Dear Family,
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I was astonished yesterday when I woke up and realized that it was already Sunday again. I remember right before I left the MTC, I got a letter from Nate. He had just crossed his year mark. He said that the crazy thing was that people said year two goes even faster than year one. Like so many things in life, I didn't comprehend it until I experienced it myself.
Time marches forward. As we near the second coming of our Lord, He is hastening His work. That is something that President Senior talked to us about at Zone Leader Council, or Counsel as he wanted to call it. He said that we all know that the Lord is hastening his work. And what happens in a war when one side starts working faster? The other side does the same. It was a voice of warning raised. As this marvelous work goes forth we must step up in all things.
That includes obedience. We'll be receiving an increase of missionaries in April, and one thing that we're really focusing on is establishing a culture of obedience. That is the culture of Christ. It's somehing that is crucial. I encourage you to continue to develop that culture wherever you live.
One of the things that we talked about was less active members. After the meeting President told me, when you go home you're not going to be working with baptism as much as you are now. But you will be going home and have the responsibility to help the less actives. He told me to learn and develop this skill so that it may be of benefit to me always.
We talked about following the Spirit and using discernment to talk to people on the street and finding out what it is they need. The Lord already knows, we just need to figure it out. It's something that's hard to teach, but we can learn by experience. I was paired with Elder Banta from my MTC group. We were walking through this college campus talking about what things could help people. We felt that helping someone understand their divine nature, and individual worth would make a big difference in their lives. We saw this woman who just had a worldy look about her. We went up and asked her if she new what her individual worth and divine nature were. She was a little shocked, but we testified to her that we are all children of God. We told her that He loves us and has prepared many things for us. And that our potential is greater that we know. She was left with a feeling of wonder. But she should be looking to take the lessons.
It reminds me of what Paul wrote:
If only we could all begin to understand this scripture. There are great things that Heavenly Father sees in us, and expects from us.
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
One thing that was really cool happened yesterday at church. A member brought two visitors; her boss and his wife from, Iran. They didn't speak Thai so we got to translate for them. It was really fun. They were nice. They took copies of the Book of Mormon in Persian with them. I figure in countries like that, the Lord has specific purposes for those copies of the Book of Mormon.
I was a sad about our investigators this week. Lek didn't pass her interview. She had a problem with a sin in the past and needs to meet with one of the counselors in the mission presidency to resolve it. As a result her son Tiger won't be getting baptized until she is ready. I'm confident they will still be baptized. Hopefully it won't be too long. Please keep them in your prayers.
Ni Naa is also having struggles. Her mom is not happy with Christianity. She is very strict Buddhist. But Ni Naa still wants to change. Please pray that her mothers heart will be softened.
One last experience, well two, happened yesterday. The first was that I had the opportunity to interview 2 Sri Lankan boys for baptism. It was really interesting to do it because it was in English. They're refugees here, and don't speak English super well. And the interpreter didn't make it! So we decided to go forward and follow the Spirit. It was so sad to hear what they had been through coming from Sri Lanka. They feel that Thailand is like the promise land. They shared experiences how they just know God had stretched forth His hand in their lives.
Then Last night there was another lady who I was blessed to interview. It was amazing. The first thing she told me was that she and her husband have a goal to be sealed in the temple. Also she wants to be baptized that she may receive eternal life. That's a really good reason! She has been learning the gospel for about a year, because she has been waiting for her husband, who is a member, to be ready to baptize her. She just really opened up and shared her very strong testimony of the Atonement. It was really special. I love getting to interview because other people's testimonies build mine up. The Spirit really just builds and enlightens both of us.
I'm so grateful to God, and for His Mercy. I love you all so much!
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เอ็ลเดอร์ทอดด์
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