even after we brought the spirit and touched her she still refused to let us in.  What could I have done more?  I know no amount of education or beautiful sermon or anything that would let us into anyones home but only the spirit of the Lord will touch and soften someones heart.  But even after we did that she still said no.  I remember reading an article about agency and how God loves us so much he will let us go to hell if we choose.  He lets us choose for ourselves to come unto him or to continue trying to achieve happiness on our own. 
 
I know I am guilty of trying to find happiness in every thing but the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I tried finding peace in computer time or Facebook. I tried finding an escape from stress in the TV.  I tried having energy from Sugar and joy in shopping for material things of the world.  I know those things worked for a quick jolt of relief but none are as lasting as the peace, joy and happiness I feel in the teaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I have never had more energy.  Which is ridiculous because when we loose sleep as missionaries we don't ever take time to make up for it.  I have never been happier in my life than serving, and laboring, on behalf of my fellow brother and sisters.  We are all children of God and He loves us all.  I find invisible hugs and peace in prayers.  I find joy and energy in reading the Scriptures and the words or the prophet, modern and old.  I love seeing the mercies of the Lord in all his children lives whether 400 BC or 2000 AD.  He is the same yesterday today and forever.  And this is what I get to share every day.  How great is my Joy!  It does sadden me though when people choose not to have this peace, joy, love, energy, relief and happiness that can only be found through the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I know what their life can become and what greatness they can have in their lives and they choose to reject it with a line of excuses attached.  If they only knew that if they gave up those excuses they could have all the happiness in the world!  How can I, as a missionary, daughter, sister, and friend express the anxiety of my soul for them? 
 
This week in District meeting I shared what worked for us in Thailand how we got people to church.  We had a record number of investigators who attended church for the district.  Next week I hope to break the record for this mission!   


I love this quote from Gordon B Hinckley from "Teachings of Gordon B Hinckley"- The trouble with most of our prayers is that we give them as if we were picking up the phone and ordering groceries- we place the order and hang up.  We need to mediate, contemplate, think of what we are praying about and then speak to the Lord as one man speaketh to another"  I love this quote because I have said prayers like this.  It is true I have listed thanks and blessings and close.  Now I am finally getting to a point where it is no longer vain repetitions.  It takes effort to pray and really "mediate, contemplate, think... then speak to the Lord" 


 
In the Bible dictionary under "Prayer" it says, "The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant but are conditional on our asking for them"  How many times have I on my knees and in my heart tried to have God align my will with his or change His?  "Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other."  It also says that prayer becomes natural and instinctive when "we learn the true relationship in which we stand towards God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children)"  I never knew that when I didn't want to pray that I had not remembered this.

April 5, 2011 First update from Texas

I am already seeing miracles!  It's amazing!
 
My last Sunday in Thailand - Since conference isn't until next week in Thailand due to the translation we had fast Sunday.  We fasted that a girl we were teaching for a while would be able to come to church because she was working.  And our fast worked!  She got a better higher paying job and has sunday off.  She said she would accept a baptismal date when she gets moved into her new apartment and saves enough money for the down payment to move, so yay!  It's great.


 
Monday- Travel 25 plus hours and arrive in Texas, United States and it's still the same day, with time difference and all, so weird.  I obtained 3 addresses while traveling. 
 
Paul- I met him on the Thailand to Tokyo flight, he was doing some Christian thing like teaching english in Cambodia, there for 3 weeks, from Nebraska.  Wants to do the good thing in life.
 
Barb- I Met her on Tokyo to Detroit flight, she was the flight attendant. This was an over 12 hr flight so she was one of the few who actually stayed up.  I didn't sleep on that flight either.  She wants to find happiness, she flies as an escape.  She is from the hoppin' city in Tennessee.
 
Steven- I Met him on the Detroit to Houston flight. I taught him the restoration and plan of salvation lessons.  He had lots of questions and spiritual experiences with prayer and receiving guidance.  He lived in Utah for a while and wants to go back because it is a beautiful place to live, although he didn't have a good experience with members trying to convert him. I helped him see where they may have been coming from.  He seemed very open.  He has a daughter who is 9 and a wife named Brandi.  I gave him the baptismal commitment and he said yes! He expressed how if he could really have the gift of the Holy Ghost all the time that would feel awesome and he would want that if he really could. 
 
I am so blessed  I have the opportunity to be a missionary and serve the Lord in the capacity that I am.  I know he answers prayers and truly wants his children to be happy.  He has a plan for everyone to have happiness in this life and the life to come and family can truly be together forever and I get to share this amazing message! 
 
So I just interviewed with President Saylin yesterday when I arrived in Texas. Wow, the Lord's hand is truly in this work!  President said while he was trying to arrange where to fit me and place me with who and where when I arrived, he said "I wanted you to be with Sister Rogers but I knew that wouldn't really work because she is training her greenie but I got the prompting that is who you should be with" and then her companion unexpectedly went home that morning!  While I was traveling here, I was on the plane, they didn't even know they would be a missionary short before and I was already on my way, and thus an opening was made. Heavenly Father knew this and saw the need for me before anyone else did and even knew who I would be with.  I have a testimony that Heavenly Father truly has a plan for each of us and there is always a way for his great and marvelous work to go forth among the children of His.
 
