I'm thankful for the Gospel and English.

Dear Mom,

This week was so great. I feel that the Lord knows we have MLC, zone training, and other meetings next week and has given us many blessings this week to make next week better.

Sunday was a day that we've seen a lot of fruit from our labors/blessings/miracles from the Lord. We had several investigators who were finally able to come to sacrament meeting as well as several LAs that we've been working with for a while. It was honestly really cool because most of our investigators came early to sacrament meeting and the first people seated in the chapel were investigators. It was so cool seeing the willingness and desire of these people to come and worship Him.

We had many people bring friends and family last week, too. It's like a chain of referrals that is coming forth. Out of all the investigators that came to church last week, at least half who referrals and friends of members. It was way cool to see people bringing others in and coming in themselves. On Sunday we had four people walk in and say that they've seen the church and sign for English class and have always wondered what it was like. We also had three others walk in on Sunday wanting to know what made this place different from others.

A great miracle from this week was the opportunity to teach a few former investigators. Many people we begin to teach, for whatever reason, stop investigating the church further. Usually, something changes in their lives - they move, or start school, have a problem with family, or a missionary moves - which prevents them from learning further. We've met two such people. One moved here from Bangbuatong and the other from Ayutaya. Both were still pretty interested in coming to church again, but didn't know where the church here was. We taught one of them, Sister Tip, and she showed great interest after not having come to church or learning more in four years. At the end of the lesson she asked "If someone wanted to be baptized and become a member of the church, what would they have to do?". We are way excited to work with her. She's way nice.

Another awesome story of this week is just how amazingly awesome the English class here is. Because it is such a large area, English is so huge. So many people come and I have seen, even though only being here for a short time, the great potential that can come from English class in terms of finding new investigators. Every week, We do "conversation" or "get to know you" or "interviews". We don't really have a name for it, but we simply sit down and talk to everyone who comes to English class for two minutes. We give them time to practice English, help people gauge their speaking ability and get to the right class level, and ask them if they know anything about Jesus Christ. We ask them if they would like to know and invite them to learn with us. I've found when we us English class as an effective tool, Tuesdays are by far on the the busiest days for us. Not only did it make our Tuesday very busy, but other miracles come of it. We had two college students come for the first time to learn English last Tuesday. Near the end of the class we pulled them out and asked how they liked it. They loved learning English here. They said how they've seen the English class sign for a while now, but never had the chance to come before. They mentioned how they were very, very busy. We got talking about religion and it turns out that they were also interested. They stayed after class, where taught a first lesson, then also came back the next day and learned more. They also came this past Sunday as well. Such a sweet miracle. English is the 'secret' way of 'leading' people into the church. There is another investigator who came to the church for the first time the first Tuesday of the transfer. Since then, they have come to the church nearly everyday the past three weeks. They just passed their baptismal interview and should be getting baptized this Sunday. So exciting. They have had great experiences with prayer and with feeling God's love since coming to church. The guidance and protection from the Holy Ghost is what they want most. As we were talking about what has impressed them the most from learning with the missionaries and coming to church is the feeling of safety when at the church and the commandments which bring peace, assurance, and blessings into their life.

I'm so grateful for the guidance that the Lord gives us not only in the work, but in every aspect of our lives. As we learn to recognize the Lord not only in religion, but also in our lives, that is when we will truly begin to be converted to Him and the Gospel. I am glad to have the opportunity to share the Gospel, but also for the opportunity to live the Gospel. Through Christ and His Atonement, we can truly change who we are and who we are becoming. He knows our potential and how we can reach it. I know that He lives and loves us. That He leads us to find exactly what we need in our lives through the subtle promptings of the Spirit.

Elder Sun

-- 

ขอแสดงความนับถือ,                                           Sincerely,

เอ็ลเดอร์ ซัน                                                        Elder Sun

ผู้สอนศาสนา                                                                 Missionary 

ศาสนจักรของพระเยซูคริสต์แห่งวิสุทธิชนยุคสุดท้าย         The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

คณะเผยแผ่ กรุงเทพฯ, ประเทศไทย                                   Bangkok, Thailand Mission

derrikk.sun@myldsmail.net 

In Bangkok this week...

