7/11/10
Well hello there,
I DO want to talk about what's been going on here this week:
Not a whole lot out of the ordinary.. I've been doing this for a year now, so it probably all sounds the same to you. This Sunday we're going to have a baptism *by water*... Yay for Bow. She is great. Her boyfriend/fiance found the church in Australia as he was studying there, and then shared with with Bow, who in turn has found the truth for herself. So that is just fantastic. [ she is yet another testament that member referrals are the BEST when it comes to missionary work.] (*hint hint...nudge nudge...*)
We've been working with the ward a lot this week, trying to help the visiting teaching programs going....(mom...thanks again for being amazing.. I now your calling is hard, but I know you're blessed with inspiration and help. Plus...you're an angel...so that helps. :) ) I remember when I used to think that the auxiliaries of the church weren't really important... especially little things like visiting and home teaching.. But in the past little while I've realized just how essential they are to our eternal progression. Think about it.. This country desperately wants a temple... All saints all over the world would love to have the blessings of the temple in their own country. We are all working very hard to try and see this vision come to pass... but sometimes when I see members neglecting the smallest of duties, passing them off as of little importance, I think "If we can't even be responsible for doing the SMALLEST work of the Lord (aka be friends) how can we be trusted with the covenants of the temple?. Sometimes we look to the big picture but we forgot to do the planning and goals and little steps that lead up to it. So next time you think about going to the temple, ask yourself, "Am I doing all the things that Lord has put in my care? Have I down my visiting/home teaching? Have I gone to church? Have I paid my tithing" Take care of the little things, and then you'll be ready to do the big things.
The gospel is amazing. And real. and true. Read the Book of Mormon... Today I was reading Jacob 4 and it was cool. They wrote that book for YOU. For us.. To help US know our Savior. So read it. And love it. And let it change your life.
Well... sorry I really dont' have much to say.. My life is amazing. Thank you for your love and support. I think I'll go eat some SomDam....
Love and peace,
Love, Sister O'Neil
Jul 12, 2010
Jul 5, 2010
7/4/10
God Bless America...
It's still the 4th where you are... but here in Thailand... no one cares about the 4th of July. This morning we got up, CLEANED the house (my saga to clean this house still continues...slowly, but surely) (oh which reminds me...thanks for that book mom... ironic that it came just right after cleaning the house the first time.. I wish missionaries would take better care of the houses... I know we're not really in it... but still! Sounds like Justin's having fun times with his house too) So after deep scrubbing and killing 3 cockroaches (+) we got ready and went to the Presidents house for a sisters activity (aka enrichment) We made cards again... and it was mainly just fun to see all the sisters. I love my life. And these sisters... They really are sisters (calm down Jenny/Megan/Lisa ....they're not as "real" as you..) So yes... enjoyed chatting with the sisters in an American smelling house (it was delightful...it smelled like Christmas because of the rolls baking in the oven) Then we stopped by the office and then came back here to Bankapi.. So that was my day today...
"But what about the rest of the week?" you ask......
well... let me tell you:
It was pretty much like every other week.. We taught...we got some "phid nads" (appointments that fell through) got some unexpected people to teach, ran into some members at the grocery store right after church ( don't worry WE were just locking our bikes up so we could walk around) Some investigators progressing...some we dropped....
We continue our search to find families.
My comp cut her hair last week and it's so cute... I'm jealous... I miss my bangs... haha..... that was random... but i just looked at her again (we're the only people in the whole Internet cafe who are NOT a 13 or younger boy playing games and yelling at each other... joy)
Is it really July?...... last year I was having a "MTC rave 4th of July" and then hoping on a plane to come to my home, Bangkok Dangerous. That felt like 5 seconds ago...
So...nothing too exciting or crazy......We're in a drought apparently... so we're praying for rain (as we bike through floods..... but for Thailand it's a drought)
The church is true.. I try to live my life like this: 2 Nephi 5:27. I invite you to do the same.
I love you all..
Love, Sister O'Neil
God Bless America...
