All over Bangkok!

This week was so good.  I feel so spiritually renewed and just so happy with life, no matter how uncertain it may be at some times.

This week we had the privilege of having a Mission Tour Conference with Elder and Sister Gong.  Elder Gong is a member of the Asia Area Presidency.  He's pretty awesome!  

On Wednesday we went to Asoke for a night devotional.  We talked about the Sacrament and how important it is.  Something I didn't realize is that is the most important ordinance we can do.  It is the only ordinance that we do for ourselves more than once in this life, and it happens every single week.  As we take the sacrament, something they told us we should do is to think about our personal relationship with the Savior.  They shared this scripture in 3 Nephi 11:13-15 : 

 13 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto them saying:

 14 Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.

 15 And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.

I was deeply impressed by this image of Christ.  I felt the Spirit bear witness to me that He was slain for the sins of the world, and for me individually.  He knows me, and He has paid the price for me, because He knew that I was worth it.  As we approach the sacrament, we should always be more reverent in respects to His sacrifice.  As I took the Sacrament yesterday, I felt so much peace in knowing that I can be forgiven of my sins and shortcomings.  I had a personal "one on one" interview with Him as I tried to focus on what I can try to do better.  I also really felt His help through His Atonement this week.  Sometimes I just feel tired and weak, but then I pray and somehow I am given the strength to keep going.  I know that He has paid the price for us.

Something else I gained a stronger witness of is the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the prophet Joseph Smith.  I felt the Spirit so strongly on Thursday as we went to Chaengwattana for the second session of Mission Tour.  We got up at 4:30 am to get there on time and not once did I feel tired.  I felt a constant stream of the Spirit the entire time - a constant burning within my chest that I knew came from being instructed from those chosen by God.  We talked about how important these things are to us.  I know that Joseph Smith did see God and Jesus Christ and that he is the first prophet of this dispensation.  The Spirit bore witness to me that it is true.  These things DID HAPPEN.  It isn't just a story, but it is true.

I learned something new about my calling as a missionary too!  I learned that all things that we teach have the end goal of making families happy in their homes.  Every single commandment we teach, every single doctrine - that is what it leads to:  Strong families.  That is God's plan - for us to return to His presence with experience, with eternal families, and with the ability to become like Him.  We didn't just come here to simply return again the same person.  If that was the case, we could have just never left in the first place.  But this is God's plan:   
Moses 1:39 "For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."

I know that families can be together forever!

As I pondered these things, I realized that there is always more that we can do to strengthen our testimonies.  I was brought to the attention to some deficiencies in my testimony.  I felt a prompting that I needed to write my testimony daily.  I had an unused journal, so I started that night in writing how I felt and just a testimony of the things that I learned and of the things the Spirit taught me.  I have done it every day since then, and I have loved it.  It helps me look for the ways my testimony is strengthened each day, and helps me realize God's hand in all things.  Even if it is something small like feeling the Spirit work through me in teaching, or if it is like learning something new about the Atonement, it is all important.  I suggest it to anyone that feels like they need a little boost in testimony!

This week is transfers - it will be my last one!  We should be getting the call either today or tomorrow... I guess we will see what happens and where I will be this time next week!  :)

Love you all!
Sister Norrell

PICTURES:
All the girls swooning over Brother O (from last week) 

Me and Sister Mamea when we went traveling last P-day! 

More pictures of old Buddhist Temples! In Ayuttaya. 

We were so far away you could barely see us..

Me and my awesome companion! 

More old wats. 

We got to see and feed an Elephant! 

A lot of the members here call me "Snow" so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to take a picture with one of my creepy dwarfs! 

The aunt and uncle of one member here love the missionaries!  (They themselves aren't members, but they love feeding us!) They took us out for pizza and then out for dessert.  I got a crepe cake of course!  Delicious! 

Baptism Love!

Hello all!

