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.
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