Bangkok is hot.

It's hot today.  And sorry that I'm emailing so late my family!! :)  We went over to this sweet Sister's house so she could teach us how to make Thai food.  We made some super good Thai food.  I had to learn it somewhere :)  Haha... I'll attach a picture of me and Sister Painter, and Sister Wolf!  She is great!

This week... oh man... what even happened this week...  it's so hard to remember.  :) Honestly... it was kind of a normal week of missionary work.  We've been struggling to help some of our investigators progress.  We have several people who have learned everything, and really do have a desire to get baptized, but they have met some temporary road blocks along the way.  A couple of them we scarily haven't been able to get in contact with this week.  Some of them are having challenges with commandments.  But... luckily all challenges can be met!  :)  And God really has been preparing people to meet us since before they were born!  This work is something of eternal importance and so it will keep on rolling on!  

Yesterday we had the incredible opportunity to gather as a group of missionaries serving in Bangkok, and have a fireside of sorts with Bishop Gary E. Stevenson.  I was so impressed by him, (obviously... but for this specific reason as well!)  we ran into him in our church building early in the day, and then in the evening when he gave each missionary an opportunity to shake his hand, he remembered both my name and where I came from.  He took the time to remember, which was just a small thing, but I was impressed!  His message to us was inspired and inspiring!  Man.  It is so awesome every time we have the opportunity to gather as missionaries.  Our leaders are incredible, and it is always evident to me that this really is God's work.  Bishop Stevenson told us that there are very specific reasons that missionaries are called to their specific missions.  Sometimes those reasons are specific people, a specific mission president, specific investigators.  I feel confident that God has prepared people for us to teach.  Right now, and really always in mission work we are meeting little challenges and set backs.  But... there are always ways prepared for the work to move forward.  And we will learn the way... as we kneel and pray.  And listen for the spirit.  The spirit is the one that teaches.  Sometimes I get stressed out when I'm having a "bad Thai day" :) or when I'm not quite sure what to say and everything is coming out crazy... but honestly... it isn't the missionary that's necessarily important.  It is the investigators personal relationship with God, the promptings that they receive from the Holy Ghost.  We can't (and don't or need to) trick them into baptism!  We just get to testify of truth... invite them, promise them the blessings that God will send.  :)  

Oh!  Here's kind of a cool short story.  Yesterday we got to teach an investigator who was found in another area.  He has had very specific and kind of brief experiences with Christianity... and has kind of wondered what it was all about.  He was invited to be baptized.  And he was sent on over to our building.  As we talked to him he practically literally told us... that he was "kept from the truth, because he knew not where to find it."  Wow.

I'm sorry that this email is so lame.  I promise I'll try to make next weeks email better!  Missionary work is so good.  I am so tired right now :)  Haha... My brain is all over the place.  But I hope that you have a wonderful week this week... and that everything is going well at home.  You guys are the best family ever! 

Love,

Sister Croft

Transfers.

So... this week was a really good one.  It was kind of a crazy one because... we... had TRANSFERS.  And transfers is always a little bit crazy.  Not crazy just... it involves a lot of change! :)  President told us this transfer effected 98% of the mission.  Haha... honestly sometimes I get nervous for transfer meetings.  On Monday we got the call telling us that Sister Mac was leaving Don Mueang.  Everyone was so sad.  She was such an awesome companion!  Haha... in our English class I announced that she was leaving and everyone's hands shot up.  "Where is she going?"  "Is she coming back?"  "Why?"  It was really cute!  Anyway.  As much as I always get nervous for transfer meetings... I always leave them feeling strengthened and feeling the reality of the hand of God in this work, and the reality the sanctity of the call to be a mission.  We are so blessed to be able to serve.  It's cool to see who the Lord puts together.  And what new areas are being opened.  It's cool to see the new missionaries come in!  Hear them introduce themselves.  And to see the people that are leaving the mission as well.  It's amazing to hear from President and Sister Senior.  Wow.  They are incredible.  This transfer was an especially incredible one... because a special announcement was made.  2 missionaries are being sent to Myanmar to begin work in that area.  That is incredible.  We have a couple of people in Laos right now.  But this is just the beginning for Myanmar.  You can see how the Lord's hand is over the Asia area, and doors are beginning to be opened to bless the people here.  Wow it's amazing to be here.

This week we also had a special meeting with all of the sisters in our mission!  That was a way awesome meeting as well.  It's cool to see some of the sisters that have been here for longer.  They have such strong testimonies, and they are such good examples!  Wow! :)  It's great to be a missionary.

