Goodbyes can be sad 9/22

Dearest dearest family and friends.

It was a good week.  It's been kinda crazy.  But it's good.  This Monday we got the great news that I was staying in Sisaket with Sister Herrmann.  Unfortunately... something told me that that wouldn't be the case... and I was right!  Tuesday I got the call that I was actually being transferred.  I didn't even get to finish receiving my training from Sister Herrmann.  Which is pretty sad for me.  I loved being her companion!  I also had to leave my family in Sisaket behind which was hard.  I swear half the branch was at the train station when we left.  Ahhh... even for a heart of stone like mine :) goodbyes can be sad.  I hate last lessons, and telling people that I'll be leaving.  But that's alright.

I was transferred tooooooo.  Bangnaa.  Which is back in the big city of Bangkok.  It's actually a non-biking area.  Which I'm not too thrilled about :)  but.  That's okay!

Something that is exciting is my new companion!  Her name is Sister Nittaya.  Which is weird for me... I'm used to calling her a different name because she lived in Sisaket! :)  I've eaten dinner at her house many times.  She helped us teach dozens of times.  So that's really fun!  Her family is full of some of my favorite people on this planet! :)  Hooray! :)  It'll be fun to work together!

I don't even know what to write about today.  A new area is always exciting.  In some ways there is a bit of a new culture to adjust to.  A lot of new names to remember and things to understand and learn.  Even though I was really sad to leave Sisaket.  I trust God's inspiration and I know that He knows what I need and what people in Thailand need WAY more than I know what anyone needs.  Right now... we don't really have investigators :) and so the world is our oyster :) and we'll be doing some good finding and learning together.  The members here seem really fun and I really want to do everything we can to help this awesome ward grow.

I feel like sometimes God teaches me to trust Him.  Trust that He knows which miracles should happen and I don't!  Trust that He knows where I need to be.  And also what I need to be!  This morning as I studied I feel like He taught me a little more about what I need to be.  And you know what the answer was?  More like Him.  Show a little more love, be a little more kind and a little more selfless.  It's gonna be a good transfer. :)

I love you guys so much.  I'm grateful for the blessings of the gospel, and especially for the blessings of the temple.  The sacred covenants that we make inside of them, the work that is to be done inside of them, and the sealing power that binds our families together for eternity.  I'm grateful to be a witness of the reality of these truths.  It's a labor of love :)

Have a great week!  

Love,

Sister Croft 

A really good week. (9/15)

Isn't every week a good one?  :)  I love it.

This week.  We did a lot of different things.  It honestly is so difficult to remember all of it... and to try to put it here on this email.  

We had a chance to teach my favorite little kiddies again this week.  Oh how I love them.  They get to color terrible looking pictures drawn by me :) but they are so sweet and take so much care in doing it.  This week one of them told me she wanted to color a picture of Jesus next time, so I did my best... and we taught them about how Jesus taught us to pray.  We also gave them little pictures of Jesus to put on their pillows.  So that each night when they see them they'll remember that Jesus taught us to pray.  :)  Haha... they are the cutest.  I really love those kiddies.

This week as we made our coordination sheet we kind of laughed at what a funny pool of investigators we have.  A lot of them are girls under the age of 18.  And then we also have our 99 year old.  A lot of them are also facing a lot of opposition from family members.  And a lot of specific challenges.  And yet they have courage and faith enough to face those challenges.  It's really kind of an odd thing to me.  I can't imagine my own parents banning me from going to church.  Or being angry with me for praying or reading my scriptures.  Maybe more the opposite :D 

But... it's really inspiring to see... for example one younger girl.  Who dreams of her parents being at her baptism.  And it can't help but make me think.

How do we, who are free and encouraged to live the gospel, choose to live the gospel?

Other thoughts from this week... we had a cool little (or big) miracle yesterday.  We were contacting at a market, and we met a Christian lady, after telling her about the restoration she said "where can I get this book?"  We were close to our house and decided to run home and grab one (we didn't have one on us. shame shame) and then... when we went back to the market and called her we couldn't find her.  We were sad... but texted her and hoped she would call us when she saw our text.  We were going to eat at a members house (celebrating 24 years since this amazing sister has been baptized) and we were a little bit late.  As soon as I finished praying over the food.  She called us back.  And so we had to run back over to the market still with very empty stomachs :)  We were waiting for her for a bit so we just started talking to people, and as soon as we did a woman ran up to us and said "I've been looking for your church for a week.  I'm really interested and I want to go."  It was such perfect timing and really was a miracle.  

