This week was so good. We got a lot of new investigators, had a lot of appointments fall through, and put in a lot of long, hot, sweaty hours of street contacting. But I love it. Every moment of it. Even when we are out getting rejected by people who think being Buddhist exempts them from having to listen to us and coming to know the truth, it is all very very worth it in the end. I love coming home hot, sticky, rejected to the limit, sometimes soaked with rain, but always with a smile on my face, a miracle in mind, and strong desire just to fall asleep. That is what missionary work is, and I wouldn't trade it for the world!
We also had the opportunity to go on a companion exchange this past Saturday. Our goal was to contact practically all day in order to find new investigators. So that is what Sister Steele and I did all day, even in the rain when no one was wanting to be outside, and most of all not wanting to talk to us. I was struggling. 3 hours and I felt like I had seen absolutely 0 success. I was praying the entire time to Heavenly Father to please just help us to find one person who needed us. If I only got one number, that is all I cared about if they were someone who needed our help. It isn't that I just wanted to see success, but I wanted to help someone who needed it. I wanted to find that one prepared person that I knew God had for us. I just needed help being guided to them or having them being led to us. We had a sports night at the church, so we decided head back in that direction, but also to use our time wisely. We still had about half an hour left to contact before we needed to be there so we went to Big C Extra near the church. Still nothing. A little disappointed, but knowing I did my best, we started to make our way around the puddles to go home. Then, I saw her. I don't know how my brain knew to speak English with her, but let's just say the Spirit does great things. Her name is Vivian and she's Chinese. Turns out she is an exchange student with one of the Elder's investigators who is getting baptized next week. She said she would come to church! Let's just say I was saying so many prayers of thanks the rest of the day, and even more so when she actually came to church!
Her English isn't super good, which made it a little hard to teach her. When we were teaching her the Restoration, I just felt some kind of disconnect. Her friend had to translate some, but I felt like that wasn't the source of the disconnect. Again, me and the Spirit just putting words in my mouth so I don't have to think about when or how to say them, I just flat out asked her if she believed in God. She said no, but that she didn't believe in anything. At best she believed in Science because that is what people always told her that she needed to believe. BUT she said that in just this one time coming to church, she already started to believe in God. We taught her about baptism, and at the end, I felt like it was finally a good time to ask her about being baptized. I wasn't sure what she would say, but she said YES. Almost immediately. I think we were all shocked. The Spirit worked with her in that 45 minutes enough to tell her that these things are true and that God is real. She is getting baptized next week! Yay for miracles and God's amazing grace! We can't do this work without him! I am so grateful that I get to serve His children here in Thailand. :)
I hope everyone had an awesome 4th of July. Sister Ellis and I bought Jelly Cones from KFC. Basically it tastes like ice cream dipped in warm strawberry jello, but then it hardens and becomes more jello-like consistency. It is pretty awesome. And pretty darn Asian. I think it would be a hit in Utah, though! :)
Love,
Sister Norrell
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