Monday, August 26, 2013

Woohoo! I love Thailand

This week has been such a good one.  First.  I accidentally crashed on my bike.  Not a huge deal.  Haha... it looked rather stupid actually.  I just ran into my companion because I didn't realize she was turning in front of me.  And she was.  :P  Ooooppsie.  And then I fell off my bike.  And then I scratched my knee.  But I didn't even cry.  :)  Hahaha. Here are some fun pictures of my beaten up legs.  They're a little mosquito bitten.  Though actually right now... they don't look very bad at all.  Plus I cleaned them with iodine because that was all I found and it made it look grosser :P   

 
Anyway.  That was not important at all :) just kinda funny!  This week we have come into contact with soooo many people.  Right now we have a big handful of new investigators! 
 
Kinda going backwards in my week... last night and the night before we taught these two girls that come to our English class!  They are so cute!  They're a couple of years younger than me, and I think they just think Sister Stewart is the coolest person ever!  They are so great though!  Even though I think they might be a little bit embarrassed or nervous when we ask them questions they ask US very honest and open questions and I love it!  I really hope they keep learning with us because they are GREAT! 
 
We also have a new/formerish investigator.  This woman is going through so much right now... from what I understand she was sort of investigating the church sort of recently.  But... I dunno if she was really serious or not... but... she basically came to the point where she was asking everyone for help... and so she asked the missionaries!  After kind of a crazy time trying to meet with her, we ended up with her at the church the same day she called us.  And we listened to her tell us her problems, and I could just see the weight of the world on this woman's shoulders.  Man.  Honestly everything you can think of is going on in her life right now.  But I had the chance to bear testimony to her that while we didn't know what she was dealing with... and we really didn't understand.  (Because... she feels like people sometimes just tell her "It's fine.  Everything will be fine... but she is very much so... not feeling fine right now!) that the Savior does understand.  And that through Him, even though it might feel impossible, she could find hope!  I really hope she understood that.  It was through Thai and a lot of tears, I honestly couldn't help it!  She did get to talk to the President of  the Branch yesterday though.  And I think... she left with some hope and some solutions.  I just really hope that she really does follow our invitations to come and be healed though!  Because it hurts my heart that she feels so alone right now!  Hopefully she'll come learn more with us! :) 
 
Also.  Sister Erng hasn't been able to meet with us this week.  But hopefully we'll get to talk to her next week! 
 
What else.  This week there was a leadership training meeting.  So out of us 4 girls in the house.  Only the greenies were left!  Sister Muller was my phii thai in the MTC.  And she's been her for a month or so.  And so... for around a day and a half... it was Sister Muller and I.  We can't REALLY speak Thai.  Or really understand Thai for that matter :P  Haha.  But it was really a great experience.  We did a lot of contacting.  And a lot of bike riding... and then finding that people weren't home.  But the many hours of contacting were so good for me.  Sister Muller helped me be less scared of talking to people :P and... we did get to talk to a lot of people.  I don't think we found anyone that was interested.  But it did make me think a lot about how I could contact better :P  because while it's not always the missionary's fault... I know I was probably not doing it as well as I could have!  It made me think some more about what it would be like to be a Thai person... a Buddhist person in Thailand, and then what kind of things would be important to me.  What way I would want to be treated by some Farang (I spell things however I want :P  But that means foreigner).  Hopefully I can apply some of that this week!  I just wanna love the Thai people like I love my family!  Sometimes I feel like there is a little bit of a barrier because it's hard for me to like... really know what someone's personality is like because I can't understand hardly anything they're saying.  But at the same time.  It shouldn't be too hard :)  And it isn't really that hard!  And there are so many great people here!  Watching people helps a lot!  :)  I do think my love for them is a growin' though!  They are AMAZING!
 
Honestly.  Just some thoughts on some awesome people here in Thailand.  Wowza.  I can tell that Heavenly Father is gathering His elect here in Thailand.  Honestly.  The youth (and adults and children :D) here freak me out a bit because they are so wonderful!  There is one sister here, who is around my age.  WOW.  She is AMAZING.  When she was like 11, she started stopping the missionaries, who would pass by her house a lot.  And she told them she wanted to learn.  They didn't really take her seriously for a bit... but then... they finally taught her and she is just incredible!  The people here are just so kind.  Do you know how much food I've been given this week?  A bunch!  One woman that Sister Muller and I met stopped and bought us food, which was shocking because we'd felt like she was really turned off when we told her that we teach about Jesus Christ.  But no, she just stopped and bought us food anyway.  They are also so willing to come help us teach, and just so kind hearted!  Honestly.  They are amazing!  I like getting the chance to try to help some people rekindle their faith, and I like being able to try to find people that already have faith, or are ready to have it!  And I also love seeing the faith of the people who have already become members.  The youth that are coming even when their families aren't, the families that are learning from their examples.  It would take some courage to switch religions!  As lots of really courageous people here and across the world know!  But they are AMAZING!  And the church IS TRUE!  :)  Hooray!!
 
I love you so much!  I pray for you all, and I'm glad you're doing good things at home!  Sometimes I brag that I'm related to you :P It's a real thing!  Have a super week!
 
LOVE,
Sister Croft
 
P.S. On an unimportant note.  This week I ate Somptham (again... making up the spelling) for the first time.  It's a papaya salad.  And you can choose how much spice you want in it.  The first time a got a 2.  And my eyes watered uncontrollably.  Annnnd... I relied desperately on a smoothie to cool my burning mouth.  Thai hot gets progressively hotter as you go.  You try to eat rice to cool off your mouth.  And it burns your mouth instead.  Fun times. :)  Actually it's way good!  I'm just a baby.  The next time... I only got a 1.  Hehe.  So good.
 
P.P.S.  These pictures are super beautiful I know.  Haha.  Ugly legs (sorry... for the knees.) and me walking in from the rain with all of my food and everything.  That is an icecream sandwich in my hand.  A.k.a. rice and icecream on a hot dog bun.  LOVE it!

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