Week 14 Bang Naa

Dear Friends and Family,

This past week was great! We got training that the whole mission really needed. As well as a World Wide Missionary Broadcast done by the Missionary Department. Wow was it good!! There was a common theme in both training's that we got it was "Teach Repentance and Baptized Converts". What does that even mean? Well let us break it down a little bit. Repentance is a change of action to say the least. We all need to repent. I am not perfect and I try to repent and be better as much as I possibly can. What is a convert? Someone who has been baptized and has been faithful to their baptismal covenants that they made. Well in our training that we received we learned that repentance is the real conversion. Baptism is just the way that we show we have repented and are willing to follow Jesus Christ the rest of our lives. Baptism is essential but so is repentance. Repentance will bring a real change into the hearts of the people you are teaching. When they understand repentance then they will be converted. Teach Repentance and Baptized Converts! 

Something I would like to add to what I learned is that without member help missionaries cannot do the work at all! They need member help, they need your referrals, they need your effort and they need your WILLINGNESS. One Elder I am serving with has banned the word "convenient" in our house. I have changed the way that I talk to people. I dont ask if it is convenient for them anymore I ask are you willing to help. I understand that everyone has work and other stuff that they need to do but your willingness will greatly impact the work of salvation. Think about our Lord and Savior, He didnt say,"If only it is convenient will I do the atonement." No! He said," I am willing to atone right now." He was willing to do the Fathers will. Are we willing to do the Lords will?

I swear everywhere we go, it doesnt matter where we find people who are members. We went to this market last P Day. When we were about to head home we went into this gift shop because there was AC. We were just walking around when a lady asked what we were doing. We told her who we were and so forth. She said,"I havent seen the Elders for 20 years now." She is a member. As we talked to her she said she hasnt been to church in a long time. She didnt even know about the temple. She said she might not be able to see the temple because of her cancer. I dont know if she was happy to see us or not. Heavenly Father will put us all in situations that we need to be in for whatever reason. We told the Elders in that area about that lady and told her she needs to be visited. 

I met two English speaking people this week. The first one was telling me that he knew more about Jesus Christ than me. He went off talking about this and that. I just thought to myself," Do you hear yourself?" I politely told the man that I have information that he doesnt its called the Book of Mormon. I challenged him to go to our website and read it and then told him that we will know. The other man I asked if he wanted to learn about Jesus Christ. He told me that he went to a Brotherhood school or something like that and that he knew all about Jesus. I asked," Well do you believe what you learned." He didnt answer the question. As I was walking to try and keep up with him I stopped and said," We have a message that will change your life!" He stopped for a second looked back, smiled and kept walking. I will not case you down and make you listen to us. I know how important our message is and how it can and will change your life! 

At church yesterday I heard two great talks. The first one was about the Gospel. From the talk I like a few things which were that the gospel can change our lives. If you are looking for something else in your life and you cant find it learn about the gospel. If you know what it is already learn the gospel from the missionaries again. Also that the gospel will never expire! Wow! How great is that! How close do you hold the gospel to you? Is it still delicious to you?  The second talk was about parents have responsibility to teach their children the gospel. If you give a man a fish he can eat for a day. If you teach a man how to fish he can eat for a lifetime. What is the difference? Just giving your children things will never teach them to act or do for themselves. If you do everything for your children until the day they go on their mission or to college they will not have learned much. But if you teach them the gospel then much much more is possible. I thank my parents for not giving me everything I always asked for. The gospel that I learned from my parents has greatly influenced me and who I am. The gospel taught me to be proactive. I did my best to serve without being asked, to do my duties and to be the best example I knew how to be. The gospel is what I am rooted to. Parents are you doing the best your can to teach your children the gospel? I promise you that if you do it earnestly it will pay off in the future.

Elder Joy and I have a bunch of investigators who are progressing and others who are not. Sometimes I dont know what to do for them. Some of them when we meet I just want to ask," Do you want to be here? Do you want to learn with us? I dont want to waste your time." I dont say that though. I think about the scripture, "line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little". We just have to keep teaching and try to help them have spiritual experiences. We can do all we can to try and help them feel the spirit but if they dont except it that is not our fault. Some of our investigators are Lee, Noi, Gong, Stamp, Ann, Daa, Lynn, Joom and My. Please pray for them! Please pray that they will have spiritual experiences and receive what we teach. Also some of our less actives we are working with are Bew, Pie-road, May, Dung-daa, Brasan, Bo, Geid. Please pray that the Lord will provide a way for them to meet with us and that we will be able to help them. Also that they will realize that they need Jesus Christ. It will help them so much, please pray for them. 

