HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAKE!!! Oh my goodness.... I can not believe you are 16. Wow. I feel like I was just 16, but that was 6 years ago. I'm glad you liked the treats... I'll keep em coming!! :)
Ok, so you are probably wondering why this email is coming a day early... we just had THE MOST AMAZING P-day EVER! We did it a day early because the Zone Leaders came to do switch offs with the Elders and came with us on our grand excursion! Details about that later, now lets talk about the work!
It is going amazingly well. We have gotten 7 new investigators in the past 4 days, which is awesome, because we also lost a few this week. Its hard to let go when you know they have really felt the spirit, especially hard for Sister Bradfield who taught them all, I didn't really know the ones we had to let go. So we will see how all of their first lessons go!
But the real sing thii adsacan (miracle) happened on Sunday night. Ok, from the beginning... So we were talking to one of our strongest members, Sister Boom, who has been a member for like 20 years. We said, how can we help you? And she said, go visit the members. She gave us a list of about 10 people who were inactive and we called them all, ONE picked up (Sister Dim) and invited us to come over Sunday night. Sweet.
So we go to her house (it was actually her sons house) and we get to talking. I understood a good amount of the conversation, but not everything. Basically, her husband was the Branch President for about 6 or 7 years like 10 or 15 yeas ago, the whole family was baptized AND sealed in the temple!! So even thought I didn't really understand why they weren't active anymore, Alma 26:31 came in my mind and the spirit told me I needed to share it and bear my testimony. I did and they loved it. The son, who is about 30, really liked it and really identified with it. We ended up giving him that Book of Mormon and he was excited to start reading it again.
So we left the sons house and went to Sister Dim's. It was amazing. She went into her garage and pulled out two dusty old pictures of Jesus Christ. She wiped them off and just stared at them, the spirit was so strong. No words could be said, but so many things were being felt. So she excused herself again and came back with a huge Thai Bible and 2 Book of Mormons. The first was from 1990. It was a gift given to them after they went to the temple. On the front cover page was a note written in Thai and 2 scriptures, one in 3rd Nephi about keeping covenants and enduring to the end, and 2 Nephi 31:20, enduring to the end. She read them out loud as we looked on in english.... again. SO powerful. THEN she opened the second book of mormon, it was from the Sister Missionary who taught them the gospel, this one was in english. It said something like, "I am giving you this Book of Mormon so you will always remember me and know that this book is true" and had her testimony in it. Her name is Teresa Sorenson. Sister Dim remembered her and loved her very much.
So if this isn't amazing enough, in walks her husband, the old branch president!! When he saw us, a look of guilt washed over his face. He knew exactly who we were... Despite the obvious feelings of guilt, he was very nice to us. He asked how the members were and told us to tell them he missed them. I didn't understand everything he said, but Sister Bradfield filled me in that he was remincing about times when the members would come over and have family home evening. He said they were all like a big family. He said the missionaries were always over, serving them. There was an amazing spirit in the room. Sister Bradfield and I were beaming, I literally could not keep myself from smiling, there was just an immense feeling of joy in the room. Sister Dim asked me to give the closing prayer, I was so scared!! She even asked me to use her real name while praying and ask for a blessing for the family. It was a big deal. The spirit told me exactly what to say and I prayed the most sincere, heartfilled prayer I have ever prayed in Thai to this day. It was absolutely incredible. Sister Bradfield and I left their house literally beaming with the spirit. I felt like if I tried, I could have walked on water at that moment. I never want to forget it!!
So basically... the mission is amazing!
I only have a short time left, so let me explain my pictures...
First is me and Elder Hatch with some of the kids in the Branch, they are so fun!!! I love playing with them and they love me :) Please keep in mind that it is very hot and extremely humid here. Sweaty, no makeup, and hair not done is just how it is over here!
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| From Melissa's Mission |
Next is Sister Bradfield and I with 2 members, that is our Chapel. It's small, but it fills up for the most part for Sacrament.
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| From Melissa's Mission |
he next one is where I went today... Khao Yay national park it is GEORGOUS!!! I took lots of pics and I will send a CD home. That is a waterfall behind me that we hiked to.
And the rest are of us riding the elephant!!! OH MAN IT WAS AWESOME!!! We literally rode elephants through the jungle!! Wish you all could have been there! :)
So more pictures to come snail mail... and a cd of them all too.
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| From Melissa's Mission |
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| From Melissa's Mission |
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| From Melissa's Mission |
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| From Melissa's Mission |
OK so email me tonight and I will be able to read it tomorrow (and possibly send a very short reply) I want to see some pictures of Jakes Birthday celebrations and know how everyone is loving life!
Also, I realized that you can still dear elder me! (only now it costs a dollar to send) so I would LOVE to hear from you all and promise to write back those who write me and send amazing pictures too!! :)
OK. I love you all. Keep supporting the missionaries! This is the best, most rewarding work there is! I love, love, love it!
Love You all SOOO much! Can't wait to hear from you all!
Love Melissa
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