My companion is Sister Rogers and she is amazing.  This would have been her last transfer but she got an extension.  Right now it is 3 weeks into their transfer,  She is from Idaho and the only person I have met that is paying for all her mission by herself like me.  She is ready to hit the ground running too.  I told her when she asked "aren't you going to eat it" I was doing a sugar fast, she said "Oh I should do that too" so we can be more unified and get baptisms, "I'll do anything for baptisms" she said.
 
It's weird not conversing with people of the Buddhist faith, they say things like "I already got baptized.  I'm already saved" and "It doesn't matter how we come unto christ as long as you know Jesus is your personal savior" this was in the airport, in Detroit actually, but crazy, because the people of Thailand never say that.
 
After spending the last six months working only Thai (3 in the MTC and 3 in Thailand) it feels really weird to be back in America. Upon arriving I am in a van that actually has seat belts in the back seat and on my way to the mission office of Texas Houston south Mission.  We ate dinner at a Mexican restaurant and they give you water in a pitcher with lots of ice verses buying bottle water and pouring it into a 6 oz. stainless steal mug (like one from REI you would take backpacking with you).   I also thanked the waiter for ordering me the best Mexican food ever, since I hadn't had it in over 6 months and asked if I could send him a Book of Mormon and he gave me his address. I told him two 19 year old boys would be delivering it.  I love being able to share the gospel and follow the promptings I receive and have the confidence to speak.  We are truly finding people who are being prepared to hear the gospel and they are being put into our paths. :)
 
It felt different showering and using two knobs to turn it on, yeah, hot and cold!  I felt very weird drinking water out of the tap. :) When I was doing dishes my companion rotated the faucet, "you know it can go hot" "Oh, I totally didn't realize."  I also kept looking for ants in the kitchen and there were none! And there are no mosquitos when sleeping. 
 
The next day it felt funny being in a Toyota Malibu on the wrong side of the road sitting in the front of the car and seeing stores like Marshals and going to Walmart to do grocery shopping where you can order photos at the same place you buy food.  So weird! Stores are like warehouses, but in Thailand if you wanted to go to a place like the electrical center in Walmart you went to a elec store, same with shoes, or stationary, individual stores, but here- it's all in one place. I keep forgetting I'm in Texas and can't just drive home.  America is home and I feel like I am home since I see familiar stores and huge highways and roads and all the people aren't asian.
 
Also across from the mission president home is a Thai couple the missionaries are teaching, and I can help! It's not my area though, I am on an Island, and my apartment is right next to the beach, we can see it as we drive out of the parking lot, so cool! 

Big News .....A Mission Transfer

I have a new mission call! I have been called to serve the remaining year of my mission in the Houston South, Texas Mission-English speaking. President Smith says he has never seen me quite so perky and cheerful. I feel a huge relief from the stress of this very difficult Thai language. I know that we learn and grow from challenges and the challenges in the MTC learning Thai and then the three months of trying to overcome the challenge and obstacles here in Thailand will only make me a better person. It was such a joy to attend the baptism of the cutest family of 3 whom we taught from start to baptism, however it broke my heart that I couldn't understand their wonderful testimonies.

I am looking forward to serving the needs of the wonderful people of Texas.
Here is the Map of my new mission.

For now, the weather in my new mission is about 10-12 degrees cooler than Bangkok, with highs in the mid 80's rather than the upper 90's. Thailand is just starting to enter into their hot season and so is Houston. Soon, I will find out if I will be in a bike area or not.

March 28th Updates

I must be weird or something because the more I am on a mission the more I think about family.  Grandma Amero, Grandma and Grandpa Hallstrom, Cindy, Jaeden and Sachi, Telisha and of course my parents.  I also think about what can help them the most and how the gospel can help everyone with the challenges that we have daily.  I think about how I want my relationship to be with my future spouse and through having companions I learned how important communication is.  I have also thought how I want to raise my children.  And how there are people, in the pre earth life cheering me on in this missionary work so they can be born into the covenant.   How my decisions not only affect me but those I interact with and those I should interact with.  Like meeting a friend through church, if I didn’t go to church the persons prayer of having a friend would be delayed or marrying the correct person, basically doing what’s right and following the prompting or council I receive form the Holy Ghost (the spirit of God).  And most of all I have thought about the eternities and what that really means.
 
The eternities- yeah, the forever.  Mainly this week I thought about raising kids.  And how I read that our children will love and revere us (parents) throughout all eternity.  We never stop parenting and we never can say "well, honey, all our kids are grown up, we are empty nesters, they are too old to listen to us, and we are done.  They are on their own".  Heavenly Father is our parent and I know he would never say that to us!  We rely on him just as much no matter what we age are and probably even more as we get older.  I think back of when have I needed Heavenly father (my parent(s)) most in my life?  Always.  I know I will revere my earthly parents throughout all eternity.  There is no end that I seek their council, wisdom, or experiences.  Just like Heavenly Father, I love them forever and I want to know what I do or don't do is acceptable to them.  Just how Heavenly Father speaks to us, through a prophet in the scriptures or from our modern day prophet.   There is no end to parents.  The same cancel we give a child at age 11 or 13 applies when they are 18 and 24. 
 

In "The Family: A proclamation to the world" it says in paragraph 6 "Husband and wives have a solemn responsibility to love each other and their children.  "Children are a heritage of the Lord (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness... and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God... Husbands and wives- mothers and fathers- will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations"
 
This is a lot of responsibly, no wonder so many of us are afraid of getting married and starting a family, I know I am! 
 
