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!  :)