I'm not sure exactly what else to tell you.  My new companion's name is Sister Painter.  She's actually from the same group of missionaries as all of my companions have been.  Sister Stewart, Sister Sararat, Sister Mac and Sister Painter have all been missionaries for about a year.  Annnnd.  She is awesome.  She speaks Thai really really well.  She sings.  She plays the violin.  She draws.  She is energetic.  She is way awesome!  I'm way excited for what this transfer has in store! :)  We have some awesome investigators that we're working with.  Annnnnd I'm excited.  This morning I tried to study out what kind of goals I want to set for myself this transfer.  It's really exciting. :)

Anyway.  I think that might be just about it for this week.  Sorry it's not much :)  But.  I know that this really is God's work.  And there is evidence of that... that not a lot of people probably know about!  I don't think anyone probably knows that Myanmar is now open.  Maybe?  I dunno.  But I saw His hands this Thursday in the specific transfers of individual missionaries, and also the large announcements.  His plan is perfect, and nothing can stop the work from moving forward!  

I love you guys!! :)  Have a wonderful week! 

Love,

Sister Croft

Pictures... of me and Sister Mac.  She likes to match with her companions on transfer days :)  Annnnnnnd.  Me and Sister Painter!

This week.

Was a good week :)

Man it's practically impossible to remember everything that happens all week long.  There was a lot of people not coming to appointments.  And actually a lot of things that fell through... we had several people who were supposed to be baptized who had different things come up... and so they are temporarily delayed! :)  But.  We are hopeful for the future! :)  That's something that President Senior has taught us.  Yes, we will face opposition, but a lot of times that means that we are on the right track.  Satan is trying to fight against us.  But we have God on our side, and so... it doesn't really matter what is going to come our way.  The gospel will continue to roll forth, and the more we choose to live the principles of the gospel and draw near unto our Savior the more happiness we will have.  I've met some wonderful members here... who sometimes just break my heart.  They are wonderful, and I'm glad for the chance to go visit them and invite them and try to help them.  But sometimes... it just kills me to not be able to help them see that the gospel is the way.  The way to happiness in this life, and eternal life in the life to come!  No matter their concerns may be, with the commandments, with the people at church, with conflicting schedules, the Lord's way is the best way.  It is the purpose of this life!  I can promise that no matter what our concerns are, we will find happiness and we will find help as we live the principles of the gospel and draw nearer to God.  I read some interesting scriptures in Mormon today! :)  Mormon is awesome.  It's way sad.  But I learned so much.  There is a very clear difference between us when we are blown about as chaff, and when we choose to have Christ as our Shepherd.  And I know that choosing to have Christ is our Shepherd is what will bring us peace, happiness, and eternal life!

Some wonderful things that happened this week!  That sweet sister got the gift of the Holy Ghost and is now a member of the restored church!  Hooray! :)  There is this family we go and see fairly often... they haven't been to church in a very long time.  But.  This week... one of their daughters came all on her own.  I was SO happy.  Wow.  Sometimes it takes a little bit of courage to come back... but I was so proud of her.

A good example for us all:some of these amazing recent converts. Sometimes teaching these recent converts and investigators is just... incredible.  We had this awesome lesson where we taught two recent converts about the blessings of the temple.  We talked about the Plan of Salvation.  Their understanding of it was so awesome.  It was so great.  Haha.  It literally makes me want to giggle a little bit because... I just can't even handle it!  During the lesson Brother Rat whipped out his Joseph Fielding Smith manual... which he has been reading.  And shared something about Adam and Eve, or about eternal families.  Or both.  We watched a Mormon message that shows a ton of pictures of the temple.  And it was just.  AWESOME.  They both were so excited to go to the temple.  Planning to go to the temple.  There is nothing better.

So... even though there is a lot of opposition.  And there are definitely difficult times... being a missionary is incredible.  It really is.  I don't even know how many blessings the Lord has given me.  One of my greatest desires is to trust Him with all of my heart, and to serve Him with all of my might.  And with His help, I can do that more perfectly!  

I love you guys so much.  You are the best family ever.  Have a wonderful week.

Love,

Sister Croft

P.S.  Some pictures.  Last week on P-Day we went bowling.  That was random.  Then we went to a Japenese Buffet where you cook your own food.  It was an Asian Thanksgiving.  Also.  MAN.  This Sunday this wonderful recent convert's mom got baptized.  What an incredible day!  I am so happy for their family!

Miracles

Dear family,

This week, I hope all of you can feel of the reality of the gospel.  The reality of the Savior, and the beauty of the Plan of Salvation.  This week was a really great one here in ดอนเมือง.  Sister Mac and I feel so incredibly blessed.  And we have absolutely no doubt that God's hand is in everything.  It is in every aspect of everything.  We continue to find people that are prepared to accept the gospel... and honestly sometimes all I can do is pause for a minute and be stunned and so grateful for everything.  I feel so blessed to have even the tiniest part in this work.  And I feel like my joy is growing with each investigator that we meet!  I'm so grateful for the strength of these fresh new members.  Their faith is incredible!  I'm also grateful for moments when I feel weak, and moments when I struggle.  And then in those moments I am so grateful for prayer.  A direct line of communication between us and Deity.  I'm grateful to know that the God of everything, who has all power and all knowledge, tenderly listens to the prayers of each of His children.  He knows our desires, our sorrows, and He knows how to succor us, and He does it in the most perfect way.  I've felt that love many times since I was set apart as a missionary, and I'm grateful for both little and significant moments that remind me how much I need my Savior.