  

This week I have also thought a lot about scripture study and wondering "why do I think this is so important?  Why do I empathize to my family members, why do I tell them it is important and they need to do it?"  It is because I love them and it makes me happy.  Real happiness is through Jesus Christ so I love to study him and his teachings.  I love to see how others overcome their trials and hardships and it is through relying on the Lord. This week I read the talk "The covenant of Baptism: To be in the Kingdom and of the kingdom" by Robert D Hales, he said " As I studied the scriptures during this critical period of my life, the veil was thin and answers were given to me as they were recorded in the lives of others who had gone through even more severe trails" I, too, delight in the scriptures as did this apostle!  I have such a desire to share what has made me happy and the first people I want to share it with is my family, my current family and the one I will have in the future.  (Hopefully within the next 5 yrs)

March 21st Updates

Today I read "Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ" by Gene R Cook, 8 Nov 1981, A BYU devotional address.  I really liked that he said "Challenges and difficulties that many of us resist are the very elements which refine us and make godly men and women" he also added that "the Lord will try you in every attribute possessed by man and at stages of development in your life"  and this will be continually repeated "until you know that you are able and will serve him at all costs" and we should "be sure to receive whatever the Lord gives to you with a thankful heart" ... I think I need to thank Heavenly Father in prayer more for my challenges and tell why I am thankful for them and what I have learned as a result.  It is true what they say about missions- it is the hardest thing we will ever do in our lives thus far and probably ever will do.  Probably because we are always trying to have the spirit with us, to know what people need when we don't even know them to pray that Heavenly Father will give us words to say. 
 
Answers to prayers.  Fear God not man.  Don't care what other people think or if what you think you should do is not socially acceptable, usually things pertaining to God are not accepted by the world.  When I feel good about what to do in life and set aside other peoples opinions I feel God is happy with me and have a feeling of peace in my heart, like a 7am on a summers morning. 
 
This week I have been thinking a little about commandments, and how it is a commandment to follow the prophet. and the apostles, and all those who are called of God, (this means me too :D ) And I hope no ever thinks, I like I have "Well, if thats the worse thing I can do than I am pretty good" This is saying, I know I am rebelling against God but I don't care, and is always saying I know better than God does.  Everything God says, through the voice of the servant or through him it is the same (D&C 1:38), is for our benefit.
 
The three basics,  I promise as you do these things you have more peace in your life, daily strength to concur the everyday stresses and challenges and feel closer relationship with God. 
1. Pray daily, individually and with your family.
2. Study (not read like a novel) the book or mormon.  It feels so good to tip my feet in the cool pool water of this book
3. go to church. 
 
Yup, that simple, the basics, no perfection, no huge list of dos and don'ts and stress and "I have so much to do!" because as you do these,  I promise, you will have time for everything you need to do.  I am a missionary, called by a prophet of God.  I speak truth. 
 
Yesterday  I read this months Ensign (see lds.org) "Teaching the doctrine of the Family" by Julie Beck, whom I actually shook hands with and hugged in the MTC, she came and spoke in Relief Society.  I loved when she said we don't have to be prefect or set insanely high goals just the basics saying "Live in your home so that you're brilliant in the basics, so that you're intentional about your roles and responsibilities in the family.  Think in terms of precision not perfection" as you do this your family "will learn that you pray, study the scriptures, have family home evening, make priority of meal times and speak respectfully of your marriage partner" isn't that an awesome promise! I love this article, also cross reference to "the family, a proclamation to the world"
 
Yesterday  I had the opportunity to teach in English, as I taught I prayed "please help me listen, I am trying to listen and trying not to think of what I will say next, please give me what to say" My companions, only for a period of 4 hours was a native thai, the person we were teaching was a member for 3 years but stopped going to church, he is from Japan and stayed in the states for a time and now in Thailand.  I asked him, being from Japan and not claiming a religion before and being sort of Buddhist how he knew the restoration and Joseph Smith were true. "At first, I thought it was a very tale and make believe" he said "but I started to pray and read the scriptures and I felt it was true.  As I prayed I could feel it was real"  He also said how he knows God is real because he has receive answers through the Holy Ghost (the spirit of God) through his thoughts and feelings. Which is amazing! this means he is asking questions in prayer.  He seems like a great member who has a testimony of daily scripture study and prayer and the restoration.  I asked what was keeping him for going to church "It is a day we spend as a family"  and how they are busy and that is their family day. He felt he had to choose between church or spend time with his family, and he chose family.  I told him "I prayed really hard before I came here where Heavenly Father wanted us to go today.  He loves you and he has sent us here" he explained he needed to be reminded and was going through some challenges.  I told him "I know you love your family very much and you know you can be together forever but in order for you to be with your family forever you have to keep the promises you made at baptism" I explain baptism like a drivers license and sacrament is renewing it "what if I said 'well I got it once' does it count'" He did not commit to coming to church.  I told Sister Hirschi (my real khuu) and she said next we will teach the atonement, and forgiveness of sins through the baptism/taking the sacrament. 

Our investigators get Baptized.

This week our family of three was baptized, yay! They have had quite a few challenges but many blessings and miracles too. I wish I could of understood their testimonies spoken in Thai.

This week we got, what Sister Hirschi says, the closest to a golden investigator. In our intro lesson we found out that she prays everyday and reads the Book of Mormon everyday too. And if she doesn't read it at night she will place it on her pillow so she will read it in the morning. How is it that investigators, or in this case, a lady who only had 3 lessons about one year ago can be more valiant and steadfast in the faith than members?

I have been dreaming about home more and more, like everyday stuff, like baking in the kitchen or seeing my dog, Phillip, in the house, I think I am missing home. 
 
