Well.... here's the e-mail for the week. I'm kinds "lazy" today and don't feel like writing a while lot. But mainly because I was able to "chat" with a few of you AND I up-dated some pictures....so check those out. :)
This week was great! Filled with inviting everyone and their mom to come and learn with us and to come to church... I kept singing "take me to the river and baptize my soul" it's one like from a John Legend Song...and Snoop Dog sings it... but it applies... and next week...we will take 2 souls and baptise them (in a font... not a river). YAY! We love them....one is the text message break up-er and the other is this beautiful 12 year old girl. They are BOTH awesome. WE has zone conference this week, along with interview... President Smith talks so much, I don't think I even said one thing in my interview other than the opening prayer. I love that man and his wife. Awesome people. Happy Chinese New Years....It is celebrated here, thanks to the close proximity to China and the large percent of "pure-blood" Chinese Thais...my comp is awesome... and her prayers crack me up... We have these really annoying dogs that keep her up so we pray for them to be quite all the time.... This morning they (I've called them Frank and Paul and gang...) were unusually loud during our prayer,... (which Sister Nielsen was saying) and she prayed for them to be struck with a disease or hit by a car "because we know that All dogs go to Heaven anyway..." Oh man..... Amen.
Ummmm.... Yes. The Church is true. I love my life. Go to the temple, read the scriptures, help the missionaries and you will be blessed 7 fold. I love you all!! Thanks for the love and support.
Until next time!!!
Love,
Sister O'Neil
Feb 14, 2010
Feb 8, 2010
Miracle week!
Hello from Miracle-land.
So...have you ever heard how missions are amazing? Well...TRUTH. They are. I don't think I'll ever be able to explain why I feel the way I do... but I think if you Read 3 Nephi 17 you'll understand a little bit. I don't even know where to start. So my comp...Sister Nielsen is still super fun. she has been out 4 months longer than I have....so yes...she'll probably "die" here in Chaing Mai. Our district is way too much fun and we continued the fun today with hiking around in Thailand to a waterfall. Then we went to the "Yellowstone" of Thailand (aka Hot Springs) and enjoyed dipping our feet in the hotness while eating the eggs we boiled in (other) hot water. Yes...boiling eggs in a natural hot springs in Thailand. Could life get better..?
Yes....and it does. This week was just filled with mini-miracles... i.e. Our Text message break-upper came back! And will shortly be baptised. We found 7 new investigators...or more likely they found us... 4 of them just walked right into the church and said "we want to learn about Jesus." My comp and I looked at each other (smiled) and said... DAY!!! (aka ok.) We set a couple new baptismal dates, helped some other investigators really feel and understand the spirit, and we got to eat some delicious "farang" food twice (thanks to the generous donations of a member and a former missionary) I also realized that maybe I can sort of speak Thai now. And I know it's not because of anything I did. The Lord definitely blesses and qualifies those who are called. It amazes me everyday. I also got a surprise bonus and got to see "Gift" from my last area. She just was sitting at the Church when I got there and it was just sooo awesome. She came up to vacation a couple days and so she came to Church. Oh man.. I love that girl. Half way during Testimony meeting, they (semi-dramatically) opened the overflow and there you just saw 50 more people sitting in the back listening...I saw all the people out of the corner of my eye and new that Gift hadn't seen it yet, so I kinda leaned over and just said..."welcome to Chiang Mai" (Smile,,*bling*) and then she saw ALL the people sitting there. She was just like "WOAH...is it like this EVERY week?" Oh man... perfect movie moment. It was fun. Those 50 extra people just happened to come on that day from a local Christian school. We had been expecting them for a couple days, but they just showed up on Sunday. :)
Oh, Did I mention that I saw the Rose Parade of Thailand this past weekend? It was the flower festival and I swear it was just like the Rose Parade. I guess I didn't miss it after all. :) the festival was fun. That's where we found 3 new potential investigators, ate Delicious food, had some white people actually LIKE us and thank us for doing what we're doing (and no, they weren't members..) and I finally got to met this one white girl I've been seeing around lately... (her name's Kellie...Actually.... I met two Kellie's this week here The other one was the wife of the RM and they took us out to eat)
This week was glorious. Thank you so much for your love and prayers and support. We're feeling it. So... Until next week: Go to Church, read, pray and Love your life.
