Well in Alma, we learn that God has many ways of bringing salvation to his children. And through the Atonement of Christ, the sins of little children are swallowed up. And, because of the Atonement, we will all live again. I've never lost a son, and I hope that someday I never do, but we can be comforted that throught the Atonement of Christ, we can all be saved and live together again. My heavens, isn't God so wonderful? That he sent his Son for us. But death is just another step in the Plan of Salvation. Death is just another step in becoming like God himself. So, Ian is just a step ahead of all us now, isn't he? And, not just a step ahead, but a step ahead and on the right hand of God.
We've gotten some new investigators this week. We keep growing and growing and growing and most of our investigators are doing really, really well. It's been suck a miracle for us to see so much growth and that God has been so merciful to us in leading us to all these people to teach. And, in having members help us and see the joy and happiness that comes in people's lives, and to see the changes within their hearts and souls as they "have no more disposition to do evil." My heavens we are being blessed right now. And, because I'm going to have to work even harder and be even more obedient to all the rules, and to try and thank God for all the blessings.
I'm exhausted every dy when we go home, and I'm 24/7 worried about and stressed over all the ways we can help our investigators. But, the joy that comes from being in the service of God, I'm loving it here. And, I know the trials are going to keep coming and that the more blessed we are, the more tried we will be. But, I know that God will be with us.
Happy 4th of July and Father's Day.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
June 23, 2010
We're working really, really, hard and we're being blessed by the Lord for it. When I first got here it was a nightmare. I was so worried about having people to meet, because we had no one. But, we just had our first baptism here. Elder Haws got the baptize her which I was really excited for because that's his first time doing it. But, now we've gotten more and more referrals and we have 6 families we are now teaching, along with 8 other individuals we're teaching. We're so full everyday now it's so beautiful!!
We had 29 combined investigators at church on Sunday and 89 people which is more than we have every had ever. 20 of those 29 were ours and the 9 were all miracles that they came. Me and Elder Donnelson were getting ready to rejoice and cry as all of our investigators were brought to church by members, had those members directing them from class to class, and overall the warm welcome they received from everyone. It was the greatest most exciting thing ever. The Lord is blessing us out of our minds right now. And, as Nephi of old, I will have to praise God all the day long, in triumph or defeat, in joy or sadness, in health or sickness, because of the great, many blessings he has poured out upon our heads.
I biffed it way hard on my bike this week. We were luckily riding out to a little village out in the middle of nowhere so no one saw but Elder Haws. I have a fatty bruise on my hip! I'm good though. It was actually really funny. I just have a fatty scrape on my arm now.
We had 29 combined investigators at church on Sunday and 89 people which is more than we have every had ever. 20 of those 29 were ours and the 9 were all miracles that they came. Me and Elder Donnelson were getting ready to rejoice and cry as all of our investigators were brought to church by members, had those members directing them from class to class, and overall the warm welcome they received from everyone. It was the greatest most exciting thing ever. The Lord is blessing us out of our minds right now. And, as Nephi of old, I will have to praise God all the day long, in triumph or defeat, in joy or sadness, in health or sickness, because of the great, many blessings he has poured out upon our heads.
I biffed it way hard on my bike this week. We were luckily riding out to a little village out in the middle of nowhere so no one saw but Elder Haws. I have a fatty bruise on my hip! I'm good though. It was actually really funny. I just have a fatty scrape on my arm now.
June 17, 2010
We went to Siem Riap for Zone Conference. Still haven't gotten to see Angkor Wat though. Super Wack! Oh well. Someday, I'll just go see if with you and dad when you come.
Work is slowly picking up more and more. We're getting busier and busier, and I think that soon, we'll be busier than we ever thought we could handle. We'll just try to keep working as hard as we can, relying upon the blessings of the Lord, and he will bless us for it.
The Gospel is true. No matter how hard it rains, no matter how many times we get turned away, to Gospel will still go forth, and we will be blessed for doing the work of the Lord with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength.
Work is slowly picking up more and more. We're getting busier and busier, and I think that soon, we'll be busier than we ever thought we could handle. We'll just try to keep working as hard as we can, relying upon the blessings of the Lord, and he will bless us for it.