Sorry for mentioning this again, in the book "Our heritage" one story really stuck out to me this week, about a couple who saved for 7 years to go the temple, to do ordinances for themselves and on behalf of their ancestors who had passed.  While out picking up some necessities, of which the temple gave them some money to purchase they found the wife crying in an aisle holding a bottle of Shampoo, she had not purchased shampoo for 7 years.  I am not asked to make that sacrifice and neither was she.  But she did.  How can you relate this story to your life?  I think I loved this book so much because it was easier to see these people as real people. Sometimes in the scriptures (mainly old testament, basically all time actually) it’s harder to relate to the people or see them as real.
 
Also I thought this week about when I used to work at the hospital and how one coworker was so surprised "They don't pay you to go?!  ...What? and YOU have to pay to go?"  I just shrugged it off as nothing but this week the scripture came to mind of how paid ministry is a priestcraft, and I am a minster, I have a ministering license actually, signed by the prophet himself. :)  So yeah, in the church, no one is paid.  Including me. 
 
Also this week I thought about Home and Visiting Teaching, and how this has been such a blessing to my family when we had members visit and befriend us and also when I was in the YSA, how my assigned visiting teacher partner is such a great friend of mine and how those we taught we loved and had great friendships from them.  It was great, and like scripture study, I never thought when I was doing it "I wish I wasn't doing this right now" and afterwards always felt "I was glad I did that, I should do it more" (same with exercising)
 
Oh, I made a mistake with culture customs, I saved two seats in sacrament, and in front of me in the aisle was my backpack and scriptures and study journal.  I motioned the investigators to sit by me as they came in late, for some reason they wouldn’t step over my backpack, I moved it and they still stepped around my mini quad. I thought it would have been so much easier for them to just step over the little thing but then it hit me "it is disrespectful to step over things" showing the bottom of the foot/shoe is considered dirty, and if you step over anything or show the bottom of your foot to anyone it is like flipping someone off. oops! 
 


I almost lost my companion this week, we exchanged for a day. I got to be companions with a real Thai person, who spoke as much English as I did Spanish, we both took two years.  So it was tough, she would smile at me and touch my shoulder in lessons when she wanted me to speak or pay attention Lol.   I liked her smile, very warm.  Anyways, back to losing her.  For transportation here you just get the back of a truck by flagging one down (look up picture of song taw, truck bench, Thailand transportation etc). The truck started moving just as I was only half way on, and my companion was not even on yet, but I didn't notice this so half way onto the step, and on this small step, my hands are at perfect waist height, you can already tell where my hands will land, as I was stumbling on I totally get a nice grip on a strangers bottom, yeah, she was surprised, and I was too, with a different stranger grabbing my forearm to pull me up, another person points behind me to my companion, who is running down the road. I quickly buzz the buzzer to stop the moving truck and get off. I am sure it looked like I did not pay for those who did not see me get on. I then thought "for sure thinking of ways to lose your companion and escape Thailand you didn't hesitate that time"  .......
 
Well, I figured out why a mission is so hard, I probably knew all along but just didn't like the answer.  A mission is hard because you have to depend on the Lord.  You pray harder than you have ever prayed and longer  and more frequently than ever before in all my life, probably all my life prayers calculated to right before my mission versus my mission prayers. I think my prayers within the last 4 months exceed my prayers before my mission.  Tears come close too.   A mission could be the easiest thing I ever do, I thought as I prayed in Thai " I request gratitude to thank thee for the opportunity to be a missionary" and then breaking down in "I don't want to be a missionary, please give me the desire to be a missionary, I don't want to be here" I was then reminded and thought "ok, lets see, I have no friends, no drama, no boys, no family, no school, no work, a mission should be easy," look at all those stresses I don't have to deal with!  then why am I so stressed.  I then realized Heavenly Father just asks that we give our best, then anxiety stuck again, what is my best? How do I know?  I am failing to be a happy missionary!...  I don't even know if that is possible...

Frustrations of Tracting & other thoughts....

This week while inviting, and in past weeks we get the brush off from people quite a lot. The excuses for not wanting to listen to us are always interesting but most are common responses.  The main one is "It is not convenient". This saddens me, and also "We are busy" I sometimes get defensive and want to say, but can't, since I can't speak thai "your busy? Really? I am busy, we are all busy, we all have lives and things that take prevalence in them" When people say they are busy or it's not convenient they are really saying "I don't want to learn". Which is a lot easier to ask why to compared to why are you busy.  It is difficult to clearly explain what we teach in 2 minutes and for them to make an educated choice of rejecting us.  Seeing they don't know anything about us other than we teach about Jesus.  I swear the word Jesus Christ creates a bad smell in the air or something because people curl their noses and wave their hands and physically turn their backs to us.  I can't speak so I just give them a really confused look that hopefully communicates whats wrong with saying Jesus?  Inviting is also tough because people say no so quickly.  Even when we only ask for 5 or 10 minutes of their time.  Maybe it's because they know if they listen to us they will feel the spirit of prophecy flowing through us and cannot deny the spirit that is so freely flowing through us.  I do wonder if they see us as what we really are.  Which is servants of God and representatives of Christ and His church.  We have been called by a prophet of God to share what we know, I know our message is true. 
 
Oh, I figured out why there are white floaty’s in the water.  It is parasites. So exciting... but they are dead. They don't filter the water but use ultra violet lights, so the water doesn’t go through filters, just light kills the bacteria in the water so you still see the bacteria in the water. This still makes me nervous though, how I am I to know if it is alive or dead. I wish they used filters instead of light. 
 
