Sonkraan has come and passed...and holy smokes. Never a crazier holiday in all the world. Haha, seriously! Just to prove it, I have a scab on my nose right now from a drunk guy throwing a bucket of water over my head, and seriously miscalculating the depth perception. But the good news is, I still love Thailand and never want to leave. I LOVE THIS PLACE! It was basically a straight waterfight for 3 days straight. Literally. The first day, April 13th, we showed up at Phii Boon's totally soaked and chalk thrown all over us (the attached picture of me in a pink shirt with Sis Sorge). Another picture is of me and 3 Thai girls--members at the ward. They took us out on Friday, and it was crazy! That was when I got the battle wound. Just drunk people everywhere (we went in the middle of the day, so it wasn't too bad, apparently at night is way worse) throwing water relentlessly at one another. Plus the chalk/pasty stuff they chuck at you, you're extra clean when you get home. And let me remind you, it doesn't matter if you're "playing" or not--I'm afriad two white people on bikes are easy targets for all, even when we're on our regular teaching days. Haha. It was still a fun week, unfrogettable--that's for sure!
This week, there was much talk amongst missionaries that it was going to be a "hard" week to get the work done. Especially in Bangkok, because everyone leaves to go home (out of Bangkok) for the week, and everyone's just drunk and playing all the time. This week, the Lord proved that this was not the case! We saw more miracles than i can adequately describe in this email. But I'll try. We rarely went inviting, and when we did, we found a family willingly accept us in for a first lesson. One of them being a family of four (mom dad and 2 daughters). We still taught a bunch of lessons, and had tons of new investigators. The Lord blessed us last week. Not doubt about it.
Not only did we find new people, but we had much success with our current investigators, as well. This email is dedicated to Phii Nang. Remember the woman that gave us the bunch of 20 bananas and a papaya the size of a watermelon (the attached picture with the little girl is her daugter)? Well, she's changed. Changed, family. I can't describe all the ways. But at first, this woman was unsure, uncertain, and scared to take the step towards Christ. She had tried before in her life, with another sect. But she fell before, and at that time decided relying on herself was better. Religion couldn't help her! SO...when I started teaching her, that was where she was coming from. She wasn't scared of sin, of anything she did wrong. She figured, if she was brave enough to do it, then she'd better be brave enough to recieve the consequences. And she's a bully type personality, too...just a tough woman. I've enver felt that from her, though. She...she and I have the same heart, it feels. We're on the same page. To see the miracle in her life has changed my life. She has changed me. I think that to witness confidence replace fear is one of God's greatest miracles. Let me repeat that. To see confidence replace fear is one of God's greatest miracles.
Last night, we got on the subject of a baptismal date. We extended the date a week ago, and she's been praying about it, pondering, etc. When I extended the commitment again last night, she said, "Sister Nay, this is what I wanted to tell you. I want to be baptized. I just have to go home for a month or 2 to take care of my Grandma/kids while my husband stays here and sells. I want to be baptized the 8th of May with Boon [her neighbor who is equally incredible]....and I promise I"ll read every day while I"m home. Can I do that? It doesn't matter when. I know I'm getting baptized. Whether it's before I go home, or when I get back, I know that's what I'm doing. I'm set. I'm determined, Sister......" And then after thinking for a moment she said, "I know now...well....I know now, that the moment I start to feel like I can't do it anymore, and I start to slip, I give it all to the Lord. ALL OF IT. And at that moment? I'll be okay." I just stared at her. Just....complete disbelief to what I was hearing this woman say. I LOVE HER. I've never loved someone so much, outside of my own family/best friends.
This will describe this one transfer so far. Love. Complete, unselfish, indescribable, unconditional love. I wish I could explain more than that. But it's more a feeling than an explanation. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way. It is where happiness lies. Everything else is a lie. God is truth.
Thank you for your prayers, I feel them constantly. I'm being led by angels. I have help both seen and unseen, and some of my angels are each of you at home. I love my mission! I'm breathing in every second, every day, every experience. I've never felt so happy.
All My Love,
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