There is so much that I want to say but I dont have the time or the words to say them. I got my "notice" I guess you could say that I am going home in 6 months. It was a shocker to me when I got it! It made me feel sad, it really did. Well I wont let this effect me. The work shall go on! 

Love

Elder Hinckley 

 

 

Three wheeled  transportation/

Transportation to the floating markets.

A small fish that came to say hello or sing a song of the sea.

Transportation to the floating markets.

Elder Joy and I.  I am sweating pretty good, but Elder Joy, he doesn't sweat at all.

These temples were once covered in gold.  When a war broke out with another country, they stole all the gold off these temples.

My packing letter. This letter came as of a surprise.  It has my release date on it.  This made me pretty sad to read this.

 

 

My date of release. July 22, 2016.

 

Week 13 Bang Naa

Dear Friends and Family

Elder Joy and I had a really great week! I know it has to do with a lot of the prayers from all of you! Thank you so much. Great things happened this week and we hope they will help our investigators grow and progress. 

In one of our lessons this week we were teaching an investigator who isnt really progressing how we thought. So we turned to what the scriptures have said time and time again, teach faith and repentance unto baptism. That is exactly what we did. As we taught this investigator they just laughed at what we said. I just wanted to say,"You cant just laugh at this! This is serious! Do you think what we teach is funny?" Elder Joy and I bore the best testimony that we could of how we need to faith in Christ and repent. Repent even if we dont commit serious sins. I really dont think we will teach this investigator anymore. 

One of our investigators is progressing right along. She told us she wants to know for herself that what we are teaching is true. She wants to really feel the Holy Ghost testify to her that this is true. That is not bad. I really encourage her to keep studying until she gets her answer. We had a solid lesson just on faith and keeping commandments. It was a really great lesson. I could feel the Holy Ghost working! At one moment during the lesson we didnt say anything, just silent. At that moment I could feel the Holy Ghost the strongest! I know she will get an answer. This investigator asks for homework just about everyday. "Elder will you please give me homework from the Book of Mormon?" Wow! Never had an investigator like her before. When asked what the most important thing in her life is right now she said,"Reading the Book of Mormon." I feel strong on the fact that she will get baptized soon. Her name is Lee, please pray that she will receive an answer through scripture study, prayer, members and the Holy Ghost. 

One day while inviting this lady sat next to me on the back of a truck while inviting. Since I have learned more about the scriptures and what they say and what Elder Holland wants of us, I have not be afraid to open my mouth to anyone anywhere. I attempted to talk to this lady and asked,"Would you like to learn more about Jesus Christ?" Her response," Um sorry I am already Catholic." In my mind I was thinking, well I didnt ask if you were with another sect, I asked if you would like to learn more about Jesus Christ. I asked if she new about temples. She said that her temples and our temples are not the same. I asked if she would explain. She goes on to tell me that she knows who I am and what Im doing. I politely asked her to elaborate on the topic and she could not. As I got off the truck I tried to give her an inviting card with information to read and a web site to go to. She didnt want it. So I set it on the seat next to her. She picked it up and did everything she could to give it back to me. Elder Joy said,"You reject the gift, you reject the Giver." Think to yourself, If someone asked if you wanted to learn more about Jesus Christ and His teachings would you go learn? Or would you make an excuse? Will you reject the Giver? 

Elder Joy and I taught many investigators this week. A lot of things were discussed and taught. I love helping people build their foundation in Christ. We taught a man this week and asked,"Do you have a desire to be baptized? Yes. Okay when do you think you will be ready to be baptized? Today is good, can I get baptized today?" Ha as great as that would be I think we should spend a few weeks with this man learning and understanding. Another lady asked,"How will things change after I am baptized?" A great question. That is one that I cannot really answer. I did my best to answer but Elder Joy was able to answer it better than me. When you were baptized how did your life change? What was good and what was bad? Have you seen the blessings from your choice to be baptized and follow Jesus Christ? 

