Muay Thai!!

Pictures: 1) We bought these skirts at the market last week--they are the "house robe" for all the little Thai grandmas. And classic Thai fabric. Ha. 2) SHELBY! I gave this little girl your Sleeping Beauty you sent me last week! And she LOVED it! (Despite her looks, she was tired. She just woke up). When she got it, she stared quietly at it and said, "Oh, you have very pretty shoes." Thank you, Miss Shelby. You are so sweet to share your toys! 3) A famous Thai national boxer we're going to learn Thai from today--I can't wait. I'll write more about that next week. 4) These are the 4 that live together. Sister Yinn, Tano, King, and Nay. We have a blast together.

OKAY. This week. I can't believe time is flying the way it is. But we don't need to waste time talking about that. I'm glad you all appreciated Sister King's finding techniques, she certainly is teaching me a lot! I'm mostly learning about all the things I need to change from her....I am soooo imperfect, and have a long way to go. But she's patient with me, and always keeps me laughing. I love her. All the little girls at church don't pay any attention to me anymore. Everytime she walks into the room, they look right past me and run to her, arms wide open to hug her, screaming, "Sister Suay!!!" or "Sister Beautiful!!" I'm old news.They love her blonde hair, blue eyes.

Lately she's mostly been telling me, "Good luck in America..." Apparently I have no recollection of what "normality" is in America! That will be a culture shock, I'm sure. She can hardly believe that I don't know who certain music artists are when she mentions them. I literally feel like a parent with a teenage kid sometimes: "Seriously?? You don't know who that is? Oh my word they are soooo popular--at least they were like, last year. And you don't know them? For real? You are so behind on the times!" Yup. Welcome to the life of a missionary, Sister King. Talk to me in a year.

Aside from that, this past week I'm really feeling the weight of being an example for her. I've been trying to find the balance in our time lately. The church has given a whole new training program for trainers/new missionaries, and we're the first group to put it into practice. It's intense. But we're learning a lot. There are lots of things that would get done so much faster if I just did them, because I know how, and we'd get better results if I just did it. But I'm learning that this isn't what it's about. Sure, if I did it now, then we'd have better results in the next 4 weeks. But if I can correctly teach her now how to be a missionary, then she still has the next 18 months to apply everything she's learned, and it will have a much more lasting effect. THAT is what I'm trying to focus on--training correctly, patiently, and non-hypocritically. I'm striving to be everything she's excpected to be--and we're seeing miracles.

For example. We were eating dinner when all the sudden all of my "confirmation" calls canceled on us. Fun! I just turned it into a teaching opportunity, we went inviting. We had a potential we could go see, so we headed over to her apt and, of course, she wasn't home. So I just looked at Sister King and said, "Ok, every other door! You go first." And we just took turns knocking on doors and inviting. We finally made our way to the 3rd floor, and the 3rd to last door we knocked on/called out, we heard, "Sister? How did you know I would be home?" It was Nan, a recent convert! We were shocked. We went in, visited, and found out she's been having some problems. Long story short--all present were in agreeance that we were led there that night. Sister Knight was so excited to be involved in such a story! It was fun to see how excited she was.

I was also asked to speak in sacrament meeting yesterday--last week the Branch Pres said, "Have you ever spoken here?" I understood him completely, but said, "i don't understand you, President." He was just about to explain when he understood what I was doing, shook his head, and started walking away, simply saying, "It's on the Book of Mormon. 10 minutes." Haha. SO...that was my first time! It was okay....mostly just a lesson on the Book of Mormon, without questions and talking to the investigator. It was a little intense because the Stake President was visiting that day--I was nervous! But I think it was okay. I was shocked I had enough Thai to speak for 10 minutes. Ha.

Nothing has changed in my feelings of the gospel--other than my roots have been rooted just a little deeper in gospel soil this week. I know it's true! The simple truths of the gospel are all we need in this life. Cling to them. Strive to learn them. Do all you can to live them. I love you, fam--the weeks are WINDING DOWN. Make it a great week!

All My Love,

SIster Nay

3 Nephi 5:13

sister king = laughter.

Last night we could not stop laughing. I have a little book that I've kept some emails over the past 18 months. We were reading through some emails that Manda has sent me about Shelby, and we could literally not control our laughter. She has such a funny sense of humor--I suppose it's pretty similar to mine. Just imagine our mattresses (no beds), pushed side by side in our room, the lights out, with our flashlights, reading through this little book of emails laughing til our sides hurt....that's pretty much my transfer with Sister King. She is hilarious.