It's still the 4th where you are... but here in Thailand... no one cares about the 4th of July. This morning we got up, CLEANED the house (my saga to clean this house still continues...slowly, but surely) (oh which reminds me...thanks for that book mom... ironic that it came just right after cleaning the house the first time.. I wish missionaries would take better care of the houses... I know we're not really in it... but still! Sounds like Justin's having fun times with his house too) So after deep scrubbing and killing 3 cockroaches (+) we got ready and went to the Presidents house for a sisters activity (aka enrichment) We made cards again... and it was mainly just fun to see all the sisters. I love my life. And these sisters... They really are sisters (calm down Jenny/Megan/Lisa ....they're not as "real" as you..) So yes... enjoyed chatting with the sisters in an American smelling house (it was delightful...it smelled like Christmas because of the rolls baking in the oven) Then we stopped by the office and then came back here to Bankapi.. So that was my day today...
"But what about the rest of the week?" you ask......
well... let me tell you:
It was pretty much like every other week.. We taught...we got some "phid nads" (appointments that fell through) got some unexpected people to teach, ran into some members at the grocery store right after church ( don't worry WE were just locking our bikes up so we could walk around) Some investigators progressing...some we dropped....
We continue our search to find families.
My comp cut her hair last week and it's so cute... I'm jealous... I miss my bangs... haha..... that was random... but i just looked at her again (we're the only people in the whole Internet cafe who are NOT a 13 or younger boy playing games and yelling at each other... joy)
Is it really July?...... last year I was having a "MTC rave 4th of July" and then hoping on a plane to come to my home, Bangkok Dangerous. That felt like 5 seconds ago...
So...nothing too exciting or crazy......We're in a drought apparently... so we're praying for rain (as we bike through floods..... but for Thailand it's a drought)
The church is true.. I try to live my life like this: 2 Nephi 5:27. I invite you to do the same.
I love you all..
Love, Sister O'Neil
Jul 2, 2010
Hello Hello dearest famile,
Well... another one bites the dust. (meaning weeks) I am really astonished beyond all measure (much like Alma and his brethren after hearing the prayers of the Zoramites) by how fast the time is flying. Can it just slow down a little bit? Thanks. This week was full of adventures (as per usual). I think one of my favorite moments was my phone call with Pres smith... he calls and this is all I hear "Hi Sister O'neil.. Normally when I hear "tranny" i think of transmissions....but your from California...so let me tell you what the church hand book of instructions says about this.." Or my favorite moment could be the day that I did switch offs with my dear Little Lifferth... My "pii" thai from the MTC who I really haven't talked to for a year.... so that 24 hours together was pure bliss and enjoyment. Or it could be the baptism we had yesterday. Or the new family that actually came to church! Or it could be that I'm in Thailand... Or that I'm a missionary... so yes... all of them above is the correct answer. (+2 for me)
This week I've noticed something very interesting. It is: I had to come be a MISSIONARY to learn how to be a MEMBER... We (as a mission) very truly feel like this is a turning point in Thailand... It's the general feeling (from GA down) that it's time for Thailand to Grow up... as a church.. They depend on the missionaries too much for everything, and so now it's our job to help them grow on their own. The members here are great... but we're trying to help them learn how to be dependent on their own members and not on the missionaries. (we teach investigators... not do visiting teaching FOR the members). So... I pretty much could go on an on for hours about this, but basically I just want to say...If you're not doing your home or visiting teaching...DO IT. Please... It's like tithing... sometimes it feels like a really hard sacrifice...but in the end you can receive the blessings the Lord wants to give you. If you are helping the missionaries... help them for real by finding people for them to teach... they arent' the ones that you can just say. "oh, this person's inactive...send the missionaries..." We as missionaries are blessed enough...you need to get blessings too... This is not like supererogation where I can do good things and pass the blessings along to you. ( See The Great Apostasy by Elder Talmage for more details... i may have spelled it wrong too...but such is my life in Thailand) Spread the love, help yourself, help the world... help the church grow. You'll find it's the best thing in the world... (universe...everything).
Umm... what else... We got locked in at the church yesterday...that was fun... They don't give us keys to the church at this ward because the sisters a few months ago lost them --twice... and their special keys from the America.... so it was funny when the sister who lives down the street came to rescue us... "I'm your hero." yes you are... sister Nok... thanks.