Scripture study and prayer- a commandment.  Like everything a prophet says is a commandment.  Including going to the temple, and eating healthy (the word of wisdom) etc.  I then got to think "How have  I done things I don't like to do or make time for but need too?"  Such as exercising or making dinner, or doing laundry or reading the scriptures or saying my prayer in the morning not just night etc.  And then I thought, "when I study the scriptures, do I ever think 'man, I wish I wasn't reading the scriptures right now' or after, have I ever thought 'I wish I hadn't read the scriptures today' nope, never" I assume I am not the only one who has felt this way, so when you begin to think and receive the prompting to go to study don't deny it and cover it with something else.  We all have things we can do, we all have a lot of things we 'can' be doing but think what will make you the most satisfied and what will be most satisfying to God.  I know as you do this you will have the blessing poured upon you, including feeling that your Father in heaven is proud of you and you are a good and faithful servant.
 
Culture- This week I learned in Buddhism you have to be at least 30 to teach religion.  Seeing anything younger is not really an adult or mature.  It seems weird that us 'kids' are coming and speaking to adults about religion, even members have said, when they first started learning with the missionaries "what can these kids teach me?" Respecting elders is a very huge part of this culture, and it is true, we are kids, and teach adults about how to obtain eternal life and how we have a prophet on the earth today, like Moses and Abraham of Old and that the church of Jesus Christ has been restored, meaning our church is the true church of God, and has every single truth of the gospel.  I know whoever takes the time to listen to the missionaries, they will know, through the spirit, that this is true.  I know that may sound bold, or even cocky but take me up on it if you think I am bluffing. 
 
Yesterday I taught someone, like most people I teach who do not know God is real.  We taught about prayer, and how "you can know if God is real by asking in prayer if he is real. The answer will come though the spirit or the Holy Ghost. You will know you receive an answer through the feeling in your heart.  I know this is true because God loves you.  He is our father in Heaven and we are his children.  I know he will answer your prayer because he loves you" and I said that all in Thai.  She then asked me if I pray.  I thought she was saying something like she couldn't understand me so i quickly answered how long I have been in thailand. 2 months.  then my companion said "she asked if you pray" I pray every day, I pray for the investigators and the members that they will pray and read the scriptures and go to church. I pray for my family at home and I pray to speak the language" I told her at the end of lesson "I have study the Thai language for 4 months, 2 in america and 2 in Thailand.  I do not speak skillfully. I know it is through the Holy Ghost, or the spirt of God, that you understand me.  There is no way you can understand what I am saying if I did this alone" The last sentence my companion had to help me with, the one that started with "there is no" so yeah.  I really felt like Heavenly Father was helping me and really loved this person.  I know that this church is true, for there is no way anyone could understand my Thai, or that anyone could speak fluently after only a few months (that has happened to others but not to me yet). 

Thoughts on the Pioneers & other ponderings

Unfortunately this week I have not had time to write in my journal, so much missionary work to do and all, makes for getting home on time rare this week so writing in my physical journal was sparse and when I did write, I wrote my testimony.
 
Scripture passage I liked this week:
 
I think it is impossible that ye should be ignorant of the things which have been said concerning the coming of Christ... He should make it known unto you what ye shall do... Prepare your minds" Alma 34:2-3
 
 In missionary work there are no callings, since our call is a full time missionary, a representative of Christ and a worthy member to represent the church all combined into one, so whatever other duties are given to us are called "assignments" I have been assigned to be the English Leader, We teach English every Tuesday as a service to the community.  I am in charge of who will teach what class- Beginner, intermediate, and advanced, what the spiritual thought at the end will be and conduct the beginning meeting, and plan a showcase, held every 6 weeks, and order materials such as books and make sure all is set up and taken down in the classrooms (chairs mostly).
 
This week I hate the language as always and the culture shock increased this week too-- I swear there are more ants in the Kitchen, and my lap, and my hands, and the bathroom insects have begun to inhabit it, again, I know because at one point I cleaned it so good there weren't any, so I know they are new... since I finished the Book of Mormon I decided to start another book
 
Missionaries are allowed to read only a handful of reading material- the standard works, Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price, Preach my Gospel, and the missionary library- which consists of
"Jesus the Christ"- a 700 pg book all about Jesus, loads of references. 
"True to the Faith"- a dictionary pretty much, outlines phrases and words not usually used in every day conversation (such as salvation, atonement, eternal life, holy ghost etc)
"Our search for Happiness"- what the church is for the member and non member basically a book of understanding and
"Our Heritage"- a history of the church, the early saints/ pioneers to present time.
 
I already read "our search for happiness while reading through the Book of Mormon so began "Our Heritage" and finished it!!!  Wow, I feel better about serving in Thailand. There are many sacrifices I thought I was making that I thought were difficult, after reading some the early church member difficulties I had to say "I don't have it that bad, I am blessed" I will share a few with you 1. I do not have to travel across the plains of the US in winter and have my feet so frost bitten that when they removed my socks all the skin came with and had to get their feet removed and walk on my knees the rest of life.  2. I did not go blind from the sun for serving and working on a railroad that needed to be completed to supply much needed supplies to the saints.  3. I did not have to leave my sick stricken family to a mission that was of unknown duration with myself being ill too.  But they saw so many miracles and were greatly blessed- like all there crops being eaten by grasshoppers and fasting/praying and seagulls coming and eaten them all up thus not starving to death, and 100s of converts coming into the gospel, souls saved through missionary efforts.
 
