First Bike Accident

It has officially happened.

I thought I would make it home free my whole mission! But it finally caught up to me.

My first bike accident! Ha, before you start getting all worried parents, just know that nothing is broken. Only a super super sweet bruised hip, and a scraped up elbow. That's a miracle of the week! Just remember not to ride your bike on painted curbs in pouring rain in Thailand. They're just a titch slippery. We're all okay!

That happened yesterday, Sunday, and it was just after we'd experienced some "disappointments" with invesitgators coming to church. 4 of our 5 daters weren't there, and all of their phones were off. One came--he's so solid. The others...AH. So anyway, after all of that plus some other busy-body things that happened at church, we got out of there to go teach some lessons. I remember just praying in my heart for direction. I didn't know why they didn't come, let alone all the others that promised they would. I suppose that's why we have faith in GOD, not MAN. Anyway, after my full on biff alongside a busy intersection with plenty of people to see (a little embarrassing, as if they don't look at me enough for being huge and white), I was close to throwing my hands in the air. It was one of those weeks I felt like I had put my all into the work. Literally. I don't know what else I could've done, and I wasn't seeing the immediate results I wanted. Selfish, right? But I knew that if I just kept going a little longer, that I would find the miracles awaiting. So I just wiped up the blood from my elbow with a tissue from my bag, got back on my bike, and headed to some potentials houses. The 1st 2 weren't there, but the 3rd was. New investigator! She was sweet. We pulled up and she was listening to "Take Me Home Country Roads" with her little girl. That almost made me cry more. Ha.

Then we met up with a member to go see a family we had made an appt with the day before...who turned out to not be there. Bummer. Just as we were going to get on the bus to head back to the church, I felt an undeniable prompting to call a mom/daughter that came to church on their own that day. I got their number at church, but they weren't free to meet right then. I knew they lived in that area, so I figure I could call them. I did, turns out they lived 3 streets down, so we went. And, of course, the member that was with us was the member that taught Relief Society that day, about temples! And they were super interested! They're already Christian (we don't meet many of them in Bangkok), yet are very humble to learn more about Jesus Christ. It all just....worked out. And my companion had 2 Book of Mormons in her bag (which is unusual to have 2, normally just 1) to give to them. I can't really describe it, other than...it just worked out. And they really want to meet us again this week. It may seem like such an insignificant thing for all of you reading this, but for me? It was a miracle.

I cannot count the number of times that I've felt like giving up, but something keeps me going. And when I keep going? That's when the miracles come. Every single time. So how is it that I forget when I'm in the middle of the crisis, wanting to throw my hands up in the air? I feel like there's no way out. I feel trapped. I feel let down. But previous experiences just keep me pushing forward, trying to search for a way out. And it always comes. Without fail. I know that Heavenly Father heard those heartfelt pleadings yesterday, and He answered in His own time. It interesting to notice His timing take place, as it's happening. If things don't work out, I automatically think, "Okay, where does He need us to go?" I'm finding myself getting less and less discouraged, trying to find His path everywhere we are. If someone cancels, we find where we need to be. It's as easy as that. It's just harder to see when you're in the middle of it all, sometimes.

I am finding a wonderfully sustaining realization lately. Something I've searched for my whole mission is how to make those "personal pride cycles" occur less frequently. You all know what I'm talking about--one day things are great, you're happy, and you feel like you're progressing the way He needs you to. The next day, you hit a wall. Something happens that you just feel low. Sometimes we know the cause, other times it seems to just hit us out of the blue. And we're unsure of how to fix it. This is what I've learned recently. I've made the connection between honesty in prayers and repentance. I have been trying to make it a point, even when things are good, to ask Heavenly Father what it is in my life that needs changing. There is always something that is out of line with God. We're imperfect! It's just that sometimes we don't always realize it. But as I'm honest, and honestly search for asnwers, he's always shows me what I need. I recognize something I need to change, no matter how small, and sincerely repent for it. I ask for help to make it better. And I ask for forgiveness. When I do that, that sweet peace that fills my heart is indescribable. It's daily repentance! How often do we hear about the need to repent daily? I know from personal experience that repenting daily is the only way to grow closer to the Savior. It's not that the pride cycles/roller coasters are totally eliminated, but they level out. More than that, I feel like I can ask for help from Heavenly Father when I'm trying to repent. I wish this made more sense than how I just wrote it, it's not very eloquent....but I challenge you to ponder on this a little more. AND...and I'm going to ask for some feedback on the subject. How do you repent daily?

I know this is the work of the Lord! It's all true. I am in denial of how much time I really have left...it still feels like forever. Anytime anyway starts to talk about it, I just close my ears. I love you! I love this work! Make it a great week!

All My Love,

Sister Nay

"For those who are discouraged by their circumstances and are therefore tempted to feel they cannot serve the Lord this day, I make you two promises. Hard as things seem today, they will be better in the next day if you choose to serve the Lord this day with your whole heart....The other promise I made to you is that by choosing to serve Him this day, you will feel His love and grow to love Him more....By serving Him this day, you will come to know Him better. You will feel His love and appreciation. You would not want to delay receiving that blesings. And feeling His love will draw you back to His service, wiping away both complacency and discouragement." Elder Eyring.