As I invite I will hold up a picture of Jesus Christ. More than often people will turn away when they see His face. Why is that? I dont understand why you would want to turn away from Christ. Are people scared of Him? Do they not like Him? I feel as if it is pride and society. Well all I have to say is throw your pride away and dont listen to society. So many people will laugh at my companion and at me. Many of you will know how that feels. I think I understand more how Christ felt when He Himself was rejected by so many. I think this is another reason Im on a mission, to learn somewhat of what Christ Himself went through and how He felt. If you dont know please try and image what it feels like. 

Our stake president had a priesthood meeting this last week that really made me think more about missionary work. From his councilors I learned that we need to know the names of the members or know the names of all the sheep of the fold. Also its not do my job and if I have time I will visit others or do my calling, it is the other way around. From the stake president we watched the last 10 minutes of "Babe". Wow I never thought how that could relate to the gospel so well. If you dont remember or havent seen it, watch the last 15 minutes and relate it to the gospel. He read and stated plainly from Moses 5:34 "Am I my brothers keeper?" I know that we think, Oh why does it have to be me to watch over him or her. I have other things to do. I ask you all, when was the last time you didnt think about yourself and you thought about that widow or less active in the ward who needs your help. I am not saying everyone or all of you do this but I want to encourage you to help your brothers and sisters and Be There Keeper! 

Our investigators are, Lee, Brother Noy, Sister Noy, Stamp, Joy, Gong, Ann, Lin, Joom, Bo, Daa, Ba, Mungdraa, please pray for them. Others to pray for as well, Bew, King, Sayta, Bo, Dungda, Mondri, They all need your prayers. If you can please take these names to the temple please. 

Love

Elder Hinckley 

 

 

Week 12 BANG NAA

Dear Friends and Family,

We taught a lady this week who is very interesting in learning about our church. She said," I want to learn why Christians are so happy all the time. What do they know or what do they do?" Well that is a great questions. We had a very great lesson with this lady and she plans on learning with us some more. Why do you think Christians might be so happy? Is it because of our knowledge of the Plan of Salvation? Is it because of all the commandments we have? Is it because we are family centered? There could be many answers why. I think one of them is the fact that we know that Christ our Savior and Redeemer still lives. Knowing that will and can give others hope. He loves each and everyone of us. Knowing about the Atonement of Christ will give us happiness as well. We will be able to repent from our day to day mistakes and become more like Him. One more that I believe we are happy is because of our families. I dont know what I would do if I didnt have my family. They have taught me so much! 

As a district leader I have responsibility to help with training once a week. On Sunday I will pray to know what to teach the district on Tuesday. This week was different. As I studied on Monday I studied something that was really good and I knew it would help the district. On Tuesday I prayed again to know what to teach and asked that the Holy Ghost would help me know what Heavenly Father wanted me do teach. As I started to study I opened up Preach My Gospel and flipped open to something I thought was good as well. The section I opened up to was Listening in Chapter 10. It was just what we all needed. I didnt teach what I studied on Monday. As we talked about listening I could tell it was something that everyone needed. We talked about listening to our investigators and what they are saying. That was a big focus. If you arent listening to what they are saying you could miss a very important point where you can bear testimony. You will be able to teach more to their needs. Dont be afraid of silence in lessons. Maybe you or your investigator need to listen to the Holy Ghost and what He is saying. After that meeting I knew that was what we were supposed to learn. I know that if I wasnt listening for the Holy Ghost in my prayers I would have missed it. 

Another small instance this week where the Holy Ghost guided us. We called our investigator to see if he was still coming to our appointment and as he talked to us it didnt sound like he was going to come. We decided to go inviting and if he came a member would be at the church to call us. We werent going to go to far. As we prayed to know where to go the Holy Ghost told me we needed to go back behind the church to another street. we didnt go that way at first. I told Elder Joy that we needed to turn around and go the other way. I said we have to go find someone. Someone is waiting for us. Not even 3 minutes later a man on a motorcycle taxi drives up to us and asks," Are you the ones we made an appointment with?" To say the least we found our investigator and took him to the church. The whisperings of the Holy Ghost are real. We need to listen with focus that at any moment He will talk to us. We need to be ready to receive what He says. What He says comes from our Heavenly Father so be prepared. He will guide you to those that will receive you. 

