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!

Thaim to Say Goodbye to the MTC. And HELLLOOOO To Thailand!

Sawadii khaa khrab khrua!

 

What in the world?  You guys.  I'm in Thailand.  Yep.  Let that sink in a little.  I'm in Thailand.  It's night time for you.  It's daytime for me.  Weird huh? :)  Hahaha.  Oh my.  I don't even know where to begin.  So much has happened since I got here.

 

First.  The end of the MTC was super!  I love that group of kids so much.  SO SO much.  And hopefully we'll stay in contact with each other.  Our mission president promised us that we would! :)  But... then... we got on a bus.  And then got on the trax, then got on a plane, then got on a plane, and on one more plane.  And theeeeen we were in Thailand.  And we were exhausted!  (The typhoon just made it so we had to go in for 2 landings :)  we went down for one... and then pulled up really quick.  And then circled around and came down again.  And then we were cancelled and then delayed :) fun for our mission president who had to wait for us!)  We were honestly like babies that fall asleep in their high chairs by the time we were eating dinner!  But it was so good!  My mission president and his wife are AMAZING!  President and Sister Senior are so fun and so spiritual!  And I just love them already, and I'm sure I will love them even more the more I get to work with them and get to know them!

 

Hmmm... What is important for you to know? :)  Thailand feels SO much like Taiwan.  Honestly... SO much like Taiwan.  Except here I can pick out maybe a couple words of what people are saying, and then I can tell people "I'm so sorry, I can't understand you!" :) Haha.  It's hot... though not unbearably so (except I think I've had some abnormally cool days here!), though I have done a good deal of sweating and drinking lots of water!  It's rained... only once?  Though when it rained.  It poured a lot! :) Um... I have about 11 mosquito bites (a.k.a. disformed arms and legs but oh well! :))  My first real Thai meal from a cart... was slightly harsh on my stomach.  But :P  Oh well again!  :) Haha.  Annnnnd.  The food here CAN be pretty spicy.  I don't even know the half of it.  We went to a restaurant place one day... and everytime they start a new dish the spice would like travel through the air and choke us to death.  That's spice you can feel before you even get the meal! :)  It's lots of fun though!  It's kind of exciting and new and very good! :)  It is taking some adjusting!  But it's good adjusting! :) 

 

Also.  Riding a bike in a skirt is reallllly hard.  The first day my skirt was just good I guess... because it wasn't too bad.  The second day Sister Stewart and I rode our bikes for about 25 minutes.  I'm sure you can picture me doing this quite well.  Haha... it was me...frantically trying not to lose my trainer.  Annnnnd. ALSO. Trying to hold my skirt down (but I was failing) annnnnd.  I was also trying not to die.  Because from what I can tell... you just kinda do what you do in Thailand traffic!  You go... and then people go.  And that's how it works!  :)  It was a super embarrassing hour in total (we had to ride home too!) Haha... but.  I'm working on inventing something to prevent that from happening. 

 

My trainer's name is Sister Stewart!  She is so sweet and patient with me, and super chill.  I like her a lot!

 

Now on to the more important stuff.  The people of Thailand!  First you should know I'm in an area called Phitsanulok, which is interesting because it's a HUGE area apparently.  It's also not Bangkok.  And not the country area.  And not Chang Mai.  It's Phitsanulok :)  And the members here are great!  There are a bunch of youth that we see and work with frequently and they're just great!  Our branch is smallish and we're about 20 or so people away from having a real church building!  

 

Some of the amazing people that I have met... first.  Brother Gap.  Brother Gap is awesome!  He's like Jared's age... and he is such a wonderful person.  When we met with him one night to teach him, I asked him what he liked to do and he said "I like to help people, if there's anyone that's sad or they need something, even though I'm not a member yet, I like to help them in anyway I can!" WOW! :)  And he really follows through.  He shows up to everything way early, and he's ready to work, ready to help, and he's so nice.  Haha... he also told me in that lesson that I didn't need to be shy!  (I'm working on it :)  sometimes I really don't know what anyone is saying... so thennnnn... I don't know quite what to say!  But I'm getting better)  He's just amazing!  He's been investigating the church for a long time, and he basically is a member, but he has to wait for a bit to be baptized.  But I am so amazed by his faith!  From what I know of him, he's just a really Christ like person!