Love, Sister O'Neil
P.S. Katie K- Shaw Lady... that was the BEST "letter" ever. I'm still laughing. And I enjoy opening it again every night. :) Oh man,
I have the best friends. Thanks to all of you too!
So...have you ever heard how missions are amazing? Well...TRUTH. They are. I don't think I'll ever be able to explain why I feel the way I do... but I think if you Read 3 Nephi 17 you'll understand a little bit. I don't even know where to start. So my comp...Sister Nielsen is still super fun. she has been out 4 months longer than I have....so yes...she'll probably "die" here in Chaing Mai. Our district is way too much fun and we continued the fun today with hiking around in Thailand to a waterfall. Then we went to the "Yellowstone" of Thailand (aka Hot Springs) and enjoyed dipping our feet in the hotness while eating the eggs we boiled in (other) hot water. Yes...boiling eggs in a natural hot springs in Thailand. Could life get better..?
Yes....and it does. This week was just filled with mini-miracles... i.e. Our Text message break-upper came back! And will shortly be baptised. We found 7 new investigators...or more likely they found us... 4 of them just walked right into the church and said "we want to learn about Jesus." My comp and I looked at each other (smiled) and said... DAY!!! (aka ok.) We set a couple new baptismal dates, helped some other investigators really feel and understand the spirit, and we got to eat some delicious "farang" food twice (thanks to the generous donations of a member and a former missionary) I also realized that maybe I can sort of speak Thai now. And I know it's not because of anything I did. The Lord definitely blesses and qualifies those who are called. It amazes me everyday. I also got a surprise bonus and got to see "Gift" from my last area. She just was sitting at the Church when I got there and it was just sooo awesome. She came up to vacation a couple days and so she came to Church. Oh man.. I love that girl. Half way during Testimony meeting, they (semi-dramatically) opened the overflow and there you just saw 50 more people sitting in the back listening...I saw all the people out of the corner of my eye and new that Gift hadn't seen it yet, so I kinda leaned over and just said..."welcome to Chiang Mai" (Smile,,*bling*) and then she saw ALL the people sitting there. She was just like "WOAH...is it like this EVERY week?" Oh man... perfect movie moment. It was fun. Those 50 extra people just happened to come on that day from a local Christian school. We had been expecting them for a couple days, but they just showed up on Sunday. :)
Oh, Did I mention that I saw the Rose Parade of Thailand this past weekend? It was the flower festival and I swear it was just like the Rose Parade. I guess I didn't miss it after all. :) the festival was fun. That's where we found 3 new potential investigators, ate Delicious food, had some white people actually LIKE us and thank us for doing what we're doing (and no, they weren't members..) and I finally got to met this one white girl I've been seeing around lately... (her name's Kellie...Actually.... I met two Kellie's this week here The other one was the wife of the RM and they took us out to eat)
This week was glorious. Thank you so much for your love and prayers and support. We're feeling it. So... Until next week: Go to Church, read, pray and Love your life.
Love, Sister O'Neil
P.S. Katie K- Shaw Lady... that was the BEST "letter" ever. I'm still laughing. And I enjoy opening it again every night. :) Oh man,
I have the best friends. Thanks to all of you too!
Feb 1, 2010
Time to change months on the family Calendar!!
It's February.....or Gumphaphan as we say here in Thai Town.
And it's been the most exhaustifying 4 days of a new moves ever. And for several reason. 1...even though I absolutely love riding the train down... it's still tiring to be on it for 12-15 hours....get to Bangkok...have a Moves meeting, training, hanging out at the Church, cramming in a taxi with 5 other sister to go eat with everyone at our favorite farang restaurant (Que Pasa) then going back to the church.... WAITING some more... Then hoping on a "song taw" to go wait some more at the train station. Then waiting even longer because it hasn't come yet. The being on the train for another 15 hours. Then getting back to Chiang Mai and starting a new "moon" I love my life.
