Another week,more miracles!

Dear Outside World,

This week has been so long it seems. A lot happened!  The beginning was hard.  We were left trying to fight off the temptation to be discouraged, and Sister Ng was battling her own sickness.  Everyone seemed to pit their appointments and didn't even really seem to care.   We have people like Ford who want to get baptized, but can't because of other circumstances.  We had both people with desire and people without, but no one seemed to be able or willing, or both, to get baptized next month.  We dropped quite a few investigators this week that we had a lot of hope in, but we saw the real them this week.  We were trying so hard to achieve our balanced key indicators and at that rate, we didn't know how it was going to happen.  In one day (Wed) we seemed to sift through everyone that we had to work with for the entire week - and they all cancelled.  We wanted to work so hard, but we had no idea where to start.  We wanted to meet our goal, but it was looking impossible.  

Silly natural (wo)man me.  Nothing is impossible with the Lord on our side!  You would think that eventually I would remember that...

2 days after giving Ford a baptismal date, we found out that he had to go to church for 3 months straight, not missing a single Sunday, before he could get baptized.  We had no idea how we were going to break this to him.  We taught him the next day, but we just couldn't tell him.  I prayed so hard during that lesson for help.  I knew that we needed to tell him, but I just couldn't do it.  I talked to Sister Ng and Sister Dao (the member helping us) and we all agreed that we felt constrained to not tell him.  We physically couldn't do it.  Not because we didn't want to, but because the Spirit was telling us we shouldn't.  Yes, people were surprised that we didn't tell him, but we know what we felt, and there's no disputing it. 

We were hoping that maybe his mom would get baptized too.  He told us a lot about how he was inviting her to church and to read the Book of Mormon.  He even taught her how to pray.  And he brought a friend to a lesson too!  We have great hopes that he will someday become a great missionary.  He has a great desire to serve the Lord, to share what he knows, and even to go to the temple.  So that was our hope - that his efforts would pay off and that he would not have to wait 3 months.  Yesterday we met with him again.  It seemed urgent that we needed to do it, but couldn't do it.  We ran to get some pamphlets that we forgot and on the way back to the classroom we were teaching in, the Zone Leaders asked us when his birthday was - it is next month.  He turns 16 next month.  He only has to go to church for 1 month before, not 3!  The Elders said "Did you pray or something?".  Our reply "You have no idea!" we were so excited!  It truly was an answered prayer, and I am so glad that we followed the Spirit's guidance!  Just one of the miracles we experienced this week. He's getting baptized on the 17th and, he has a goal to finish the Book of Mormon by the 30th.  He's awesome!

By Saturday night we were good on our Key Indicators except for 2 people at church and 2 daters.(For key indicators you need 10 member/recent convert/less active lessons total, 2 new investigators, 2 investigators at Sacrament meeting, and 2 people with baptismal dates.)

 We had no one else to give dates to.  Literally no one.  Well, I told Heavenly Father that I did all I could, and that we literally could do nothing else.  It was our last chance to get balanced this month, and we had no idea how we were going to do it.  We worked so hard leading up to Sunday, and now it was time to have faith and trust the Lord.  I was trying so hard not to doubt or be afraid of not meeting our goal. So we left it all to the Lord.  We laid it all on the table, we gave our all, then we went to the Lord and asked Him to please help us.  As I was praying I thought of someone we had met at District conference - a friend of a less active.  We called him a few weeks ago but he was busy with tests and school so he said to call him back later.  We hadn't yet, so I picked up the phone and called him.  He said he was really willing to come to church and to learn, but his friend, the LA had to take him because he didn't have his own car.

So we called the Less Active friend.  He was surprised that his friend was even a little interested, but willing to take him - if he had time.  He had a concert that he needed to do something for that same day. 

