Mosquitoes, Dogs, and Bugs

Oh mannnnn.  Time is flying by way too fast.  It's absolutely ridiculous!  I can't believe it's December still... it's crazy.  This week... a miracle happened.  And we had 74 people at church!  It was incredible!!!  And it honestly... was a blessing from Heavenly Father.  It made me think of the example of so many prophets in the Book of Mormon, who offered sacrifices and gave thanks when they saw just how many blessings Heavenly Father had given them!  I can't believe so many people were there!  We also had a room FULL of investigators.  Which was incredible.  We usually sit in a circle in that room, but this time we had to turn our chairs to make rows!  It was amazing!  Our companionship has a lot of investigators who are in the beginning stages of learning, so this week will be all about improving planning and goal setting to help these awesome new investigators progress!  

Just some other random things from this week.  Last Sunday when I woke up my eye kinda hurt!  Or like... underneath my eye... and then... as the day progressed it got kinda weird... then the next day it turned all red and creepy.  Then the next day it looked super creepy!  So my district made me go to the doctor to see what it was.  They told us that a bug bit my eye... oooookay.  But it looks all better now!  Even though I hate taking medicine... medicine actually works!  Hooray! :)  I'll spare you the pictures of my creepy eye!  :)  

Um... I'm not sure what else to tell you about this week.  It was kind of a normal week.  Like I already said... I feel like we have a lot of investigators right now... but... we also don't have a lot of people who are really progressing.  I feel like I still have so much work to do in honing my missionary skills to really help people progress, help them feel the spirit, and help them experience conversion!  So a lot of planning and changing, and praying and working gets to happen this week!  I've realized some funny things about myself in being a missionary... I'm really not much of a perfectionist... except for when it comes to what kind of person I am and the work that I get to do for the Lord!  It's a little bit hard to get rid of the perfectionist attitude, and rely on the Atonement as I try to get better every day!  But, I was reading some scriptures that I really liked this morning.  I think it was Alma talking to his son Coriantamer... Or something like that :)  I've always been bad at remembering names!  But he is explaining justice and mercy to his son... and he tells him something of the effect of letting those things work in his heart unto repentance!  He talks about the justice of God and also the mercy and long-suffering of God!  Sometimes I am humbled, and I realize just how much patience I should have with my investigators when I realize just how much patience and love the Lord has for me, as I continue to make mistakes, and don't always do a great job of turning away from my sins or my bad habits!  Buuuut.  What I really liked... was that... the Atonement isn't just about justice, it isn't just about the mistakes we've made, it's about the new person that we can become.  The new person we will become through the mercy and long-suffering of God!  The next verse in that chapter is awesome!  Because his son was a missionary... he tells him to go out and preach that word so people can choose the plan of mercy!!  I feel like every single missionary I can think of in the Book of Mormon was someone who had experienced the miracle of forgiveness.  Who knew first hand what the cleansing power of the Atonement was!  They understood justice, they had felt the regret and guilt for the things that they had done wrong, and they had also experienced mercy, and long-suffering.  And when they felt that joy and forgiveness, the peace that only comes from the Atonement... they couldn't help but go out and preach the word!  They had NO greater desire!  No wonder Preach My Gospel says that the more we understand the Atonement the more we will want to Preach the Gospel!  Wow the gospel is incredible!  I'm so happy that it's getting close to Christmas!  :)  Take the opportunity to share the good news with your neighbors! :)  With anyone who might need it right now!  Joy to the world, the Lord is come! :)  

I hope that everyone has a really great week this week! :)  You guys are the best family ever! :)  Hooray for miracles!  I can't wait to report back to you next week about how all of our investigators are doing! :)  

I love you!  Love,

Sister Croft

P.S.  A dog bit my hand this week!  I was kinda dumb probably... and I was talking to a woman behind a gate.  I stuck my hand in with a baptism card and her dog bit my hand! :)  It was kinda funny.  I dropped the card because I was surprised, and the woman didn't even react more than... picking up the card and saying "Oh.  I already have one of these.  And then handing it back to me."  Lucky for me... there were probably angel's hands around my hand!  Because the dog didn't even break any skin!  :) So it was just a good friendly reminder that I should beware of the many many dogs on the streets of Thailand :)  The title of this email is brought to you today... by "things that have bitten me in Thailand."  :D  Hehe... just kind of a funny story.  That will remind me not to stick my hand next to dogs... and... I dunno how to stop bugs from biting my eye yet... :)  But.  :)  you know! :)  Hehehe.  

I love you!  The church is true!!! :)  Have a wonderful week! :) 

I didn't have any good pictures to send you this week.  They were all scary looking :)  So.  HEre is the view from what we call "Food Street"  This week was Father's day.  So we got to go contacting at a festival type thing.  And they were sending lanterns up!  Hooray :)