2. My New companion (Sister Neilsen) is great. She is a track star from Utah State. So every morning we get up and run for 45 min. (she runs, I pretend to keep up with her....yay for tracks) She is a lot of fun.
3. Today we rode our bikes up to this wat (buddhist Temple) in the mountains. We see it everyday from the city and today our district went up there...So TIRING...But so fun... especially the way back. (it reminded me of our Anzabargo trips...but way greener and longer and in Thailand) Yes... mountain biking in Thailand. Yes please. But I'm sooo tired....
Other than that, things are going well. We were supposed to have a baptism this past Sunday...but she "text message broke up with us" We met her on Wed RIGHT before we went to the train station... and then 2 hours later I check the phone and she says "i can't get baptised this Sunday because I'm going away." and she hasn't answered since. I'm not too worried though...She is having family problems and such... and yeah, it's too long to explain...but I just like thinking that we were texted messaged broke up with. "you can't text message break up!" *shoes...let's party* (yes...Cody probably got that... :) ) But in better news...we are having a baptism this Sunday. and she can't text message break up with us because she doesn't have a phone. :)
I love you all! I hope you're all happy and health and loving life. And reading scriptures and going to the temple and praying, etc, etc. It will change your life for the better.
Sister O'Neil
And it's been the most exhaustifying 4 days of a new moves ever. And for several reason. 1...even though I absolutely love riding the train down... it's still tiring to be on it for 12-15 hours....get to Bangkok...have a Moves meeting, training, hanging out at the Church, cramming in a taxi with 5 other sister to go eat with everyone at our favorite farang restaurant (Que Pasa) then going back to the church.... WAITING some more... Then hoping on a "song taw" to go wait some more at the train station. Then waiting even longer because it hasn't come yet. The being on the train for another 15 hours. Then getting back to Chiang Mai and starting a new "moon" I love my life.
2. My New companion (Sister Neilsen) is great. She is a track star from Utah State. So every morning we get up and run for 45 min. (she runs, I pretend to keep up with her....yay for tracks) She is a lot of fun.
3. Today we rode our bikes up to this wat (buddhist Temple) in the mountains. We see it everyday from the city and today our district went up there...So TIRING...But so fun... especially the way back. (it reminded me of our Anzabargo trips...but way greener and longer and in Thailand) Yes... mountain biking in Thailand. Yes please. But I'm sooo tired....
Other than that, things are going well. We were supposed to have a baptism this past Sunday...but she "text message broke up with us" We met her on Wed RIGHT before we went to the train station... and then 2 hours later I check the phone and she says "i can't get baptised this Sunday because I'm going away." and she hasn't answered since. I'm not too worried though...She is having family problems and such... and yeah, it's too long to explain...but I just like thinking that we were texted messaged broke up with. "you can't text message break up!" *shoes...let's party* (yes...Cody probably got that... :) ) But in better news...we are having a baptism this Sunday. and she can't text message break up with us because she doesn't have a phone. :)
I love you all! I hope you're all happy and health and loving life. And reading scriptures and going to the temple and praying, etc, etc. It will change your life for the better.
Sister O'Neil
Jan 26, 2010
Happy Birthday!
So lets see.... what happened this week? Oh...well. Last time we talked, I was in Bangkok because Sister Lo had to renew her visa. (Yes...even though she's leaving tomorrow...whatever) so right after we wrote email we went to the office. Going to the office is always fun because that's where you get to see people and more importantly, GET MAIL. SO.... on that note. Thank you everyone who wrote. You can no officially receive blessings because you kept the commitment I gave to everyone about writing a hand written letter. (Everyone else...no blessings yet ;) ) Just kidding... blessings for everyone! Thank you for your continuous love and support and letters.
