Good morning Thailand!
Yep, that's right, I got transferred again! We found out on Monday that we (me and Sister
Crockett) both were moving. So that was
fun - packing and cleaning and getting everything situated for the new sisters
- all in our one room apartment. Not
quite the easiest or funnest thing ever.
But we got it done! Then on
Wednesday night, we headed out on a night bus for Jang Watana (Bangkok) for
transfers meeting. We arrived at around
4:30 am (sometimes it really scares me how fast and just flat out crazy Thai
bus drivers go...). We found a room in
the church and tried to sleep on the floor for the next 2 hours. Not quite the best night of sleep I have ever
gotten.
Transfers day was awesome!
Such a great experience!
Basically everyone moved. Sad
news is that they aren't replacing the Sisters in Mahasarakham or in Chiang Mai
branch two. Good news: Sister Crockett is going to open Chiang Rai
for Sisters! She was soooo excited! The best News EVER: Myanmar is now open for missionaries!!!! The first two Elders were sent in this
week! So now, all three countries in our
mission have missionaries! What amazing
miracles are happening in the work of salvation. I feel so blessed to be a missionary in the
Thailand Bangkok Mission at this special time!
My new area:
Bangkhae... in Bangkok, Thailand! It is
probably like a hour and a 1/2 trip from Asoke (traveling, not actual
geographical distance... traffic is
crazy!) I am now companions with Sister
Stack from Salt Lake. She's been out
only a month longer than me (we were in the MTC at overlapping times!). I am so excited to work with her, and more
importantly, learn from her.
This is what happens when almost the
whole mission is moving! At a Mexican restaurant most frequented by
missionaries. This was before everyone else showed up too...and people
were even eating outside. I don't know if they love us or hate us...
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Beloved people in Mahasarakham! At the bus station on Wednesday!
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| At transfers - Sister Stack (my new companion), me, Elder Keller and Elder Beatty (from my MTC district!) |
We got to travel to Bangkhae after transfers, and it took
soo long. Bangkok traffic. Sister Crockett and her companion went with
us to stay at our house because we had a sisters meeting on Friday in Asoke.
Traveling back we had to use a taxi, the BTS and the MRT. It is going to take some getting used to, but
I am so excited to be in the busy city of Bangkok! The meeting was so good just to spend time
with all the Sisters in the mission and just to feel refreshed...and eat good
food. What I learned from that is that
obedience is better than sacrifice. I am
guessing that, logically, obedience, in itself, cannot also be a
sacrifice. Guess I better step up my
game and change my attitude!
Leaving Mahasarakham was not easy. It wasn't quite as hard as leaving Chiang
Mai, but it was still hard. I really
wanted to stay and continue to try hard, but I know that it is all God's
plan. I found the most peace when I told
Him what I thought I wanted, but then told Him that I would go where he wanted
me to go. I wasn't there for long, but I
loved the people so much. They are my
family! That's when I came to the
conclusion that basically all a mission is, is putting your whole heart into
something and someone. Unfortunately, a
mission is also all about change.
Therefore, your heart breaks a little more each time you have to leave
the people you have come to love. But
never in my life would I regret giving them my whole heart. That is all I have to give them, and they
deserve it. After a lot of
contemplation, I decided that my only regret was not giving them my whole heart
to begin with. I made the commitment to
myself that, in my new area, I would love the people from the get go. That turned out to be a lot easier than I had
anticipated.
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| At a buffet on Monday night! |
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| One of our RC's |
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| She has a jackfruit tree....so much jackfruit! |
Church yesterday was so awesome. I just felt so welcomed. There are a couple strong deep-rooted
families, a lot of recent converts, and investigators too! There are also a lot of youth. I loved getting to know them. And they complimented my Thai. Of course I was going to love them! ;) We
had lots of fun just talking. And the
best part: I got to teach! It has been quite some time since I have been
able to teach investigators. Thankfully,
I didn't completely butcher it, considering I am pretty rusty. I guess all my pleadings to Heavenly Father
for help, and also the Holy Ghost certainly helped me. I couldn't do it on my own, that much is for
sure!
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The Bangkhae church building!
It is HUGE, especially when there is an upstairs too! But only our
Branch meets in there...
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All in all, I am so grateful to be a missionary at this
time. I can't think of anywhere else I
would rather be. I know I am where God
needs me, and whether or not I understand it now, that is all I need to
know. God's ways are the best ways! I am glad to know that He is always in
control.
I found a scripture during studies today that I love -
Doctrine and Covenants 19:23
"Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness
of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me."
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| View from a rooftop in Bangkok |
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A very graphic sign in Asoke.
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Until next week!
Love,
Sister Norrell