The Gospel is true. No matter how hard it rains, no matter how many times we get turned away, to Gospel will still go forth, and we will be blessed for doing the work of the Lord with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength.
June 9, 2010
We had 24 people that were at church on Sunday that are non-members. Some we can't teach until they've been to church for 8 Sundays in a row. But, they sacrifice a ton in order to get to church. They're as poor as dirt poor can get. But, they're doing really well.
We have one family of a mom, Jannii, her son, Songvatt, and her daughter, Sokvan, and they are really excited to be baptized. They are progressing well and keep any commitments that we give them.
We also have another family that would be doing awesome, but the Dad is holding them back. But, he's joining in on the lessons now. It's a dad, mom, 2 sons, and a daughter. They are all super uneducated. But, the mom and kids are doing well because they are trying really hard to learn and they are being really blessed for it too. The dad is a struggle. But, with the Spirit constantly working on him he'll come around sooner or later.
The other family is a mom, dad, and 2 sons. We've only met the dad once because it's rice season and he's off in the rice fields 24/7 right now getting the rice ready. But, the mom and kids came to church on Sundy, and really, really liked it. She's received us a lot better since going to church, and she says that she really wants to go again.
While it's hot for you, we've been getting poured on. Rainy season is definitely here. I've been super tired lately. But, we keep trying in order to have success.
We have one family of a mom, Jannii, her son, Songvatt, and her daughter, Sokvan, and they are really excited to be baptized. They are progressing well and keep any commitments that we give them.
We also have another family that would be doing awesome, but the Dad is holding them back. But, he's joining in on the lessons now. It's a dad, mom, 2 sons, and a daughter. They are all super uneducated. But, the mom and kids are doing well because they are trying really hard to learn and they are being really blessed for it too. The dad is a struggle. But, with the Spirit constantly working on him he'll come around sooner or later.
The other family is a mom, dad, and 2 sons. We've only met the dad once because it's rice season and he's off in the rice fields 24/7 right now getting the rice ready. But, the mom and kids came to church on Sundy, and really, really liked it. She's received us a lot better since going to church, and she says that she really wants to go again.
While it's hot for you, we've been getting poured on. Rainy season is definitely here. I've been super tired lately. But, we keep trying in order to have success.
June 1, 2010
We're going through some hardships. We do every week though. So...ya know...nothing new. But we're just fighting through. Patience, patience, patience. I'm still working towards my goal of finding and baptizing 5 new families. We just got a new one the other day. That puts us at 3 solid legitimate families. But, two of them, the husbands drink a lot. And, they've been drunk 2 or 3 times in row when we showed up to teach. So, like Jacob of old in teaching the Nephites about the law of chastity, I will have to wake them up to the word of wisdom. The moms in those families are so good, and I've seem them in tears over their husbands drinking. I'm really hoping that the Spirit is with us as we try to change these people's lives.
You should be happy that Kylie didn't get bit by the spider that we saw last night while we were teaching! This 6 or 7 inch tarantula (yes, it really was that big) came out of nowhere while we were teaching. And, they are like lightning too. That thing darted across the floor. It was terrifying!! It could eat a human child! And, the saddest part is that they get even bigger than that.
