Week 5 Chiang Mai

Dear Friends and Family

This past week I saw something happen I didnt think would happen. I saw my companionship take a turn for the worst. I saw the jaws of hell open and up and I was thrown in with almost no way to get out. Somethings happened and were said and it resulted in a lot of prayer and patience. I had to take a lot of time to study things out. There was a day where we stayed home all day and to study things out and to talk openly with my companion. I cant really tell you what happened but what I can tell you is that the Lord is helping you and guiding you all the time. A lot of talking was done to understand one another. I can say from the experience that I had we have grown a lot closer together as friends and we worked even harder then I thought possible. I can so thankful for the Lord and that he is with us all the time. The jaws of hell were open and I didnt think I would be able to escape the fall but the Lord was there the whole time. Watching and waiting to help at the right moments. I am so thankful for this experience because it taught me to have more faith and patience in the Lord. I guess we can relate this experience with a companionship as in a relationship or a marriage. You and your spouse and/or girlfriend or boyfriend need to talk openly one with other. No secrets! No holding things back! For those things can lead to dishonesty, hatred and separation. You should try and be honest with your companion. You need to be totally open with your companion so that the Lord can be with you always. I know sometimes bad things may happen byt being honest is the best. You can always always rely on the Lord for help. Being in a companionship is kind of like being married. The two of you can have a great companionship and it can get great! You might have ups and downs but when you work through them you will grow stronger together and will be happier. 

This past week Elder Chris and I had the opportunity to help a guy learn something knew. This man called me and said do you have a free hand and I was like yeah. When he got to the church we was like okay so you can give the blessing right? I thought bad to what he said on the phone and a free hand and giving a blessing sounds similar in the Thai language. So he brought his brother in law and wanted for us to give him a blessing. We talked to this man and said do you have the priesthood? Yes I do. Okay you can give the blessing. NO I cant Ive never given one. Dont tell me you can do something till you try and learn a new language. Ive never done that but when I did I can now speak it. So we got out the handy dandy "White Bible"! We explained what we would be doing and what he would do. We anointed witht the oil and he sealed the anointing. It was such a great experience for him. I hope he wont forget it. Elder Chris was like, " I was sent here to help you learn how to use you priesthood". So true. We are here to help and support, along with all that other stuff! 

Elder Chris and I had the chance to visit a lot of less actives and to visit with some struggling recent converts. This made me really happy this week. Its not all about the numbers and its so true. I want to build strong missionary- member/recent convert and less active relationships, while still doing work and trying to find those that are prepared. We visited a less active who is really very limited and I dont think I saw him smile before. We visited him and told him that we had a letter for him from a member. We ate at his restaurant, talked and laughed and had a great time. I saw so much happiness from this person! His name is Noy and he needs prayers for him. I was so happy to help him out just a little bit. Before we left we shared the scripture 2 Nephi 9:21. Christ suffered for us so that He may know how we feel 100% of the time. All the pain we feel He has felt already. I was so thankful to share this scripture. I hope it gives him hope to try with all his might to make it to church. 

Over the past little while I finished Mosiah and started Alma. What the sons of Mosiah do with Alma is what I feel like I am doing. Minus the destroying the church part ha. I do want you all to, if you have time, study Alma 5-9. They are great chapters with a lot of guidance. I am so thankful for the scriptures and all that they teach me. I testify that they are true and what Alma and the sons of Mosiah do is for the love of the Lord. 

Have a great week! 

Love 

Elder Hinckley 

Eating at a member's restaurant.

Yummy food!

Elder Chris and I enjoying our dinner.

Chiang Mai at sunset.

Riding in the tuk tuk. It's a taxi here in Thailand.

Just chillin out.

Biking