Exhibit A) She kept our finding exciting this week through her stellar bike riding skills. It takes some getting used to when you first come (I've forgotten) to maneuver through narrow areas/lots of people/wearing a skirt. So I made my way through a narrow passage between a car and a motorcycle, and headed on my way. Not 3 seconds later I heard some commotion behind me, and I turned around to see Sister King looking frantically at me, and a woman rushing over to her. I turned quickly around to see a motorcyle turned over on it's side, and Sister King just looking at me with no words to say. Ha. I started talking to the woman, apologizing profusely for the motorcycle, and helped her lift it up. She was less than pleased. But as we got talking, we offered her to come learn English on Tuesday nights with us, for free. She perked up. We talked a little more, and I told her we were actually missionaries, and we have a message about Jesus Christ that will be a blessing to her family--and proceeded to ask for permission to visit her at home with her family. "Sure," she said. "We're going to go eat dinner, can we come over in 45 minutes?" "Yes, that would be fine." "Ok." I got her number, and we went on our way. Haha. We just laughed, then found out her chain came off her bike somehow. So I got off my bike, on my knees, trying to fix her chain in the middle of this crowded market....and we're just laughing at the silliness of the situation. I finally get the chain on, and stand up to see a man in a shirt and tie standing right in front of me. He is a very high-so (or.....high class) looking guy, older, and strikes up a conversation about what we're doing in Thailand. He was very impressed! He gave us his fancy business card, as I gave him a pass a long card with my greasy hands, and said we could go visit his family at home. Haha. Random? Not to mention, 9 women wandering into the church as we were studying to ask about English class. We got lots of names and numbers, and hopefully will get some new investigators. Sister King said that her awkwardness with bikes is turning out to be a blessing....and excellent finding tool. Ha. Amen to that.

Other than that, we're pushing along. She has no idea how much she's helping me stay focused here as a missionary. I needed her wayyyy more than she needs me. She's so amazing. I love her sense of humor, and easygoing/hard way of working.

We have some investigators that need some extra blessings--can you pray for Nat, Non and Gib? They are practically begging for baptism, but have some personal issues that need to be resolved first. We'd appreciate it!

Happy Birthday to Emmer this week, and anyone else I may be forgetting (I'm sorry!)!! I love you so much, Emmer, make the boys sing you Happy Birthday for your big day. And Jamie and Jord--Congrats on Wednesday! I will be thinking of you all day Thursday (here) and praying that all goes well. You're an adorable couple!

I love this work, I love being a missionary, and I love that Heavenly Father knew how much I needed this opportunity to train. This is the truth, and we are so blessed to have received it. Take time to ponder and share it this week! Make it a great week..........

All My Love,

Sister Nay

I'm a Maa!!!

I can't believe she's here! My little greenie from SLC, UT. Sister King is such a great missionary already! Miracle? Our first day together, we came home and got right into planning and studying. She practiced the invitation to baptism with me a bunch of times, and then we got out to teach. Her first lesson in Thailand, she extended the baptismal commitment to Phii Neng, who accepted, and gave her a date for the 9th of October! SWEET. And so our journey begins.

This past week has been NUTS. We switched houses with the Elders (their's was better for 4 sisters, and in our area), it was transfer week, I got a greenie, we had to renew visas, and we played in that open house for the Chaengwatana building. I remember looking at the church news right after I got my call, and seeing President Smith and several other church leaders standing on the grounds where that building would be built, and thinking, "Am I really going there?" And last Saturday? I got to play the musical number for the VIP open house of the most beautiful building in Thailand (until we get a temple)!!! It was so powerful. It was a very fancy event, and I think it went ok...but I'm glad it's over. Amidst everything else, my cute greenie was trying to get used to all the Thai ways of living. I thought I felt Thai before? I can't even begin to express how ridiculous I've felt the past few days. Haha. It's so funny. Things I didn't even notice I did...or things about Thailand that are "normal" now. Haha. It's so fun.

