What's up Family and Friends! I am
still here in Roi Et, and I have a new companion! His name is Elder Ryan Young.
Totally a stud - he is from Columbus, Ohio, and he is a total BOSS. He just
came out of his greenie area, and we are loving working together. I have been
so blessed with some amazing companions…and the trend continues.
The
Work:
This week was super hard. We had a
lot of people cancel appointments, it rained a lot (and in Thailand that means
you can’t go out of the house.. so again no appointments)... but that is OK
because on Saturday and Sunday, we had STAKE CONFERENCE. Nine areas came
together in Roi Et for the อุบนๅ stake conference, and so that meant all of the missionaries
came to Roi Et as well! I got to see some people in my group that I hadn't seen
in like 6 months... it was WAY fun.
Reunion
Also it was great to see all of the members
from other areas who I have met before, and they were just so great to see... I
love Thai people. They are just great hahahahaha.
President Tiger and I saving the world...sort of...
But yeah, other than that
this week was hard. Sad to see Elder Smith go…he went down to Bangkok in an
area called Bangkapi. He was really excited to go, but he will be missed.
The
Culture:
Here in Thailand for stake
conferences people have to travel in big school buses to get to stake
conference, coming from hours away... pretty cool to bike up to them and see a
bunch of Mormons screaming, "Elders! Elders!" and waving hahahahaha.
I am sure Utah missionaries get bored of that, but we were HYPED here in Roi Et,
Thailand.
The
Funnies:
1.
We visited a member this week who is
handicapped because he can’t walk very well, and he had just gone to the doctor
to get new pain medicine...and the medicine made him super loopy. So all he did
was laugh at us the whole lesson. Hahahah when we asked what he was laughing at
he was like - this medicine makes me feel really happy... and just kept
laughing. It was funny.
2.
When Elder Young came up from
Bangkok, we had to go pick him up at the bus station at 4 am...they didn't have
a phone coming up, but there bus was set to come in around 4. So we got there
at 4 am on our bikes in our PJs... and waited groggily. Then the TV suddenly
turned on, and the World Tennis championships came on... WAIT WHAT??? 4 a.m. in
Thailand? Tennis? They don't play tennis here in Thailand. I said a silent
prayer thanking God for this tender mercy and watched Djokovic and Serena
Williams play their matches for 2 hours until the elders finally arrived at
5:45 am hahahahaha. Thanks God! Tender mercy!
3.
We were riding our bikes on the
freeway road, and all of a sudden a cow pops out of the bushes and just walks
into the middle of the road and stands there... blocking all cars and
everything. Hahahahaahha it was hilarious.
Spiritual
thought:
Exodus 20:12 says, “Honour thy
father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord
thy God giveth thee.”
OK so for you young adults out there
(including myself)... let’s just take a look at this for a sec. Our parents
gave us life, fed us and clothed us, got us out of the crib many long nights
while we cried, were patient when we slept in their bed and peed on them, asked
for food every 20 seconds, complained about school, and broke the rules...They
have held our hands since we were babies; they sometimes have let us fall down
just to show us that we can get back up; they teach and help us and are patient
with us... and we still break the rules, are flippant, and don't listen to
them? NOT IN GOD'S BOOK. High schoolers, middle schoolers - please listen to me
when I say that your parents are not there to ruin your life. Your parents are
not there (as much as you might think) to make sure you don't go to the prom.
Heck guys - they have been to high school before... I guarantee you they have
broken THEIR parents’ rules and seen the effects. God tells us plainly and
simply to honor our father and our mother. Now... to do this YOU NEED TO LISTEN
TO THEM. I am not saying to obey everything they say... that is impossible
unless you are a perfect child. And if you think you are a perfect child, then
you need to see a psychiatrist because something isn't right. I challenge you
all to sit down with your parents (as much as you might hate it or think it is
awkward)…and I want you say these words: "Mom and Dad/Parental Guardian...
I know that you love me, and I am here because I know you know more than I do.
But I was wondering how I can be a better daughter/son. I want to know how to
have a better relationship with you as my parents. What do I need to do
better?"
Guys your parents will straight up
pee their pants with excitement when they hear this... and they get to feel
good for all the years you peed in their bed when you had "nightmares."
It is like a payback for the parents.
And parents - please don't start
railing on your kids for doing all of the bad things... that will just make us
angry. When I did this with my parents (I did it like once or twice maybe - I
wish I did it more), I remember that they told me how much they loved me…and
they were really good at telling me just one thing I could fix to have a better
relationship with them.... As I tried to do that, I felt closer with my
parents, especially with my mom. Honestly we high schoolers don’t get the
picture (honestly I still don't)... but have a one-on-one council with your
kid. And as you compromise together - I promise your relationship with your child
will be better and be healthier. (These same principles also apply for our
heavenly parents, just FYI.)
It might work for you, it might
not... but I would sure hope that all you guys will give it a go. No matter how
much the school prom matters to you ;)
Love you all and GOOD LUCK!
--
Love the Lord and Laugh,
เอ็ลเดอร์ สมีธ-ดริกส์
Elder Smith-Driggs
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