A BIG THANK YOU to Kell-dawg. I got your e-mail right now... and the only reason I didn't mention it before was because I hadn't received it yet. It was still in the office. (We only get packages at Moves meeting...aka every 6 weeks (or when we're in the office) so even though it's in Thailand...doesn't mean I got it yet.) But yes. I did receive your glorious package. Thank you so much! A letter has promptly been sent to you again. :) In Washington....Good FOR you.
In other celebration news: I am officially 1/2 way done! WHAT THE? There's no way. I just turned in my papers, didn't I? that day was especially cool because Sister Knudons...yes, my teacher from the MTC, just happened to show up at the Church. She's here with a small group of BYU students and they came to church and we just happened to be there, too. OH man it was fun. Especially the next day when they all came to church for Sunday and we got to talk more. It was fun practicing translating for them too. And I just realized once again how great Sister K is. I really do love her. And her Thai is still so good. If I could sound like her when I'm done here. That'd be sweet.
Oh... this is random..but I just remembered. A few weeks ago (2, 3? can't remember) the office Elders called and said that someone that knows me from America, came here to Thailand and called the office and asked if they could tell me hello from her. In there exact works "a woman, with an Mexican or Asian accent...I can't tell...from America, knows you, and came to Thailand and promised your mom that they would say hello to you, but they didn't have time to see you, so she just called and made us promise to tell you hello from them." Ok... thank you Elders. They didn't even know her name. So....whoever said hello to me, HELLO! I hope you had a great trip here in Thailand!
So....today we are just "relaxing" at home.... aka Sister Lo is packing. We leave for Bangkok tomorrow. Next time I'll write and tell you all about my new comp. (or comps...We have to have a 3 some again...and it wouldn't surprise me if it's here...haha...we'll see). Until next week, stay classy. I love you all. Thanks so much for everything. Always. The church is incredibly true and if you read the Book of Mormon everyday your life will be just grand. Amen.
Love, Sister O'Neil
Oh. P.S. Happy Birthday, Cami...I don't know if you read this....but...happy b-day!
A BIG THANK YOU to Kell-dawg. I got your e-mail right now... and the only reason I didn't mention it before was because I hadn't received it yet. It was still in the office. (We only get packages at Moves meeting...aka every 6 weeks (or when we're in the office) so even though it's in Thailand...doesn't mean I got it yet.) But yes. I did receive your glorious package. Thank you so much! A letter has promptly been sent to you again. :) In Washington....Good FOR you.
In other celebration news: I am officially 1/2 way done! WHAT THE? There's no way. I just turned in my papers, didn't I? that day was especially cool because Sister Knudons...yes, my teacher from the MTC, just happened to show up at the Church. She's here with a small group of BYU students and they came to church and we just happened to be there, too. OH man it was fun. Especially the next day when they all came to church for Sunday and we got to talk more. It was fun practicing translating for them too. And I just realized once again how great Sister K is. I really do love her. And her Thai is still so good. If I could sound like her when I'm done here. That'd be sweet.
Oh... this is random..but I just remembered. A few weeks ago (2, 3? can't remember) the office Elders called and said that someone that knows me from America, came here to Thailand and called the office and asked if they could tell me hello from her. In there exact works "a woman, with an Mexican or Asian accent...I can't tell...from America, knows you, and came to Thailand and promised your mom that they would say hello to you, but they didn't have time to see you, so she just called and made us promise to tell you hello from them." Ok... thank you Elders. They didn't even know her name. So....whoever said hello to me, HELLO! I hope you had a great trip here in Thailand!
So....today we are just "relaxing" at home.... aka Sister Lo is packing. We leave for Bangkok tomorrow. Next time I'll write and tell you all about my new comp. (or comps...We have to have a 3 some again...and it wouldn't surprise me if it's here...haha...we'll see). Until next week, stay classy. I love you all. Thanks so much for everything. Always. The church is incredibly true and if you read the Book of Mormon everyday your life will be just grand. Amen.
Love, Sister O'Neil
Oh. P.S. Happy Birthday, Cami...I don't know if you read this....but...happy b-day!
Jan 17, 2010
Who's having the best week ever?