I am so grateful to be a missionary.  It has it's challenges for sure.  There were moments this week when I felt very inadequate, we have weaknesses.  But sometimes I like to think of it as proof that this is God's work.  It's like the story of Shadrach Meshach and Abed-nego. The fire was so hot it killed the men putting them in the fire.  :)  It had to be the hand of the Lord.  That's the miracle of missionary work.  It's not anything that we do.  We simply have the chance to obey, to invite, and to help.  And see the miracle of conversion take place through repentance and living the principles of the gospel.  There couldn't be anything better.

I love you so much.  Have a wonderful week this week. 

Love,

Sister Croft

This is me and Sister Herrmann and Sister Boom.  Cooking up some Thai food together on Monday.  :)  She is the best.

Wow.

his week.  Was everything.  Haha... that makes me laugh that you read my companions blog for the fun details.  :)  I bet hers is better than mine :)  Sometimes there is just so much... that I don't even know where to begin or how I can describe all of the things that happen.  And I definitely forget to type funny little details.  My head is spinning from the last few days and just all of the things I have learned.  I don't know how to describe it!

Last week on P-Day Sister Herrmann and I went to the Zoo :)  Haha... there is a really funny tiny zoo here in Sisaket.  It is so beautiful.  Honestly one of the most stunning places that I've ever been.   There are some fun pictures from that that I'll attach. 

Right now... we have a lot of different investigators that we're working with.  And they are awesome.  Really really awesome.  A lot of them  have specific struggles.  Several (it feels like MANY) of them with family members.  For me... that is one of the most difficult problems to resolve.  But... we're trying to do all we can to focus on the Spirit and do the things that God would have us to do.  God is the one who knows how to open the effectual door.  It's really cool to see how our teaching is changing as we really really focus on how to teach as the Savior would.  I still have a long way to go, but I honestly feel like I'm receiving some great training from my companion :)  She is so good and teaches me a lot.  I don't know what they need.  But God knows.  I don't know how to do it.  But God knows.

This week.  I had the opportunity to attend a missionary leadership conference in Bangkok.  It was a long cold sleepless bus ride, but it was a really needed and instructive time.  We were taught by Elder Funk and Elder Allen and very much so by the spirit.  We learned a lot about what we can do to serve the Lord would have us serve.  I think my head is still spinning because I've not yet absorbed and understood all of the things that we were taught.  I feel a tiny bit like the people after listening to the Savior speak.  Christ told them to ..."go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow..."  So much to absorb.  But I know that revelation is real.  And that God will help us to accomplish His purposes, and also that He speaks very directly to those who seek and have the keys to preside. 

This Sunday.  We were extremely blessed. 

Just a few miracles that happened.

This woman that I have been visiting since I got here.  Finally came to church.  She is less active and it made me so happy to see her there dressed beautiful, and then to see her daughter playing with other kids after church.  A miracle indeed.

Brother Muu came for the first time in a white shirt and tie.  He also brought his wife.

He also brought 8 little kids.  The whole neighborhood came to church. :)  I can't tell you what a glorious sight it was to see them sitting there.  Haha... for some reason they sat in their own row.  I was a little nervous watching them from the stand.  But they were even good in the sacrament.  Afterward they brought us all of the pictures they've ever colored in our lessons, as well as ones they drew of the church that say "Jesus's house" on them.  I don't know who told them that... but they have stolen my heart.

Our 99 year old investigator made it to church with her daughter.  Which earlier this week was kind of an improbable thing because of some challenges. 

 

There were several other investigators.  Aom, and Oom that came as well!  Their faith and desires are wonderful. 

Oh man.  I love this work.  I love it so much.  I also love these people.  The Thai people and specifically these people that I get to know and serve with.  They are wonderful. 

I love you guys!  I hope your week is wonderful. 

Love,
Sister Croft




 my favorite lady Sister Brem back for a visit.

I love this.

I love being a missionary.  I like what Derek said in his email this week.  It's true.  Every week is the same and yet different.

Just a couple of highlights from this week.

First of all... we have a new investigator.  It's a referral from a member in our ward, her own mother!  Sister Herrmann and I went to their house for the first time this week.  Her mother is 99 years old, she turns 100 in February!  It was a different sort of lesson, we taught the Plan of Salvation very simply in Thai.  And then this sweet woman's daughter translated it into the country dialect (which is like... Laos.  But a little different!) in her mothers ear.  It was cool to teach the gospel so simply.  This sweet woman has such a tiny body.  I don't think she can stand on her own.  But she wants to live with her husband forever.  So awesome.  (A cool sidenote... I remember when I first came to the country... I went to this same ladies house and was kind of... taken aback by the language I didn't really understand.  But I knew what she was saying as she translated it to her momma.  I'm not super good at speaking it... I can do it a tiny bit :)) 

We taught some really cool lessons this week.  Oh man.  I feel so full thinking about the work that we get to do.  Some to recent converts, some to less actives, some to investigators.  But it's so cool to see the change that happens as we focus on people's needs.  Like Elder Croft said, learning to teach like the Master.  Oh man.  I love the gospel.  And I love the change that it brings upon people. 

