5 Months???

Hello!

Good news, I got the packages!  Getting them home was interesting, but I'll just send pictures for that.  The Office Elders sent them by bus to Mahasarakham, so after going around trying to find them, we located them and then had to get them home.  I LOVE IT ALL!  Sister Crockett and I are going to get fat, for certain.  But I'm sure the Elders wouldn't mind sharing the spoils with us...and then there's always the Black Market.  American candy would sell for so much!  But it is a way too valuable commodity for us to even seriously consider doing anything like that!

 

Getting packages home from the bus station...Thailand has taught us how to be resourceful.  I think we were Boy Scouts in our previous lives.  :)

This past week marks my 5 month mark in country and my 7 month on my mission.  I was starting to get a little weird-ed out by how fast time goes, but then I remembered that I still have 11 more months to go!  I can't wait to see what miracles this next year holds, especially with a January full of miracles awaiting us!

We saw another miracle this week!  Our investigator got baptized yesterday!  Her husband's whole family, a lot of whom are less-active, also showed up and were very supportive.  She has been an investigator for over a year, and the time was finally right for her to be allowed to get baptized.  (Yes, we prayed really hard for a miracle.) We could not be more excited for her.  And she was so happy as well!  She was radiating (in a good way) the entire day.  It is so refreshing to see prepared people finally able to follow their Savior as they have desired for so long.  Things do work out for the good of God's children according to His timing.  I know there are people in Thailand that need it, and I can't wait to go out and find them.

 

BAPTISM!  Boo, her husband Tim and their cutest little daughter ever - Sen-Sen!

Yay for miracles!

Each morning we start our day with an hour of personal study.  Usually I only have time to study a conference talk, a chapter in the Book of Mormon, and maybe some in "Jesus the Christ".  This week I have learned a lot about Christ-like attributes and repentance.  On my mission I have come to consider repentance my best friend.  As a missionary, all your faults and mistakes and weaknesses are huge.  And glaring.  And sometimes overbearing.  But I have learned that the more magnified they are, the easier they are to work on.  Therefore, repentance has become a much needed and much cherished principle of the Gospel.  I am thankful that God has prepared this time for me on earth to better myself and refine myself so that I will be fit for His kingdom.

One of my favorite talks from this week: "Bind up their wounds" by President Eyring from this past General Conference Priesthood Session.  He says: "The Lord knew you would have such days when he called you to this position, so He gave you....______."  He says more, but I just fill in that sentence each night before I go to bed.  I just have to keep reminding myself that He is completely aware of our individual situations and the callings and crosses we are called to bear.  Christ has felt them and more.  They know everything that would come to pass not only in my service as a missionary, but also in my entire life.  Therefore, He has placed the tender mercies and miracles in my path, just like He has in the lives of all His children, to remind us who is really in control.  I know that no matter what comes our way, we are in good hands.

I love you all!

Sister Norrell