Baptism!

It's been a whirlwind of a week. I feel like I was just literally sitting down here writing all of you! Let me explain.We have an investigator that's been wanting to get baptized for a long time....but her husband wouldn't allow it. Hence the reason I asked you to pray for her (and others...husbands can be such stinkers!) last week. Well, family, I want you to know your prayers were answered!! MIRACLE!!! The week looked like this:

Tuesday: We prayed our guts out that her husband would soften his heart and give his permission for her to be baptized. It's been a while since I've prayed so hard. We made an appt with her to "surprise" him that evening. If he knew we were going, he'd automatically leave, no where to be found. We parked our bikes, prayed, and walked in. He stuck around for a minute, and my companion just looked at me like, "You're the farang...he'll listen to you....go ahead..." So I whipped out a baptism pass-along card from my bag and walked up to him with a prayer in my heart. He was skeptical....BUT SAID YES!!!!!!!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS!!!!!!! She was so excited he gave permission!

Wednesday: Tia (the woman to be baptized) came to the church to interview with Elder Brix, the District Leader. She passed! It was an intense time watching her little 2 year old, plus another little 2 year old hanging out at the church. These 2 are the stinkers of all stinkers, ever to walk the earth. Put them together? It was a loooong 2 hours together. We made a trip to 7-11 to get them out of the church. BAD IDEA. She walked outside, barefoot because her mom didn't bring her shoes, pulled down her pants in front of the 7 and squatted down. Yup. We were a frantic pair of sister missionaries. Luckily passersby just laughed....and Thailand has no rules about bathroom use....Her little girl is in the picture I attached, sitting on my lap, then on the ground. She was pretty upset she had to sit for a picture, but I made her. Haha. Mean Sister Nay.

Thursday: Zone Conference, so not tons of time. But we made it to her house that evening and filled out baptismal records. She is Cambodian, so it was a lot of calling people, looking at records, etc, in order to fill it out correctly. Between Thai, Cambodian, and English, we got it figured out. :) AH.

Friday: Her special interview with one of President Smith's counselors. It took some time trying to locate the scriptures he wanted to share in her Cambodian scriptures, but it worked. And it was fun watching Nong Eey again...but the miracle? SHE PASSED!!

Saturday: SHE WAS BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!! It wasn't the smoothest of smooth baptisms, due to little kids, members, etc. But it worked out. And she made it! She was confused as to why she was baptized twice, but the guy that baptized her was Cambodian, giving the prayer in Thai. It took some rehearsing. Gratefully she just laughed about it and said, "I'm just twice as clean!" Her little girl pulled and screamed and tugged on her as she was sharing her testimony afterward, and she finally gave in. "No......don't pick her up....." I thought...she instantly grabbed the microphone and started talking super loud. I tried to grab her, and she wouldn't have any of that. It never ends!!

Sunday: She was CONFIRMED!!!!!!! We resorted to just taking her little girl out in the foyer while she was blessed, to avoid any of the situations mentioned above. So we didn't hear it, but she said she felt like an electric shock went through her head and down her body. It was a feeling she couldn't deny.

So there you go. That was basically my week in a nutshell. LOTS going on, but we made it work. And we're still seeing miracles. For instance: We met a family of 8!! I may have mentioned them already, bu this family is incredible. They're kind of country folks, living in the city. They live on a farm/garden type place, growing/selling vegetables together. The daughter, her two little girls, and her little niece came to the baptism, too! And the grandma was going to come to church yesterday with her grandson, but it was raining. Next week...I want to play our cards just right and not mess up this family. AKA....prepare spiritually every time. :) I am excited to see what happens.

Jenny, Happy Birthday last week! I love you! Hope it was a great week! I'm sorry I'm always late on the draw, but I want you all to know I think of you and love you.

And sounds like it's becoming Thailand during the rainy season at home....except it's still cold. That's insane! I hope you stay more dry than I do.