The highlight of this week was this Sunday!  When one of our incredible investigators was baptized.  Wow.  She is incredible.  She has been coming to English class for several years (she actually speaks INCREDIBLE English).  But a little bit ago she decided that she wanted to learn the gospel.  She started learning with us... and she is someone that I feel like... was just... so prepared to learn the gospel and to accept it.  Each time we taught her she readily committed to do the things that we asked her.  She had some concerns this past week as she was preparing for baptism.  She didn't feel like her testimony was strong enough to get baptized.  We reassured her that you don't have to have a PERFECT knowledge to get baptized, but I also felt a distinct but subtle prompting to tell her to pray.  :)  I probably repeated it several times in that lesson.  Pray and ask God.  Pray and ask Him!  He is the one that will give you the knowledge.  As we met with her before her interview I was so incredibly happy when she told us that she had received an answer.  She'd done what we told her to do.  She had asked God for an answer, and she knew that it was the Holy Ghost that witnessed to her that this church was true!  :)  She is AMAZING.  I hope that each of you feel the truthfulness of the gospel every day!  It is true.  The gospel is true.  God is aware of us.  And we have a Savior.  It's the good news that I get to share each day.  And it's the reality of our existence.  Our life has a purpose and God has a plan for each of us!  

I love you so much.  I hope you can feel that all the way from Thailand!  Have a good week.

Love,

Sister Croft

Happy Chinese New Year. Happy Groundhog Day. And. Just a HAPPY every day!

Hellooooo my awesome family.  And my wonderful friends :)  This week was a really good one.  I didn't ride elephants.  But... it was still a really wonderful week!

This week.  We had a little bit of zone training.  Which was really good as always!  Sister Mac is a Sister Training Leader. So I got a chance to go on a switch-off with another Sister in the mission who has been out for 6 weeks! (Wow!  She was so awesome already!)  And I also got a chance to travel to a couple of different places and see the training given.  It was amazing.  Some of the thoughts that kind of resonated with me... First, that all of the things that are happening are not coincidences.  This morning I was reading in 3 Nephi, when the Savior quotes Isaiah for a little bit, and talks about the gathering of Israel.  I felt like I was taught a little bit by the spirit, and I was able to see the reality of these prophecies coming true.  It is no coincidence that the work in Thailand is speeding up at the rate that it is.  It's God's way of revealing His arm, and gathering scattered Israel.  It's no coincidence that the work is hastening with our sights set on a temple.  Thailand just happens to be in the middle of a large area without one.  The Lord has planned specifically, and is both helping us in the details, preparing investigators to receive the gospel LONG before we meet them.  And He is moving the work forward in the large scheme of things.  Wow, this really is His work.  

Other thoughts from this week... ummmm... wow.  A couple of the investigators that we've had recently.  Have had the most amazing attitudes.  They meet us.  And there desire to follow God is so incredible.  After asking us what exactly "sin" is.  One of them said... can you teach me all of the commandments so that I can make sure I'm not doing anything wrong?  She was actually not even the first investigator I've had say that.  I am stunned by these "elect" people.  By how quickly they recognize the word of God, and by their QUEST for obedience.  It's incredible.

One more thing that I've been thinking about recently.  I know I know, you'll have heard this a million times before.  But... I am obsessed with the symbolism behind the Savior as the light of the world.  I just see so stunningly clearly the difference between the light and the dark.  This week I met an awesome lady while on that switch-off.  It was actually a number of possibly "inspired mistakes" that led us to her door.  I... forgot the building number of a less active member of a church.  Then... Sister Mac and her temporary companion didn't answer their phone.  Even though more logically I probably should've just headed on back to the church... I felt the spirit prompt me to just go try out building number 98 and see if that was the right one.  We ran into this awesome lady, who I can tell has been a little nervous about all of the "dark things" there are in the world!  She new some people that had passed away unexpectedly, she had troubles with a number of different things, and just some of the darkness that can be found in the world weighed on her mind.  I felt so blessed to get to tell her that I know she can find peace.  I know there is light that is greater than any darkness.  The same feeling came to me again as I was sitting in sacrament meeting.  As I listened to some of the members concerns as we greeted them before sacrament meeting, I again just felt this trust in the Savior.  Yes, there are dark things.  Scary things.  Dangerous things.  Bad things.  But, there are good things.  Beautiful things.  And there is the brilliant light of the Savior.  He is the life and the LIGHT of the world.  I just felt so happy in sacrament meeting.  As I watched these amazing investigators receive the Holy Ghost.  When one of our investigators walked in.  I just felt so full.  And so sure that no matter what adversity we will face, we have a Savior.  This is His church, and we can choose to dwell in His light.