 

Another amazing person.  So, remember the bike ride I just talked about?  Well we were going to see an investigator with a baptisimal date, she works at this gas station and we can go talk to her at work!  We got there, and I'm not quite sure what she was doing, but we got talking with this lady who works there too.  Her name is Erng.  And Sister Stewart was saying that she was from Las Vegas (I get asked where I'm from/what race I am all the time.  I'm mastering telling people that I'm a "Half child, Taiwan people" or something of that sort if you translate it literally.  It's kinda funny!)  Annd then she mentioned that they have lots of Casinos there, and Erng said that something to the affect of that she wouldn't enjoy that because she's Christian.  (which... now that I think about it... do Christians even usually not gamble?  I dunno!) But.  We started talking to her... and eventually it developed into this full blown explanation of what she believes.  WOW.  I can't understand everything.  But honestly Sister Erng, basically knows the whole gospel.  She may have even quoted Preach My Gospel a couple of times.  She said like... God is our Heavenly Father he sent us down to Earth, he sent the Savior so we could repent, and find peace in this life.  Just EVERYTHING.  I was blown away!  Honestly.  She basically knew the whole gospel, and I'm not sure how!  She has a Bible that she studies, and I guess that's where she learns everything?  But.  There was another crazy moment when Sis. Stewart brought out this picture of the Godhead, and we started talking about it.  And for a minute I was super scared, because both of us thought the other person was saying that the Godhead was all one person.  But Sister Erng was like "no... that's not correct, lots of Christians believe they're the same person but they're not!" Which was kind of a relief to me :) And amazing!  I just can't even describe it!  She's incredible!  And so kind to us!  Yesterday she wanted to meet with us, and we ended up having to leave right after we got there because someone needed us, and she was so nice.  We have an appointment with her on Tuesday though!  Part of me is nervous that she won't be receptive of our message and she'll get hung up on something!  Buuuut.  I'm trying to have faith that the spirit will testify to her!  She also mentioned how she knows its true, and even though it's hard and her family doesn't understand... she is Christian because she knows it's true!  Wooooow!  Sister Erng is amazing!

 

I'm not sure what else to put in here! :)  To be honest, sometimes I'm like... man... :) Heavenly Father probably has to send this whole squad of angels to protect me from my own craziness (see... crazy bike ridng... or like... a number of other dumb things I might say or do!) sometimes :) I'm half expecting a letter that says "Heavenly Father has decided that you are costing him too many angels and blessings for the amount of output you're giving!  So... we're gonna have to let you go!" :)  Buuuut.  At the same time... when I pray and tell Heavenly Father how I'm feeling, and when I'm scared I'm gonna die on my bike :) He patiently teaches me to have more faith in Him even if my own abilities are kinda iffy.  Honestly my abilities don't matter, even though it's hard to remember that sometimes :) Haha.  Like when I accidentally say a random english word in my testimony in sacrament meeting "Seestee rusxg kaatanyuu mag samrab EXAMPLE.  Oh... hehe... duayong." (actually that stuff just makes me laugh usually... the language is hard... and I wish I could understand people!  But it mostly just makes me laugh, and then study more vocab! :)) Heavenly Father can make up the difference no matter how big it is!  His grace is sufficient!  This morning I feel like I was taught out of Alma 2.  When the Amlicites/Lamanites gang up on the Nephites.  And there is a verse that says "they were numbered almost like the sands of the sea" or something like that!  :D  And I imagine like... Mulan, when they all pop up over the ridge of the mountains, or Lord of the Rings or something. Cue the dramatic music, and the smoke, and the armies.  And then these Nephites, who HAVE done there best... preparing weapons, and captains, and then spying on them and all that... just pray.  And trust in God to strengthen them against the threat of death!  Wowwwwza.  But the thing is.  Heavenly Father heard that prayer :) and He hears mine, and He hears YOURS.  And Christ knows how to succor us perfectly.  Most importantly from this email :) hopefully you know that much!  That the gospel is TRUE! :)  It really really is.  Christ is our Savior, Heavenly Father hears our prayers!  And as I'm re-taught every day... His grace is sufficient!  And He really does work with people and prepare them to be taught.  See Sister Erng or Brother Gap as an example!  I love the gospel so much!  I felt so grateful to take the sacrament, to know that it's the same everywhere because it is TRUTH! :)  Woohoo :) Here is to another week in Thailand!  It's awesome, and hard, and out of my comfort zone!  But so good and definitely worth being stretched a bit! :)  The gospel is TRUE! :D