Dad, thank you for sharing that Shelby story last week. I about died laughing when I read about it. And Manda, let Shelby know that I'd love a visit from her this Sunday if she's willing to make the trip!

Off to work........I love you all! Thank you for all you're doing at home! Make it a great week, and remember what this life is all about. I love you!!

All My Love,

Sister Nay

I am a Thai.

I'm resorting to living like a Thai. Sister Rochana is amazing, I'm loving my time with her. But I'm also adapting her lifestyle. Her eating, speaking, showering, everything. I'm just...a Thai. I even eat her ramen for breakfast. Ha. Sister Rochana says I'm the most Thai farang she's ever met! That's a major compliment, I say. Actually, we have people ask often, "Are you Thai?" Seriously? Do you see how white I am and how tall I am? Some people....it's actually pretty fun to tell them I'm half Thai. They really believe me. I tell them I was "born" in Chiang Mai. Maybe my little, squinty eyes just give it away...Sister Rochana just confirms their questions and says, "Yes, she's full Thai." She loves to see the confusion/reaction. She's such a sweetheart, and so genuine, but really loves pranking people. Especially little kids. Never a dull moment!

For instance, we spent this morning rescuing a cat from a net around a soccer field. It had been there all night, I'm sure, and just squeamed (is that a word?) it's way into a big tangle. Until early this morning, Sister Rochana and I found it while we were running. Well, a concerned, 85 year old Thai grandma, an old man jogger, and 45 minutes later, we got it untangled. The grandma went from street vendor to street vendor asking for scissors, the old man grabbed a long stick and was just poking it (I'm not sure what he was trying to accomplish), and Sister Rochana just tried over and over to get it untagled and it would just try to bite her. I decided to sit on the sidelines for this one. But it just reaffirmed my love for Thai people and this country.

Another instance, we were planning the other night with the fans on full blast and the doors open, when all the sudden a BAT flew in our house! It was just circling around, over and over, flying in all directions. Amidst screams, giggles, and shouts to one another, we tried to fight it out of the house. Sister Rochana grabbed the broom, and swung at it relentlessly. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. I don't know what "bat" is in Thai, so I just said, "Wait a minute (in Thai), this isn't a bird, right?" "No, sister!" "It's....it's like....(searching for the word)...Batman???" "YES!!! Get it out!!" Hahahaahhahaha. Oh. It was so funny.

That can give you a glimpse into the ridiculousness of Saphaansung. And Dad, don't worry if you spell it "right" or "wrong", in English it's pretty much just spell it however you want and try to figure out how to say it. And Saphaansung is still in Bangkok, but it's more on the outskirts than Bangnaa (I think). It's at least more of a country feel than Bangnaa. Bangnaa is pretty big city/industrial. This has a lot of more neighborhoods/families.

There's a ping pong table at the church! It's a brand new church of about 7-8 months. It's beautiful. Anyway, the other day I beat this old man, jokester member in ping pong. That was fun. We love playing once in a while!

We're running into some issues with some of our investigators. I'm going to ask everyone to please please please pray for husbands to open their hearts to this message! We have at least 2 women that are basically members, but have been waiting for baptism because they're husbands won't allow it. It's strange, really. They can come to church, learn with the sisters, etc, but as far as actual baptism? Nope. We're working on it. The funny thing is, they have no idea what baptism is. They're just rejecting the changing religions. So, keep Nan and Tia in your prayers! We're working for Tia to be baptized THIS weekend. We're praying and fasting for a miracle.