Sunday came, and Ford came to church and that's all we saw.  I was starting to feel discouraged again, but I retained trust in the Lord.  As the sacrament portion was starting, I looked out into the foyer and saw the Less Active friend peeking in.  I was so excited!  God answered our prayers and all our hard work did pay off.  Somehow, these two numbers that usually take more planning pulled out in the very end.  That is something that is only possible through the hand of the Lord.  And the best part - after sacrament meeting was over, they asked where they go next.  They stayed the entire 3 hours and we got to teach him a little after - and he accepted a date for the 30th!  He was nervous because he said he's not a quick learner, but we explained to him and promised him that the Lord would help him just like he helped us to learn Thai.  He was soo willing to pray, and was so thankful that we would give him a Book of Mormon.  His first prayer ever was a prayer of gratitude and thanks for the way he felt at church and for us inviting him and giving him a Book of Mormon.  I felt the Spirit so strong during that heartfelt and simple prayer, and it reminded me that prayer is truly a way for us to express gratitude and thanks and to communicate with our Father in Heaven. 

I am so thankful for the outpouring of blessings and love He has granted Sister Ng and I.  I know that His hand is so much in this work and I couldn't ask for anything more!  As missionaries, we do face extreme difficulties and hardships.  Feeling discouraged is something we face very often, but like Preach My Gospel tells us, if we allow ourselves to feel discouraged, our faith will weaken and our expectations will decrease.  Our desire to work will deflate and what will be left of us then?  The biggest thing I learned this week is about agency, or the gift from God to be able to choose for ourselves.  I know that our investigators use their agency and sometimes not in the way we want them to.  They have their agency, and I have mine.  I will continue to choose to be happy and to work no matter what.  Them using their agency shouldn't affect the way I use mine.  And if I let myself get down and choose not to work after people don't show up for their appointments, then how am I any better than them? I've promised the Lord that I will dedicate all my time, efforts, and talents to serving Him.  What they do with their time is their business - what I do with mine is the Lord's.

I love you all and don't forget that God loves you!

Love,

Sister Norrell

Transfer #2 Begins

I am still in Heaven!  (AKA Chiang Mai :)

I can't believe I'm already starting my second transfer!  It felt like just yesterday that I was a super green missionary.  :)

We went to Bangkok this week for transfers meeting even though Sister Ng and I are still in Chiang Mai!  I was actually really surprised to hear on Tuesday that we were both staying (Hopefully we stay together the whole transfer and don't have to move mid-way).  

Our whole district went down to Bangkok!  Getting there and back was a miracle in itself.  Bangkok traffic, and too many people.  Finding your bus and maneuvering someone's bike through crowds of people is not very much fun.  God was definitely on our side through all these travels.  I'm sure He was being bombarded with prayers the whole time just because we almost missed our bus going there and coming back. But we made it all in one piece!  :) We didn't have any missionaries in Chiang Mai for a day and I didn't sleep in a bed for two consecutive nights.  Can I just say I hate sleeping on buses? They are not comfortable.  And they try to feed you soy milk, seaweed flavored potato chips, and crust-less ham and mayonnaise sandwiches.  Blech.  

About transfers:  Elder Xaiyavong was finishing his mission so Elder Harley was getting a new companion, Sister Du was being transferred, and so was Elder Pyne.  So we have 3 new people in Chiang Mai!  Sister Ng and I had to go to get my Visa renewed.  It was quite the hassle.  We got to Bangkok around 6:45am after leaving at 9:30 pm the night before.  It was pouring rain and no taxis would take us because we had bikes to take with us. I guess I don't blame them since the rain probably would have flooded their trunks.  Eventually we got people to take us.  I saw practically my whole MTC district at the VISA office!  I was so excited - it was like we were never apart for those 9 weeks (the duration of time I had with them!)  It was truly a testament to me that the relationships I make on my mission will last for the rest of my life - mortal and eternal.  What a wonderful thought!  I also found myself missing people in our branch while we were in Bangkok too.  We really are like family!  I noticed during transfers meeting that most of the missionaries in my MTC District have different follow up trainers, and some are even in new areas.  I am so blessed to still be with Sister Ng in Chiang Mai and I can't wait to make the most of the time we have with each other in this beautiful place.