This week some of those miracles of change were:

A recent convert coming to church for the first time sporting a suit and tie.  

A less active woman that I love, coming to church because she loves the Savior.

Brother Muu continuing to bring his daughters to church.  

We had the best lesson in the world with Brother Muu and his daughters.  Oh my goodness.  It makes me want to laugh because it makes me so happy.  :)  So the first time we taught Brother Muu and his daughters... it was kind of rough.  There was a lot of coaxing trying to get them to even come near us.  And then trying to get them to pay attention.  And then trying to help them do things.  This time we went with the plan to teach them restoration.  We went in armed with a dorky little Plan of Salvation picture that I'd drawn and copied, a picture book, and some crayons.  It was almost 100% different.  When we arrived they turned off the movie they were watching and gathered around.  It actually ended up being a very large group of kids.  Haha... I'm not sure who they were.  Cousins, neighbors... just whoever.  We prayed to open.  I may have peeked at them... it makes me smile just thinking about it.  They all had their arms folded and their eyes closed.  Then they all sat and listened attentively.  We talked about the Plan of Salvation.  I tried to whip out my old preschool teaching skills.  "God loves us so He created this earth for us.  What kind of things are on the earth?  We have... our families.  There are animals... like what? Elephants, birds." "CHICKENS!!!"  It made me so happy.  Oh man.  They listened so well.  And then afterward they colored with the most careful attention.  :)  I've never seen more beautiful Plan of Salvation pictures.  Haha... oh my goodness.  Then we said the closing prayer.  Hahaha.  I was trying to get one little girl to say it.  I asked her if she would.  And she was supposed to follow what I said.  We all closed our eyes and then I whispered "พระบิดาบนสวรรค์" only to hear a CHORUS of children repeating after me... haha... it was a precious moment.  I hope the picture of them brings you as much joy as it brings me.  They actually had so much fun.  But classic asia :) they all stopped smiling for the picture.  :)  Hehe... just kidding.  But really.  Except that ray of sunshine on the left.  Please not the upside down picture.  I love that.

In short.  Or maybe in long.  I love being a missionary.  :)  This is the true church of God.  I have never found more joy from " Teach[ing] them that redemption cometh through Christ the Lord, who is the very Eternal Father."

Oh what a wonderful work.  

I hope you have a wonderful week.

Love,

Sister Croft 

This week. Aug 24th

This week was really good.  What week isn't good? :)

I dunno what all to tell you from the happenings.  I feel like there was a lot of abnormal things and there was also a lot of "out of our area time" this week.   That's kind of a funny thing about serving in Thailand.  Well... actually it might be like that anywhere.  But what with switch-offs, training by President Senior, and an additional training by our Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders... there was a lot of traveling.  A lot of time on buses or trains.  

I really enjoyed the training that we've been receiving.  Actually.  A lot like Elder Croft's training, we've been talking about how to teach like the Savior.  That has certainly been one of my personal goals... but something that I've not always done the best at.  Preach My Gospel is incredible... and I feel like I've learned so much from my studies and from training that we've received and from impressions I've received.

Our investigators... we have a lot of different people right now... some of them are progressing... and some of them are not.  Some of them face serious opposition and trials.  But we are doing all we can to teach and help them.  Sometimes I feel a little bit weighed down by the trials of the people around me.  Yesterday after a couple of meetings I was feeling particularly weighed down by several different matters.  We were riding our bikes home and I just suddenly pulled over and asked a woman on the side of the rode if she wanted to go to church.  It honestly was such a tender mercy.  My stress was taken away and replaced by love for this woman and a warm comfort.  She told us she was interested and I'm excited to meet with her.  For me though that moment was just an evidence of God's love for us and a true tender mercy from Him.

Sister Herrmann and I are having a great time in Sisaket.  I love being a missionary.  Even though it can be difficult.  I love this scripture that Sister Hughes showed me last transfer.

So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

I certainly have a lot to improve on every day.  But I hope that as I'm serving I'm imparting of my soul to those I have the chance to meet.  They may wonder why we call them all the time, why we worry so much about them, but I hope that they realize it's because we love them, and try to do so more perfectly daily.  And because we know what's true and we want them to have it.  What an incredible calling.

I love you all so much!  Have a wonderful week.

