Lunch with Brother Jago
Let's get the email sesh started off with some SHOUTOUTS!
1. My sister got into BYU PROVO! HECK YEAH BABY HOLLA
2. Elder Nathan Peterson's birthday is tomorrow! WOOOOHOOOO
3. Happy birthday Elder Howard yesterday!
Such a great time already here on this day in Thailand. I am so proud of my sister she worked her butt off to get in to BYU, and her hard work payed off. Great job sweetie!
The Work:
Things are going AWESOME here in Chiang Rai. We are killing it on the investigator front. God is really blessing us a lot. One man I want to talk about today is named Mxxang. He is a KhonLao (from Laos), and it has been fun teaching him. He already believes in God and is loving praying every day. He says he feels so peaceful... when he prays, he says that it is unlike anything he has felt before. What a beautiful thing prayer really is. Do we have the opportunity to really revel in our prayers? I would hope some because after talking to Brother Mxxang about his prayers, he has taught me how to pray.
Another awesome highlight of the week was that ELDER GARY STEVENSON from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles came to Bangkok this week and spoke to all the members. We got to listen in from Chiang Rai. He marveled at how far in 50 years so many things could happen. (This year marks 50 years since Thailand was dedicated for missionary service.) It is truly amazing. God hastens the work in every country according to the needs. Three stakes have been created, and 4 more are on the verge of emerging in the next couple of years. What an amazing thing and time to be a missionary and a member in Thailand.
The Culture:
1. PDA is not a thing here.... but it kind of is. Hahahaha. Check out the funny section.
2. People put ketchup on their pizza.
Making some chow
3. We went to Me Sai and the Monkey Caves last P-Day. The monkeys are terrifying creatures..............absolutely terrifying. They are just roaming free all over this Buddhist temple. It is crazy. They are wild - so that is always comforting.
Just chillin with Larry
There are monkeys here - just gotta look for them
The Funnies:
1. KhonThais like to hold hands as friends... not as a couple. One of the members, named Brother Jago (STUD)... grabs my hand during an activity and just holds it as we walk down the street. Totally casual. No one is phased. Men just hold each others hands. Kinda scared for the return home when I casually strike up a conversation with a local BYU buddy and try to hold his hand to show him I care about him..... only a TBM missionary hahahahahahaha.
Frogs
Spiritual thought:
"The inspiring influence of the Holy Spirit can be overcome or masked by strong emotions, such as anger, hate, passion, fear, or pride. When such influences are present, it is like trying to savor the delicate flavor of a grape while eating a jalapeno pepper. Both flavors are present, but one completely overpowers the other. In like manner, strong emotions overcome the delicate promptings of the Holy Spirit." - Richard G Scott (To Aquire Spiritual Guidance - https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/10/to-acquire-spiritual-guidance?lang=eng)
I will just let that one sink in.
Love you all. Congratulations Eliza and GO COUGS!
Love the Lord and Laugh,
เอ็ลเดอร์ สมีธ-ดริกส์
Elder Smith-Driggs
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