We have a new investigator!  He's 15 and he was a miracle find this week.  About two weeks ago he and some friends were in the church parking lot waiting to see if we could teach them English.  We couldn't (because it wasn't Tuesday)... so we gave them a tour of the church instead.  After that they went on their way and we really didn't think they were very interested at all.  Then this week after coming back from Bangkok, we saw him.  We were walking up some stairs and he called out to us and told us that he wanted to learn and read the Book of Mormon.  We met him the next day at the church and gave him a baptismal date for the 2nd of November!  He's currently Buddhist, but he said that he's always felt like something was missing, and when he came to church for the first time he felt a happiness he couldn't describe just hit him.  He's reading, praying, and he even came to church yesterday!  He's awesome and SO ready to learn.  Our main goal with him is to make sure he has a lasting and rooted conversion, not just a sufficient knowledge.  It is amazing to me the impact just being in the church can have on people.  He said that when he walked in he just knew that God was real.  I love that the Spirit is so recognizable to people, and I wonder what it was like the first time I experienced that.  The Lord continues to send miracles to us! 

Another story:  about two weeks ago, Sister Ng and I were looking for a bakery we had heard about.  (Yes, oftentimes we do follow our stomachs, just like in "The Best Two Years"!).  We were walking around after finding it, not really having a destination in mind, when all the sudden two people walked up to us (out of no where) and said "Hey, where's the church?".  We were really confused.  Two white people coming up to us and asking us where the church was.  Usually we avoid talking to furongs because they have preconceived notions about Mormons and are on vacation anyways.  Our first response:  "What church?".  Them:  "The Mormon one?".  Well, lucky them we were really close so we took them there!  Turns out they had just been looking for it and just happened to cross paths with us.  Okay, so it wasn't really chance or luck, it was Heavenly Father.  Turns out they were boyfriend and girlfriend, he was a member and served a mission in South Korea, she was doing research in Thailand and he was visiting her.  Turns out they had also met Elder Harley and Elder Buehner at TOPS (a grocery store) the day before but couldn't remember the directions.  (Also, he's Elder Harley's cousin?  The Mormon world is a small small place).  We showed them around the church some, and they came to the Sunday broadcast of conference.  Then just this week, Elder Harley got a text from her saying that she wants to meet with the Sisters, AKA us!  People are literally coming out of the wood-works, and we are so glad to be a part of it!

We really are so relieved to be in Chiang Mai still.  We knew our work here wasn't done yet, and waiting for the news as to who was moving put us on pins and needles.  Talk about stressful.  But we're here, and we're loving it!  Unfortunately, though, Sister Ng is sick (getting better) and we brought the rain back with us from Bangkok.  It hadn't rained for probably 2 weeks, and now it hasn't really let us have a day without it.  I remember just 9 weeks ago being that new missionary, sleep deprived and overwhelmed in my first transfers meeting.  Trying to sing "Called to Serve" in Thai and just not being able to read it fast enough *It's still not perfect, but we're getting there!*.  I remember the culture shock and thinking "Well, I just forgot everything I ever learned in the MTC.".  Sometimes I still feel that way, but the Lord has definitely been my strength and support through it all.  I found any new missionaries I could after the meeting and just told them what I wish people had told me coming into country.  Maybe they did and I was too tired to remember, and maybe they won't either, but I felt better just telling them.  I love Thailand and I can't wait to continue in this work of salvation!

Love,
Sister Norrell

P.S. Additional prayers for us to have balanced key indicators this week would be greatly appreciated!! :)  

Basically that just means that we have a goal to meet our weekly goal for lessons, referrals, baptismal daters, and people coming to church.  Our whole mission has a goal right now to get balanced key indicators at least one week in October.  This is going to be the week for Sister Ng and I!  :)

You'll never guess what happened this week!

You will never believe what has happened this past week.  I cannot believe how much the Lord has blessed us.  I can truly see the miracles now more than ever and I will never be able to deny them.  I can't believe that I have been out for 4 months now, and my first transfer in the field is coming to a close.  I think of how much more lies ahead for me in my mission.  I have 14 more months of experiences waiting for me, but I don't know how my joy could be more full than it was this week.

Monday after P-day we were preparing to go to FHE at a member's house when we received a call from our investigator that I told you about last week.  After receiving a strong witness as to the necessity of baptism, she again rejected it and her heart was closing and hardening against the good word of God.  We were still feeling discouraged about her and worried about how we could help her progress more towards baptism when it seemed like we were losing ground quickly to Satan.  We fasted that weekend for a miracle.  We know what we felt, and that was to get her baptized.  We knew that we needed to keep doing what we were doing and help her get to the font.  There was no turning back now.  We couldn't imagine going back to the types of lessons we had with her before, but we didn't know how to keep going.  We were afraid of pushing her too hard and consequently just hardening her heart even more.  But we knew what God wanted us to do, and we were determined to do it.  During that time of fasting, I changed my prayers.  Instead of asking for her to get baptized (she has her own free will), I started praying for a way for us to meet our baptismal goal this month.  Oh, family, how the Lord has answered our prayers.  

