From: bryan.todd@myldsmail.net
Hey Family!
How are you all doing? Isn't life just fantastic? I don't think that I ever imagined being as tired as I am, or as happy as I am. It really is amazing how fulfilling this work is. It's weird-- one week from today we will be in Chiang Mai meeting President Senior. It will be interesting to see the leadership change. But, just like all things in the church, we will support the new President. It's cool because unlike elections, we don't choose. God chooses. Through His omniscience, he chooses who will lead His church. Then, by common consent, we get to support the chosen leader and it works. It really is pretty cool if you think about it.
This last week was a solid week. Our investigators are doing well. Leck is still looking solid for his baptism date on the 28th. He just needs to start coming to church. He really likes the things that we are sharing with him, and It's so cool to see the spirit working with him, opening the eyes of his understanding to know of the truthfulness of the gospel. He is reading and the branch president LOVES him. I'm still not sure why. But it's good.
Then there's Naen. She is still good. She is still coming to church, reading and praying daily. She said she got her answer about baptism, but is going to talk to us more about it tomorrow night after English class. So please keep her in your prayers that she will get baptized!
Unfortunatley, we had to do some cleaning of our area book. We had to move on from people who weren't willing to make or keep commitments. But we found some really good people to teach. Yui, the girl from English last week who changed her mind, is doing well. We are teaching her again tonight. Then there was a new lady who showed up to English last week. Her name is Fone. She seems like she is going to be way solid. She is willing to drive like 25 kilos to come learn at the church. Sacrifice truly brings forth blessings. Then we had some members bring some friends to church yesterday. That was really sweet. Things here are so good!
Another great experience-- the other day we were biking to an appointment, and it started POURING! The rain here is amazing. People are always surprised that we will go out in the rain. Thai people are all so afraid of getting sick, and getting wet.
We had a really good lesson with our recent convert T. We were talking a little about prophets with him. He was saying that he knew that prophets were God's representatives on the earth, but after reading President Monson's words he said to us, "I think that they have to have power greater than any man."
We responded yes. Then the story of Nephi and the sealing power from Helaman popped into my head. So we read Helaman 10:6-7 with him. He loved it! He was also asking about infant baptism. He used to be Catholic. So we read in Moroni 8 with him.
Then I said, "Do you think that God would hold an infant who just came out of their mom's stomach, who can't speak, or understand anything, accountable to sin?"
His eyes lit up, and he started laughing and said, "Thats ridiculous! Why would a child like that be held accountable."
It was amazing to feel those words just come out of my mouth as I opened it in faith, not knowing exactly what I was going to say.
We were also able to do a lot of teaching about the atonement. A lot of time we just teach from Alma 7:11-13, which is great. But this week, I have started to use some verses that really are powerful to me. In Mosiah 14:4-5 "Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he wqas wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." That last line, "with his stripes we are healed" is a line that holds so much power to me. I don't know why, but I can't think of that line without my soul being stirred. Without knowing, that that line is 100% true. I know that Jesus Christ truly is our Savior. And because He descended beneath all things, He alone was able to conquer all things. Never forget Him. Do not look past the mark. For this, thanks be to God.
I love you all so much. Please keep our investiagtors and the Thai poeple in your prayers.
Love,
Elder Todd
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