Another family we're teaching, who I love, is Bey and her 2 kids, Bin and Boss. They're adorable. They have an official date the 18th of June! We go over in the evenings to teach them, and usually end up helping her work, too. Mary, I'm grateful for all the things I sewed wrong when I was little. I've been unpicking a lot of things the past week. They sew bags/aprons at their house for work, and we get to help a lot. They made us dinner the other night--fried eggs, with sticky rice and somtam. Somtam...so good!!!!! It is "papaya salad" in English, and it's amazing. I remember my first day in country I had it with Sister Young, with only one pepper. I cried and sweated for an hour. We ate it last week with Bey, and she put 10 plus peppers in the somtam. No problem! Yes, a runny nose and red face, but it's so delicious. I have acquired the spicy tastes of Thailand...MOM, thank you for your package! We're going to make pasta at her house tonight because they've never had it before. They're excited to eat spaghetti and four cheese pasta. :) THANK YOU! They also loved the cookies you sent! It was a brilliant package.

We're seeing miracles left and right. Most of all, I just have pure joy in this work. I know it's the work of the Lord! I love being a missionary! I'm just relaxed, but working. I can't adequately describe it. I feel I've found the balance in working for the Lord. Nothing has brought me more joy than this. I am learning how the Lord hears and answers my specific pleas and prayers, no matter how simple and insiginificant they seem. HE HEARS AND ANSWERS PRAYERS!!! That is a miracle in and of itself! The God of Heaven and earth hears and answers your personal prayers to Him! You don't have to look for monstrous, major miracles. They are all around you. As I've challenged before, look for them. Look for things that may be insignificant for others, but you know their source. Thank Him for those experiences, and treasure them. I love the gospel. Take a minute to share your testimony with someone today. Make it a great week!

All My Love,

Sister Nay

P.S."It is easy enough to be pleasant,

When life flows by like a song,

But the man worth while is one who will smile,

When everything goes dead wrong."

--Ella Wheeler Cox

"To be able to perceive by inspiration the common and ordinary things of life in their true meaning is a special gift. Many people fail to perceive inspiration because God's 'great power...looks small unto the understanding of men' or because they are 'less and less astonished at a sign or a wonder from heaven.'" --President James E. Faust

Where am I?

Welcome to Saphaansung. The land of flooded streets, bucket showers, eating ant-infested cereal, thai companions, ramen with a cracked egg in it and microwaved for breakfast.

Yes, that's right! I've moved. I kind of expected it, as mentioned in Skyping last week. So yes, the rainy season has arrived. Which means FLOODS! There's an attached picture of me in the flood, right outside our front door. Gratefully it didn't come inside! We woke up one morning and that was there to greet us. My first day in Saphaansung. And bucket showers? The water shower is zero here...so I've resorted to being a Thai and using a small bucket in a big bucket, and just dumping it over my head. Easier, faster, and great water pressure. But freezing. And yes! Ants are capable of entering in ziplock bags! Did you ever think it possible? That was a high protein breakfast. Now I've resorted to putting it in the refrigerator. Extra cold cereal. :) And my ADORABLE Thai companion that is trying to get me hooked on ramen for breakfast! Thais don't eat normal....but I'm learning that I've forgotten what's "normal" and what's not anymore. I don't recall!

Despite all these fun adventures in just a short amount of time, I'm loving my time here. I just got here, but I've already fallen in love with the people, members, investigators, and my companion. My companion's name is Sister Rochana, she's from Thailand (if you couldn't tell). She's older, she'll be turning 29 this year. I can't describe how incredible she is. I've been out longer, but she has this...maturity that I haven't seen in other missionaries before. She's quite, but solid, and very level headed. I'm going to love working with her. She's pretty much opposite my other Thai companion, Sister Alisa. I'm getting lots of variety! I love her!

Sapaansung translates literally to, "tall bridge." I now know why they call it that. There are tall bridges everywhere. They have little rivers going all over the city, and thus, bridges everywhere. But what I'm trying to figure out is why they need to be so stinking tall! It makes for fun bike rides...I am still serving in Bangkok, but it's more country than Bangnaa was. That was pretty high class. This is just...ha. I love it. It's city, but country at the same time.