So she called us and asked us where we were and if we could come see her right then.  We couldn't because members were driving us to FHE and were about to be at the church to pick us up.  She said she had something to tell us.  She asked if we knew what she was trying to say -  we had an idea, but hearing her say it herself was so much better.  She told us that she wanted to be baptized...on Thursday!  We couldn't believe it.  The change in her was a miracle.  She said she was talking to her member friend and she just felt good about it.  She prayed and the good feeling continued.  She made her decision, and everything just cleared up for her.  Her life was unclear and difficult because she wasn't making the decision about baptism!  She called US because she wanted to get baptized.  IN 3 DAYS.  After we hung up, we couldn't believe what just happened.  Our prayers were more than answered, we witnessed a miracle.  A true and living miracle.  Her heart was softened by the Spirit of the Lord, and she made the decision herself, not because we forced her to do it, but because finally she desired it enough to follow through with it.  Everything came together for the baptism and it was a wonderful small ceremony.  She wasn't nervous at all.  She felt so happy and just at peace - another confirmation to all of us that this is exactly what needed to happen, and it was all in the Lord's timing.  Even when she stepped into the font, into the freezing cold water, she had a smile on her face and she went through with it.  Even when she had to bear her testimony (something we were afraid she wouldn't feel comfortable doing) she told me that she wasn't afraid.  That she didn't even write anything down because she knew the Lord would lead her to say what she needed to.  She knew the Lord would help her and she displayed such immense and complete trust and faith in Him.

 My heart is poured out in gladness and thanks to Heavenly Father who makes all these things possible.  He really does seek to bless His children!

This weekend as I watched conference, I had a question on my mind "How can I know that I am doing all I can do as a missionary?".  It was answered throughout all of conference, Saturday in particular.  I kept getting the feeling that there's always more I can do.  That's what our life is all about - repenting and trying to be better each and every day.  It is about trying our hardest to endure and be the person God would have us be by following the Savior's perfect example.  But at the same time, I also felt that my Heavenly Father is proud of the work I do each and every day.  I can't make people get baptized, but I myself can be spiritually prepared to help them on the path to eternal life.  And in Elder Holland's talk, I realized that being a good missionary isn't about working so hard that I forget to take care of myself.  Yes, I desire to lose myself in the work, but I shouldn't lose the joy in the work at the same time.  I need to dedicate my whole self to the Lord - all I have to give Him is my agency.  He will provide the rest if I am but willing to submit to His will.  I feel like there are so many pressures in this work, but I have come to realize that those pressures are from man and Satan, not from God.  I know what the Lord requires of me, and that is my sincere desire and efforts to dedicate my whole self to Him.  I can be sure I am doing all I can when I know I am meeting God's standards.  I realized more than ever this conference weekend that God's ways are not our ways and God's thoughts are not our thoughts.  His ways are higher and when we trust in Him we cannot fail.  He will not give us a commandment without a way to bring it to pass.  He would not tell me to love my neighbor if He did not have love to give to them through me.  He would not ask me to be patient if He Himself were not the most patient Supreme Being.  Ultimately I realized that as I strive to be better each day, I will learn to be more like the Savior and He will be my guide and my rock.  He will give me the things that I need to accomplish His work.  When I have no strength to offer, He gives me His.  When I feel like I can't go on, He provides the love and tender mercies that encourage me.  When I feel like I'm physically not able to love the people enough to serve them well, He gives me His perfect love to impart to all those that I meet each day.  He will go before me and His angels will be around me to bear me up.  I need not be afraid if people don't accept my message, because when I give my all to Him, He will make up the rest that I cannot do on my own.  He knows my weaknesses, and does not judge them the same as our unwillingness.  He is merciful and understanding to all.  He suffered on the cross so that I never have to be alone in this Work of Salvation.  To think so would be contrary to the designs of God.  I know that my Heavenly Father is so so much in this work.  I know that miracles exist, if only we have the eyes of faith to see them.  I know that God talks to us, knows us, and loves us and there's nothing more that I could ask of Him.  Believe in miracles.  Believe that He can do all things for the children of men.  If we dedicate ourselves to Him, how blessed we will be!  