Love,

Sister Croft

Wow. I love this place.(Aug. 17th)

Oh my dear dear family,

I love you guys a lot.  And I love Thailand!  And I love being a missionary.

This week has been a really good one.  Before I got Sister Herrmann we were kind of struggling to find investigators, or the ones that we did have were struggling to progress.  But I feel like this week we've seen a lot of progress with people, and we've also met a lot of new people.  For some reason we have a lot of investigators who are little girls right now!  It's fun :) they're really really cute.  

A couple of them helped us fill up the font yesterday. :)  A couple of them are Brother Moo's cute little girls.  You can't imagine how thrilled I was when he walked into sacrament meeting with these two little girls in dresses! :)

We actually went to Brother Moo's house on Saturday to try to help him get his kids to church.  His house was really far.  A sweet member took us in her car because it's so far... just don't a couple of really long roads in the forest and behind the buddhist temple and you're there.  I think they were really nervous to see us because... well... they're not used to strangers, especially not white people strangers.  :)  We read some stories about Jesus from the Liahona and taught them how to pray.  They did not want to fold their arms :)  But eventually they all did.  AND they came to church.  Brother Moo was so pleased and he wants us to go back there often.  Oh man that makes me so happy.

Um... what else... we have a lot of really cool investigators right now.  It's been a really good week.  Also.  My companion is so awesome!  :)  She really is.  Thai is a really difficult language.  I think I forgot just how hard it was until recently.  But Sister Herrmann is bold and willing to get out and talk to everyone.  She wants to do what's right, and I'm really proud of her! :)

Other fun things from this week.  Oh... I don't even know.  Sometimes I still get lost going places. :)  That's fun! :)

Um... kind of a fun thing that we did this week.  Yesterday while we were inviting at the Sunday night market there were a million people.  Usually there are a lot of people, but it's also usually not quite that packed.  We were having a hard time getting people to pay attention to us.  And so...after some discussion with Sister Herrmann I whipped out my mini hymnbook and started to sing.  It was such a funny and interesting experience.  It's amazing what power and influence music has over us.  There is such a difference between inviting with hymns in the air, and inviting by a store that has loud crazy music pumping.  I felt an immediate difference, literally from the first note.  You could feel the spirit, and just the way people felt changed as soon as there were hymns present.  It was funny...we didn't find a million investigators but when I looked up I could see people like... not being able to pull away their gaze, wanting to stop to listen.  They had to look at us, instead of us fighting for their attention.  Maybe they felt the spirit too!  And hopefully... we left them with a feeling of exquisite wonder.  :)

I love you guys so much.  I really do love being here.  Thailand is incredible.  And the work we do is too.  I encourage you all to take part in it, whether or not you're a full time missionary!  There is work to be done.  And none more important than this!

I love you!  Have a Thairiffic week.

Sister Croft

4 months later.(Aug. 10th)

I literally feel like I'm sending you this letter from 4 months later even though... not that much has happened.  And yet everything has happened! :)  Oh man... I have so many thoughts that I just don't even know where to begin.

On Monday we found out that Sister Hughes was leaving.  That's sad because... I sure loved Sister Hughes!  She taught me a lot and helped me in so many specific ways that I needed.

On Tuesday after we taught a recent convert we received a call from a random number.  We answered it.  Annnnnd no!!!  It was one of the Assistants.  I was terrified when Sister Hughes handed me the phone because I knew what everyone had told me would probably be true.  He said, "Sister Croft, you're training.  You need to be in Bangkok tomorrow at 9:00 for a meeting."  I think my heart kept pounding for about 20 minutes after that call!  Then as Sister Hughes and I hurried to gather all of her stuff it was just weighing on my mind.  I was so stressed.  But Tuesday night after teaching English we got on a bus to go to Bangkok.  

In the morning we went a meeting and were trained by President Senior.  It was all really wonderful training.  That and several other things have helped me to feel God's love for me, as well as His constant assistance.  My mission feels so absolutely sacred to me right now.  I don't know how to describe it to you.

Thursday.  Was the actual transfer meeting.  I was a little bit nervous as we sat in the cultural hall waiting for it to begin.  I was very nervous as we began the actual process of finding out who our companions were.  But now I am so thrilled! :)  My new companion's name is Sister Herrmann.  She is so awesome!  As you'll see in the pictures she is so beautiful and already so good at Thai and at talking to people!  Right now our district has 6 people.  3 of them are still in training, and they are all so awesome! :)  I'm so proud of them!

