This past week, as planned, turned out to be a perfect week!
It was full to the brim with miracles, lots of fun, love and laughter, just PERFECT for the Christmas Season!
Even though there was no snow, all the houses weren't lit up with Christmas lights, and even the Christmas music was relatively limited, it was a fabulous Christmas, filled with the true Spirit of Christmas!
Since this was our first and last full week in Korat this transfer (yes, we had to travel afar, out of area, every other week), Sister Ward and I were determined to make it our best week. And it was!! We blew our numbers out of the water and witnessed so many amazing miraculous things!
Hulk and Superman, our bikes worked hard too!
Dinner with some of the most fantastic YSA! :)
Even though we were super busy, we didn't skip out on morning exercises :)
Cookies, cookies and more cookies!!
Reindeer Sightings!
Santa and Crew....
Goi, Ddon, and Guide!! The three most sweet people, and the biggest blessing and miracle this week!
Ward Christmas Party!
There were some rough patches along the way...
Take Saturday for example...
I burned the rice, smoking up the whole house, somehow dropped the bag of curry and ruined lunch, and broke the handle off the pot, all in one morning!!
But, despite all that, I still lived!
Plus, we had Vietnamese Food to make up for a rough morning :)
Christmas Gifts for the Elders complete on time!! ^^
Christmas Day!!!
BAPTISMS!!
Guide! The Coolest 15 year old you'll ever meet!!^^
He's still an investigator, but that didn't stop him from coming caroling with us! Or did it stop him from inviting people to English Class!
Skyping Little Boy!
Miss you, you "little" Stud!! <3
and skyping the rest of my family too :3
What a blessing it is to have family who loves me^^
Can't wait to see them soon !
7 Days, and more than 7 Miracles!!
Monday:
After our PDAY last week, Sister Ward and I needed to stop by the church to pick up some inviting cards to go inviting. It just happened that Brother Ddong was there with an LA, and two investigators who were interested in learning about our church! We didn't hesitate to give them a church tour and teach them the Restoration. To our delight, they were interested in learning more with us! Where's the miracle in that? Early that day, we had planned to go to an FHE with the Elders, but last minute decided that we would go inviting at a market instead. So first, Heavenly Father helped us make that decision. Then, we didn't have enough inviting cards and needed to stop by the church, and our stop was so perfectly timed with when Brother Ddong was there. And our new investigators Goi and Guide were prepared by the Lord! They loved what they learned that day!
Tuesday:
After English Class, I sat down with Goi and Guide to follow up with them, and Guide informed me that he would not be able to make the next day's appointment because he would working. He then asked if we could teach them today!!
We did so, and when we asked them how their first prayers went the previous day, BOTH of them had a special spiritual experience!
Guide answered, "It was awesome! I was lost on the way home, and prayed that Ddong would call out to me, and he did!!"
Goi said, "It was good! I found work that very night!"
They just seemed to absorb everything we taught about the Plan of Salvation and by the end of the lesson, they were glowing! :)
It's so incredible how easily this 21 and 15 year old take in the gospel.
I think I am understanding more and more what it means to be as little children and come unto Christ.
After the lesson, we invited to come to Christmas Party on Friday and said our goodbyes.
Guide then came back and asked when he would be able to learn again with us.
I had thought that inviting them to the Christmas party was enough of a next step, but here was a 15 year old, eager to learn more about the gospel!
We quickly set up an appointment for before the party.
Wednesday:
We found the corn syrup and almond extract for the Christmas Cookies we were making after going to three different malls, and met many nice people, willing to help us along the way.
Also, on our way out of a lesson from teaching Grandma Gulap at her home, we ran into Brother Mitt, who when we asked if he had anything we could help him with, answered, "I am looking for people to help you teach."
What an amazing man!!!
Thursday:
Our ghetto oven set up for baking cookies worked out, and we were able to bake cookies to deliver to some members.
We met a lot of nice people at the SaveOne Market and invited two vendors that we regularly visit to come to the Christmas Party.
Even if they would be busy with work, they were delighted to receive a personal invitation to the party!
Friday:
Our lesson with Goi and Guide couldn't have been any better!
They accepted baptismal dates and were radiating with happiness at the prospect of getting baptized!!!
In the evening, Sister Rungtip, Grandma Gulap's granddaughter called us. We were just planning on calling her to discuss how best to help her grandmother, and viola! She beat us to it!
Sister Rungtip is now a missionary in Bangkok. We were able to discuss her needs and set up a plan on how best to help her come closer to Christ :)
Saturday:
Brother Mitt had a referral for us and we were able to go find him on our own without getting lost!
In addition, I didn't die that morning after burning the rice, ruining lunch and breaking the pot :P
Sunday:
So much happened on Sunday, I don't even know where to begin!
After church, two of the Elders investigators were baptized!! They were fairly unexpected, but what a fitting miracle on Christmas!
We also had the chance to teach Fern, a new investigator that has come to church a couple of times with her friend, Minnie.
After that, we biked around everywhere with Santa to deliver cookies and goodies to members and strangers.
It was an very hot day, and Elder Brown, our Santa was a trooper! He didn't complain once about the heat!!
It was all very humbling for the rest of us.
In the evening, we went caroling with members and even investigators!
It was an awesome adventure filled with so much Christmas Spirit!!
That night, I finished reading the book of Matthew.
As I have studied Matthew in the past month or so, I have gained a new refined appreciation for our Savior, Jesus Christ!!
What an incredible journey He had on this Earth!!
All I can say is that this past week has been incredible.
I have so clearly seen the hand of the Lord in His Work.
The week was filled with so much love, happiness and laughter!
The best way to summarize everything is that, I am radiantly glowing with happiness!!
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