What's amazed me so far? I'm not comparing the way I was when I went to Bangnaa. It was just my second area when I went there, and I didn't now what else to compare it to other than Chiang Mai (which I loved!). I feel like I spent to much time comparing my first few days there. I was trying to love it, but it was just...different. And hard, so I thought. I will tell you this. When I got the call to leave last week, I was sad, but it didn't hit fully. I spent that last day packing my stuff together, and seeing some of my particularly close investigators and members. My last appt of the day was Phii Koi, the one that was baptized back in February with the little 1 year old girl, remember? She made this amazing meal, we talked and laughed, just trying to put off the time and not think about it. I said goodbye, with tears streaming down her cheeks. By the time I made it to my bike, I couldn't hold back the tears. My last bike ride home in Bangnaa, and the tears just flowed. They flowed til we got home, all the way through planning, and finishing packing. Haha. Sister Sorge just laughed. It was ridiculous!

But the miracle? I learned that Heavenly Father was showing me just how much He had helped me love these people. It wasn't just Phii Koi, or my investigators in Bangnaa. It was Thailand. I have been wanting to feel so a part of them, and that I've given them my all. I worked for it, I prayed for it, I fasted for it. And that night? Heavenly Father let me feel that love. It wasn't tears of sadness, it was tears of love! I cannot describe it, other than that love had no way out of my heart and body, other than through tears. I felt so much that night. It was complete. A complete love.

I just want you to know that I have given away all my expectations of missionary work. I've let go of the imaginary expectations that I felt others had for me, or that I set for myself. I've let it go, and I'm just working. It feels so good. I really feel at home in this branch in Saphaansung, just after one Sunday. I don't know if this is where I'll finish my mission or not. But I'm not looking that far ahead. I'm just here, working with Sister Rochana, loving the livin' daylights out of these people. I love my life.

Thank you for the prayers! For the fasting! For the letters! For the encouragement! I know that this is the true gospel. I know that Jesus is the living Christ. I know that we are unable to return to Heaven without Him. I know that everything, everything that Heavenly Father has prepared for us is tilted in our favor. Just turn to Him! Ask Him! Seek Him! Keep on keepin' on, family. This is the work of the Lord, and it's all true. Make it a fantastic week.

All My Love,

Sister Nay

P.S. Let me explain pictures....

1) Me with Phii Koi's little girl, and Nang's 2 kids (Nang is one of my investigators in Bangnaa, who came leaps and bounds in understanding the Atonement/Savior. I love that family).

2) My district in Bangnaa! They are great elders, and I loved my cute companion, Sister Sorge!

3) Me and cute Sister Smith, President's wife. This woman has taught me more about love than anyone, outside of the women in my family. Her heart just swallows people in love. She makes everything happy.

4) Me and Phii Boon, and her cute daughter. They'll be baptized in Bangnaa shortly! Aren't they beautiful?

5) This was the baptism we just had here in Saphaansung yesterday! The older sister of a boy that was baptized just 3-4 weeks ago. These members are amazing here.

6) This was just outside our front door! We woke up one morning and it was like this. We didn't even hear the rain fall in the middle of the night. Haha. Welcome, rainy season! The hot season is finally gone!! Though it's still pretty hot...

7) Me and my cute companion! I love her! Sister Rochana is an amazing example, and we're going to work well together. We're already seeing miracles.

8) These are naturally colored chicks. Have you ever seen such a thing? Dad and Mary, adopt these into the family of chickens in the backyard and spice things up a bit!

Happy Mother's Day!

Well, I've talked to most of you, now. I love you so much! It's so good to hear your voices, let alone ses your faces! I love Mother's Day, and not just because I get to talk to you. :) I LOVE MY MOTHERS!! All of my mothers in my life--but particularly the one that gave me life. I love you, Mom! Thank you for being my mom and teaching me the most important lessons of life. You are the best!

