Week 8 Buriram

Dear Family and Friends

This week was a great week of learning, applying, teaching and serving! Elder Polu and I had a great week of serving and teaching. There is a small family in our ward here who just isnt doing the best. It is a mom and two sons. We were at Book of Mormon class this week when we got a call. It was the mom telling me that her son went to the hospital. I asked,"Sister what do you want me to do? If you want me to come I will come." She said Ill call you back if I need anything. I said do you feel bad if you make us come. So we went on with our class and I get a call about 10 min later, "Elder I need you to come now!" I looked at Elder Polu and said we have to go now. We got on our bikes and road to the hospital which was about 14 min away in about 5 min. Her other son ran to the front counter to get us and we ran to the mom and other son. She asked us to give her son a blessing. We gave the little boy a blessing. Did the best we could to comfort the mom and we left. The next morning we get a call from the sister in our ward again. "Elder I need you to come to the hospital and give my other son a blessing." We got on our bikes and road to the hospital again. We bought food for the family before we went in. We gave the other son a blessing. To our surprise the boy who we gave the blessing to was up walking around. The other son was given a blessing and we went on our way. That was all we could do. These two boys were very sick and I know that the Lord through us using our priesthood was able to heal the both of them. I was ready to go at a moments notice. We need to be ready to move, make a decision on a moments notice. Sometimes we dont have time to waste. Things need to get done and what are you going to do? I know that the Lord puts us in situations that will help us grow. All I know is that I am doing the best that I can do.

We met with many recent converts this past week and we were able to teach principles that needed to be taught. I will say that one of the many problems here in Thailand is working on Sunday. This is something that needs to be addressed. The First Presidency has said that sacrament is the most important of all Sunday meetings. It is the first meeting why, because it is the most important. We explained to these members that if you are not going to church you are depriving yourself of spiritual food that you need each week. I asked many," What is more important work or going to church and keeping the Sabbath?" I got my replys that were the same, work. Work! Really you are telling me that work is more important than the Sabbath? Now I told them, I know that work is important. We need money in this world to get food, clothes, etc. I said I understand. When they say money is more important I feel as if they dont have faith in God. I asked many of them, "Do you have faith in God?" Yes I do. Okay so I want you to pray and fast about getting work off. When you have done that I want you to go talk to your boss and explain your situation. Many responses were,"Oh no I cant do that. He wont give it to me." Well have you explained that you made covenants with God and have you explained the situation to him. Well..no. Okay please try and show your trust in God. I am pretty straight forward with the Sabbath Day. If your boss wont give you time off just say that you will quite. I tell them to trust in the Lord. If you are willing to keep the commandments of God all the days of your life then God will help you find other work. God will bless you. Trust in God. I want members here to start standing up for what they believe and for their standards! Defend yourself and what you believe! I know that the Sabbath Day is important and that if you or I go to church to learn, partake of the sacrament we will receive blessings. We will find strength from Him. Each week we have the opportunity to renew our covenants. What are you doing to keep the Sabbath Day Holy?

One day while riding home we saw a lady in a very nice dress lifting really heavy bricks. We stopped turned around and asked if we could help. She said yes you can. We helped load all that she wanted. We in turn invited them to come to church on Sunday and listen to a 70 speak. Her and her family said no but were very nice. I was thankful for the opportunity to serve. It was unplanned and it made me feel great. Elder Polu and I fasted this past week for opportunities to serve and find. I know that fasting will help if you have a purpose behind what you are fasting for. I hope one day that family will see two boys in white shirts and invite them into their home. It was a small act of serve that I hope will lead something amazing! 

This goes along with the training that we received this last week. We need to look for unplanned serve opportunities. We need to be more friendly with those we contact. Be human! We have been told that we need to teach every member in their home the Restoration. This will be something that will help the members and the missionaries. It will be a great way to teach part members families too. "You cannot out baptize the rate of inactivity and expect the church to grow." Something we need to do more in the mission is focus more on faith and repentance. I could go on about what faith and repentance is but that would be to long. Your faith will make your act. If you have faith in Christ you are willing to act. Repentance is more than saying you are sorry. It is a deep self evaluation that is needed over time. No one every said that repentance wouldnt hurt. It will. We just wont suffer like Christ did. We need to improve the quality of our baptisms and these things will help. 

Yesterday we had a baptism!!! It was a great day! The sister who got baptized really studied out what she was going to go. She took and extra week just to study. She is a great example to others in the ward. I had the privilege to teach her and her family. A small seed has been planted in this young girl. One that will grow over time and will help her family become interested as well! She expressed her thanks to the ward for all they have done for her. She is a happy sister who always smiles! All I can do is express my thanks to God for allowing me this time to teach His Children. 