I am learning how to be positive and optomistic, even when others may not be. It's really interesting. I think I've gotten good at making things okay with my attitude. Certainly, things are rocky and rough at times, but when you are confident that things will just work out, others seem to follow that same opinion. She seems to just think everything is just peachy, when sometimes things get a little frantic. My biggest goal is to help her see how EQUAL we are in the work. I don't care about the language. That has nothing to do with it. She's already brought so much to the table.

I've just learned the past 4 days that I don't have to be perfect. In Moroni 10:32-33, we learn that he only requires us to love Him with our whole hearts! If that's all i focus on, then I can do this training thing. No problem.

I love this work. I love hte gospel! We're pushing to the end together!!

Sister Nay

Pictures--Me and sister Harris--she's home!!!!! The next one is our house in shambles, she was a good sport for putting up with that. Haha. And the last one is me and my cute greenie--Sister King! I'm ready for a transfer of miracles!!!

One Long Switchoffs.

This transfer basically has felt like an extended switchoffs. Does it not feel like I just started it with Sister Tano? Well this week, it ends! It was a shorter transfer because next week President has to go to Hong Kong for a meeting--which means my last transfer will be a whopping 7 weeks! That just means that it will feel like a week and half instead of just a week. Ha. Holy smokes. My last transfer. Still hasn't sunk in. I don't think I'm ever going home.

Last week we had the opportunity to play a musical number for a special fireside we had with Elder Gong (of the 70), who is the new 2nd counselor in the Asia Area Presidency. Brother Oshoa (sp?) was there, as well, who is in the General Young Men Presidency. It was a really, really great meeting. But we were really, really nervous for our musical number. We played "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief," and gratefully Sister Tano is really talented at the violin, so it covered up for the less than mediocre piano accompaniment. We were so grateful it was over. Practicing takes time! And I was sick of it! But we spoke too soon after that, because the next day we got a call from Elder Saengsawan, one of the Senior missionaries in the office, asking us to prepare to play for the Open House of the Chaengwattana building this Saturday, the 10th. WHAT?! I said yes, but we thought we were nervous before??? This is the VIP meeting, as well, which apparently means the ambassador and all these other government officials/big shots from Bangkok will be there. I've never done anything like this in my life--preparing musical numbers for church was nerve racking enough! But it will be a good experience. If we play at this, I'm afraid they'll just ask us to play in something bigger in a couple weeks. Sheesh.

ANYWAY, aside from that, the meeting was really good. Elder Oshoa was my particular favorite--he talked about the gift of repentance. An idea he presented really struck me (or maybe it was my interpretation through the spirit). But he taught in that meeting that repentance is not an event, it is a process. We've all heard this before. But it struck me differently. Sometimes we get frustrated with ourselves when we make mistakes, particularly mistakes we've tried repenting for in the past, and they just keep popping up in our lives. He said that we need not be distressed when those things happen again--they Lord understands! But how we can accurately gauge ourselves and the progress we're making, is looking at the distance between those mistakes. Are they happening less and less frequently? Then you are in the process of repentance! It was a novel and brilliant idea that I needed a reminder of.

I thought a lot of Grandpa Lamond this past week. Happy Birthday to him on September 2nd! I have had these flashbacks of walking into Grandma and Grandpa's house, and him standing at the doorway to the kitchen. He stretches his arms out to give a hug, gets a surprised look on his face, leans down a little bit, then walks over asking, "Who's dat boo-tiful girl?" That thought gave me a lot of help this past week as we've had some struggle with investigators. I know that he was on the other side helping me this week. I love him so much. And I love you, Grandma Rosie! I hope you are doing well, and are so happy with all your summer adventures. You're a traveler, from what I hear!

I got to go on switchoffs with Sister Johnson this week--remember my companion from the MTC, from Colorado? She was so fun!!!!! It amazed me to see how far we've come, yet how much the same I really am. I don't feel like I have very many outward changes, but everything in my heart has changed. Changed isn't the right word. i'm just....grounded deeper in the things I believed before. Now I know of a surety! This is the true gospel! I love being a missionary. On to my final transfer...............

All My Love,

Sister Nay

Pictures 1) Me and Sister Johnson! 2) Eating yummy Moogata! 3)We got to do a fun service project in Bangkok with the stake! SO FUN! They loved my tallness! 4) Group photo of the project 5) Sister Bun, a cute member that fed us dinner 6) I love her Hawaiian chocolate that her family sends! DELICIOUS.