OK.. well.. I think that's all for now. I'm alive and well and loving my life. I hope you are all doing the same. Thanks for all your support and stuff.
Love, Sister O'Neen.
PS.. katie-k-shaw lady... I love you.. thank you for you emails.. I love them always...I just can't wait.
Brenda... Girl!! she has 3 kids now? what the? crazy.... Congrats on your new job too!
Kell dawg... Happy b-day again... was it fun?
Well... another one bites the dust. (meaning weeks) I am really astonished beyond all measure (much like Alma and his brethren after hearing the prayers of the Zoramites) by how fast the time is flying. Can it just slow down a little bit? Thanks. This week was full of adventures (as per usual). I think one of my favorite moments was my phone call with Pres smith... he calls and this is all I hear "Hi Sister O'neil.. Normally when I hear "tranny" i think of transmissions....but your from California...so let me tell you what the church hand book of instructions says about this.." Or my favorite moment could be the day that I did switch offs with my dear Little Lifferth... My "pii" thai from the MTC who I really haven't talked to for a year.... so that 24 hours together was pure bliss and enjoyment. Or it could be the baptism we had yesterday. Or the new family that actually came to church! Or it could be that I'm in Thailand... Or that I'm a missionary... so yes... all of them above is the correct answer. (+2 for me)
This week I've noticed something very interesting. It is: I had to come be a MISSIONARY to learn how to be a MEMBER... We (as a mission) very truly feel like this is a turning point in Thailand... It's the general feeling (from GA down) that it's time for Thailand to Grow up... as a church.. They depend on the missionaries too much for everything, and so now it's our job to help them grow on their own. The members here are great... but we're trying to help them learn how to be dependent on their own members and not on the missionaries. (we teach investigators... not do visiting teaching FOR the members). So... I pretty much could go on an on for hours about this, but basically I just want to say...If you're not doing your home or visiting teaching...DO IT. Please... It's like tithing... sometimes it feels like a really hard sacrifice...but in the end you can receive the blessings the Lord wants to give you. If you are helping the missionaries... help them for real by finding people for them to teach... they arent' the ones that you can just say. "oh, this person's inactive...send the missionaries..." We as missionaries are blessed enough...you need to get blessings too... This is not like supererogation where I can do good things and pass the blessings along to you. ( See The Great Apostasy by Elder Talmage for more details... i may have spelled it wrong too...but such is my life in Thailand) Spread the love, help yourself, help the world... help the church grow. You'll find it's the best thing in the world... (universe...everything).
Umm... what else... We got locked in at the church yesterday...that was fun... They don't give us keys to the church at this ward because the sisters a few months ago lost them --twice... and their special keys from the America.... so it was funny when the sister who lives down the street came to rescue us... "I'm your hero." yes you are... sister Nok... thanks.
OK.. well.. I think that's all for now. I'm alive and well and loving my life. I hope you are all doing the same. Thanks for all your support and stuff.
Love, Sister O'Neen.
PS.. katie-k-shaw lady... I love you.. thank you for you emails.. I love them always...I just can't wait.
Brenda... Girl!! she has 3 kids now? what the? crazy.... Congrats on your new job too!
Kell dawg... Happy b-day again... was it fun?
Jun 14, 2010
Greetings from the Future! 6/13/10
Well, this week was moves (not "moons") meeting... and we got 3 new sisters yay!! And I also got moved. I am now in a place called Bangkapi... (which is about 20 min away from my last area). I guess as you get old in your mission, they send you home to "die" so.. I went back to Bangnaa for a little bit, before deciding (or, rather, forced) to move to a different city to discover my roots, or do some family history work. I was moved to the home ward of my trainer (or "mom") Sister Wichitra (now know as "cherry"). So I moved "home" to get to know my "grandparents". ok... my English and all is probably horrible so Basically what I'm saying is I moved to Sister Wichitras area... but she is not here.. I missed her by one week. She already moved back to Utah to finish school at BYU. I've been here in the area for 4 days and I think I'll really love it here. Well, all except for the house...which is disgusting.. and which I spent 5 hours so far cleaning.... it's getting there... but hey.. at least we have a working kitchen now and all the cockroaches are out of it. YAY!.