I also love the videos on the Mormon Channel.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAYgY8SPtEWGpKkoZGmMzqIZw8h9KlGYH

In Bangkok this week...

Dear Mom,

My letters the next few weeks may be a little longer than normal. Elder Curtis has to do some school stuff on Mondays now. The investigator I mentioned last week is 17, almost 18 now. I'm sure that whatever the Lord's solution is for them, they'll know through prayer and the Spirit. Our mission president advised us that "of course, a [younger] child should not keep coming if the parents don't support. But someone that is an older teenager or older should be able to make their own decision about this. There are scriptural examples of individuals leaving their fathers and mothers to serve Christ (Matthew 4: 19-22). I know we are to honor our parents, but we should do so in paths of righteousness. I hope this helps." Love is always the solution.

This week was fantastic! We had a special conference with Elder Stevenson - the new apostle - was by far one of the coolest things that have happened to me on my mission. The pure power of the Spirit that was in that meeting was truly something I'm going to remember. I'm also super excited for all of the investigators that had the chance to go too. If their hearts and minds were open, they were sure to feel the power of it, too. We talked with several investigators after the meeting and it was so cool to hear their thoughts and feelings from the meeting. We had several investigators who were impressed with the things they felt as Elder Stevenson walked into the room, during the songs, and also the talks. There were several things that I've felt were answers to my prayers as well. As Elder Stevenson walked into the room, we all stood up and were silent. More than just being silent in the room, there was a special presence in the room. So cool.

This past week, like every week, we worked hard, but I feel like this past week was especially rewarding. We are still in the process of finding a new house which has taken up a pretty good chunk of time this past week, but I feel like we're getting closer to finding where the Lord wants us. Despite using time this week with finding a house, we've been able to do some solid proselyting and see many miracles. We've meet with several new investigators who all have a sincere desire to learn and to find truth in life - a sure path to guide them. We are seeking out the prepared who will hear the gospel.

I love that everything we do we try to give it our all. Elder Curtis is such a great, unbelievably fantastic missionary. He's miles ahead of me in many things. He's such a great example to me, the district, the members and investigators. He's a skilled and powerful teacher and a very consecrated missionary. We're learning a lot from each other and everyday we help each other improve and repent.

For me, there is nothing more motivating, more satisfying, more stressful, or more emotional for me than seeing the progress of others. I love these people so much and would do anything to help them come to know of the love that their Heavenly Father has for them. I'm bursting with anxiety for the welfare of their souls as the prophets of old would put it.

Two new investigators we met have foreign husbands. We also ended up teaching them on the same day (Thursday), they both have a lot of free time to meet, and both are excited to learn. One has a super cute 6yr old daughter who is also really smart. her kid speaks english, thai, and german and is just a little bundle of pure adorability. Teaching her was such a great experience. She was just so willing to learn and listen and meet. We invited her on Monday on P-day (a great testimony building experience for me on the importance that P-day is not a 'day-off'". She has free time and is willing to meet almost everyday.The other new investigator is kind of an interesting character. She has a quirky personality and we weren't 100% sure she had genuine desire to learn, but she came with us to the Elder Stevenson's conference and has been reading and praying. She, too, is very free and I'm sure we'll meet with these two often this week.

Another new investigator that we taught this week came and found us on Sunday. I had invited her on Saturday and she met with us on Sunday. It was cool meeting with her, too, because at first we thought we weren't going to teach her and she said it really wasn't convenient to meet because at this time there is a lot of testing going on, but she found the time to meet with us and came with a good desire. She mentioned how her family situation is less than ideal and wanted to find something that could help be a guide in her life. She understood really well and said was willing to read and pray. However, it's hard teaching people who ares students because their lives, especially here in Thailand, are so filled with school and studied and text books that people often feel like they don't have time to meet. She seemed willing and I hope we can meet her again.