You should be happy that Kylie didn't get bit by the spider that we saw last night while we were teaching! This 6 or 7 inch tarantula (yes, it really was that big) came out of nowhere while we were teaching. And, they are like lightning too. That thing darted across the floor. It was terrifying!! It could eat a human child! And, the saddest part is that they get even bigger than that.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
May 18, 2010
We have seen some miracles the last few weeks. I've been studying a lot on prayer, receiving revelation, and then diligently following up on faith. Actually, I've been studying everything, but ya. So, President Smedley told us to be specific in our prayers. So, I thought I'd try it. So, in my prayer, I said, "God, I want to find a family. And, I want to find one that has prepared to hear the Gospel. I want it to be a mom, dad, and 2 young kids, 1 boy and 1 girl. And, I want the girl to be slightly older than the boy. And, I want them to walk up and start talking to me so tht I know that is the family we need to teach. And, I want the dad to be super interested so that he could be a leader in helping them get baptized." So, the next morning, we got up to go to the market to buy food. And, some lady walked up to the veggie lady I was buying from. She noticed I could speak Khmae so she started talking to me. Turns out she was a Christian and that she was interested in learning. So, we scheduled to meet her. And, we biked the 16 kilos to her house. There we met her husband and her 2 kids, a boy, a girl, the girl being slightly older than the boy. (Crazy huh?) And, we taught them the whole first lesson, and the husband was super interested. The whole time you could just tell he knew everything we were saying was true. He tried to Bible bash a bit. But, everything he said we completely turned it around on him to the point that he knew that everything we were saying was completely true. In the end, they denied us. We tried to schedule with them, but they wouldn't. So, that night I was praying so hard for that family, and then it just hit me. That family was EXACTLY what I had asked for. But, they completely denied us. And, we've been trying to schedule them to meet again, but they won't. And, we can't exactly "stop by" because it takes an hour to get there and an hour to come back. So, I've just been trying to figure out what to do to teach them again. I know if they hear the message again, they will believe it and start learning with us. The first time that we taught them, the Spirit was off the charts. So, that was cool that God answered my prayers like that. But, it is heart breaking at the same time.
We've gotten a few referrals lately, and we've gotten a lot of new investigators. We got about 10 potential families we could start teaching here really soon. We are bursting at the seams right now in potential for our area. It's insane!!! And, I've been praying my heart out that God will turn all these potential families into eternal families and that we can just have a chance to be instruments in God's hands into bringing salvation unto many of their souls. I have never prayed harder than I am right now. I've never taught with more passion than I am right now. And, I've never been more bolder in my words than I am right now. The work is about to go crazy right now in Kompong Thom. It seems like almost anything we ask for, God just instantly gives us. There are more miracles too, but for time sake, I'll tell you about them next week.
We've gotten a few referrals lately, and we've gotten a lot of new investigators. We got about 10 potential families we could start teaching here really soon. We are bursting at the seams right now in potential for our area. It's insane!!! And, I've been praying my heart out that God will turn all these potential families into eternal families and that we can just have a chance to be instruments in God's hands into bringing salvation unto many of their souls. I have never prayed harder than I am right now. I've never taught with more passion than I am right now. And, I've never been more bolder in my words than I am right now. The work is about to go crazy right now in Kompong Thom. It seems like almost anything we ask for, God just instantly gives us. There are more miracles too, but for time sake, I'll tell you about them next week.
May 12, 2010
It doesn't even register to me anymore that I'm speaking a foreign language. It just seems like its natural and that everybody does it. Going back will be weird when I actually have to speak English to someone.
It was so nice talking to you guys on Monday. That was really, really cool. Sometimes I forget that the outside world still even exists. It's just completely normal being here now. Not speaking Khmae will be weird for me.
We got 5 new investigators last night, including a mom and her two kids (the dad died in a car accident). And she was a Christian before so she is really interested in learning. And then we had one girl in the branch give us four referrals (all who seem really good). So, I think things are going to start picking up here. Please pray for all of them. We've been getting a lot of potential investigators that we're going to be meeting here in the next few days. So, I'm really hoping that we can bring the spirit into their home to teach them and that they will continue learning. Things are going to start booming here. I can just feel it. It's just going to take some real serious work and diligence on out part. But, it's going to be there, and we are going to do it.
It was so nice talking to you guys on Monday. That was really, really cool. Sometimes I forget that the outside world still even exists. It's just completely normal being here now. Not speaking Khmae will be weird for me.
We got 5 new investigators last night, including a mom and her two kids (the dad died in a car accident). And she was a Christian before so she is really interested in learning. And then we had one girl in the branch give us four referrals (all who seem really good). So, I think things are going to start picking up here. Please pray for all of them. We've been getting a lot of potential investigators that we're going to be meeting here in the next few days. So, I'm really hoping that we can bring the spirit into their home to teach them and that they will continue learning. Things are going to start booming here. I can just feel it. It's just going to take some real serious work and diligence on out part. But, it's going to be there, and we are going to do it.
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