3 favorite stories-
 
1- the prophet, Brigham Young asked a select few to leave the colonized salt lake valley and spread out further, one man already settled, had fruit trees and farm and everything was asked to leave, and he left to colonize 100+ miles away from the salt lake city the winter was so harsh many turned back to SLC but he stayed saying the prophet asked him to go and he wouldn't leave till he was asked to.  He left all his fruit trees! I don't know if I could do that, those take along time to grow, along with other crops.  Seeing his strong faith strengthen mine
 
2- A daughter of a bishop was given a newspaper from england in may. She was with the two elderly men who gave it to her asked her to give it her father, the paper contained info about his ancestry, which would be used to do work in the temple (see mormon.org "temples" ) the paper was dated May 15th, the girl received the paper in may, only a few days after it was printed! This was before planes, it takes weeks for things to be shipped, this was a miracle!  People who have passed wanted their ordinances to be done (baptism) and were very anxious for that to happen.
 
3- During the great depression the church established a welfare program and began buying and farming land and raising cattle etc, worldwide.  In Germany they were asked to share their harvest of potatoes with whom they were against war at the time, switzerland, they freely gave to their fellow brothers and sister one year- 75 tons of potatoes, the next 90 tons! They saw a need a willingly gave.
 
I then thought- these miracle and hardships seem fictional, but I know they really happened just how I know the stories in the Old and New Testament happened and everyone on the earth today is living in a time when prophets and apostles walk the earth again.  The only time miracles cease is when we don't have faith.  If we have faith, if we know we can be healed or speak thai it will happen.  Miracles cease when our faith ceases.  Do I have the faith to speak this insane Language? Do I believe, when inviting for several hours in the sun, this next person will let us in to share the message? If I believe it, it will happen.
 

Update letter to Mission President

Sister Amero wants to share her letters to the President
Dear President Smith,
I am so blessed to have the Book of Mormon in my life and the opportunity to share it with the world. I am thankful that we have a living prophet who has called me to this great and Marvelous work.

Thank you for calling me last week, I ponder often on the council you give me.

Despite being off my feet I still kept my purpose in mind. Even though the zone leaders brought over two games for us to play with all the time we had on our hands. I had so much to do. I was so close to finishing the Book of Mormon and... I FINISHED THE BOOK OF MORMON!! Woo Hoo!! 3 times now. I feel so good! The scriptures are awesome and I am on a mission because we (the world) have the Book of Mormon. I am surprised I don't pass out with joy, that my joy doesn't over take my physical frame like in Alma chapter 19.

Since I was done with the Book of Mormon I opened up the New Testament and started reading some highlighted passages one of which was 1 Cor 10:13. And I got to thinking. It doesn't say sin in it. And what does common really mean? I asked Sister Hirschi and she said all temptations are common, everyone faces them. I got to thinking no temptation is so flashy, sparkly and tempting all common and everyone is tempted. I then thought "what tempts me?" "Home. Home tempts me, it beckons me, it is such a heaven on earth, joy is there, happiness and loads and loads of peace are there. My soul hungers for this. Oh, how I desire to be there." ... This is a common temptation, "you are in Thailand" I told myself as if I forgot. But I want to think, it is not a common temptation, look around you! Look at all the valiant steadfast missionaries. I don't think they are home sick, they LOVE the work and love helping people come unto Christ and they have a smile doing it. THIS temptation is not common. Then the verse says (1 cor 10:13) there is a way to escape, I then started thinking about home, that's an escape from here, my mind goes there when I thirst for peace and comfort, when I become overwhelmed and stressed. Nope, that's not the escape it is talking about. So, let's see, other escapes- The scriptures. Scriptures always make me happy, sharing them, reading them, discussing them, delighting in them, applying them, reading them, cross referencing them, finding new meaning, finding context, oh the joy! Never once have I thought "I wish I wasn't reading them." It is satan who tells us you don't have time, they won't understand them if you try to explain." The verse in 1 Cor also says there will be a way to bear it. The scriptures are how I bear it. The scriptures give me strength and desire. I will always make them my constant companion.

Sister Amero trys Dragon Fruit

I received my recipes from home and I desire to cook them. I only have a hot plate and a microwave though. But there is an oven at the church and I can bake before district meeting on Tuesdays, maybe... So I want to make pumpkin spice cookies. Two problems though- 1 there are no choc chips here, and 2 there are no cans of pumpkin so I could blend pumpkin in a blender, if i had a blender and not use choc chips. I am just thinking, ask for family to make them and airmail them for my birthday or christmas,but that would probably cost like 50 dollars to do that. Oh well.

So I went to the doctor on Thursday, my foot was swollen and infected again. (ingrown toe nail). Lets just say Thai medicine is not American and I am SO grateful, even more than ever for the USA, and all the laws they have. I sent a full account of the Doctor office happenings by copying my 4 journal pages so they are in the mail traveling to you now. But I did not add- I asked the Doctor to wash his hands and he
told me "this is not a sterile procedure... and it would not be cost effective" seriously? cost effective? I wanted to give him 6 baht to pay for the soap and water. Then he said "it is already infected and you will be taking antibiotics so you do not need to worry" ..... So yeah that added. I did say in the Journal pages that Sister Hirschi passed out, which wouldn't be too alarming if her whole body clammed up like she was having a seizure. She had to see a neurologist and got three stitches, because the table to the ground was a high drop and her face hit first. Also when the nurses rolled her over no one supported her head, the sound of a skull SLAMMING against cement floor is an unbearable sound. She later said when she came to that the back of her head hurt. I told her lightly what they had done.