Two other new investigators we met with were guys (yeah for potential Priesthood holders). They came looking to learn more about what Christianity is. We've been working on making sure to teach people, not lessons by really trying to understand peoples' interests, needs, and desires. I like how in MLC we talked about 1 Nephi 10:17. Nephi felt the Spirit in the words of his father, Lehi, which sparked a desire in him to learn for himself about the things Lehi testified. This desired led Nephi to search diligently until he, himself, came to know of the truthfulness of his father's words. This pattern of truth seeking is something that I've thought about much this past week how we, as teachers/testifies, spark an interest in investigators through the Spirit which acts upon the desire of them to learn more and to know for themselves. I feel like this has been a focus of the work we have done this transfer and in the lessons we've taught. To simply invite others to know for themselves. This must start with the Spirit and a desire to know on the part of the investigator. I know that God loves us and wants us to know this truth, this path, and His love. We can "know of these things by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him, as well in times of old as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men." It's their choice, and that makes all the difference. I've been realizing lately that it's all about us choosing for ourselves. That's where true progression comes from. It's being invited to do something, and then actually doing it. It doesn't work though if we're doing it just because someone tells us to. The desire to act still has to come from within. It's the same with helping other missionaries, other members, less actives, and investigators. We all have to choose whether or not we want to follow Christ. Many people have told me something along the lines of "Never let a problem to be solved be more important than a person to be loved." This makes me think about are we focusing on solving the investigator's problems when we teach, or to first and foremost love them.

Here in Don Mueang, I'm continually impressed with the number of friends, and friends of friends that people bring into the church. Something I haven't seen very much anywhere else. There is one such friend that is progressing well and will be baptized next week. She's so prepared and recognizes the Spirit in her life.

One other thing I forget to mention is how awesome it was to meet up with old members this pastSunday. We didn't have sacrament meeting on sunday, we had a visit from an apostle, Elder Stevenson the newly called apostle. It was such a fantastic meeting. He bore such simple, but powerful testimony. In reflection of my life up to this point, I can honestly say there has been no other time I have felt the Spirit so strong or have been brought to tears more often than on my mission. I sliced my finger open on a drill and didn't shed a tear. I've felt discouraged, depressed, angry, sad just as I'm sure everyone has before, but the one thing that honestly touches my heart more than anything else has been the Spiritual experiences on my mission. After the meeting, I got to see some RCs and members from Bangna and some people that came down from Sakon Nakorn. Such a great multi-family reunion!!

I loved in Sabrina's email this week when she mentioned how missionary work that is stress free and not obligated is awesome "It was so stress free and I felt like instead of maybe feeling obligated to go out and work in my area, I was able to just talk to people and love them and really just have an awesome spiritual experience going out and teaching people the gospel." I've found that as we focus on the real reason why we do things (which has been a focus of our mission as a whole), it makes it much easier to feel the love that God has for us - because that's the reason why we do all that we do. Not out of just some sense of duty, but out of our decision to love God and love others - putting THEM as the most important thing. I often thing are we here to TEACH or are we here for THEM.

One last experience I wanted to share was just the power and amazing testimony of a story that Elder Stevenson shared. He talked about how he has only been an apostle for 4 months. Others have been an apostle for 30-40 years, but he knows that the church is true just the same. He shared an experience on his mission where he really wanted to know for himself that the BoM was true. He prayed about it, read it everyday, but still didn't know for sure. He continued with his missionary work until one day, as he was teaching an investigator, he had the power of the Spirit confirm in his heart that the BoM and restoration were true. It really stuck out to me that it wasn't until he testified of the truthfulness of the BoM that he felt that it was true. He had 'known' it was true his whole life, but as he teach, the Spirit confirmed the truth to him and to the investigator. Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together. This is such 1)a tremendous pattern and truth of teaching and 2)is honestly an experience that happens more often than not on a mission.

I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is 100%, unequivocally, without a single ounce of room for debate is true. God lives. He loves us. For all those that do not yet know or have never before felt of the love of God, I would invite, and even urge you, to begin to search for Him. That spiritual confirmation that we hear about so much in 'miracle' stories is real. It is something we must seek. It is something that once we have, once we have left God's love for us, it is something we need as much as we need to breathe. I can say that I know that these things are true because of the power of the Holy Ghost which has brought me to be able to feel of this truth. If we truly, diligently seek to know we will find. "Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

-- 

ขอแสดงความนับถือ,                                           Sincerely,

เอ็ลเดอร์ ซัน                                                        Elder Sun

ผู้สอนศาสนา                                                                 Missionary 

ศาสนจักรของพระเยซูคริสต์แห่งวิสุทธิชนยุคสุดท้าย         The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

คณะเผยแผ่ กรุงเทพฯ, ประเทศไทย                                   Bangkok, Thailand Mission

derrikk.sun@myldsmail.net 

Another week in Bangkok.