I talked to this man in English who is not a Christian. I asked if he believed in Jesus Christ and he said I know about Him. I said," Do you believe in Him?" and he responded the same. I said," Well I know that 2+2=4 but until I believe (Or have done something to believe) that 2+2=4 I will not believe." I dont know if what I said makes sense or not but what I meant was, I can know about Jesus Christ or Joseph Smith but until I have fasted and prayed to actually believe that they are true, I wont know. Do you believe in Jesus Christ? How do you know or how did you come to the realization of that? What are you doing to believe in Him? 

One of our recent converts is having a hard time with family right now. They want him to change back to the religion he was before he was a member. He is having a hard time right now. I know that if we were in his situation we would still want to show love to our families and be nice to them. This man is an adult and can make decisions on his own. Elder Joy and I shared two scriptures with him 

Alma 15:16

16 And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek, Amulek having forsaken all his gold, and silver, and his precious things, which were in the land of Ammonihah, for the word of God, he being rejected by those who were once his friends and also by his father and his kindred;

2 Nephi 8:7

7 Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart I have written my law, fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.

In my scriptures I wrote that even the prophets friends and family rejected them, even though they were doing what was right. I know it can be hard but you can still be a good example. You dont need to be afraid of what they will say or do. What you are doing is the right thing. You can take a stand for you beliefs! You dont have to fight but just share your beliefs. This is your choice, you know what is best for yourself so never be afraid of what others will say. 

On Sunday we had one of our investigators call and say she didnt want to learn with us anymore. She did not pass her baptism interview so we think that is the reason. This really broke Elder Joys heart as well as mine. We have faith she will come to know that she can keep going. Her name is Luxsame. Please pray for her please. We had many investigators come to church for the first time even though we have been meeting with them. We saw many miracles on Sunday! Please pray for Luxsame, Ann, Stamp, Joy, Noy, Faa, Joom and Yosh, these are our investigators. Some recent converts need your prays as well, Bew, King, Pyroad, May, Doy, Sayta, Brasaan and Bow. They all need your prayers. Please pray for them. 

Love 

Elder Hinckley 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 11 Bang Naa

Dear Family and Friends,

Since this last week was New Years it was a little harder to get lessons and to find people. One day while Elder Joy and I were out inviting we both looked at each other and said,"There is no one here. Its like a ghost town." There was really no one in Bangkok. It just wasn't our area, it was all over. It was like this last year as well. None the less we still contacted people and found people to teach. 

Have you ever been asked to do something and your never did it? Or where you asked to do something and no one followed up with you on what you did? Well you can relate that to missionary work. We as missionaries give commitments just about everyday. It is how we can help people change their lives. I always tell people that we will not and do not force them to do anything. We just encourage and support them. We may be a little bold when we give commitments but at times you have to. Being to bold can not be good. You have to be bold to a point that others will try out what you said, but on the other side I feel as if you should back everything up with love. Sincere love for them and for their salvation. As for me I am pretty bold with commitments but I always express my love for them and Heavenly Fathers love for them as well. I tell them about all the blessings that they can receive and how they can have more happiness with their families. You need to follow up though. If it is something like praying or reading you can follow up the next day but with smoking that might take a few more days. You need to follow up though. It is like buying food and not eating it. Buying it was pointless and it was a waste. The point is commitments are important and should not be taken lightly. If some reading assignment wasn't done, take that time and read with that person. Show them how important that commitment was. As we give and follow up on commitments people will begin to chance their lives for the better. I promise you that. What are some blessings you have seen from keeping commitments? 

One day this week while Elder Joy and I were inviting no one would listen. It was way hard to get people to stop and talk to you. As I kept inviting I just thought about Lehi and how he told everyone what was going to happen to Jerusalem, but no one believed. Do you want more happiness in your family? No. Do want help with your problems? No. Do you want an eternal family? No. All I know is that when us missionaries speak those who hear His voice will come. I know that to be true. I have seen it time and time again. A lot of people dont understand what they are giving up. I wish they would all stop and listen. They all have their agency though. Some people choose to use it wiser than others. 