My new comp is Sister Akagi. She was in the group that came after me in the MTC, so we've known each other for a while now. Ever since the MTC, I've always kinda felt like we would be companions....so now that time has come. She's a cute girl from Hawaii. everyone thinks she's Khon Thai...but she's a Japanese/Chinese mix from Hawaii. So that's fun to explain to people. The ward is pretty great. I was kinda sad to leave Bangnaa again, esp becasue I was going to miss Nuu's baptism... but We just had a baptism yesterday here in my new ward instead..It was kinda a circus (because there are a lot of kids) but it went really well. Oh, I'm also back serving with an Elder that I served with when I was a greenie in Bangnaa...so that's kinda fun. Now he's my District leader... and we "cob" together (aka... end our missions together) I am excited for this area (probably my last one... I can not believe I only have 4 months left... ridiculous).
Sounds like everyone is doing well. Your party FHE sounds delightful. Have fun... Here's a little something somethin for Cody:
Dear CoCo,
You are smart. I told you that 2 years ago. Congratulations on completing for GRE.. If we all lived in Thailand together, I would buy you ice cream in a bread bun in celebration. (or a red fanta with a straw from seven). But we don't...so please just wait until sat and get yourself a cake or 2 (and some jalapeno bread) from my backyard. K.. Super. CONGRATS!!! YOU CANZ GOE TO SKOOL!
love, Grizz
I think that's all for the week. I love you all. please keep up the good work with life. Go to church and the temple. Keep the commandments and you'll be happy. (it's that simple).
Love,
Sister O'Neil P.S. 2 Corinthians 13:11
Well, this week was moves (not "moons") meeting... and we got 3 new sisters yay!! And I also got moved. I am now in a place called Bangkapi... (which is about 20 min away from my last area). I guess as you get old in your mission, they send you home to "die" so.. I went back to Bangnaa for a little bit, before deciding (or, rather, forced) to move to a different city to discover my roots, or do some family history work. I was moved to the home ward of my trainer (or "mom") Sister Wichitra (now know as "cherry"). So I moved "home" to get to know my "grandparents". ok... my English and all is probably horrible so Basically what I'm saying is I moved to Sister Wichitras area... but she is not here.. I missed her by one week. She already moved back to Utah to finish school at BYU. I've been here in the area for 4 days and I think I'll really love it here. Well, all except for the house...which is disgusting.. and which I spent 5 hours so far cleaning.... it's getting there... but hey.. at least we have a working kitchen now and all the cockroaches are out of it. YAY!.
My new comp is Sister Akagi. She was in the group that came after me in the MTC, so we've known each other for a while now. Ever since the MTC, I've always kinda felt like we would be companions....so now that time has come. She's a cute girl from Hawaii. everyone thinks she's Khon Thai...but she's a Japanese/Chinese mix from Hawaii. So that's fun to explain to people. The ward is pretty great. I was kinda sad to leave Bangnaa again, esp becasue I was going to miss Nuu's baptism... but We just had a baptism yesterday here in my new ward instead..It was kinda a circus (because there are a lot of kids) but it went really well. Oh, I'm also back serving with an Elder that I served with when I was a greenie in Bangnaa...so that's kinda fun. Now he's my District leader... and we "cob" together (aka... end our missions together) I am excited for this area (probably my last one... I can not believe I only have 4 months left... ridiculous).
Sounds like everyone is doing well. Your party FHE sounds delightful. Have fun... Here's a little something somethin for Cody:
Dear CoCo,
You are smart. I told you that 2 years ago. Congratulations on completing for GRE.. If we all lived in Thailand together, I would buy you ice cream in a bread bun in celebration. (or a red fanta with a straw from seven). But we don't...so please just wait until sat and get yourself a cake or 2 (and some jalapeno bread) from my backyard. K.. Super. CONGRATS!!! YOU CANZ GOE TO SKOOL!
love, Grizz
I think that's all for the week. I love you all. please keep up the good work with life. Go to church and the temple. Keep the commandments and you'll be happy. (it's that simple).
