Karsten's Adventures in the Kingdom of Thailand: Week 2 Burriram

Dear Family and Friends

This week was a very good and hard week. I felt the strength through your prayers and through fasting this week! I will say thank you everyone for you prayers. It has really helped me.

This last Sunday we had this girl come to church. She was off an invite and she came and joined us for all 3 hours at church. After church we taught this girl. She is already Christian. We were able to meet with her this last Tuesday. That Sunday we had taught the Restoration to her and either that night or Monday night she had a dream about the Vision of Joseph Smith. She said that she believed that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. It was a an eye opener to me why? I have had a lot of investigators get baptized because of dreams that they had. I cant say that she will get baptized for sure but I hope and pray that she does. We met with her just about every single day and taught her. She didnt come to church yesterday because she went home to tell her parents that she would be getting baptized in our church. She hasnt told us what happened yet but I hope all went well.

This past week Elder Tew and I had to invite a ton!!! We dont have any investigators at all. In our mission we have a rule for at least 2 hours of inviting everyday! I knew when I get to this area I didnt have much and I knew that I had to be obedient. I feel as if being obedient to rules or to Heavenly Fathers commandment will show that we are wanting to do what is right. As a result we, Elder Tew and I were rewarded. From about Monday to about Friday we invited for at least 2. Some days we invited for more. We have been trying to work with our RC's and some LA's so we are trying to spread the love ha. Well this past Saturday and Sunday we were blessed with some miracles and new investigators.

Saturday I told Elder Tew lets go inviting where we havent been before. Okay so we walked up and down the streets talking to everyone as we went. I know that we have to talk to everyone. We were getting close to the end of the street where it would naturally turn right. I said we will go to the end of the street and then turn around and contact on the other side of the street. We crossed over and started back the way we came. Before that I told Elder Tew to wait a second so I could say a prayer. I asked Heavenly Father for guidance. I didnt know where to go at all. I was lost and I needed help. In my prayer I could feel the Holy Ghost really strong on one side of my body. As soon as I opened my eyes I saw that Elder Tew was inside someones store sitting down already talking with a lady. I was like okay my prayer was answered! We go in and start talking with this lady. She has studied Christianity before. She wanted to know pretty much about life after death. So we taught her the Plan of Salvation. When we got done she told us that the Plan of Salvation for Buddhism was different then ours. She really felt the spirit when we talked about the Atonement of Jesus. I know she did and I cannot deny it. It so happened that Elder Tew was carrying a Book of Mormon with him and a Plan of Salvation pamphlet too. It so happens to be that we gave both to her. She was very grateful. Such a nice lady!

That next day after we had gone to church and had our meetings we went inviting before dinner. A member at the church wanted to go inviting with us around 5 pm. We got to this members house about 30 min early. So we decided to go inviting down one side of the street and come back by 5 pm. We talked to everyone as we went. We got a good ways away from her house when we were walking by this very small restaurant. There was this short lady who I thought was going to go into her house again to get stuff and that we would just walk by. I looked at Elder Tew and hes like Ill go invite her. As I looked around for someone else to invited while I waited for him I didnt find anyone. It was about 2 min later I looked back and I saw that he was already sitting down with this lady talking to her. I thought okay here we go again!! This lady was Christian as well. She knows a lot. We introduced the Atonement to her and repentance. I could feel the spirit a lot! When we were about done we showed her the Because of Him video. We gave her a baptismal date to be baptized. She accepted! We told her we were going to run to out members house so that they could talk. At this point it was about 6:30 pm. She was happy to come with us to meet our new investigator. They chatted it up for a while and then we told her we had another appointment and that we had to go. I was so thankful for being in the right place at the right time. I know that we were led by the spirit to both of these ladies.

I can testify that the Holy Ghost will send you revelation that comes from our Heavenly Father! I testify that there are prepared people out there. I am so thankful to be a missionary!

In my studies this week I was reading in 3 Nephi. I have to tell you that I love 3rd Nephi. In the 13th chapter verses 1-4 it gives good insight on what I believe to be service. How we need to give it but we dont need to tell others what we did. Heavenly Father will know what you did and bless you for that. In the 16th chapter verse 1-4 it talks about other sheep who He has that have not heard of His voice. I felt as if this scripture was talking about me. It can talk about you too I guess. As for me I am in a county that doesnt really know Christ. I am a representative of Jesus Christ and I act as voice for Him. I thought it was really interesting. Then in 18 chapter verse 15-28 it talks about how we need to watch and pray often. We need to pray for guidance from our Father in Heaven. He doesnt want us to get tempted by the devil so we must pray often! Verse 21 it says pray with your families. I like that! Do you pray with your families? If not I challenge you to start. Verse 24 Hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. I believe that we can all do this! It is a great challenge but we can do it. Be that example! Then 27-28 we need to be worthy to take the sacrament! I will let you read what will come if we take it unworthily.

This week we also had some training from out Zone Leaders. It was on being Tired and Weary. Being tired is physical or low on strength and being weary mental or spiritual and boring. I thought it was really great and something that we needed to hear for sure. I am tired but I am not weary to keep working. I find enjoyment in what I do. I am so physically tired by the end of my days because of what I did that day I just want to crawl into bed and sleep for a days. This work is not boring to me. I have to say if this gospel is to boring for you or if you are getting weary of it fix it. It may show that you need to change something. Have you served anyone recently or thought about what Christ would do if He was here. I am not saying you are like this. I know that being a missionary I am so tired. Some days I have to get up earlier and work extra hard. I know that if we are tired for the right reasons the Lord will bless us with a reward and we will make rewards in Heaven as well.

Love

Elder Hinckley