I love you guys so much! :)  I hope you have the best week ever this week! :)

Love,

Sister Croft

Pictures.  Some sweet sisters that got baptized yesterday.  Wow! :)  These were the Elders' investigators!  They were so sweet though!  They wanted a picture with the sisters too! :)  Haha.  They're awesome!  ALSO.  You gotta love this sign.  At a lot of the buddhist temples we went to.  You might see a sign like this one.  I know you can't read it... but... the THAI part of that sign says that admission is 10 baht if you're Thai.  Cracks me up.

Miracles

This was a really good week.  Sorry I'm emailing early :)  I gotta go ride some elephants.

When I stop and think about this week.  I'm sure that there are a million miracles that happened that I don't even know about.  But all of it cammme together in one great Sunday.  We had 3 people get baptized in our branch.  One of them was named Nam, one was named Rat, one was named Nano.  They are all incredible.  I'll just tell you some more about them.

Nam.  Is awesome.  She is the one that walked into the church and who went to a catholic church more than she went to Buddhist temples.  Man she is awesome.  She is someone that God definitely prepared to get baptized.  When she bore her testimony she told us about how she first started to be interested in the Lord when she was like 14.  Ad that led her to the catholic church... and then eventually led her to the fullness of the gospel.  She prayed that she would be able to find the truth, and she found this church!  She really is incredible, and it was awesome to see her get baptized this week.

Brother Rat is amazing too! :)  He is such a funny guy.  He's such a sincere and nice person.  When you teach him he looks very intently at you, and then he reads the scriptures with a desire to understand and learn from them.  He is so funny.  He met some challenges with his family in getting baptized, but I am so proud of him for making the decision by himself to get baptized this week.  He is amazing and I am so happy for him!

Sister NaNo, wasn't our investigator, but Sister Mac and I got the chance to talk with her and teach her several informal lessons to help her prepare for baptism.  She is awesome.  She was a little bit nervous about being baptized.  But she had courage!  And I can tell that she sees a light in the gospel and in the people at the church that maybe she hasn't had a lot of chance to see other places.  I'm so happy for her too!  :)

The church is true!  I'm so grateful to know that.  I'm grateful for the commandments.  I'm grateful for the Savior, and I'm grateful for the Savior's promise and plea to us to let Him help us.  He says He will gather us as a hen gathereth her chickens.  He says "will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?"  He is our Savior.

I love you all :)

Have a wonderful week!

Love,

Sister Croft

Another good week in Bangkok

It was a good week here in Bangkok.  I'm flipping through my planner trying to remember everything that has happened and everything I've learned this week!

We've been working with several different people.  And it's cool to be able to see their faith grow and progress.  To see them learn more and then try to help them through challenges that they are facing.  Our investigator who walked into church is progressing so well. Wow she is awesome!  She definitely has an "easiness and a willingness to believe", and she is so ready to accept everything that we teach her.  She is buddhist, but when she first met us she told us that lately she seemed to go to a Catholic church more than she did Buddhist temples!  She really does have incredible faith, and she is one of many who God has prepared to accept the gospel.  Wow she is awesome!  

We have another awesome investigator who is so awesome!  At church a couple of weeks ago he received a Joseph Fielding Smith book for Sunday School!  He is so funny.  He's read several chapters from it, along with his Book of Mormon reading.  He is also one that is so easy to believe.  So ready to accept the teachings, and so willing to keep the commandments.  He is great!

Something that I've been thinking about this week is the Savior, true repentance, and the role of the Savior in all of that.  I've been thinking about repentance and baptism and becoming truly clean from our sins.  It's interesting to consider several different beliefs about "becoming clean from our sins," and how that happens.  I've been thinking about why repentance is the way it is.  And I think it's amazing how repentance really is more than "being clean,"  it's a process, through which we can gradually become more like the Savior!  Through the power of the Atonement we not only receive forgiveness for our sins, but we change and improve.  We become a saint, we become like a child, but that can only happen through the Atonement of Jesus Christ!  I had an interesting conversation with a man last night when I invited him to be baptized.  He told me he had a lot of sins, and it was cool to be able to confidently tell him that he could be come clean, and he could change.  It was something that I noticed in a lesson with a wonderful less active lady in our ward.  In several verses I saw the word for "change."  Have you experienced a change of heart?  Our hearts can be changed through the Savior's Atonement.  

It was good to hear from each of you today! :)  I hope that you have a wonderful week this week!

Love,

Sister Croft