Love,
Sister O'Neil P.S. 2 Corinthians 13:11
Jun 7, 2010
6/6/10
Dearest Family,
Well, greetings from ºÒ§¹Ò, where the sky looks fake today because it's so beautiful. The past two p-days have just been wonderful. Except it's still 309547592394829+ degrees. I really was just trying to "endure to the end" yesterday before coming home. I love being exhaustified at the end of the week though. We worked HARD.... and it was a rough week as far as actually meeting with people.. we had TWO FULL days of people not showing up or canceling our appointments, back to back... I'm not gonna lie... it was a little frustrating. Sometimes i feel like people are just too lazy to be happy. "Every religion teaches us to be a good person. They're all the same" hence "SAME SAME" but people...THEY"RE DIFFERENT. Despite all the bad things right now (ok... theres really nothing that bad... just a little sore throat this morning that won't go away)... I'm still completely happy and wouldn't trade it for anything.
Oh, before I forget:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
To Jenny, Chris, Ryan... and anyone else who's birthday was this week and I just can't remember. Oh...and late happy b-day to Adrian... So I McForgot to mention it in the email, but i did remember on the day.
I hope you all had a grand day. (sounds like Chris/Jen/Mom/Dad had fun at Mimi's cafe.. (yummm) ) Everyones b-day is this month... so that's fun.
I'm trying to think of things that are note worthy. Oh! This week we did Sister Switchoffs... I finally went out of my area... and went over to Bangkapi (my trainer, Sister Wichitras, home ward) I was excited to see her, but she actually left the SAME DAY to go to BYU Utah...so I'll have to wait to see her again. But it was fun to serve over in a different area... it felt kinda like a "vacation" because it's not your area... but you still do the same thing. (I love missionary work). It was so hot, and we spotted a McDonalds that was selling ice cream cones for 9 baht...( 30 cents) so we drove through the drive-thru on our bikes... The Thai's loved that... especially when I tried to order two cones.... which if you say "cone" it sounds like "¤¹" which means person.... so that was fun (I'd like two ice cream people please". Um.... wow... I really don't have anything else today. Sorry. We get new sisters this week! We haven't had any new ones for 8 months now, so we're all excited. to meet them. well, I hope you all have a good week. Enjoy the last weeks of school (unless it's already summer time... then enjoy that too... Lisa) Thank you all for your love and support and letters and such.
Love, Sister O'Neil
P.S. ESTEE.... I HAVE gotten your letters- i just sent you one back. Thank you! However... i didn't get your postcard yet.... so i don't know.. I dont' trust postcards some how... I don't even know if anyone ever got the ones I sent)
Katie-- thank you for that. I loved it.
Laura/Kellie--- i love your comments. Almost as I love you.
Sorry I've been so bad at writing letters lately... I just don't have any time anymore... But I'm TRYING!!!
Well, greetings from ºÒ§¹Ò, where the sky looks fake today because it's so beautiful. The past two p-days have just been wonderful. Except it's still 309547592394829+ degrees. I really was just trying to "endure to the end" yesterday before coming home. I love being exhaustified at the end of the week though. We worked HARD.... and it was a rough week as far as actually meeting with people.. we had TWO FULL days of people not showing up or canceling our appointments, back to back... I'm not gonna lie... it was a little frustrating. Sometimes i feel like people are just too lazy to be happy. "Every religion teaches us to be a good person. They're all the same" hence "SAME SAME" but people...THEY"RE DIFFERENT. Despite all the bad things right now (ok... theres really nothing that bad... just a little sore throat this morning that won't go away)... I'm still completely happy and wouldn't trade it for anything.
Oh, before I forget:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
To Jenny, Chris, Ryan... and anyone else who's birthday was this week and I just can't remember. Oh...and late happy b-day to Adrian... So I McForgot to mention it in the email, but i did remember on the day.
I hope you all had a grand day. (sounds like Chris/Jen/Mom/Dad had fun at Mimi's cafe.. (yummm) ) Everyones b-day is this month... so that's fun.
