Karsten's Adventures in the Kingdom of Thailand: 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!!