Dear Mom,

I am so excited for Maddie!! Cambodia, that's so sick! When does she leave? There were quite a few Cambodian speakers in Surin. The work here is going so amazing. The ward here, the people, the places, the Spirit, there is nothing that doesn't make me more happy to be a missionary and to know our Heavenly Father. This past week we've been working hard and I've been trying to get to know the area and where things are, which buses to get on and all of the members' names. This past week we had three baptisms in our area. It is so, so amazing to see how much faith these people have and how awesome these people are. It truly is an amazing blessing to see the gospel working in people's lives.

As a zone leader, we have many responsibilities, but everything boils down to something Joseph Smith said: "After all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to preach the Gospel".

We've seen many miracles in the area of referrals, especially from recent converts. These converts here have super strong testimonies and you can pretty much see the glow of the Gospel in their eyes. Several of them have brought in several friends for us to teach and I am, as always, very excited. Here, so many things are different. English class has easily over a hundred people every week. So many that they split into three large classes here. In addition to that, there are three wards that meet in our building (the stake center) and every Sunday, I'm still just amazed at how many people come to church. There are all sorts of stake activities held in our building to so we so so many people all the time. There was a large training for all church leaders in Thailand and also a Young Single Adult activity. We also had Mission Leadership Council meeting on Wednesday and we had our first zone training on Friday. We had meetings pretty much everyday this past week. It was an incredibly inspirational, spiritual experience at MLC with President Johnson, APs, and other zone leaders. The Spirit was so strong. We're focusing recently on retaining the reason for all we do. The why behind the what and how. Often times in life, and missionary work is no exception, we often get caught up on all the things we have to do and how we are going to accomplish them. It is a very critical and essential thing to ensure that the why is in place before we begin to try to tackle the how and what.

As for the zone, it looks as if every area is continuing to do better a little by little. Just looking from a numbers stand point, things have been improving. Also looking at follow-ups with district leaders and some things stake leaders have been telling us, it looks like the member missionary work is also improving a little bit since the past.

We may be moving houses soon, too. We are way, way excited to move and begin working in Don Mueang, even though we just deep cleaned our old house. We're currently looking, but nothing solid yet.

I do have one important question that I would love to get some suggestions on. If someone's parents don't want them to go to church, forbid it, should we advise said person to stop coming to church and stop learning about Christ? We have an investigator who is in this situation and I just feel really bad saying that if their dad doesn't allow them to go to Church, they can't learn about Jesus Christ. What do you think Christ would do if faced with such a situation.

I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ that was restored in our time that provides us clear direction and answer to the question of why. God is our loving Father in Heaven. He wants to bless us, help us, and have us return with Him. He has revealed the way we can through His church which is here on the earth today. Through revelation, prophets, and prayer, we can know what we need to do and how. I could not possibly sum up the importance that these truths have in just a few words. It is impossible. I firmly believe that we must have experiences that will lead us to feel that God loves us. It is not enough to simply know; to have knowledge. Understanding must come from the heart, and that is also what He requires of us. Nothing short of our whole souls. Our entire heart, soul, and mind. As we do this, we can see the love and blessings of God begin to pour down into our lives.