 

Have a Super Duper Week.  So good that it requires random capitilization. :)

 

Kap Khwaamrag mag mag mag,

Sister Croft

Sister Croft's address in Thailand

Sister Rachel Croft
Thailand Bangkok Mission
1645/6 New Phetchburi Road
Makkasan, Ratchathewi
Bangkok, Thailand 10400

I'm Running Short on Thaim

Sawadii Khaa Khraab Khrua (hello family!!!) 

 

I can't believe this is happening.  I have 5 more days unti I fly off to the Land of Smiles and my heart is just SO full while I'm sitting here writing this.  WOW!  I don't even know where to begin.

 

This week was a good one!  We had one investigator get baptized, and another one will be getting baptized this week!  I love those investigators.  We had kind of a fun lesson with the 17 year old, we tried doing activities with him.  And we did a little activity when we taught the word of wisdom (thank you Sister Ference for the idea!) and it's just so fun to see him as a quiet person smile and get to know us as missionaries and as people!  Hooray!  I get to go meet so many more people.  And really connect with them heart to heart.  I'm so excited!!!! :)

 

We had kind of an interesting and unique lesson this week with one of our teachers.  He decided to have us participate in a kind of like... role play type of thing.  Where we acted as though we were at the trial of the Savior.  I was a part of the jury, but there was a defense and la la la.  The whole deal.  The point behind it though... was to have us think about how we would defend the Savior if we had had a chance to.  If there had been a trial in which we could stand and testify that He is the Savior of the world.  How would we testify?  What words would we use, would they just be words?  Or would they be a living breathing testimony of the Savior?  He mentioned that we maybe could've seen those things from heaven... and wished they we could open our mouths and tell people the truth!  Obviously the point of that would be... that we ARE living, breathing, witnesses of the Savior.  We have the chance to testify that we know that He lives, that we know that He is our Savior (phraphuuchuayhayrccd) and Redeemer (phraphuuthay) and we get to invite people to Come Unto Him and find rest.  Wow!  Isn't that just the best thing ever?  My heart is so full!  And I'm SO EXCITED!!!  Woohoo! 

 

I honestly am struggling to remember what I did this week... teach.  Study.  It's kind of a blur!  But I've had I feel like... some good study sessions where I could tell that the Spirit was teaching me (there really is a pretty distinct difference between "Sister Croft thoughts" and Spiritual Promptings when I study... Sister Croft thoughts are way less smart :P).  Just some interesting thoughts from that!  I think this week I've learned about the Savior.  I love the Atonement, and the more I learn the more I realize I need to learn, and the more I love the Savior and overwhelmed by what He did for us!  I think that... part of the reason why we are enabled to do things through the Atonement is because the Savior has gone before us... He has felt all that we've felt.  It's incredible to think about.  Man.  It's amazing and it's real and true!  I also think that the Atonement is closely tied to covenants :) and I'm just beginning to understand that a little bit!  But those are just some thoughts...

 

I've also thought a bit about how amazing it is that each of us chose to come here on Earth.  To leave our Heavenly Father because we wanted so badly to become like Him.  Because we needed this physical experience!  BUT.  EVERYONE chose that plan.  The anti-mormons... the many Buddhists in Thailand!  Sometimes... I can't believe how short of a time it was that I went without the gospel.  I don't know how the veil works.  But I probably drove up to the "Earth drop off" (like the MTC-curb) in Heaven... and popped down here to Earth.  Where sweet parents taught me the gospel since birth.  And now!  I am lucky enough to get to fly on over to Thailand (seriously... can't complain that my travel will be long... because like... in 17 miracles when Levi Savage goes to Siam a.k.a. Thailand (never noticed that one before!) it probably took him a bajillion majillion years.)) and remind those people who chose this.  Yay!  Doesn't that just make you happy?  It's a little daunting to think that I represent the Lord... and people will be able to ask me about it.  I'm more scared to answer in English than in Thai!  But.  I'm excited enough to get over being afraid (I hope :)) and get over not being able to say anything in Thai.  And to just smile... and speak.  To open my mouth and say.  Yep.  This is the TRUTH!  And I want you to know it! :)  I would never ever ever in a million years do this if it wasn't.  I wouldn't go somewhere to lie to people.  Especially if it was gonna be this hard :P  But it's true.  And I'm not alone.  And it's AWESOME!  Yccd yiam (literally means the peak of awesomeness) haha.  Anywho.  I'll talk to you soon!  The gospel is TRUE! Rejoice about it a little!!! :)  Woohoo :)

 

Gap khwaamrag mag mag mag mag mag!

