Karsten's Adventures in the Kingdom of Thailand: Week 6 Bang Khae

Dear Family and Friends

I am sorry this week will be shorter than others but I just didn't have time.

Elder Hartung, my new companion, and I went to visit a family of ours who are investigating the church. We traveled a while to get to their house and waited for them to get home. We thought it was weird that they werent there at the time they said they would be. Their neighbors came out and talked with us in the hallway (they live in an apartment). They gave us water and some chairs to sit on. As we talked we asked what we could do for them. They asked,"What can you do?" We can teach you about Jesus Christ", we replied. After they talked to their mother they came back and asked,"Do you have a picture of Jesus Christ we can have?" Good thing I had one in my pocket. That is all they wanted. I hope they put that picture on the wall so they can look at it everyday. I think all homes need a few pictures of Jesus Christ. I know in my home we have a few. I think it would be great to have one on your desk at the office ha.

In one meeting this week Elder Hartung and I went to McDonald's to meet an investigator. I thought."Well this will be a first, teaching inside a McDonald's, but okay." We taught the Restoration to a lady who is interested in learning and while the first vision was being said you could feel the spirit very well. That was a testimony to me of how powerful the first vision or the Restoration is. It again happened a few days later when we met a new investigator in the middle of a food court where it was very loud. The same results happened. It doenst matter where you are you can feel the spirit when you teach!

Another one of our investigators, Brother Tin, is progressing very well! He knows the branch president and members at the church. As we taught the Plan of Salvation to him he said,"Wow! that answered my questions." Well that made me happy. This man is ready to be baptized and he could either get baptized the 3rd or the 10th. We will let him decide. He asked a question I didnt know the answer to, that was,"Why does Heavenly Father allow people to be born with deformities?" I really didnt know the answer to that question but I have thought about it for a while. There is a boy who lives right across the street from us who is handicapped. His mom rides a bike with him just about everyday. That makes me very happy to see his loving mother do that for him just about everyday.

Last night as Elder Hartung and I were walking home I felt impressed to go talk to a lady who was sitting down on some stairs. As I approached her I noticed that she was crying. I almost walked away but I felt impressed to stay. I asked if I could do anything to help her and she just said,"I have a problem with my whole family." I told her that everything would be okay. I told her I know how it can be hard at times but it will all be okay. I told her about what Jesus Christ taught will help her family have better family relationships, help them be happier and help them fix problems. She just listened as I told her this. I showed her a picture of my family and told her,"Even though at times we may fight, I still love them and know we can get though anything." That is the first time that I have had an experience like that on my mission. I always wondered if I would have an experience like that or not. I know all I could really do is show Christlike love to her.

Right now our investigators are, You-gee, Tin, Boon, Cheian, Jeep, Eggy, Egg, Chew-git, Poon, Sunny and his family, Mote, Boo-bay, Dong, Jang, May, Katie, Un, Oom. I just hope and pray that they all get an answer that what we teach is true.

Love

Elder Hinckley

Elder Hartung napping.

Elder Hinckley's companion, on his last transfer before going home, has reverted back to childish behavior. Hopefully Elder Hinckley will not do such things.