Karsten's Adventures in the Kingdom of Thailand: Week 9 Chaing Mai

Dear Family and Friends

This past week was busy busy busy! We did all that we could and still managed to have a miracle!

This past week for PDay we went to Chaing Rai to ride elephants and ostriches and I can tell you what that it was something I will never forget!

This week we had a great Zone Conference this past week. It was here in Chaing Mai. Since this was happening we had to get a lot of work done so that we would be able to try and get balanced. Now balanced are our key indicators that we put in each week. President Senior told us this past week that he doesnt want companionship key indicators. He wants district key indicators. It is to create more unity in the mission. Soon he wants us to have zone and then mission key indicators. I think and agree with president Senior when he said that this mission needs more unity! If we arent working all together then we cant get anywhere.

At zone conference we talked about Christ. Why? Because it is almost Easter! There is a new video out on Mormon.org and on Youtube. The church is promoting a new video about Christ and it is all about Easter! You can also #Becasuehelives too. I want you all to go and check this 2-3 minute video out. It is about the Atonement and Resurrection of Christ. Christ is so important to all of us. Without Him we have no purpose to this life. I want you all to know that I testify of Jesus Christ. He is our rock and our salvation. With Him we will be able to live forever! Because of Him we all have the opportunity to live with God in His Kingdom in the next life.

During District Conference there were about 15 Melchizedek Priesthood that were ordained. This is really necessary to us getting another stake in Thailand. We know a temple is coming so we need to do all that we can to prepare to get on. I think we have to have so many Melchizedek Priesthood holders who pay tithing and then so many who hold the Priesthood. So It is a work in progress and I hope that we will be able to get it announced by next conference.

So yesterday Elder Tamang and I had a baptism of a girl named Dung May ( ตังเม ). She is 19 years old and was a referral from her friend from another area. She met with us about 2 weeks ago and I will tell you what we almost didnt have this baptism. We took care of the program the night before and we thought all was well. We wanted to have the baptism right about district conference. So we told the district president that we were going to have it and he forgot. He told us that there would be meetings. So we would have to push the baptism time back. Then the most important thing we forgot to do was FILL THE FONT!! The baptism was going to start in 30 minutes and we forgot to fill it. So we turned on the water and it wasnt filling fast enough. So we started to get buckets of water and pour them in and that wasnt going to do it. So we got the hose from outside and that saved our butts! It got done and filled in about 45 min. Without the hose we would have had to wait a long while to have it. It all went well.

After the baptism when Sister Dung May had the opportunity to share her testimony she told of her conversion story. The only reason we found her is because her friend from another area was in our area for church. Her friend really wanted her to learn. So we met with her and one of the first things she tells us is that every religion teaches a person to be good. Our response was that is not enough! As we taught over the next 2 weeks she helped us teach. We taught 3 girls and we asked if they believed and they said no. She found a scripture during the lesson that she wanted to use but didnt. It was a great scripture. It talked about they dont know truth because they harden their hearts. After the lesson she said I wish they would just open their hearts to this! At that point she new that this was true. She talked about how she was thankful for her friend who brought her here, for the missionaries that taught her and the people in the ward that accepted her. At this point she was bawling and I could just feel the spirit from her!

Sister Senior after it was all over was so touched by here testimony that she wanted to know her conversion story. She is a great person! She now knows about the Light of Christ! I am so thankful to help another one of Gods children learn about His son. I can tell you one thing all it took was a friend who loved her friend to take her to church. All it took was a small simple act that led to a big change in someones life! It was a miracle that we had the baptism. So much stuff has happened this week it is to much to write but I am thankful that I am a mission at this time for the Lord!

I also read a great chapter in the Book of Mormon today. It is Alma 26 and I fill as this chapter will help each and everyone of us. I really liked verse 12, 22 and 27! Also this morning we played basketball with President Senior! It was a lot of fun!

Love Elder Hinckley

Jade in front of store.

That's Elder Hinckley's ostrich waiting for him. Maybe the cloth bag over his head helps to keep him calm.

This ostrich is all smiles once the bag comes off. He sees Elder Hinckley.

Elder Hinckley enjoys the ride on ostrich!

Posing for the camera. Chiang Rai is the only place in Thailand we can ride ostriches.

The river we rode our elephants through.

The village of Chiang Rai.

Elephants waiting to be ridden upon.

Nasty business in here. Yuck!

We had to hurry and fill the font for our baptism that would be happening in 30 minutes. We used buckets and this hose to get it done quickly. It actually took 45 minutes.