I'm trying to think of things that are note worthy. Oh! This week we did Sister Switchoffs... I finally went out of my area... and went over to Bangkapi (my trainer, Sister Wichitras, home ward) I was excited to see her, but she actually left the SAME DAY to go to BYU Utah...so I'll have to wait to see her again. But it was fun to serve over in a different area... it felt kinda like a "vacation" because it's not your area... but you still do the same thing. (I love missionary work). It was so hot, and we spotted a McDonalds that was selling ice cream cones for 9 baht...( 30 cents) so we drove through the drive-thru on our bikes... The Thai's loved that... especially when I tried to order two cones.... which if you say "cone" it sounds like "¤¹" which means person.... so that was fun (I'd like two ice cream people please". Um.... wow... I really don't have anything else today. Sorry. We get new sisters this week! We haven't had any new ones for 8 months now, so we're all excited. to meet them. well, I hope you all have a good week. Enjoy the last weeks of school (unless it's already summer time... then enjoy that too... Lisa) Thank you all for your love and support and letters and such.
Love, Sister O'Neil
P.S. ESTEE.... I HAVE gotten your letters- i just sent you one back. Thank you! However... i didn't get your postcard yet.... so i don't know.. I dont' trust postcards some how... I don't even know if anyone ever got the ones I sent)
Katie-- thank you for that. I loved it.
Laura/Kellie--- i love your comments. Almost as I love you.
Sorry I've been so bad at writing letters lately... I just don't have any time anymore... But I'm TRYING!!!
May 31, 2010
5/30/10
Hello Dearest Family,
Another week has come and gone
and my companion and I still ä´èÃѺ¾Ã.
That was a poem... that none of you will get, because it only rhymes in Thai.
I'm discovering that I love Thai-glish more and more everyday. Almost as much as I love just Thai.
Well... just like the title of my email says.... everything is SAME SAME.... but different.. I'm still a missionary, doing the same thing... just some of the characters have changed. Some investigators we dropped, and we found a whole bunch more (yay for families!) So this next week we'll just be trying to help them all progress. We should have a baptism on Sunday...If not this one, the 13 for sure. ˹٠is just great. I love her. We will be friends for a long time.
It rained a lot this week... It's definitely starting to be the rainy season again. You should just see the lightning storms... it hit our church last week... fried a bird.. This second half of my mission is giving me the opportunity to get to know some of the other sisters that I don't really know.. We're a dying group... we've had no new ones come in for more than 8 months now... So we're excited for next week... we're getting 3 new ones! But then in the next 3 months we're all pretty much "dying out" weird...
Oh dear family... I'm sorry my letters are so lame now... There's always so much I want to say... but it's kinda like in 3 Nephi 7: 17 "and she did minister many things unto them: and all of them cannot be written, and a part of them would not suffice, therefore they are not written in this email" It's all or nothing.... so sorry you kinda get nothing. Such is life. I have not perfecting the art of getting my thoughts and feelings recording in a way that would actually give it justice.
I'm still safe, still happy, still preaching, still (insert missionary action-ing) here.
I uploaded some new pics... not very many and most are from Chaing Mai / Moves meeting. There are a few of my way high-so apartment in Bangna...
ummmm..... well....... big gulps ehh?
K- I love you all.. That is all.
Love, Sister O'Neil
Hello Dearest Family,
Another week has come and gone
and my companion and I still ä´èÃѺ¾Ã.
That was a poem... that none of you will get, because it only rhymes in Thai.
I'm discovering that I love Thai-glish more and more everyday. Almost as much as I love just Thai.
Well... just like the title of my email says.... everything is SAME SAME.... but different.. I'm still a missionary, doing the same thing... just some of the characters have changed. Some investigators we dropped, and we found a whole bunch more (yay for families!) So this next week we'll just be trying to help them all progress. We should have a baptism on Sunday...If not this one, the 13 for sure. ˹٠is just great. I love her. We will be friends for a long time.
It rained a lot this week... It's definitely starting to be the rainy season again. You should just see the lightning storms... it hit our church last week... fried a bird.. This second half of my mission is giving me the opportunity to get to know some of the other sisters that I don't really know.. We're a dying group... we've had no new ones come in for more than 8 months now... So we're excited for next week... we're getting 3 new ones! But then in the next 3 months we're all pretty much "dying out" weird...