So after a long dry season, we finally had a baptism!  Let's just say that he was worth the wait.  Brother O is awesome!  He is so prepared.  We taught him EVERYTHING (as in all the commandments, all lesson 5 and the plan of salvation) on Tuesday.  He was free and he is hungry to know all that there is to know.  When we taught him about fasting, he said "Can I fast before I get baptized?"  Of course! (Yesterday he decided to fast, and he just sat and read his scriptures as we all ate.  He's the best!!)  He interviewed the next morning (But I wasn't there because I was on a switch off in Saphaan Sung).  He passed with flying colors!  He loves reading the Scriptures, and he has such faith.  Apparently he also really wants to meet the prophet after watching Conference.  He also chose the hymn "We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet" for the opening hymn at his baptism.  Well, okay!  He's so good.  I just can't get over the fact that he is only 21!  (3 days younger than me) and we are the ones teaching him about these things that will change his life forever.  It seems very rare that you find someone this age who is so excited to keep God's commandments with exactness.

Even though things were crazy (the person supposed to baptize him thought it was next week and wasn't prepared, and the back-up guy went home already so Elder Fin had to baptize him) it went great!  He shared a great innocent testimony, and I can't wait to see what great things God has prepared for him in the future! 

Overall I really learned that God is preparing His children to receive the Gospel.  For a long time I have been feeling a little disappointed about the lack of baptisms we have experienced lately.  But I did receive a witness that God is preparing the best of the best to be strong converts and future leaders in His kingdom.  I'm glad that we were blessed in finding and teaching Brother O.  It really does show me that God's promised blessings are sure, as long as we are faithful to His commandments.  We just have to keep going, keep improving, and God will prepare the way.  It is a trial of faith that we must pass sometimes in order to receive the blessings.  Not no matter when the blessings come, they will come to the faithful.   

I am also learning more and more about how the Spirit works through us.  In simple decisions we made this week (such as where to eat or when to go shopping for groceries for Sunday) we were able to be made instruments in God's hands!  Saturday we went to eat at KFC, and we just so happened to get there at the same time as the Thanapon family who we have been working with lately.  Coincidence?  I don't think so... They bought us ice cream and they said they would come to church.  Guess what: They actually came!!!

Then Saturday afternoon we were teaching a more difficult investigator a second lesson.  As we were talking I was just praying for guidance.  He is a little more hard-hearted and looks for more physical evidence than a spiritual witness.  He says that he just wants to know how to be saved because he doesn't want to be born again.  So as we were talking, I started telling him something about a witness in prayer that I received and I really didn't even know why I was saying what I was or where I was going with it.  After I awkwardly stopped speaking (I didn't know the point of what I was saying or if it would really even answer his question) but then he said something.  He said that what I said was exactly something his dad said to him long ago, and it was something that he felt strongly about and that he remembered even unto this day.  He then asked "How did you know?"  I ask myself how He knows all the time.  The rest of the lesson went a lot better as his heart was opened just a little more!

Then that night we were at Tesco a little early so we were waiting for the Elders to get there.  We couldn't find what we needed so we were just searching aimlessly.  And then I see Sister Mamea talking to someone.  Little did I know that we would be led to these 2 people who we had just been discussing with each other how to get in contact with them!  The wife hadn't been to church in a while, and I've never actually met her, but members kept telling us we needed to visit them, but we just felt awkward about it.  But then we met them and it was all good!  She came to church for the first time in a long time yesterday.

Miracles are happening!  Just be faithful and wait for God's hand to be revealed in all things!

 17 Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.

And now what you have all been waiting for: 

Pictures!

Brother O!  And now you see what happens when you give a Khon Thai your camera.  EFFECT!

With Elder Pratt and Elder Davis.  Elder ANngkham and Elder Finlayson weren't there because they had to hurry home to get baptismal clothes so Elder Fin could baptize him.  Wouldn't be a baptism if something didn't go haywire!

Yay Bangkapi!

Sister Khanoon - a Recent Convert who I LOVE! She used to be our neighbor....until the Elders stole our house.

The Thanapon family! Love them.

Me, Sister JoJo, Sister Nute (member), Sister JoJo's husband, and Brother Grit. I love them so much! Sister JoJo and her husband drove 3 hours in a car that has less horsepower than a motorcycle to get to church. She has a date for November 2nd!

Great things are happening.  Never doubt the Lord's hand and role in all things!

Love,
Sister Norrell

Conference Rocks!

Hello!

So I know you guys already watched conference, but here in Thailand we just got to watch it this past weekend.  It was so good!!  I can't even begin to explain all the talks that I liked or all the things that I learned.  I trust that you all relied on the Spirit to take out of conference the things that Heavenly Father had prepared for you to learn.