 

Sister Croft

How Great Thou Art

Oh wow, oh wow!  Dearest family, do you realize that you will only receive 1 more email from me... and then.  I.  Will.  Be. In. Thailand.  Yeah.  That is absolutely insane!  I feel somewhat like I'm suffering from whiplash.  Like... the announcement in October happened... and suddenly I'm here... I've just spent a summer learning Thai... and now... as an inexperienced little child :)  I'm going to fly to another country to tell people that this is the true and restored gospel!  INSANE!  But perfect and exciting and wonderful.  I don't even know how to describe it to you!  We have 12 days left... and guess what?  Every day we have ONE LESS DAY TO GO!!! :)  I received an email from my mission president telling me to have such and such money on hand... and I just can't even imagine what is in store for me!  But.  I am THRILLED!!!!! :) AHHH.

Anyway.  This week was a good one.  Honestly... if I ever have difficult it's moments because... I'm SO imperfect.  And sometimes Satan knows how to make me nervous about that!  I get to the end of the day and wonder if I gave all I could!  Because I'm sure there were minutes that I could've spent better.  And I'm NOT thoroughly exhausted or frustrated! :)  Haha... maybe I'm just a crazy kid.  Nope.  I am 100% sure I am a crazy kid.  Buuuuuut.  I just hope I'm giving my all to the Lord.  I also have moments when the Lord confirms to me that He knows how to get rid of my weaknesses, which are many.  But.  I just have to try the best that I can!  :)  Haha.  That's the part that gets me.  Because it's impossible to have a perfect day. :)  It feels like how people must feel after a race... (yeah... I've never run one!) But... a race where you don't feel QUITE satisfied at the end of it :).  But also.  It is SO good.  Don't worry that I'm like... depressed or anything!  Haha... I just want to give my WHOLE HEART TO the Lord.  And I'm learning how to do that... and having a chance to ask the Lord for a lot of help and forgiveness along the way!

The blessings continue to come.  I honestly feel like... if I have one more blessing.  I'll just explode.  See... the illustration that I put in a letter and then took a picture of.  That's my cup... and honestly.  There is no more room in it.  There hasn't been for a long time.  And blessings are spilled all over the floor :)  It's a huge mess!! :) I can't even imagine what I could've done to be here on the earth, to be in the family that I'm in, to be going to the mission that I'm in.  Pluuuus.  A huge blessing from this week.  I for some reason have the nerve to ask for even more blessings!  I asked Heavenly Father if maybe we could go to the temple one more time!  And He gave us the assignment to go clean the temple.  Wow.  It was an awesome morning this morning.  The sisters in my district got to clean some of the chandeliers in the celestial room.  It was so beyond beautiful in there.  So beautiful.  And I may or may not have shed a few tears... because this gospel is so beautiful.  So eternal.  And so perfect.  Heavenly Father offers us even more blessings.  Even more than I have today.  He offers us eternal life!  And that is SO beautiful.  It was a little unfair too... because we got to clean in there (while the Elders scrubbed lockers... because they won't let the Elders touch the crystals... which P.S. I found out there are like... over 100 chandeliers in the Provo temple!) and then we got a tour of some parts of the temple.  We saw the beautiful brides room.  Some of the construction they're doing.  And we sat in the chapel.  It was beautiful and wonderful.  I can't even tell you!  Blesssssings galore.