This week was awesome! Here are the 2 hightights...(is that like a high tops and tights combined? yoah...) *cough* HIGHLIGHTS:
1. We had zone conference! It was pretty much the most spiritual time I've had on my mission since the MTC period. I loved it. I love my life. We talked all about the Book Of Mormon. It's truthfulness, it's origin, it's role in missionary work, it's role in our lives, etc, etc. It was AMAZING. And so is the Book Of Mormon. You should read it. Everyday. For Every. For eternity, even. (Do you think God still reads scriptures?) Anyways. Yes. The whole day was great. We had the spiritual power house meeting in the morning, then we had fun time in the afternoon. We ate pizza (the Elders love farang food....can't we just have somtam?) and Tim Tam Slammed...(yummy...cookies..) and then played games such as Murder/Mafia (my mission President is a murder) and ping pong. And to top off the day we had a Talent show...Which was pretty sad and hilarious. I "popped" my ear....yeah...about that. I love zone Conference.
2. I learned the value of reciting the Standard of Truth every day because on Sat at the walking street market..."persecutions raged" AKA...this mean-old, Middle aged white guy yelled at me for being a missionary. I heard some pretty choice words and phrases that I haven't heard for a long time. I could go on and on about everything that happened, and what I've learned from this experience...But over all... People are ignorant, quick to judge and ridiculous. I feel like I've really learning what "my purpose" as a missionary and how important, real, and significant this message truly is. And I learned that I really do love the Thai people. They would never yell at me like this American did...Living here has shed a whole new light of what it means to be American...for me (not just from this man...but it's interesting to see ourselves from a Thai/non-American point of view).
Ok...Well...(yes...that IS in fact, a favorite word of mine....apparently.) That's all for today. I love you all. Thanks for everything. Always and forever.
The Church is true!
Read the Book of Mormon. If you don't have one...find 2 guys (or girls) riding their bikes around and get one).
Farewell to Manzanar.
Love, Sister O'Neil
P.S. ...I'm in Chaing Mai... does anyone know anyhoo who lives here that we should go visit?
P.P.S....Please tell the Thai group I say hello...and ask them that question. :)
1. We had zone conference! It was pretty much the most spiritual time I've had on my mission since the MTC period. I loved it. I love my life. We talked all about the Book Of Mormon. It's truthfulness, it's origin, it's role in missionary work, it's role in our lives, etc, etc. It was AMAZING. And so is the Book Of Mormon. You should read it. Everyday. For Every. For eternity, even. (Do you think God still reads scriptures?) Anyways. Yes. The whole day was great. We had the spiritual power house meeting in the morning, then we had fun time in the afternoon. We ate pizza (the Elders love farang food....can't we just have somtam?) and Tim Tam Slammed...(yummy...cookies..) and then played games such as Murder/Mafia (my mission President is a murder) and ping pong. And to top off the day we had a Talent show...Which was pretty sad and hilarious. I "popped" my ear....yeah...about that. I love zone Conference.
2. I learned the value of reciting the Standard of Truth every day because on Sat at the walking street market..."persecutions raged" AKA...this mean-old, Middle aged white guy yelled at me for being a missionary. I heard some pretty choice words and phrases that I haven't heard for a long time. I could go on and on about everything that happened, and what I've learned from this experience...But over all... People are ignorant, quick to judge and ridiculous. I feel like I've really learning what "my purpose" as a missionary and how important, real, and significant this message truly is. And I learned that I really do love the Thai people. They would never yell at me like this American did...Living here has shed a whole new light of what it means to be American...for me (not just from this man...but it's interesting to see ourselves from a Thai/non-American point of view).
Ok...Well...(yes...that IS in fact, a favorite word of mine....apparently.) That's all for today. I love you all. Thanks for everything. Always and forever.
The Church is true!
Read the Book of Mormon. If you don't have one...find 2 guys (or girls) riding their bikes around and get one).
Farewell to Manzanar.
Love, Sister O'Neil
P.S. ...I'm in Chaing Mai... does anyone know anyhoo who lives here that we should go visit?