-- 

ขอแสดงความนับถือ,                                           Sincerely,

เอ็ลเดอร์ ซัน                                                       Elder Sun

ผู้สอนศาสนา                                                                          Missionary 

ศาสนจักรของพระเยซูคริสต์แห่งวิสุทธิชนยุคสุดท้าย              The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

คณะเผยแผ่ กรุงเทพฯ, ประเทศไทย                                        Bangkok, Thailand Mission

derrikk.sun@myldsmail.net 

Don Muang

Dear Mom,

I have left Roi-et and have moved back to Bangkok. I am in the Don Muang ward in the Pakkred area. It's pretty much in the heart of the church in Thailand in Jangwatthana. The area here is so big that there are three wards that meet at the building. Also, I am now a zone leader. The time I spent in Roi-et went by so fast and when I found out I was moving I was honestly so, so sad. One interesting thing is that as we went around teaching last lessons with RCs, LAs, and investigators, we made a lot of people cry - oops. Both my companion (Elder Christiansen) and I moved from Roi-et. Whitewash! That made me really worried for all of the people that we left behind, but I know that the missionaries who moved there will do great, that the members will look after them well and the Lord will always continue to guide them. Aside from being very surprised to be moving from Roi-et so quick, I was also surprised that I was going to be a Zone Leader. What a great example of the Lord calling weak things to become strong.

Another change that has happened in the mission is there are no more transfer meetings. Just receive a phone call, and go. This past week was great not losing too much time to work. It was definitely a different feel not having transfers meeting and at first we were very worried about traveling, but it all ended up being okay and I'm way excited for this transfer. I can say that when I got the call to be a zone leader, I was way surprised and felt completely unprepared. Kind of like the time I was called to be a trainer at first and then a district leader. However, being able to just jump in and work these past couple of days have really made me excited. I want to do a good job for the Lord and this being the first time in a long time being a junior companion, I feel like I can really learn a lot. Elder Curtis is a really fantastic missionary who has both the skill, experience, and desire to finish out his mission strong. He is close to finishing his mission. He was my zone leader in Sakon Nakhorn. Coming new into an area makes me feel how little I know and how much I need to learn things fast in order to use time effectively to work and just not be overwhelmed.

From what I have heard from being here just a few days now, there is a bit of a concern with working with members. Mainly just not having a ton of support from members or having members have a firm hand in missionary work. It sounds like there are many people who do not feel like members and missionaries are working together well.  We've put an emphasis on sharing love with the members and really getting to know them. Not just hanging out with them, but showing earnest and sincere interest in their welfare. I like what PMG says about charity. When we have charity, we will develop this ability to put the needs of others above ours. I feel like if we want to have the members be 'on track' with us, we need to be willing to put the ward's needs above ours. I loved the direction and the way the work went in my last couple of transfers, and I believe we have what it'll take to help build up a great member/missionary relationship.

We will be receiving training on Wednesday and also have the chance to go out and train the rest of the zone.

Also, another awesome thing is that just this past Sunday an investigator of mine was baptized in Roi-et. It makes me, so, so, happy. Elder Curtis and I were talking about what is the best thing about being a missionary. We agreed that it is the blessings that people receive from and their progress in conversion to the Gospel. The best feelings we have is when our converts experience the true conversion and joy in the Gospel. I am so happy for them and excited for the fruit that will come from them. Oh!, it just makes me so, so joyful - see Alma 26.

She was a referral from another investigator. At first, she just came to learn english at church, but we asked her if she would be interested in also learning about religion with us. She said yes and after a few weeks, has made terrific progress. I was way, way impressed with her desire to learn. She would read every reading assignment we give her and also mark up her scriptures as she went, too. She would ask questions on things she didn't understand and the friend that brought her in was a huge help in helping to explain things. As I left Roi-et, we were beginning to see a solid group of members and non-members from and create a strong solid social base for these people. We also went and visited these people's houses and started to work with their families. The testimony of this convert is one that was truly grown and nourished. We would periodically ask them how is their faith doing. Do they believe in God. At first it was no. Then 20, 30, 50%. Eventually the conversion took root in their life, repentance in the heart, and works came forth. I always have a hard time summarizing people's 'conversion stories', so I'll suffice it to say that she was a truly repentant soul.

-- 

ขอแสดงความนับถือ,                                           Sincerely,

เอ็ลเดอร์ ซัน                                                        Elder Sun

ผู้สอนศาสนา                                                                 Missionary 

ศาสนจักรของพระเยซูคริสต์แห่งวิสุทธิชนยุคสุดท้าย         The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

คณะเผยแผ่ กรุงเทพฯ, ประเทศไทย                                   Bangkok, Thailand Mission

derrikk.sun@myldsmail.net 

Repentance. Also the last week of the transfer.