We visited a less active lady this week. When we got to her restaurant she was very busy with preparing food for customers. We just took a seat and waited patiently. We asked if we could do anything for her and she finally told us we could bag some sticky rice. As we bagged the sticky rice Elder Joy said,"We cant teach all the time, sometimes we just come to serve." He was so right. She was the only one making food, so Elder Joy and I when we finished we cleaned the dishes and put those away for her. We just found what needed to be done and did it. I was happy to serve her and help her out. She just had a big smile on her face when we left. Her daughter is learning with us right now. We hope to help this family get to church and come into the gospel. Mosiah 2:18-Behold, ye have called me your Elder; and if I, whom ye call your Elder, do labor to serve you, then ought not ye to labor to serve one another? We told her we are here to serve you. Call anytime and we will work something out. 

A member in ward here is having some money problems. As I translated for one of the English speaking members I became aware of this problem. Well once we talked about this problem words were transformed into action. We went out got food for this member and visited him right away. We didnt say someone told us about your situation. We shared how that member needs to trust in the Lord that all will be well and how keeping the commandments is important as well. Missionaries, ward members and the bishopric all went to support this member in their time of need. Well to say the least we will take care of anyone who needs help. We as members of the church need to take care of all. Give of your substance and time to those who need it. I know it is what Christ would do if He were here. 

As we work together to help build up the areas where we live we will see miracles, blessings and the Lords hand. I challenge you all to share your testimony with those that need it. Open your mouth and it will be filled. Share what your blessings have been since being a member of the church. Lift up your brethren and help them stand. 

Love 

Elder Hinckley 

 

Only the shadow knows!

Pebbles met Elder Hinckley and Elder Chris on the train from Chiang Mai, Thailand traveling towards Bangkok.  She approached Elder Hinckley and Elder Chris and wanted to talk about our church.  She asked a lot of questions and they answered them.  The next morning when they were getting off the train, she told Elder Hinckley that he was very nice, and that when she gets back to England, she will look up the missionaries.  She did, and three months later was baptized.  She is holding up a picture of Elder Chris with what looks like her glasses. These Elders in England taught her and baptized her.

Pebbles on her baptism day.

 

Week 10 Bang Naa Happy New Years

Dear Friends and Family

This last week I had a very spiritual experience in which I cannot deny that the Holy Ghost let me. When we let our house Saturday morning I asked my companion where he wanted to eat. Before he could get a word out I said lets go to that members restaurant. He agreed. We invited all the way there and got nothing. We ate, made phone calls and headed back to the BTS station. As I bought our tickets I just went to the nearest flight of stairs I saw. I didnt even think where we were to go. As we reached the top I looked across and saw that the other train on the other side of the tracks was the one we were to be on. I just had a chuckle. As we went down the stairs I heard a voice, I heard the Holy Ghost whisper to me," You will find someone at the bottom of the stairs." When I reached the bottom of the stairs I saw a group of people who just came down the stairs from the other train( the train I was supposed to get on). I saw this person walking toward me and I almost didnt say anything until the Holy Ghost told me to open my mouth. I asked the person if they wanted to learn about Christ and this person was way enthusiastic about learning. The Holy Ghost will prompt you. You have to listen though. That morning I had a way good personal study about how I can better listen to the Holy Ghost. Since then I have tried better to listen to the whispering of the Holy Ghost.

Elder Joy and I were talking about how we could make English Class more fun for the people who come. We talked about playing Simon says. You have all heard of this game before. Well in the game you want to do everything that Simon says right. If you dont you are out right. Well as I pondered about this, I thought about what God says. Do we, you and I all do what He says? Do we want to do what He says? What if we dont? Will we be out? What God says is more important that what anyone else says. He loves us and whats the best for us. This is so important! We need to do what He says when He says it. He knows what will help us have happiness so remember that. 

Elder Joy this last weekend planned for 14 people to come to church. These were all the people that could potentially come to church. We were really hoping that all of them would come. Well that was not the case. We had just 1 person come. He taught that person after church and gave him a date for baptism. He accepted. Well that 1 person was not any of the people we planned for. Elder Joy turns to me and says," Well that was Gods plan. We planned for 14 but He planned for 1." I really dont know what to say. God has His own plan. Even though we planned for many people, which is not bad, He planned for one this time. 