Well, it's back to the grind. I love missionary work. I love being able to focus on this work completely, even if I feel it's impossible at times. I know that Thailand is just where I need to be. I know that this mission is shorter than it seems, and that I'm going to be home before I know it (even if it doesn't feel like it...). I love my time here! I know this is where I need to be! Thank you for being so supportive, and I can't wait to see what this next 6 months has in store. I'm giving it my all. I LOVE YOU!! Continue on this path of happiness. It's all there is.

All My Love,

Sister Nay

P.S. "In pondering and pursuing consecration, understandably we tremble inwardly at what may be required. Yet the Lord has said consolingly, 'My grace is sufficient for you.' Do we really believe Him? He has also promised to make weak things strong. Are we really willing to submit to that process? Yet if we desire fulness, we cannot hold back part!" --Neil A. Maxwell

1 YEAR!!!!

This Thursday officially marks my one year mark--can you believe it? I can't! It amazes me how much I've learned in just this one year of my life. Particularly these past 2 transfers have been life changing. And guess what this Sunday is? MOTHER'S DAY!! Happy Mother's Day to all my favorite mother's out there--of course, my very own mother (I love you mom!), but all the many other women in my life that have influenced me for good. I love you all, and am grateful for your wonderful examples. What a special day to think of thos women in our lives who have helped us become better people. I love mothers!

Happy Birthday to Heidi, Kelly, Eric and Rosie this week/past week. I love you all, and wish you the happiest birthdays of all! You're amazing.

We had an interesting meeting this past week at the ward in Asoke (which is essentially at the heart of Bangkok). Two of the church history assistants (?) came to Asia for a tour of the churches in this area. I guess they're working on writing a huge history for the church at this point, but they're currently traveling to every continent to see the church first hand. They came and had a special fireside with us this past week, and a neat question and answer session as well. But what impressed me the most, in fact had nothing to do with Church History. Haha. One of them (their names were Brothers Nielson and Turley) spoke of his mission in Japan. His last night there, he knelt in the middle of a rice patty field and offered up his heart to God, honestly telling Him he had laid all he had out on the table. "Ever since that night," he said, "I've never spent a second of regret over my mission." At that moment, there was nothing I wanted more. I didn't want to regret a single second of my time here! It gave me energy to push harder, stronger, and more consistently to the very end.

I know that Satan's efforts are very real. This past Saturday Boon didn't interview for baptism because of one thing or another, and was actually packing her bags 2 hours before the interview to go home (home is 8 hours away in Eastern Thailand). She got in some big fight with her husband, and we hustled over on our bikes to see what was up. Nang is her neighbor, and we went into her room to talk about what happened. After a couple minutes, we knelt in prayer and I prayed the most sincere prayer I think I've ever prayed in my life. Boon was just 2 doors down packing her bags, and she was to be baptized on the 8th of May. AH! Just 10 minutes after my prayer, she walked by with her kids, a slight smile on her face, headed to the market. She wasn't going home! And what's more than that? She showed up at church the next day! MIRACLE! She'll still interview this week and be baptized this Sunday, just in time for Mother's Day (along with another investigator who shouldn't have too many problems getting there...)--so Happy Mother's Day with 2 investigator's being baptized! I love you mothers!

This experience further engrained within me the reality of blessing amidst trials. At first, the fact that she wasn't interviewing, was like a blow in the stomach. "HAT?! You're being baptized next week! You can't go home!" But just seeing her walk out to the market with her kids, and not going home, was one of the sweetest miracles of my life. And then the miracle of her going to church the next day, despite the pouring rain. So yes--she didn't interview for baptism, she did experience some intense opposition, but there were also tender miracles witnessed amidst all the trials. I love how Heavenly Father works. I know He's with us even when we feel like He's totally abandoned us. Look for Him!

I love this work. I'm grateful for the Book of Mormon, that shows me the way in every aspect of my life. This is only becoming more and more a part of me every single day I'm here. Thailand has changed my life!!!!! I can't wait to see you/talk to you this Mother's Day! You're wonderful family!!

All My Love,

Sister Nay