I had dragon fruit for the first time this week, it is white with black seeds on the inside and hot pink/purple on the outside and taste like the coconut jello from Hawaii that we make on the stove and cantalope- those two textures combined.

In a lesson with our baptismal daters - 2 weeks away! This is so exciting, since we started with zero investigators, due to opening an area and all. We started with nothing, so I have seen them from start to endure. On Saturdays we tend to just read the Book of Mormon with them seeing that they have never read anything like it, the language is foreign to them. So Sister Hirschi helped the Grandma read in the other room
(don't worry I could still see my companion no rules broken) and she asked me to do all the reading in Thai by myself! 2 Nephi 32. I did it. Yay! I didn't really know what they were saying when I asked "what does this verse say" "yeah that's right" also with a member who talked with no yielding so she did breathe when she talked, meaning no breath for me to say "read __ " or "yes, thank you."

We also had correlation meeting that night, like every Saturday, the new mission leader asked me to give the spiritual thought, my vocab is very small, and I don't know how to read so had Elder Murphy read 2 Nephi 32: 8. Seeing i just read that chapter hours before and talked about it the vocab was: satan, evil, prayer, not, happy, holy ghost and spirit. I said "satan tells us not to pray, the spirit of god tells us to pray, the evil spirit, or satan does not want us to pray because he knows when we pray we feel the love of god." all in Thai.

I am thankful in the MTC our class was just me and companion, yeah, we were a district of two. We had two classes a day,for just two of us, each class had to begin with a spiritual thought so we each gave one a day, in Thai.

So yeah, this week we didn't have many lessons taught or inviting because one- swollen foot and it hurt to walk, and two- Sister Hirschi had stiches so we had some time to study. I FINISHED THE BOOK OR MORMON! I LOVE THE SCRIPTURES! Read 'em, and have joy. I have read the BofM 3 times now but this time read it through highlighting "god" and "lord" and "jesus" etc and in yellow the general story. It made me really look for Jesus and once again my testimony of the gospel has increased! The book is true, it is not fictional, though the doctrine is so exciting like every time I read it, like my personal Narnia, it's such an escape which everyone can experience. Since I know the Book of Mormon is not fictional but is written by real people, it is a story of real people, the writing of prophets of old. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet because it is through the power of God that the record was translated, The Book of Mormon is not fictional but real and there is no way a man, anyone, not just Joseph smith could write such a complex book with how many cross references there are to the new and old testament and within the book itself. IT IS AMAZING and every story can help you and apply to your own struggles and trials as the people in the Book of Mormon.

Valentines Day P-Day activity

Senior sister missionaries and young sister missionaries serving in the Bangkok area met at the mission home for an activity. After introductions and a sister meeting, we made valentine’s, had lunch (including heart cookies, of course), and took many pictures. We all had a wonderful time!

Sis. Amero's Newest Message for Posting

This week my companion was sent to Laperie, and I got to stay here in Sirnakerin and was given a native Thai sister for a companion. That was an adventure but not too bad, seeing she attended BYU-Hawaii,so could speak english. Her family lives in Thailand and her first p-day she went home to unpack,because she was in Hawaii when she got her call so she had to return home to unpack and take what she did/didn't need for the mission. How weird is that? She also told me she said she wouldn't go on a mission if she got called to Thailand thinking that God would see she can speak English and her desire to learn a language. Which is opposite of what I think. I think whites shouldn't come here because the church should be sending out its own native Thai's here. It is hard to get into homes. People look at us as strangers, see us as someone they cannot relate to because we don't look like them and don't speak very well. It was so much easier inviting when you have a Thai person with you, they can relate to her and she can speak.

The Thai companion wasn't very kind to me. It made me grateful for the companion I do have. She told me not to look so bored in lessons even though she knows I don't know what is going on and I am confused. So, it isn't boredom that I feel, it's confusion. She told me to have better eye contact, and to talk louder, and be bold. I wanted to give up, and apparently she did too in her first transfer. If I lived 2 hours away I think I would be tempted too, but she said she didn't because her parents,family and friends would be sad and she cares about them so she stayed.

Religion here is considered culture. So a lot of the time people think we are trying to replace their culture with ours. It is rough. They also think that we and our parents are rich and just send us over here for an adventure or something. If I could speak I would tell them my parents are not paying for me to be here. I worked hard and it is all my own savings. And if I was so rich would I really choose to come to a third world country? (You can't even flush toilet paper down the toilet)

Bugs. A daily occurance. Every day I find at least 15 ants in the apt. and that is on a good day. If I was home I would probably freak out if I found bugs in my hair, on my clothes, on the table, desk, .. oh yeah, note to self- ants like toothpaste too. So now I roll them in between my fingers like a booger and crunch their nasty insect skeleton bodies.

I found a lizard, it lives in the table, kind of scary when you know where it is and your legs go under the table, it is the kind of lizzard that bites you and won't
let go. How you get it off is by breaking its spine to kill it. So you stay away from them, my khuu (companion) told me not to worry and they are more scared of us than we are of them. (haha right, like poisenous snakes)

I Was thinking about D&C 4 the other day and how it says the field is white and ready for harvest, referring to mission work and the plant, people, are prepared to come unto christ. I was thinking it really doesn't matter if you plant a bunch of seeds in the mission or if you are reaping the plants. Both are essential parts of the harvest, as long as you are doing one and working hard it doesn't matter how many seeds (people you invite) or how many plants you reap (baptisms/0 you get.

