Miracles happen in Pakkret too!!

Family and Friends,

Wow, an amazing week has just past by again and I can truly say the Lord does answer prayers! So basically when I moved here to Pakkret the first thing Sister Neilsen said was, we don't really have any investigators. And she was right. All the people they were teaching weren't really going anywhere. As I sat in moves meeting I really felt a confirmation that this was where the Lord needed me to move and I knew that we would get the work moving. So I came and it was New Years and we had no one to teach. I just couldn't stand inviting for 5 hours straight, it was killing me. So we got out the ward roster and started making phone calls (I think I mentioned this in last weeks email). I really believe the spirit was guiding me because on Monday we went and met with a less active named Jiew who still has a testimony. It was so sweet to teach her and have her say the closing prayer where she asked Heavenly Father to help her repent and be a strong member again. The best part is, her daughter Pim will be 10 next month, which means she is an investigator!! We now have a weekly appointment to teach her daughter every week and she wants her to get baptized!! I know having the lessons every week in their home will bring the spirit back into their home and help them to be strong members again. The desire is there. Ah, we are so blessed!!

OK, so there is one new investigator... but it gets better. So Elder Westwood, who is Elder Gnem's cousin, (he is a missionary who is currently serving in Sacramento), is so awesome and invited this woman and gave us her number. So we called her and she was really excited to meet with us. We taught her the intro lesson on Thursday with her daughter and son, they loved it! And get this: They asked US if they could come to church!! HA! Miracles!! They are so prepared!! Her name is Noy and her daughter is Fern and her son is Louis (hehe) Her husband is living in England right now, I'm not sure if he is English or Thai, but will get those details as we keep teaching her...

OK, seriously, it gets better... So Thursday we get a call from Elder Westwood again (he is SO awesome) and a woman had called the office (he is an office elder) and asked to meet with the missionaries again. We met with her yesterday and had an AWESOME lesson. She is so ready! She really feels the influence of the Lord in her life and told us of some amazing experiences she has had! I felt the spirit so strong with her and already love her! Her name is Sea. She told us she doesn't really think it's important to go to church... so we'll see how the lessons go. But she is amazing. I'm so excited.

And can you believe it, IT GETS BETTER!!! Yesterday we get a call and the Senior Missionaries talked with a woman named Ohm who works at a shop right down the street from the office and she said she was very interested in learning from the missionaries and wants her whole family and friends to learn!! We were like, WOW! will these miracles cease!! Haha, I hope not! :) So we went and met her and she is just so cute and nice! We weren't able to teach her because she was still working but have an appointment with her on Sunday.

So I know all these stories are pretty typical mission stories, but it was just so sweet to have them all happen in a matter of days and to see the work go from nothing to something. I know the Lord is answering our prayers. I feel so grateful to be trusted by Him to be able to teach his children the gospel. It is so good. I got a letter from Jerom (my cousin) this week, right when all the miracles were happening, and he said that he and his companion were going to double their baptisms because they BELIEVED they could. It is all about believing. I know that is right. Before the Lord could bless us with this success, he tried us... and it was hard. But through our faith and diligence we are now making things happen in Pakkret.

I just love being a missionary. Especially in Thailand. We had the wonderful opportunity to go to an FHE at the Branch Presidents house on Monday and hear them playing their Thai instruments. It was so cool! I even got to play the bell thingy! (what is that called again... like a chime? I don't know... it was easy though. I got a video of it so maybe I will send it next time.

I hear everyone is freezing cold right now? Hahahaha. I love Thailand. It did rain REALLY hard yesterday though! We were going to bike to a members house before we taught Ohm but it down poured SO hard. I thought of Forrest Gump (the weather here is the same as Vietnam) It was big ole' fat rain. I have definitely never seen it rain at home like it does here! We were drenched... We had to go home and change our clothes. It was an adventure! :) Everyday is an adventure here! I am just loving life.

Ok, well I have been so happy to get everyone's Christmas cards! I feel so loved! :) Keep writing because I LOVE getting mail!! :) And remember I get packages as they come! so feel free to send them! hehe :)

Love you all... can't wait to hear from you!! Hopefully there will be baby news from the Wadman's next week!! Good luck, Amy!!! Also, Happy, Happy Birthday Ginny!! Love you! Congrats to Joe and Courtney next week on the wedding! Please send pictures!! Your announcement was beautiful!!

Love,
Melissa