As for me, I learned about a couple things in particular.  The overall message, in my eyes, is this: 

As members of the Lord's church, or even just people privileged enough to know about His restored church if not yet members, now is the time that we are called to take a stand for what we believe in.  The time is past where we can learn casually or just half-heartedly live what we believe.  It is no longer acceptable for us to stand on the sidelines and pray that when the buzzer sounds we hope we will be found worthy to be accepted on the winning team.  Today is the day that we need to accept the truth and proclaim it and live it with every fiber of our being.  Now is the time to become true advocates of the truth - true and current disciples of Jesus Christ.  Now is the time that we must be readily prepared with testimonies of the Restoration of the Everlasting Gospel. 

A testimony is the most important thing we have to develop in this life. Knowledge is not enough anymore.  We shouldn't be trusting secular sources for confirmation of the truth.  Why would you even consider the though when you can ask the Creator of all things through prayer?  Learn to receive personal revelation and then trust it, even when things seem to get hard and you are forced to make a stand.  Don't forgo things that bring you true happiness when all you will get in return is the praise of man.  It simply isn't worth the switch.

 Applying the Atonement of Jesus Christ is the only way we will find peace in this life.  God's plan includes us facing trials in this mortal life, and we all knew in choosing His plan that this must needs be for our benefit.  We should embrace the opportunities that God has given us to grow.  He knows what we need and will give it to us in doses that we can handle.  We shouldn't ask for these situations to be removed - after all this is why we are here!  Rather we should plead to have the strength to overcome them and learn the things that God wants us to learn.  If you feel like it is too hard, or that God asks too much, we should take a step back and recognize all the things that God has given us.  Don't let your weaknesses debilitate or immobilize you.  This is a test - don't forget to be thankful for the answers you do know instead of always beating yourself up for the ones that you don’t know.   

Strive to improve the basics before you want to go on to scaling the full mountain.  There are some things that are so important in keeping us spiritually safe.  We should always be wearing our lifejackets, even in times of calm.  If we take them off, we may not be able to put them back on time before we are called to face the big challenges ahead of us.  Family relationships - strengthened through prayer, family home evening, etc. - are the most important things and we should never sacrifice doing them, no matter the cause.  These things will fortify our homes and protect us from danger that is lurking outside the walls of our homes.  Don't let the adversary in - even a little bit!  And it all starts with our own personal worship - in and out of our homes, and every day, not just Sunday.  Being a disciple of Jesus Christ is something we are all called to do, and it requires so much more than we as normal people can do on our own.  Never underestimate the value of your own personal contribution!  Your testimony is essential.

"The fundamental question facing all of us is not whether we will live but with whom we will live after we die. " - James J Hamula

"As we strive to place Christ at the center of our lives by learning His words, by following His teachings, and by walking in His path, He has promised to share with us the eternal life that He died to gain. There is no higher end than this, that we should choose to accept His discipline and become His disciples and do His work throughout our lives. Nothing else, no other choice we make, can make of us what He can." - President Thomas S Monson

"But no matter how large the organization of the Church becomes or how many millions of members join our ranks, no matter how many continents and countries our missionaries enter or how many different languages we speak, the true success of the gospel of Jesus Christ will be measured by the spiritual strength of its individual members. We need the strength of conviction that is found in the heart of every loyal disciple of Christ." - President Boyd K Packer

"Misunderstanding God’s justice and mercy is one thing; denying God’s existence or supremacy is another, but either will result in our achieving less—sometimes far less—than our full, divine potential. A God who makes no demands is the functional equivalent of a God who does not exist. A world without God, the living God who establishes moral laws to govern and perfect His children, is also a world without ultimate truth or justice. It is a world where moral relativism reigns supreme."  - Elder D Todd Christofferson

How thankful I am that I can add my testimony to theirs, and also to the words of the prophets of old recorded in our holy scriptures.  How thankful I am that we have a Heavenly Father to whom we can reach through the channels of prayer and personal revelation.  I know that He lives and that He loves His children.  He desires each of us to return home again, and has thus prepared the way for us.  I know that Joseph Smith restored this Gospel and that the Book or Mormon is true.  I have read it for myself, and I love it with all my heart.  I know that Jesus Christ is my Redeemer.  I know that He suffered and died for us, so that all that repent will be found guiltless before Him at the judgment day.  How great is our privilege to be alive in this day and age when we can hear the inspired words of the prophets via internet and to see the progressing of these latter days.  He will come again in all His majesty and power and glory.  The way has been prepared, and now the charge is ours as to how we will treat it and what we will do with it. 