After that Elder Khanakham of the 70 was at church. We dont have ward council, so he made us have it. It was a great time for leaders and missionaries to work together to get things done. Also a time to discuss problems and matters that needed to be taken care of. I hope if you dont have ward or branch council that you will work with your bishop or branch president. It is something important that needs to be done. 

I learned so many new things this past week. I am happy that I am missionary! I love my job! 

I love you!

Love Elder Hinckley 

Dumpling noodle soup!

Family Home Evening with ward family! We had a great meal as well.

Scenery of Buriram!

\Elder Polu and I after a morning run! You've got to stay in shape, even as a missionary!

Our baptism of this dear sister! July 12, 2015.

Week 7 Buriram

Dear Family and Friends,

This past week we hard transfers and I didn't get moved. I did get a new companion though. My new companions name is Elder Sajapolu. His parents are Polynesian and he is always happy! I love this guy! 

Anyways this past week we worked really hard to get as many potential investigators. We did the best that we could with transfers and all. At transfers this past week I learned a lot about some of the missionaries that were the first ones here in Thailand. So President Johnson was given a book of Miracles that the missionaries gave to him with Miracles that happened back in May. We gave him another book that is for him to fill with the Miracles within his first month in Thailand. 

I want to talk about this experience because it wasnt mere chance that it happened. I will shorten the experience because I dont know all the details. When the first missionaries got here to Thailand they couldnt speak Thai. Two missionaries knocked on this door and a servant came and told them to come it. It was if she had been expecting them to come. The missionaries werent sure about it but went in anyways. A lady came down the stairs and talked to these two young men in the broken Thai that they had. This lady then proceeded to talk to them in English. They gave her a Book of Mormon in English. One night before the lady was going to go to a party she happen to have a few minutes and read. She read from Alma 37 many things stood out to her. She liked many things and from then on read from the Book of Mormon. She was then baptized. She then was asked to translate the first the Book of Mormon into Thai. If you think about it this experience it is not mere chance that it happened. The Lord directed those two missionaries to find that house, meet that lady and help her get baptized. The Lord knew that she would speak English and help translate the Book of Mormon. The Lord had prepared this lady and those two missionaries from the beginning of their lives. I think it is a really cool experience and I had to share it with you. 

We have a investigator who should be getting baptized this next week. She has really been studying hard about what she is going to do. We met with this young girl just yesterday and she says I need a little more time but I am ready. We asked her what day she wants to get baptized and she said this next Sunday. I love to hear that she is really studying about this decision. If you think about it she is kind of like Joseph Smith, who studied out what he was going to do before he went and prayed in a grove of trees. I know that this decision will bless her for the rest of her life. We had the opportunity to teach her family about a week ago. When we met with them we taught really just a little bit about the Restoration. We explained about Joseph Smith and his experience. Yesterday our investigator told us how her mom had a dream about Joseph Smith. He came to her and told her that we were all brothers and sisters. We are all a family. Yesterday when we were teaching our investigator we taught her about temples because she had a few questions. She went on to tell us that this, the temple, was an answer to her questions and her moms experience. When we explained how we can help our family members who have since died she expressed happiness to us. You could tell that she wants to go to the temple. I could tell that she wants her family to enjoy happiness beyond measure. She asked if she could go into the temple. I said yes, but you have to be a member to do the ordinances. I think telling her that helped her a little bit. I expressed my deepest feelings for the temple. 

I told her I have had the chance to go into the temple many times. I told her all that I could about what we do in the temple and how it is such a blessing. I told her that the temple is a building that we can do ordinances in there that will help families be together forever. She got very excited about the temple and I can tell this will motivate her decision to become a member. 

Elder Polu and went over to a sisters house just yesterday. We asked this sister if she needed anything done and she said yes. Finally I have been waiting for someone to ask me to help with something. I miss giving service where you get dirty, but I didnt get dirty. I was happy nonetheless. Anyways what she had us do wasnt much. After she asked us to help her tie some ties for her two sons. She doesnt know how and neither do they, so we were more than happy to help. This sister has been struggling much with these two boys. She is a single parent and needs as much help as possible. I took the opportunity to teach these two boys. One hasnt been baptized who is 8 and a 12 year who doesnt have the Aaronic Priesthood yet. We talked with the 8 year old to see if he would want to get baptized and he said yes. I said I will talk with the bishop for you and help her out. I opened up the scriptures to Alma 56: 48. It talks about moms. After I had the 12 year read the scripture I explained how mothers know best. I said," Okay look you two, you only have your mom. She knows best! If she left what would you have? Would you have food? TV? A house?" They responded no we wouldnt. I explained how I would not be able to come to Thailand if it wasnt for my mom and what she taught me. I have learned so much from her and Im so thankful for her too. I told both these little boys to listen to their mom and do what she says. I dont know how much of an impact I was but I know I was speaking the truth. I am really thankful for my mom, Shannon Hinckley, and all she has done for me! I love my mom so much and miss her too! 

