Another week in Chiang Mai

August 26, 2013

Another week in Chiang Mai is finished!!  It's been fun, exploring and trying to find our way around.  It's also been stressful trying to figure out how to get to places on time.  We are so blessed here in Chiang Mai,

though.  The missionaries are so protected, for one thing, and also the members are amazing.  We have received several referrals for people to teach upon our first time meeting some of the members.  They are so stoked for missionary work in the area and we are too!  They support us as well as the people we teach and they are the perfect little branch for the missionaries to work with.  It's so amazing.  We feel like there are just people jumping out at us with friends or family they want taught.  Even our investigators call us asking to make appointments!  The people here are SO ready to receive this Gospel.  The whole country of Thailand has been prepared and I can't wait to find the people the Lord has been working with and preparing to meet with us.  We see people every day on the streets, working so hard and just living their normal everyday lives.  I think about what I have to share and perhaps what it might mean to them individually.  When we first started to go contacting/inviting (we basically just pick a place and find people to talk to and invite them to church or tell them about the Gospel or about English class) I was preoccupied with finding people that might be interested in what we have to share with them.  I was stressed because I really wanted to find those people that really needed it.  Then one day I realized that everyone needs it whether they know it or not.  While I am busy looking for people to accept the message we have to offer, I was missing opportunities to plant seeds in the hearts of many.  Even if they are not interested, someday they might think back on it and think it would do them some good at that point in their lives.  There are people everywhere - tourists, natives, missionaries - EVERYWHERE.  And the best part about this Gospel is knowing that no matter their situation, there is a God that loves them and wants them to live their lives in a way that will allow them to return to Him one day.  No matter where they come from or where they are going, they all have something in common.  They are never alone and they never have to be.  What a wonderful message it is that I am called to share with the people of Thailand!

My new name tag all in Thai!

   

The language is still pretty intimidating.  I understand maybe 15% of what everyone is saying if I am lucky, and that may even be stretching it.  It is so hard, but I am so blessed with the abilities I already have.  I know that even if people don't understand everything I am saying, they will hopefully be able to feel the Spirit of my message, because the language of the Spirit has no limitations or boundaries.  I try to speak slowly and clearly, emphasizing my tones, but I'm sure it is still difficult for them to understand.  They don't really do the same for me, but when I look at them with a confused look as I'm trying to understand, they just say that

Sister Ng and I

they talk in Thai to help me understand more and they don't want to say it in English so I get used to hearing Thai.  It really will help, but sometimes I feel bad when I can't understand them.  Poor Sister Ng does a LOT of listening and talking.  I simply try to focus all of my attention on listening, but its easy to let my mind wander when I have absolutely no idea what they are saying.  Then a lot of the time I think I understand what is going on and then when I ask later it turns out to be something completely different.  But I try my hardest, and that's what matters right? :)

I love our investigators.  They are all so perfect and ready to receive baptism.  They all have their concerns, but our favorite thing is when they ask questions.  They all seriously talk so much.  It is good because they are always talking about something that highlights points of doctrine that we can expound upon, but sometimes it isn't so good because we get off topic.  They just like to talk, and I like to listen so it all works out right?  We are teaching a 20 year old girl named คูกก๊้  (Cookie).  She has a friend who referred her the first time we met her.  We met with Cookie on Tuesday night after English class and she had a lot of questions about the Plan of Salvation.  She asked us about her purpose here on earth, where she will go after she dies, and where she came from in the first place.  She said that she always felt alone when asking these questions - like no one ever asked them before or that no one has the answers she desires.  WE DO!  We are teaching her again tomorrow. :)  She is seriously the cutest girl.  We love her and I feel that she is so ready to receive what we have to teach.

The biggest thing I have learned this week is that I will never have a bad day in Thailand.  Of course there will be days that are hard and rough when your appointments will fall through or when contacting will not go as well as you hoped.  But there are so many tender mercies of the Lord that we will experience.  I have to remind myself to look for them daily, and I am so much happier when I do.  There are people waiting for me and I can't afford to be in a bad mood, because then I am no longer looking for those small but tender mercies that I will experience when I share what I know to be true.  

Beautiful lanterns

Last experience for this week.  We found a new investigator!  Well, we are teaching her this week.  I am definitely not confident in my language abilities, so I am usually afraid to talk to people.  Saturday, I decided to try to make small talk with a shop owner.  I did, she understood me, and we have an appointment with her!  That was definitely a tender mercy.  It is definitely the little things that remind me that Heavenly Father is aware of me in every situation I am in.  He constantly blesses me with these little boosts of energy and love that help me to make it through each day, and I am positive that they will carry me through the rest of my time in Thailand!  :)

 

I love you all, and don't forget to look for the tender mercies that show God's love for you.  

Love,

Sister Norrell

P.S.  Emails are easiest, communication wise.  I will appreciate letters too, just know that they will take quite a while to get to me.  Also, as far as DearElders go:  I have heard from several sources that they are not super reliable.  I know Thailand is on the list, but I wouldn't use it just in case.  :)

We are off to enjoy Chiang Mai for the rest of our P-day! :D