15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15)

I love you all.  Keep your testimonies burning bright.

Sister Norrell

Always in the Middle

Heelllooo all!

This week has been full of so many blessings, I don't even know where to start.  Really we have been working and waiting for these things to come to pass, and they are finally here!  

We have 3 baptisms lined up for the 18th and 19th of this month!  We hope to get another one sometime this week.  I don't even know how the Lord sees us fit to receive so many blessings.  Really, He is the greatest. We have Sister JoJo (the younger sister of a member).  Turns out her husband agreed to start bringing her to church every week (from a long distance) and she wants to get baptized as soon as possible.  So we plan on getting her baptized on the 18th and confirmed on the 19th.  She is so prepared.  She is one of the ones I know God promised me was waiting for me.  Another is Brother O.  We met him Friday, he came to church on Sunday and he accepted a date for the 19th.  He has had many experiences in his life that have made him interested in learning more about God.  When we asked him questions, you can tell that he has been searching for a long time.  He was so willing just to learn, to commit, and to do learn as much as possible about his Heavenly Father.  Our Pakistan families came to church this week too!  All 4 adults and 6 children.  It was so good for them to join us!  It was a little overwhelming trying to make sure everyone was being translated for.  We even started a different Gospel Principles class that was taught in English.  Sometimes we get a little stressed about the logistics, but I could never be more thankful for the blessings that God has given us!

We also had 2 returning members this week!  The oldest daughter and the youngest son of a family we have been working with.  I was so thankful to see them walking up to the church at 8:59.  I wasn't expecting them to come!  Every Saturday night when we buy groceries we see the youngest son and remind him to come to church on Sunday. And yesterday they actually came! It made me so happy!  It was one of those things where I thought my joy was full for the day.  I thought "okay, this is the Lord's tender mercy today."  But even after that they kept coming one after one.

One of my favorite things to tell investigators when we teach them is that God chose them to meet us.  God is calling them and waiting for them to respond.  He knows where they are and they were led to us or we were led to them at this specific time.  Every person that has met with missionaries or who has a family member or friend who is a member has the special and unique opportunity to be introduced to His Gospel.  There is no such thing as "chances" or "luck" when it comes to God's plan and His timing.  Each person we teach has a great blessing of knowing more of God's word and plan for them - people who don't listen or who never may come in contact with the Gospel don't have this opportunity.  God wants these people on His side.  Telling our investigators this helps them to see how important this really is.  It helps them to know how much God really does love them, and it also lets them know that now is their time to act.

I gained a strengthened testimony in the power of fasting this week.  I haven't been able to fast on Fast Sunday for a couple months due to health problems and the fact that I always seemed to be taking antibiotics on Fast Sunday.  But I got to fast this week, and it went so well.  I just couldn't help but just to feel so thankful for everything the Lord had blessed us with.  The windows of Heaven were opened to us through the channels of fasting.

Something I have been thinking about lately (as everyone likes to remind me that I don't have that long left here in Thailand...haha) is that we are always in the middle.  Even when endings come and new beginnings are there, we are literally always in the middle.  As I read this article this morning by President Uchtdorf I was reminded of how important this life really is. We don't want to spend the rest of eternities wishing that there was something more we should have done while in this life.  There is nothing more important than the way we choose to live this life.  So why not make every moment count? 

Link to President Uchtdorf's inspired words:
https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/english/pdf/language-materials/10367_eng.pdf?lang=eng

I love you all!  I hope you all got a chance to watch conference.  If not, go and watch it again!  Next week I'll have suggestions on which ones to watch again (considering I haven't watched it yet either...haha).  Don't take their words for granted.  Treasure them up in your hearts, study them and apply them through the Spirit.  I know that they truly are God's servants here on the earth today.  How wonderful it is to know that the Christ's true Gospel is Restored and that God still speaks to us today! 
Remember:
38 What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same. (D&C 1:38)

Love you all!!
Sister Norrell