On July 16th I will hit my 1 year mark as a missionary! Crazy right?! I can't believe it has already been a year! Time flies when you are doing the Lords work. I cannot start to tell you the things that I have learned on my mission. I have learned so much! Im doing all that I can to learn as much as I can. I am doing all I can to help His children. I will only have 1 more year as an Elder Missionary to do what I am doing right now. I know that I need to work my butt off. I know that the Lord takes the unqualified and qualifies them. I know that the Lord is sharpening me and will use me a lot more this next year. I am a little smarter and wiser ha The miracles that I have had will be with me for the rest of my life! I have seen the Lords hand in the work time and time again and I know He is real! One more year! Lets GO!! To all my friends who are serving I know that they will soon hit their year mark as well. I know that they are doing all they can to do the will of the Lord. I will say that I left on my mission one day before my moms birthday so I will wish my mom a Happy Birthday! Just wait I will be my moms best birthday present when I go home ha. 

I love you! 

Love Elder Hinckley

One of these pictures if me lifting with a member from the church. He is 64! He is in great shape!! 

 

 

Elder Hinckley trying to out do a 64 year old man.

I was able to help a mother teach her sons how to tie and tie.

Week 7

 

Week 6 Buriram

Dear Family and Friends,

Ill be really honest this past week I was really under the weather. I really did the best I could to do all the I could. I got this really bad headache on Monday and it just got worse and worse. I tried my best to push through it and just work. It was really hard but I did it. 

This past week all the missionaries were able to meet the new mission president. All the missionaries in the Esan traveled together to meet him. He is a very tall man. He told us about his calling and how he got to talk to Apostles about his calling. He is a really nice man. No one really knows much about him but he told us a little about him. He said that he is from Utah, plays basketball and loves to fish. Now our mission president is a returned missionary from Thailand. He showed us some pictures of when he served here and how they contacted. When we were all done we all had the opportunity to meet him and talk to him just for a minute or two. 

This week Elder Tew and I asked if we could teach the family of an investigator that we are teaching. The investigator said yeah that should be fine. In determining what we were going to teach this family we werent really quite sure what we were going to teach. It came to our minds that we would share the Family Proclamation to the World. I thought it was a great idea. We decided that we would only share and read 3 paragraphs with them. We wanted them to feel the love that Heavenly Father has for them. Along with feeling that families are important. I was happy to share this message with them. We did the best we could to invite them to come to church yesterday but they didnt come. It doesnt mean our effort was wasted. I know that they felt that families are important and in no time they will come. 

Now have you ever read the Family Proclamation to the World? Or when was the last time you read it with your wife or your kids? There is a lot of good things in there that we call all apply. I know that by following what it says we will have happy families. Theres about 9 ways that we can strength our families and I believe if we follow them we will have a happy family for sure. When I was younger in my life I always heard the sisters at church talk about what they wanted their marriage to be like. I remember thinking that why is this important, I have plenty of time. Not really. Time goes faster than you think. I was thinking a while ago about what I want from my marriage. I want a family that will read and follow the Family Proclamation to the World together. I want my children to know that I support them and that we all need to support one another. I have had a long time to think about families and how they are important. Families are the reason I came on my mission. So I could help them be together forever. 

Yesterday the two people who got baptized were confirmed. At the start of sacrament meeting I think we might have had just about 15-20 which is not normal at all. After about 15 more min they both came in an got the Holy Ghost. It kind of scared me a little but they came. It made me really happy. I dont want anyone just to get baptized and not get the Holy Ghost. That wouldnt be good and be of no benefit.  

I also hear that President Packer died as well. I was thinking about him just a few minutes before I get a text saying that he had passed away. I know that he served well and that the Apostles will call 2 others who will fill those two spots. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the Lords church on the earth. I know that we have living prophet who leads and directs the church through revelation. 

Transfers are this week so I will tell you all if I get transfered or not. Well have a great week. 

Love Elder Hinckley

 

The foyer of the old abandoned Hotel. Kind of looks like the Titanic!

A skylight!

Old stairs.

Pretty eerie!

An old abandoned Hotel.

Yuck!

I guess the rats don't clean up after themselves in the abandoned Hotel.

The city of Buriram! It's pretty cool!

Our district going to meet our new Mission President.

A random country road in Buriram that we ride our bikes down.

Elder Hinckley and Elder Tew were teaching an investigator and Elder Hinckley asked if he could teach their whole family.  They said yes!