Karsten's Adventures in the Kingdom of Thailand: Week 16 Buriram

Dear Friends and Family,

This past week sure paid off. I have to thank you for all the prayers that you sent my way. I can sure tell you that those prayers sure helped us this week to reach our goals for our area. We had two days where we couldnt work in our area so your prayers helped a lot. Thank you very much! There was so much that I thought about and so many miracles that happened. So much to say.

One of our investigators this week asked some really great questions as we taught her the Plan of Salvation. As we taught this lesson I thought to myself what does she need. I said a prayer in my heart as we taught, to know what she needed to hear. As we talked about the Spirit World I had a great feeling to say that she can help all of her family when she is baptized. I told her just a little bit about the temple. She can get baptized for her family when she goes to the temple. At this point I could tell that the spirit took hold of the lesson. We didn't explain all about the temple but enough for her needs. I had a calming presence come over me that told me she got what she was looking for.

As we explained the rest of the Plan of Salvation I explained how when she does special ordinances in the temple she can have an eternal family in the Celestial Kingdom. Throughout the lesson I told her many times that Heavenly Father loves her dearly and wants her to return to live with Him. He wants us to have happiness in this life and the next. I told her that I want her and her family to enjoy happiness forever. This is one great reason I came on my mission. To help families be eternal. I want all the people that I teach to enjoy the gift of living with those that they love forever.

She asked a great question. She asked why do you use the word endure? What do I have to endure? We explained how we need to endure the commandments given to us. Endure our trials and our weaknesses. It takes time to fully understand endure. Some will endure more than others at times. I explained how when we endure and keep the commandments we will be blessed and be happy. Enduring at times is hard, yes, I understand. No one ever said that enduring would be easy but it is possible. We told her that she needs to endure so that she will be able to have eternal life 2 Nephi 31:20. When you press forward even when times are hard that is enduring. You cant just sit around thinking that is enduring. You have to show forth effort that you are trying to endure this problem or this trial. Enduring is not easy to understand and I dont think that I fully understand it either. That was a great question and one that I am still thinking about today.

In our quest to find less actives and help them come back to church we know that it is not easy. In a lesson this week with a less active he told us that he wishes he would have found the church earlier so he could have been an Elder. I know that man knows that this church is true and that it can change lives. With another lesson with a different less active things got a little intense. We asked some questions and he gave his answers. His answers were very smart, wise, he used big words and lots of actions. Elder Parish and I knew about this man already so before we taught him we said a prayer to help us know what to teach, ask and say. My companion asked him a specific question and he went off talking about other, not relevant things. I had a warning from the spirit that told me I had to stop him or we wouldnt ge that lesson taught. As he was giving a well animated answer I told him to stop. I asked if he really understood the question. I looked at him and told him that what we were teaching was so important and that he really needed to listen. I told him that we are not here to waste time. We are here to help you get back on the right path! Everything we are teaching comes from Heavenly Father and your Savior Jesus Christ. He sent us here to help you specifically. I told him that he needed to really listen to what my companion had asked him. Now I didnt yell, get mad or anything like that. I was calm and let the spirit guide me in what I said. As I said what I said I could tell that the man knew what I was saying was truth (Alma 32:23). He knew it and couldnt deny it. The influence of the spirit was so strong at this point I knew that the lesson we prepared would get taught. It ended up being one of the best lessons we taught with this man before. I testify that prayer is so necessary!! We didnt know what to do, so we asked for help. Be sensitive to the spirit and heed the warnings He gives you in the minute He gives them to you.

As I have been serving here in Buriram I have thought about how each one of use need to understand our purpose and magnify our callings. This is because I have had time to try and work with leaders more effectively. If we can understand why we have a certain calling then we will have a better idea of what the Lord wants. I know so many people who have callings or who are missionaries who just go through the motions. What is that going to do for them? Now you must know that I am not a perfect person. At times I have gone through the motions as well. I know that I need to magnify my calling though. You may wonder why do I have this calling? The Lord called you there for a reason. At times I think we get to comfortable, that we dont magnify our callings as well as we should. If you feel that way I want you to think about some questions I have thought about. Are you going above and beyond what you are being asked to do? Have you gone out of your way to help others? Have you thought about the will of the Lord? What do you think the Lord has in store for you? I truly believe if you are doing all that you can to magnify your calling and trying to understand it you wont become to comfortable. Like missionary work. Did I understand my purpose as soon as I was a missionary, no probably not. I have had to learn what is was and how I could magnify my calling. If we arent willing to give 100% what does that show Heavenly Father? We cant wait around for someone to tell us what to do. We have to seek the Lord and His will. We have to serve out of love for others. 2 Nephi 22:2.

To go a long with that we had a lesson on Heavenly Gifts. I associated gifts with talents. What talents or gifts has the Lord given you? Are you using your gifts? I know that we all have gifts or talents from the Lord. As I have grown up with many different people to help me learn and grow I have learned a lot of new things. If it was splitting wood or given service with my dad to building a chicken coop to building a waterfall or remodeling a house. Whatever I have done I have learned so much and gained so many new talents. With those talents I was able to get more talents. I used those to help all I could. I know that we can get more if we use them. We too need to improve our talents. Maybe we are really good at sowing or cooking, well work on it. Get good! The Lord as provided so many things for use if we would just use them. These gifts or talents will help us, you, your friends and family. I encourage you all to think about the talents you have and how you can improve. I know we all have some and can improve. I know I can improve as well. I still have a lot to learn. D&C 46:8-11, 82:18. Who will you share your gifts with?

Love

Elder Hinckley

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