Week 8 Chiang Mai

Dear Family and Friends

This past week was full of miracles and lots of work. I dont have a lot of time to talk about everything that happened but I will give you the highlights. 

Elder Tamang and I helped some recent converts that are struggling a little bit. They came to us and told us that this church isnt for them anymore. We had a long conversation with them and in the end we bore our testimonies to them. Over the next couple of days we met with them and read scriptures with them. They are doing way better then how they were doing before. 

We were interviewed about our church or in other words we were interviewed about Mormonism. It was really interesting, why? We acted just like any other lesson. We started with a prayer and we talked about the restoration. It was pretty interesting. One girl was christian and other girl was Buddhist. The girl who was Buddhist said she had never heard of Mormons until just about last week. She asked a lot of questions. It was great! They asked questioned and we answered to the best of our abilities. We got to teach all we wanted to. By the time we were done we got to talk about the Book of Mormon and we gave them each a copy. They said they would read and pray. We asked the girl who didnt know anything about us to pray. In her prayer you could tell that she is looking for something. The only reason we got interviewed is because there to girls are doing a report on religions and they had to choose one and they chose us. I hope they felt the spirit!

Also this past week we have to fill out something called a One Drive. It is to help us keep track of our RC's. Anyways we were filling it out with the whole district and the sisters in our district came across an RC. They said hey Elder Hinckley this girl plays basketball. You should go and try to get her come back to church. I said challenge accepted! I was determined to help this person come back. We called her and she said that we could go down to the university and play with the college players. So Elder Tamang and I went down there and I can tell you what we were the only white guys in the whole building ha. Well we found the sister who is less active and we talked just for a little bit and then we started to play. I tell you what they sure didnt think that this white boy couldnt play, but they thought wrong ha. It was way fun. We got to play with the college up here and then when we were done we talked to the sister. She said I actually only have work on Sundays so I can come to church on Sundays for about an hour and get the sacrament. Which is the most important thing to take! Any ways when we left she asked us if we would come back next week and play, and we said yes. The miracle is that she came to church yesterday and she was able to renew her covenants. 

We also visited another less active this week at his work. He works at a coffee shop. We asked him why he hasnt come to church in a while. He flat out told us that he has a problem with a commandment, school and work. I asked him a very simple question, What is more important work and school or God and church? His response was I dont have time for this I have to get back to work. It was hard to talk to him. He is to much in the world. Our ward mission leader says he has seen his Facebook and has seen what he is doing. It is sad to see. I want to help everyone get back to church. 

Okay so remember Brother Jade? Well he is doing so great! He got the Aaron Priesthood yesterday! He is progressing so well and I can tell you what he will go so far with his new knowledge! He is a great member! Elder Tamang and I should be expecting a baptism on this next Sunday. We are teaching a girl who is a referral. She is progressing so well. She has a lot of faith. She will get baptized and she is someone who was prepared. I am happy to see the success that we are having here in Chaing Mai!

Last P Day we went to a long neck village! By long necks I mean long necks. We talked to these women and they said they were the rings on there necks because it is beautiful. It was cool but I still dont know why someone would want to do that to there body. I know that in the next life they will have perfect bodies. They are all very nice people. 

Well those were some of my miracles this week. They were big miracles for us. Well I hope you all have a great week. Today we are going to ride Ostriches!! 

Love Elder Hinckley 

Elder Tamang and I happened upon this long neck village. The people here wear the rings around their necks and legs because they believe it makes them beautiful.

The women here make their own cloth.

A loom making beautiful designs.

The people in this village were very kind.  I am holding a set of rings in my hands.

Look at the old style of guitar this lady is using.

The people in this village are Burmese.

The main street through town.

Not too busy in town, probably because people are working.

Very humble.

Elder Hinckley taking a rest on a bench.

The houses here are right up against the water.

A waterwheel outside of the long neck village.

Elder Tamang and I outside of the long neck village.

Utah State is my next goal.