Also.  Last night we had an awesome devotional.  And I was again reminded of the power of the Atonement.  It is the way through which we can return to Heavenly Father... in every way.  It enables to endure, it allows us to be forgiven.  It is so perfect.  And I hope more than anything that I'm letting it change me.  That I'm learning to rely on my Savior when my own weaknesses are too much!  Which is always :)  But.  I have GREAT faith that Heavenly Father will allow me to communicate with people even though I can't speak Thai.  I have faith that I'll be safe in a place that can be kind of dangerous.  I have faith that the Atonement is real.  And when I think about it... it just makes me want to burst into song sometimes! :)  Hehe... can you tell I love the hymns? "Then sings my soul, My Savior, God, to Thee.  How great Thou art.  How great Thou art!

Have an incredible week my dear khrab khrua (family)!  You are wonderful examples.  And I love each of you so so much!  :)
The other picture on here... is of a bunch of words in my notebook that all sound really similar.  Many lovely options for what I can accidentally mess up on in a lesson.  Can I please... rice.  Oh... I mean enter.  :)  Or the word beautiful.  Suay.  Or with a different tone.  Unfortunate.  Or with a different tone... an apparently very unfortunate word!  Ahhhh :) Fun with Thai!

Also.  Our investigators are still both progressing towards baptism! :)  Hooray :)  We're gonna try to get another investigator this week :)  Which is hard at the MTC.  But also in the field :) 

Anyway.

That's all :)

Gap khwaamrag mag mag mag, (with a LOT OF LOVE!)

Sister Croft

It was one Thairiffic week

Khrab Khrua (family!!!)  I love you so much!  And I love hearing about your fishing, running, dating, sewing and everything!  It is so wonderful!  You are the best family I've ever had!

 

Also.  I except my grammar/English skills to begin going downhill at this point.  (I'm in kind of a silly mood ;) so beware... this letter might be kinda silly!) My grammar isn't good in the first place... but hopefully my communication is!  Haha... Sister Ference and I have started accidentally speaking English with Thai grammar sometimes... Thai is like caveman speak!  It's very efficient and a lot of the words are made up of other words.  Soooo... if I start sounding weird, it's because I'm learning to speak Thai, and learning to speak English poorly!

 

This week has been a really good one!  Both of our investigators accepted a baptismal date! :)  Hooray!  I'm a little upset because I didn't like... leap out of my seat for joy when they said they would be baptized!  I'm so happy for them... but I'm also not as happy as I wish I was (I know!  I'm weird!)  But I just think... I can still do a better job of loving these two!  As I've mentioned before they are so awesome!  Phii Saamaad is so funny and so faithful and willing!  Caycay is quiet, and it's much harder to tell what his needs are... but he amazes me!  His parents are two different religions, and he is choosing to join an entirely different one!  Wowza!  We asked him if he'd be baptized in one lesson, in which he said he wasn't sure... and the next lesson we gave him a lot of homework :) and talked to him about using the scriptures to receive answers!  We had him read... Mosiah 3-5 (Man I love me some Mosiah!  King Benjamin's speech is amazing!  General Conference session from however many years ago :)) Helaman 5 (I love this too... what amazing symbolism.  I can't get enough of the literal LIGHT that Christ brings into our lives!) annnnnd also 3 Nephi 11!  And I wrote the word "thammay" on the top of his assignment :) to remind him that we wanted to ask himself why Jesus Christ is important in his life!  Sister Ference and I also read those scriptures in our personal study!  And I asked myself "why is the Savior important to me?"  It's incredible to consider that Jesus Christ, came down and died for me, literally.  He suffered for me.  He knows me.  I'm working on that relationship alllll of the time :) it can always be better!  But I'm so glad that I do have a relationship with my Savior! 

 

Ummmm.  Thai continues to come... sometimes I'm not sure how much better I'm getting!  But every day we work on it!  It's kind of unfair... sometimes I don't understand why I am so blessed!  Buuuut... I feel like it's unfair because... I can usually understand why my teachers or the investigators are saying (TRC is a little bit harder...)!  It's unfair because sometimes other people can't understand... and man would that be a frustrating thing!  But.  I also know... the frustration will come when I have no idea what is happening in Thailand :) but I'm planning on smiling.  And trying my best :)  I'm kind of excited for the confusion and the newness.  And I have no doubt that Heavenly Father will help my inadequacy.  Maybe he will help the investigators understand the craziness that is NOT Thai that is coming out of my mouth!  :)  Buuuuut.  He will help me and I trust in that completely!