P.P.S....Please tell the Thai group I say hello...and ask them that question. :)
Jan 11, 2010
Waterfall (no...not the annoying song everyone at EFY plays...)
Greeting again from Thailand! It's now the 11th of Jan. Excellent. Thank you everyone for you emails. I love them all, as well as the senders from them. (just an note... this computer is screwy...mainly with "t"'s but occasional has some other issues....so if i's messed up....no my fault.....you can use this senence as an example...the "t" works sometimes and not others.)
This week was gRRRRRrreat.. Today was fun too. We spent this morning playing around in a National Forrest. In fact, we went to Thailand's highest spot. It was pretty. we hiked around some waterfalls, some temples up in the mountains. It was beautiful. Like I said... Thailand is beautiful. And so are the people. This week we continued to teach our invesigaors....We're got 5 with a baptismal date coming up. three of them are these cute 17-18 year olds who are going to be baptised together. Then there's this woman named "Mame" (yes....like yes, mam) She's just great. She's a girlfriend of a member and she will be baptised soon, also.
Well...I love you all. I hope you all have a good week. If you haven't written down your goals for this new year yet, do it today. We've been teaching everyone about goals this past 2 weeks and I encourage you all to do so. Make goals, and don't forget to plan, too. If you don't plan....you won't succeed.
Love and hugs,
Sister O'Neil.
This week was gRRRRRrreat.. Today was fun too. We spent this morning playing around in a National Forrest. In fact, we went to Thailand's highest spot. It was pretty. we hiked around some waterfalls, some temples up in the mountains. It was beautiful. Like I said... Thailand is beautiful. And so are the people. This week we continued to teach our invesigaors....We're got 5 with a baptismal date coming up. three of them are these cute 17-18 year olds who are going to be baptised together. Then there's this woman named "Mame" (yes....like yes, mam) She's just great. She's a girlfriend of a member and she will be baptised soon, also.
Well...I love you all. I hope you all have a good week. If you haven't written down your goals for this new year yet, do it today. We've been teaching everyone about goals this past 2 weeks and I encourage you all to do so. Make goals, and don't forget to plan, too. If you don't plan....you won't succeed.
Love and hugs,
Sister O'Neil.
Jan 4, 2010
...and I'm back....
Ok. I'm back on. I just had to go ride an elephant real quick. Sorry about the delay.
So, Happy New Years, again. I hope you all had a great one filled with prosperous program selling and other shenanigans. New years in Chiang Mai was pretty much the coolest thing ever. New Years Eve night we went to a members house and ate Korean Style B-B-Q on the ground in the backyard and watched fireworks and the thousands of lanterns fill the sky. ( Note: Remember how we always made those lantern things at Uncle Neals house?.... well,.... Thailand's got us beat... BY A LOT. I guess thousands of years of practice would do that). And I was actually missing rose parade events a little bit until we went to the Walking Street Market, where we walked among the MASS of people jagging English fliers. So... check, and check. New years complete.
This week continued with preaching and teaching. I love it. There's this really cute Chinese girl we're teaching right now. It's kinda strange to teach in English... but she doesn't know Thai, and we don't know Chinese...so English it is. She's here getting her Masters at Chiang Mai University. She's great. (side note: when China opens... it will be a baptizing EXPLOSION).
In other news... I went to Thailand today. The Thailand I think I imagined when I first got my call. Yes. I really did just ride an Elephant. (Things to do in Thailand list: Ride Elephants.... CHECK!) We went way up into the Mountains and hopped on a beast I promptly called Moglie. (moagly? I can't spell anymore.) It was adventurous and I loved my life....even when it spit on us.. I really love Thailand.
And I really love you all. Thanks so much for the love and support. Mom, you're so cute. I did get that letter. And I think I have every week. So no worries. I don't want you (or anyone ) to feel like I feel neglected.. (except for a few of you.... you know who you are) haha. No really. I love you all. Thanks for you prayers and emails and letters. I really do appreciate it. Ok. Well, I think that's all for now.
Love,
Sister O'Neil
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