Katrina has been serving in Thailand for 1 month now. She sent home a few photos and inspirational notes. She continues to work hard every day and enjoys speaking English with anyone who knows it.

Katrina says these are a few favorite experiences from her week.
One of our first dinners at the apartment, we forgot we had to buy groceries the night before and since we are new to the apartment there were no staples in the apt.and no food, so the elders made us curry, and rice and even cut up watermelon for us and gave us peanut brittle from trader joes, which must have been a gift from home, they can't cook but the act of kindness was great.

I made french toast to celebrate my 2nd week in the country, and used whipping cream instead of milk, and used my pumpkin spice that was sent to me from home. The French toast turned out great and when the Elders stopped by to drop off a box of 24 BOM they were blown away by the smell. It was a time that I wish I had my own kitchen though, a hot plate and microwave is not that way to live.

Yummy Icecream....we went to a recent convert house and they weren't home, and the relative there was buying icecream, he asked if we wanted some. We told him, no we are good, and then all of sudden Icecream is in my hand! He gave anyways, after I said no so many times, and it tasted amazing with real coconut in it, and rice at the bottom, evaporated milk, and jelly (like tapioca but big) and since my companion was fasting, she gave me hers, after trying to pawn it off to two children on the walk back to the church.

Randomness- we were walking in a mall to go to the post office and someone says in perfect english "You are LDS, I know" so creepy, no time to see who it was walking by and all. It sounded like he was from Africa though, there are a lot of Africans living here.

We get stared at a whole lot, being foreigners and all, young and white, and two cars almost hit because one couldn't take his eyes off of us. LOL

We were lead by a stranger- contacting in a neighborhood and someone says the name of someone, like repeating it, so we follow the person and we are delivered to a golden investigator family, who learned with mormon missionaries before. Strangers do recognize us as servants of God!

Week 2 Update to the President.

President Smith,
This week I was so happy I had the opportunity to teach English. The church members and members of the community are so anxious to learn and are so helpful in the class. I am so blessed that I am able to serve the people of Thailand in this regard.

I am happy to hear you enjoyed speaking with my mother, she is truly an amazing saint, I am happy to hear you felt you have become good friends with her. She looks forward to picking me up from Thailand.

We have two progressing investigators, one a family and the other a middle age woman. We also had someone from off the street come to church, a person who has never studied with Missionaries but already has a testimony of the gospel and has sacrficed so much. Her faith is amazing,because she has already had her husband leave her for it.

I know the people of Thailand are being prepared to hear the gospel, the middle age woman told us she has studied a lot. I know she is thirsting for the gospel, she came to church and told a member after she returns from going out of town she is getting baptized and will learn more from the sisters. This was news to us! I know she will be a great member, she even helped on Sunday with preparing the food.

Contacting is fun, we talk to so many people. I can tell they have no idea what I am saying and just look at Sister Hirschi, but I am glad they don't tell me negative remarks, they are so kind and are shocked when I tell them (then Sister Hirschi repeats the same phrase and then they get it) that I haven't even been here for 2 weeks yet. They are a very helpful and giving people.

We had it wrong, Katrina is in Srinakarin not Chiang Mai...

Okay we had it wrong. We got Katrina's second email from Thailand. Her companion from the MTC went to Chiang Mai, the heavenly location. That is not Katrina's location. Katrina's first area is just outside of Bangkok in Srinakarin. She is still in shock over the living conditions, the dirt, the molds and the smell of sewer from all the drains. She says she showers with ants and has constant mosquitoe bites. The floaters in the water have been a huge concern and we still don't understand why she isn't buying 100% of her water since the mission office says that they do buy it.

Her good news is that all the people they teach are very ready to hear the lessons and they all want to be baptized.

First Weekly Update from Thailand

From Sister Katrina Amero.
Weekly Update letter to her President.

I love it here!! So pretty and the food is amazing, well my tongue tells me that my stomach sometimes disagree, but i eat it anyways cause it is so good!

The members are so welcoming and the area is golden. I wonder why the area was closed in the first place to sisters, why was it?

We are already teaching and have given two soft baptism commitments and both investigators, first lesson, said yes! so cool. we have gotten alot of potentials too, 2 full pages on our planners.

The members are really willing to help us teach too.

The power of prayer works! and even when we have one in our hearts.

I am so grateful that my father in heaven knows me and my desires. When I found out this was one of the areas without a bike for sisters I was thrilled. bikes are very painful for me and I am happy I am in the city, has a interesting smell here though.

I know heavenly father knows I also don't like dogs, and i have not been bitten yet or chased, such a blessing!

I have been humbled though, since my trainer and I are not familiar with the area, but that just means lots of contacting especially when traveling, 3 potential that look really good were from traveling 2 while waiting and 1 taxi driver, actually the one traveling from moves :)

tell Sister Smith I say hi and I love her! You have such a wonderful khuu!

Sister Amero

***That wasn't quite the same update we the parents got, but that's okay.
We were told that she hates showering with ants and wants to hire a maid to do the initial cleaning job on the apt that had not been used by missionaries prior to their arrival in this new opened up area of Chiang Mai. Apparently, there is too much mold and many bugs. Not surprising, but Yikes....