 

Annnnd.  Just so you know.  My companion is so awesome!  Sister Ference and I (true to my setting-apart blessing) are becoming such good friends!  We have a lot of fun together, and our teaching and friendship improve all of the time!  Hooray!

 

Annnnd.  I'm trying to think of what else I can tell you!  This week our teacher taught me as an investigator, in front of the class passa Thai.  As the phuusoncay (investigator) I acted like someone I knew... and it was really awesome to be able to feel the spirit as an investigator, even though I was feeling skeptical about the Book of Mormon or other things.  I still felt the spirit and that was really cool!

 

Also.  This week was a little bit hard for me because I sometimes fall into this "thinking about Sister Croft trap" where I think about myself too much!  Not even necessarily my life at home or something... just me and what I can do better, or me and it's tricky to get out of that... because then I think about how I think about myself :)  Crazy kid!  :)  But.  Brother Burgess gave us an awesome and very inspired lesson about how we can give our hearts to the Savior.  I like what one of the sisters said.  We give our heart to the Savior because He gave all of His heart.  He gave everything!  And I am working on that.  It's gonna be such a process.  And I've been working on it since I was born basically :) But.  That process is ALSO possible through the Savior.  Wow the Atonement is all encompassing. 

 

Also.  I don't know what else to say... so this is all random!  There have been protestors around the MTC recently.  Don't imagine the torches and stuff yet... usually it's just a couple of people during our temple walk or a couple other times.  But they stand outside with their crosses and some of them yell scriptures, which... I feel like the spirit just flees when I start hearing them yell scriptures... and I get really confused... because they're trying to tell us about the Savior!  Some of them are quieter and nicer... but even so!  I always get confused by them...

 

And.  Also just another quick thought about how blessed we are.  The other day I just wanted to go to the temple SO badly!  :)  And I was thinking about it... and wishing that we could go!  Well... it turns out that the temple opens on the day we leave (Aug. 12th) and so... we think if our plane isn't until later in the day... we'll be able to go ONE MORE TIME.  That would literally be an answer to our prayers.  I asked Heavenly Father if maybe we could go one more time!  I told Him it was okay if we couldn't though :) but ALSO.  Next P-DAY we're going to get to go clean the temple for like 3 hours!  So either way... our prayers were answered.  I feel so blessed.  Honestly.  I don't think I even know the 1/4 of it.  Heavenly Father is blessing my blessings. 

 

Also.  I leave for Thailand in 19 days.  Yep.  I'm counting down.  And I was reminded in a devotional last night!  I can't wait to SHOUT WITH THE TRUMP of ANGELS! Why?  Because the gospel is TRRRRUE.  And people need to know it!  Hooray!!!! :)

 

Two more letters until you get a call from me in the airport!  That is insanity!

 

Sorry if I'm getting self-righteous!  I certainly hope not :) always feel free to rebuke me if I am! :) Hahaha.  Gap khwaamrag mag mag mag mag mag (oh... that reminds me... Thai is like an enormous #.  You know the kind?  I never did them.  But like... #Storyofmylife.  That's how you read thai.  It's all one strand of thai.  Hooray!)

 

MUCH LOVE,

Sister Croft

By This Shall Man Know You Are My Disciples!

Soooo.  This week has been a really good one!  I love the MTC!  :)  It's lots and lots of fun, and we receive so many blessings each day!  Sister Ference and I are becoming really good friends and during our companionship inventory I realized how far we've come as teachers and also as companions!  We're learning how to work together, and we're learning how to help each other and it's awesome!

Our investigators Phii Saamaad and caycay are still doing really well!  Phii saamaad continues to instruct himself and be absolutely golden :)  haha.  We asked him what he learned at church and he said he learned about... the Atonement (kaanchodchay), repentance (kaanklapcay -which means like a return of the heart), temples (phrawihaan) and covenants (pantaasaanyaa) haha... he learns everything and he loves the gospel!  Haha... and he thinks I'm kinda crazy (which is probably true!)  Because sometimes I teach in Thai like I would in English!  I told Phii Saamaad that Christ was jampen jangleeyi or... necessary and then that last word is an intensifier!  So I was saying... necessary EXTREMELY! :)Caycay is doing well too!  We had a good lesson where we discussed 2 Nephi 32, and we talked about receiving revelation and talked about baptism!  We're trying to help him resolve his concerns and help him see why he needs the gospel more!  I think the scriptures are important to him and he's starting to understand how he can use those :)

Um... fun Thai mess up for the week.  In a room prayer before bed I said "chuay phua khaa phraong (help us) russxg (feel).... then in trying to remember a word I blurted out "khanompan" which means bread.  No no no.  I meant peace which is "khwaamsanob"  haha... and of course then I said "You guys... I just asked us to feel bread..." Maybe it's not that funny to anyone else! 