Oh dear family... I'm sorry my letters are so lame now... There's always so much I want to say... but it's kinda like in 3 Nephi 7: 17 "and she did minister many things unto them: and all of them cannot be written, and a part of them would not suffice, therefore they are not written in this email" It's all or nothing.... so sorry you kinda get nothing. Such is life. I have not perfecting the art of getting my thoughts and feelings recording in a way that would actually give it justice.
I'm still safe, still happy, still preaching, still (insert missionary action-ing) here.
I uploaded some new pics... not very many and most are from Chaing Mai / Moves meeting. There are a few of my way high-so apartment in Bangna...
ummmm..... well....... big gulps ehh?
K- I love you all.. That is all.
Love, Sister O'Neil
May 24, 2010
5/23/10
Dearest Momsy and Popsicle (and everyone else that I love),
First of all... I'm totally fine. All the missionaries are. This week was definitely an eventful week and I'm sure you all know more about it than I do, just because of the way the CNN is probably covering it, but everything is fine now. They burned down a lot of things, implemented a curfew, closed all the 7-11s (probably the biggest casualty), and closed some of the roads going into the city....but every since Elder Oaks and his posse of other "high ranking" servants of the Lord flew into Thailand on Friday, things have calmed down and the city is back to normal (minus a few GREAT shopping areas/malls that they decided to torch). We spent one day on "lock down" so we deep cleaned our house and made delicious food together and listened to some great talks by John Bytheway. SO yes... I'm safe. No need to worry.
Hmm... this week was soo busy of happenings, I will never be able to write it all.. So here are some highlights:
Sunday (yesterday) We had a huge Bangkok Special Sunday conference at the Impact convention center and our special guest speaker was Elder Hallstrom of the Presidency of the 70. (Elder Oaks, Elder Pratt and Bishop Burton all came to this neck of the woods too... but only for a training of the priesthood leaders on Sat and then they divided and conquered South East Asia. I'm a little jealous of my MTC comps who are serving in Cambodia, because that's where Elder Oaks went.... but yay...good for them.) It was such a neat experience to see ALL of the those Thai saints (and international peps... i was surprised there was so many) but my favorite part was seeing some old friends from Saphan Sung. It was a great event ....I just wish more of our investigators went... but at least 1 went... so that's good. They talked about being unified.. Elder Hallstrom shared some thoughts from Elder Oaks's training with the leaders.. Elder oaks said "I've heard a lot about red shirt and yellow shirts. Today...I've come in a white shirt and it represents the Priesthood of our Lord Jesus Christ" It was such a powerful thought to share with the Thai people, esp at this time. They stressed the fact that we need to support our leaders. Realize their not perfect, and maybe they will do some things that We personally don't think about right... but it's our duty as members in this church to support (publicly and privately) our ward, stake and church leaders. We all need to be unified "with an eye single to the glory of God" not to the glory of the bishop, or stake president. It's so true. When we raise our right hand and show our support, we are publicly promising to support our leaders... so if we go and trash talk them later... maybe we need to repent (change our thoughts). Plus, disagreeing with the Bishop is the first sign of apostasy.... so watch out there. Just keep the 1st and great commandment, and then Love everyone else and we'll learn to be more forgiving and supportive. There will be no success in the church without unity.
This morning we had a special meting with just Elder Hallstrom and his wife, just for the missionaries this time. They gave wonderful talks and the spirit was so strong. This gospel is just incredible. I just took a look at my copious amounts of notes (that my little notebook could hold) and there's just too much. Just teach your children (or yourself) to "grow up in the Lord" (see: Helamen 3:21, Samuel 3: 9-10, Jeremiah 20:9)
This week was just full of fun things. I've had a chance to get to know a couple of the Sisters that I've never really known before, so that just made it even more fun.
My English is REALLY horrible now... Sorry...
Zone conference and Interviews were also this week... I may have shard too much information with my President when I told him I had diarrhea when he made a comment of "oh...the sisters are still here" ... but I just wanted him to know that I had a legit reason for being at the office 30 min longer than normal, and not just being a lazy missionary. But... in Thai culture... that's not TMI (Too much Information) it's just a fact that they're happy to share.