Repentance. Also the last week of the transfer.

Dear Mom,

We had zone conference the past couple of days. So much great training and insights. Roi-et is ready to work hard and the members are all very supportive in this effort. It was also a great opportunity to see some members that I knew from other areas. Other than the great zone training, the other highlight this past week was just this past Sunday. We had two baptisms and a good turn out at church. It was a greatSunday and overall a great week.

This past transfer, we have focused on the essential doctrine of repentance. We have talked a lot about repentance in our companionship studies and as a district here in Roi-et. The principle of repentance is something that we all incorporate into our daily lives in everything that we do. It is also something that I didn't full understand until dedicating much study to it. One thing that I am going to work on applying the most from zone conference is just that. Repentance. I want to see the change in myself and be the change that I need to be in order to be truly repentant. Our hearts is the difference between better and best. It's this repentance that changes our hearts and changes us to become more like our Father in Heaven. I was impressed by the passages of scripture in 1 Cor 13. We may give all that we have, our time, energy, and bodies, but if our hearts are not where they need to be, we will not benefit from the things we give. Being repentant, I learned, is not just giving things up or doing good things, but it is a literal change in our very nature - in our very hearts. 

One investigator who was baptized on Sunday was a sweet old soul. She was the mom of the husband of a member here in Roi-et. When we taught her that we had to obey God and follow Christ in order to return to live with them, she asked us what it is that she had to do. We taught her about changing our lives, to repent, to have faith in him, and to be baptized. She showed such a great desire to follow Christ and a strong determination. She showed how humble she was before God and was willing to face and overcome anything to come unto him. It's been really cold here recently, but as the days of her baptism grew closer, she simply said how she would just have to endure the cold because of how important baptism is. The day of the baptism, the font was cold. But she, with a smile, went into the water and said it wasn't cold. Her smile was even bigger as came up out of the water.

The second investigator was someone who we had met with and taught for over a month. She had always understood what we taught her from the start. She was the older sister of two recent converts in Roi-et. We went over to their house to just sit with and teach the two recent converts. It was the second time we had ever visited them. The first visit we simply stopped by and said hello - but we also got to meet their two parents and this sister, too. We went to teach these two RCs, but as we were started, we asked if they could call her sister over. Since that day, we started teaching their sister. At first, she didn't believe in God or know very much. She showed that she could remember all the things we taught her, but it wasn't until she began praying, reading, and coming to church regularly did she know that God really did live. She said she has felt God's love and help as she has tried to keep the commandments. She has shown forth her honest love for the Gospel by invited several of her friends to come to learn with us in addition to helping us teach. She is able to explain Gospel principles in a clear, and simple way that others can understand. She is the older sister of these two RCs, but they are good examples for her.

It is such a blessing to be able to see people's faith in Christ grow as they at first say maybe this is true to being able to testify to others that it is true. We've also been able to see this powerful truth in the testimonies of others that we have worked with and are working with here.

Christ lives. He atoned for us. He enables us to overcome all of the weakness, doubt, and fear in the world and ourselves. Through Him, we can know that God loves us. That we are His children. And that He wants us to return to live with Him. I know that these are eternal truths. I know that as we reach out to Him, we will find that He has been reaching out to us the whole time. I am so grateful to be able to not just know, but to feel that He loves me. I am so, so incapable of adequately describing how I feel because God loves us much, much more than we can even understand.

-Sister Sun. A member from Buriram. What a nice name, right?

-Members from Surin. Flashbacks.

-Baptism. I don't have any good pictures. But I'll get some from the other missionaries later.

-We found a dead bird at the church.

-- 

ขอแสดงความนับถือ,                                           Sincerely,

เอ็ลเดอร์ ซัน                                                        Elder Sun

ผู้สอนศาสนา                                                                 Missionary 

ศาสนจักรของพระเยซูคริสต์แห่งวิสุทธิชนยุคสุดท้าย         The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

คณะเผยแผ่ กรุงเทพฯ, ประเทศไทย                                   Bangkok, Thailand Mission

derrikk.sun@myldsmail.net