Also.  Another kind of fun story!  This week I sang in sacrament meeting because it was our districts turn to do the musical number.  Haha... I had Elder Wilson on the piano (he was a cello major at BYU, really good friends with Maddie and Elder Larson!) and I had Sister Jackson on the violin and I was going to sing Savior Redeemer of My Soul!  haha... we only practiced it... 2 or so times.  And... that maybe wasn't the best choice!  I forgot that that song was really difficult to breath on... it has a lot of really long phrases.  So... somehow... the first page of that song ended up being absolutely awful.  I'm not being modest.  It was straight up awful.  I was like wheezing for breath (haha... who does that?  Just breathe awkwardly... don't run out of breath!)  But... it was... so awful!  It just made me smile though... luckily I have enough pride to spare :) so I wasn't embarrassed!  But... for the first few phrases... I'm pretty sure everyone must have been cringing... like when someone starts singing in church and they're tone deaf... and then you know the next 5 minutes are going to be kind of uncomfortable for everyone!  Haha... But... then after a couple phrases apparently I just decided to sing normally!  And it ended up on a good note!  Haha... I think Heavenly Father may have shut the ears of some of the people in that congregation because they all told me it was beautiful :) or He blessed them with kind hearts!  Or... He made them think I was getting emotional... apparently that's what it came off as :P  Haha.  It was funny though.  But also... it made me smile because... at the end there is a lyric that says something like "Chasten my soul, till I shall be in perfect harmony with Thee" and I thought it was kind of an interesting symbolism... of how our own efforts can start out weak and tone deaf, and out of breath... but by the end can turn out with the Lord's help! :)  I love that song!  It practically begins playing in my head when I realize how much I need the Savior, after a hard day, or whenever I'm frustrated with myself... I just know I need my Savior and My Redeemer.  I love it :)  I wish I could sing with the glory of an angel!  Music is awesome!

That reminds me... the title of this email!  We sang "As I Have Loved You" I dunno what it is with primary songs... but I love them all!  What beautiful words... "As I (the Savior!  I'm sure you all knew that :P but I didn't think of it!) have loved you, love one another... by this shall man know ye are my disciples... if ye have love, one to another!" Beautiful.  That's something I try to work on every single day!

Annnnd another good thing!  This week I had a coaching session with Brother Shipley... and basically my question for him was "how can I be a better missionary?  I wanna be better!" Generic and very Sister Croft-y I know :)  Buuuuut.  He had me turn to Ether 12:27... which I have read many a times.  The new insight he shared with me was that it was not my job to try to fix my weaknesses.  It's my job to 1) come unto Him 2) be humble 3) have faith.  (I think that's all anyway!) So I shouldn't be worrying about what I can do to be better... I should be loving and worrying about and praying for the investigators.  And THEN will Heavenly Father make my weaknesses strong.  I really love that :)  it's so hard not to worry about yourself :P  But... I'm learning!

I'm not sure what else to put in here... we've had a really great week!  And we only have 4 more!  That's 4 more emails from me before I am calling you from an airport... on my way to a land of snakes, elephants, and wonderful Thai people! :) Oh wow, oh wow! :) That's absolutely insane!  But the gospel is so good!  And we're learning... and we're so blessed.  Haha... I never thought I'd think I knew what I was doing when I left the MTC.  Like... people say you think you can speak your language... and then you get there :P I'm starting to see how I'd think that :P but.  Also.  I'm so not worried about the language at all!  Heavenly Father will help me :) and it'll come!!!  So it's okay :)  Ahhh.  I still have a lot to learn dear family!  Buuuut.  The gospel is so good :) Go to the temple for me :)  I'm still so jealous of you for being able to go!  :) The gospel is the best!!!

gap khwaamrag mag mag mag mag mag mag mag (with a loooooot of love!),

Sister Croft