I've officially been transferred. :) I am currently serving in Bangnaa, a district (?) I guess you call it, of Bangkok. I'm in the big city now! It's really weird, humongous (I said that word for Shelby), and there are tons of people. What a crazy week! I'll start from the begnning....
It was easier than I thought to leave Chiang Mai. It was bittersweet. 6 mos is a long time, and I think I was ready for the change. But at the same time, those people are Thailand to me! But my heart was prepared to go, and I can't wait to see the miracles here. They've already begun! I attached a picture of me and Brother Suphakit seeing me off at the bus station. My investigator that was just baptized came as well, and the district president and his wife and daughter (the one I stayed with for a week by myself my 1st transfer in Thailand). So cute! They have my heart...we got to transfer meeting at about 6:30 Thursday morning, and lugged all my stuff there (I have tons...lots of gifts from members!). We found out at transfers that SIster Harris is TRAINING in Chiang Mai, and I was on my way to Bangnaa, in Bangkok....with Sister Alisa. Don't be fooled by her name, she's a khonthai! THAT'S RIGHT!! My dreams have come true! I am officially companions with a khonthai, and she's the cutest thing in the world. Doesn't speak a lick of English, haha. This is her 1st area, she's on her 3rd transfer. She's this teeny little fireball that doesn't take crap from anyone. I love it. Oh man...we've seen miracles already. I've attached a picture with her and I opening Christmas packages (WHICH WE LOVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot thank you enough! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for everyone that sent packages. Dad and Mary, Mom and Grandma, Emmer, Liz, Dallin, Manda,...You are the BEST! Sister Alisa was completely and utterly thrilled with it all. We shared her first hot chocolate together in the darling mugs Mom and Grandma sent, and she loved it. I felt like a mom on Christmas morning watching my child open her presents. I invited her to open the packages with me, and she was shocked...she sat down, and started out slow and timid at first, then just went crazy. Haha. She opened the candy and loved it all, particularly the chocolate everything. She says thank you to ALL you sent it! We also took it with us throughout the day, and shared with investigators/kids we saw. They were ecstatic. I attached a picture of some kids that loved the candy canes and Swedish Fish! They were in the process of saying, "Thank you!" when I took the picture. :) Not much time to thank individually...but know that it was loved! Dad and Mary, we're in the process of opening the "12 Days of January," and today was the Nike sweatbands. You said we could use them to exercise?: Well...this was my companions interpretations of "exercise"--see the attached picture. Khonthais aren't huge fans of exercise, haha. Anyway, THANK YOU!!!!! I love you!) Yes, that was all in parenthesis. Anyway, just know that I love her and we're seeing miracles every day.
For example...last night we were in a lesson, and everything was just getting out of control with explaining, and talking, and no spirit....i was praying so hard to know what to do and how to help. I was in a room with 5 khonthais and myself. I felt the Spirit work within me, literally, and a scripture came to mind. From that one scripture, Sister Alisa and I were able to tie a lesson together that helped him resolve his concern. In the end, he said, "How is it that the farang is the one that helped me the most? You teach the most clear, you understood me, I got what you said..." I instantly stopped him and told him it was not me. I told him to remember the feelings he had while we taught, and that those feelings come from God. I am not tellin you this experience to boast in my teaching or my Thai, but to tell you that Heavenly Father is using me to reach others. I have never, ever felt so much joy in my life. It's hard. This is the hardest thing I've ever done. But it's real. It's real. I love teaching something so foolproof, saturated with truth. There's no way I can lie to these people when I bare testimony of the gospel, and that knowledge helps me bare testimony even stronger and more direct.
SISTER NOPPAMAS LIVES HERE!!!!!! She is my teacher from the MTC, who is taking the semester off from BYU and moved back home for 4 months. Interestingly enough, the time that I am serving here, as well! She called us last night on the sister's cell phone, and I answered. She said, "I had a feeling it was you!" It was the strangest feeling to talk with her in Thai, the whole conversation, and understand every single thing. Hahaha. I left the MTC not knowing a word she said, practically. Dal, don't bother looking for her at the MTC anymore--she's here with me! :) She said, "if you need food, love, help teaching, want to go shopping, just call me! I will help with anything!" I feel like I have an older sister here with me in Thailand. I love it, can't wait to see her. Miracle!
SARAH, good luck this week!! I can't wait to see Miss Maya Jessica! I love you and am thinking of you, and praying for you. You're almost there!
I thought of all of you last Tuesday, as the wedding was going on. Know that I was missing you all like crazy, it was a rough day. But I know that I am where I need to be. I am grateful to serve as a missionary of the Lord in Thailand. I love these people, I love this experience. I know that Jesus Christ is my personal Savior and Redeemer, and He's constantly looking over us always. Never forget it. If you doubt, who better to ask than Heavenly Father Himself! The gospel is truth. I LOVE YOU and make it a great week!
All My Love,
Sister Nay
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