I'll tell you a little bit about the logisitics of what happened this week... just because it was so ridiculous.  After transfers we went to eat dinner and while we were there it started POURING rain.  It hadn't stopped by the time we were ready to go... and so we just went out in it.  We were soaking wet by the time we found a taxi.  We hopped in and went to the church and got our stuff and then attempted to make our way to the train station.  Because it was raining so hard the streets were flooded.  More flooded than I have ever seen them and traffic was bad.  We sat in the car... for possibly like 2 hours trying to get the train station.  We were still soaking wet.  And creeping along.  When we finally got to the train station we found out some unfortunate news... the only tickets left were 3rd class.  Which is... like... sitting on this really close benches all night long.  Oh my goodness.  The Elder who is training a new missionary and I just looked at each other like "this is the saddest thing I've ever seen"  as these two brand new missionaries struggled to get a few hours of sleep on an extremely ghetto and uncomfortable train.  The seats are so close that your knees are like practically touching just normally.  But we also had to shove a suitcase in the middle of us.  Everyone basically just periodically would switch off napping on a jacket or little pillow set on top of that suitcase.  So sad.  The train ride was also houuuuurs longer than it was scheduled to be.  It was so sad.  When we got there the new elders feet were hurting because his socks were still wet for the rain!  Nooo!

But.  It's okay.  Because we're here safe and sound.  That's just kind of a funny story that these new missionaries can now tell to their posterity.  :)  Something that they can laugh about for the rest of their lives.  :)  Hopefully :)

I wish I could adequately express how much my mission means to me.  I'm excited to be a trainer.  Sister Herrmann is so awesome.  She really really is.  It's kind of a bizarre thing for her to think I'm "old in the mission"  or... for her to think that "You speak like a Thai person!"  I'm pretty sure I just got here :D  But I'm so excited for all that we're going to learn together here.  She's really awesome!  

I feel... so much love from and for the Lord this morning.  I feel like I can see so much more clearly what He has done for me.  I feel His help and guidance, and I no longer feel the stress and terror that I felt upon receiving the call to be a trainer.  I feel His love... and I feel like He has helped prepare me for everything that I have encountered in my mission.  His plan is perfect.  

I love you so much, have a really incredible week!  

Love,

Sister Croft

Rain (Aug 3rd)

his week it rained a lot!  We were wet a lot.  But that's okay!  It just makes things more exciting.  Despite my disbelief in the Thai people's wives tale that you'll get sick if you get rained on.  I have a cold.  :)  Oh well!

This week has been a really good one.  As I look back on the week, I'm not really sure what to tell you!  We've been doing a lot of finding because right now we don't really have very many investigators, and the ones that we do have are sometimes struggling to meet with us!  So this week has been a lot about patience and learning!  On Thursday we had zone training and it was so perfect.  I felt like the things that we heard were answers to my prayers.  Specific things that I can improve on to help my investigators, and also members come closer to Christ!

It's funny because the things that we learned about were really really simple.  Prayer, scripture study, church attendance, and so on!  And yet... by small and simple things are great things brought to pass! This morning as I studied more about scripture study and thought more about these principles I felt an urgency to help those around me dig into the scriptures.  

It's through the scriptures that we draw nearer to God, that we become more like Him, that we remain firmly rooted in the gospel, and truly converted.  I think everyone can always do something to improve their personal studies :)  I certainly can.  I imagine how much more powerful we'll be as missionaries, and as members, as we really dig into the scriptures.  The spirit will be able to help us recall principles and verses in times of need.  We'll be able to share the gospel more!  And we'll keep our hand firmly on the iron rod, leading us to Eternal Life!  I am stunned when I think about the influence that the scriptures have had on my own life, as well as on the lives of many many others.  The scriptures are the word of God.  We need to read them like they are the word of God!  :) 

A cool moment this week, we had our training in Ubon, and Sister Brem who was recently baptized now lives in Ubon.  The missionaries serving there told us that she is amazing.  She calls investigators that she helps teach, asks them how their scripture study is going, makes sure that they go to activities etc.  Man she is incredible!  The Elders said "what did you guys do?"  Literally nothing.  We set up some appointments.  But other than that...

I hope you all know how much I love you!  I love you so so much.  I know that this church is true, and I can honestly say my greatest desire is to have eternal life!  To return to live with God and my family forever, to be like Him.  I feel so blessed to be a member of this church, and grateful that I am on the earth now, when I have the chance to be a part of the gathering of Israel.  Wow.  It just stuns me.

I love you so much!  :)  Have a wonderful week!

Love,

Sister Croft

P.S. fun fact.  Everyone that I have ever been companions with except for Sister Hughes.  Dies this Thursday at our next transfer meeting.  Weird!  I personally... don't always like transfers.  But I always love my new area and/or companion.  :) We shall see what happens.