Please pray for our investigators, Stamp, Luxsami, Chut, Yosh, Joom, Ning, Ann, Nan, Dangmo, Doughnut. They need your prayers. We are working our best with them and hope and wish for their success. 

Mosiah 14:5-10. This New Year I want to remember the Lord my Savior and all that He did for me. When we teach our investigators we teach that Christ took the beating for us so that we would not have to. I dont know the pain of Him or what He went through, but one thing I do know is that He is my Savior, Redeemer, My Light, My Source of Life, Jesus Christ. 

I love being a missionary! 

Love

Elder Hinckley

I saw this while buy food the other day. The milk is a member of the church and the beer is temptation or others, Dare to stand alone! Elder Joy and I love to cook together, we made "Elder Chicken", so good! I hope you like the videos! 

Dare to stand alone amongst others who might tempt you.

Having fun in the kitchen with knives!

We are making an Elder chicken dish!

Working out with plantains.

Week 9 Bang Naa Merry Christmas

Dear Friends and Family,

Today I had a wonderful Christmas Day! I woke up at 5:30 a.m. this morning and just pondered the meaning of Christmas. CHRISTmas is the true meaning! As I got ready this morning I just thought how much I am grateful for my Savior. Christmas season is a great time to spread the Christmas spirit. I am so thankful for my Savior and all that He has done for me. Well this morning I opened up a package from my family. In the package were small little paper stockings with little messages written on them. As I read these little messages from friends and family the spirit overcame me and I started to cry. Messages contained just the things I needed. I want to thank everyone who sent me a little message and sent me a personal email for Christmas. Know that I am so thankful for all of you that support me. I just pray that my Elder and Sister friends in the field are having a wonderful Christmas season. If you had a cold winter...well just know that I had a nice warm one ha! 

Today we went to President Johnson's house for Christmas and had a wonderful dinner. Very grateful for a nice Christmas dinner. On the way home I met a man who asked what we were doing here. I said that we are missionaries. I dont think that he had seen missionaries before. He is Thai and he lives in Texas. We talked about what we do here. He said, "You sacrifice a lot." I told the man,"I sacrifice because He sacrificed for me." He looked at me and said wow! I do what I do because He sacrificed so much for me. I love my Savior and Redeemer! As I come down to my last months as a missionary I think of all that I have done and think," I sure hope I have done all I could do in these two years." Sacrificing is just something small that I can do for Him who sacrificed the most for you and I. 

Elder Joy and I were inviting in an area that I havent been to in a while. He asked,"Which way do we go?" I said," Well I have gone left before, but never gone right or straight." "Okay right it is." We just went inviting and asking everyone that we met. As I walked by this restaurant I saw a lady who had her face covered. Then she looked at me and I said I know that lady. It was just a member from church. As we talked to her we asked if she had any friends who might be interested. She gave us two referrals. Oh was I thankful! I know that if we didnt go that way we wouldnt have gotten two referrals that we needed. Next time you think which way to go, think which way havent we gone before and go! You never know what will be in store. 

Being with a Thai companion is great! I learn so much from him. He helps me with the language and the culture. We were walking by this tree this last week and he said," Have you ever eaten this before?" It was a small berry. I said no. He plucked a small berry from the tree and I ate it. He said good huh? I have learned so much from this companion. I gave Elder Joy a 3 Musketeers bar and he said it was too sweet, and that next time he needs to eat it with milk! ha

As we come to the close of another year I want you to think what you have done well, not what you have done wrong. Think about all the positive that you have done and all the good things. Think about what you can do better or what you can work on. I have spent a few year in Thailand from January to December now. Many great and wonderful things have taken place. Many miracles have happened and memories that I will never forget. The people here are so kind and genuine. Many have gotten baptized and found the Savior. Many will rejoice and families will be together forever. I wound not change anything for the time I have had to be a missionary. These years are the best years for my life. He is the Gift, because of Him we can have eternal happiness.   

Our investigators are Chat, Muay, Lugsami, Josh, James, Ning, Ya, please pray for them. Pray that their hearts will be opened to the Lords message. 

I will not get to email again until New Years. So that is next time that I will get to email. 

Love 

Elder Hinckley 

คริสต์มาส

 

Christmas in Thailand.

Thanks Mom for the apron.

Going against the traffic.

Merry Christmas from Elder Hinckley and his companion.

Zone Christmas party!