So yes... I have BM issues.. just wanted to let you all know... Welcome to Thailand.
OK.. I have to write my letter to the president now.. Thank you all for your love and support. I really do love you all, and am grateful for your letters and prayers. I hope you all have a great week filled with lots of success and joy.
Peace in the middle east! (or Thailand...that's fine too)
Love,
Sister O'Neil
Dearest Momsy and Popsicle (and everyone else that I love),
First of all... I'm totally fine. All the missionaries are. This week was definitely an eventful week and I'm sure you all know more about it than I do, just because of the way the CNN is probably covering it, but everything is fine now. They burned down a lot of things, implemented a curfew, closed all the 7-11s (probably the biggest casualty), and closed some of the roads going into the city....but every since Elder Oaks and his posse of other "high ranking" servants of the Lord flew into Thailand on Friday, things have calmed down and the city is back to normal (minus a few GREAT shopping areas/malls that they decided to torch). We spent one day on "lock down" so we deep cleaned our house and made delicious food together and listened to some great talks by John Bytheway. SO yes... I'm safe. No need to worry.
Hmm... this week was soo busy of happenings, I will never be able to write it all.. So here are some highlights:
Sunday (yesterday) We had a huge Bangkok Special Sunday conference at the Impact convention center and our special guest speaker was Elder Hallstrom of the Presidency of the 70. (Elder Oaks, Elder Pratt and Bishop Burton all came to this neck of the woods too... but only for a training of the priesthood leaders on Sat and then they divided and conquered South East Asia. I'm a little jealous of my MTC comps who are serving in Cambodia, because that's where Elder Oaks went.... but yay...good for them.) It was such a neat experience to see ALL of the those Thai saints (and international peps... i was surprised there was so many) but my favorite part was seeing some old friends from Saphan Sung. It was a great event ....I just wish more of our investigators went... but at least 1 went... so that's good. They talked about being unified.. Elder Hallstrom shared some thoughts from Elder Oaks's training with the leaders.. Elder oaks said "I've heard a lot about red shirt and yellow shirts. Today...I've come in a white shirt and it represents the Priesthood of our Lord Jesus Christ" It was such a powerful thought to share with the Thai people, esp at this time. They stressed the fact that we need to support our leaders. Realize their not perfect, and maybe they will do some things that We personally don't think about right... but it's our duty as members in this church to support (publicly and privately) our ward, stake and church leaders. We all need to be unified "with an eye single to the glory of God" not to the glory of the bishop, or stake president. It's so true. When we raise our right hand and show our support, we are publicly promising to support our leaders... so if we go and trash talk them later... maybe we need to repent (change our thoughts). Plus, disagreeing with the Bishop is the first sign of apostasy.... so watch out there. Just keep the 1st and great commandment, and then Love everyone else and we'll learn to be more forgiving and supportive. There will be no success in the church without unity.
This morning we had a special meting with just Elder Hallstrom and his wife, just for the missionaries this time. They gave wonderful talks and the spirit was so strong. This gospel is just incredible. I just took a look at my copious amounts of notes (that my little notebook could hold) and there's just too much. Just teach your children (or yourself) to "grow up in the Lord" (see: Helamen 3:21, Samuel 3: 9-10, Jeremiah 20:9)
This week was just full of fun things. I've had a chance to get to know a couple of the Sisters that I've never really known before, so that just made it even more fun.
My English is REALLY horrible now... Sorry...
Zone conference and Interviews were also this week... I may have shard too much information with my President when I told him I had diarrhea when he made a comment of "oh...the sisters are still here" ... but I just wanted him to know that I had a legit reason for being at the office 30 min longer than normal, and not just being a lazy missionary. But... in Thai culture... that's not TMI (Too much Information) it's just a fact that they're happy to share.
So yes... I have BM issues.. just wanted to let you all know... Welcome to Thailand.
OK.. I have to write my letter to the president now.. Thank you all for your love and support. I really do love you all, and am grateful for your letters and prayers. I hope you all have a great week filled with lots of success and joy.
Peace in the middle east! (or Thailand...that's fine too)
Love,
Sister O'Neil
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)