I love you all so much,

Sister Norrell   

 

October is here!

Hello world!

I can't believe that a year ago yesterday the announcement that changed my life was made.  We were just sitting at church and I realized that Conference was this past weekend.  (For us it is next weekend because we have to wait for it to be translated into Thai...).  I started thinking about this past year.  I think it was the shortest one I have ever experienced, and also probably the most important one to date.  Right after that, I started preparing to be a missionary, and now here I am - 4 months into my mission.  Living in Thailand.  Teaching people every day about how the Gospel can bless their lives.  Always wearing a skirt.  Speaking Thai to the point where if we talk too long to a stranger in English, my brain starts to hurt.  It's better than anything I ever imagined, and also so much harder.  Looking back on this year, I can't think of any place I would rather be right now than in Thailand.  I'm exactly where God needs me to be and I can't imagine being anywhere else.  I think about where I will be in another year - 2 months from coming home from Thailand.  I hope this year in country doesn't go by quite so fast.   I like to savor every moment I am given, and I hope that I am always using Heavenly Father's time wisely.  

At times this mission business is so hard.  This week was full of joys and also disappointments.  But we know that where there is good there is opposition, for there needs be opposition in all things.  However, the good always outweighs the bad, and God will always defeat Satan.  This week was extremely hard.  People have their agency, or ability to choose, and there's nothing I can do about that.  This week we wanted to give up and just cry, but as we took time to kneel in sincere prayer and supplication to Heavenly Father, we were washed over with a sense of peace that only He can give.  It truly is a time that we look forward to, that sweet hour of prayer.  We could imagine ourselves out of the world and in the temple, in the sacred house of God where nothing else matters and you can just bask in the glory of his love.  We long to go to the temple.  We long to feel that peace and serenity.  But through it all, we just know that we are doing what Heavenly Father would have us do.  After praying we just sat there in the quiet.  There were other people in the church, but somehow in that little room, it was just us and Heavenly Father - nothing else mattered.  It didn't matter that we felt crushed by rejection and that Satan was trying his hardest to attack us and our investigator.  It didn't matter that we wouldn't have a baptism next week.  It didn't matter that we felt like we had just hit a brick wall over and over again.  We knew that we did all we could and that Heavenly Father was proud of our efforts.  We knew that He still loved us even though we felt devastated.  Nothing else mattered.  It truly felt like we were in the temple again and we loved it.  We left that little classroom feeling rejuvenated and refreshed and I knew that we just had to keep on pressing forward.  I knew that we just had to keep doing what we were going.  We don't understand everything that the Lord has planned for us, but we don't have to as long as we have faith in Him.  He loves us and will always keep His promises as long as we keep ours.  Satan can try all he wants, but the Lord is on our side, and with Him, we will always prevail.

I just know I am going to miss being a missionary.  It's a long way off, but sometimes the little things about missionary work that I love come to mind, and I just know that someday I won't have those exact joys anymore.  I won't have little girls on motorcycles with their parents yelling "Sister, Sister!" as they wave at us.  One day I won't have this tag to wear, and people know forthrightly that I am a representative of Jesus Christ. One day I'll have to be okay with sharing the Gospel in English instead of Thai and I'll have to pass them on to the missionaries.  But until then, I'll cherish every moment I have as a missionary.  I'll cherish every joy and sorrow that I have because I know that it is by God that I am granted this opportunity.  There are people here that need me, and that are prepared to receive what we have to offer, and for now we just have to go forward with diligence and do the work I am called to do.

I love you all!

Sister Norrell

Pictures: The first picture is of a little girl that we teach.  They talked about missionary work in Primary and she had her own little missionary badge!  She is seriously our little ray of sunshine. 

The second is of me eating mango sticky rice for the first time in country!  (I know I'm late, but mangos were out of season when I got here.  This lady had ripe ones.  It was delicious and worth my 40 baht! :)