Monday, October 3, 2016
Into the last few days
Dear Mom,
--
There are only a few days left and it feels like a super strange transition. It's amazing to think back on all of the experiences and events that have happened up to this point and see how fast time has actually past. This past week we've had zone conference, our P-day was Wednesday, and as we were biking back home, my companion strained or pulled a muscle in his back which caused him so much pain he could hardly stand up. We spent the next couple of days resting, applying ice, visiting the hospital again, and taking it easy. It's been an interesting change in pace from the usual speed of missionary work. It has given me such an opportunity to sit back and reflect. We've (I've) started saying a lot of good byes here in Thailand, a lot of final testimonies and it's a super strange feeling. there has been so much that has happened, and it's time to prepare to move onto a new chapter in the book of life. As things change and happen around us, I've realized it's entirely our choice how those things affect us. We either progress in becoming more like our Savior and develop the qualities of light, or move farther away and each day we have the choice in what we will do. We don't always get to choose the consequences, but our actions most definitely affect our journey in this life. We have all of the say in who are and who we will become, no matter what happens to us that are out of our ability to control. There was a great quote in Zone Conference: "Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions. The desires we act on determine our changing, our achieving, and our becoming." We have the power to shape our own destiny, and it starts with our desires.
I can summarize the entire past two years by saying that I now know that God lives and that Jesus Christ is our savior. We all grow up with basic beliefs of right and wrong and religion when we grow up. That basic belief is enough to get us through many of the challenges and trials that we all face in life, but I've seen that there comes a point where we need to establish for ourselves who we will be and will become. The basic beliefs we have are not enough. I'm thankful for the opportunity to be a missionary, help others know Heavenly Father, and also for the opportunity to come to know our Heavenly Father and our Savior for myself.
See you in a couple days.
Picture:
The Chiang Mai Squad
--
ขอแสดงความนับถือ, Sincerely,
เอ็ลเดอร์ ซัน Elder Sun
ผู้สอนศาสนา Missionary
ศาสนจักรของพระเยซูคริสต์แห่งวิสุทธิชนยุคสุดท้าย The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
คณะเผยแผ่ กรุงเทพฯ, ประเทศไทย Bangkok, Thailand Mission
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
The Last Full Week
Dear Mom,
--
It has been an amazing experience these past two years. There has been more experiences that have opened my eyes than I can recount. The greatest miracle is watching people's lives change. The Gospel has the power to change and turn lives around. I love seeing the eyes and spirits of God's children light up as they become to feel of God's love. As they come to feel the truthfulness of the Gospel and recognize the blessings that their Heavenly Father give them, they experience a change of heart that is wrought by the Holy Ghost.
This past week it has rained a lot and our ceiling in our teaching room sprung a leak. In less than two weeks, mold has grown to cover up over a third of the ceiling and now we can't use the room anymore. Last week, we had 12 students come learn, but for the next few weeks, we'll teach at the church instead.
One new investigator we've met with a few times this past week is the daughter of an investigator who was baptized in Don Mueang this transfer. The missionaries in Don Mueang called us and told us that this new member's daughter goes to school and lives in Chiang Mai in our area. We met with her and have started teaching her. Her and her friend came to church this pastSunday and we'll be able to keep meeting with her. She's also been fellowshipped very well by members. This past week I feel like it's a great blessing to see the enthusiasm for missionary work increase a little bit. It's very easy to forget just how important missionary work is. We know it's important, but for some reason, we often don't maintain a fire or passion for sharing the Gospel as we should. Even as missionaries, we see how difficult it is. Last week, a member just recently returned after finishing her mission in Temple Square, and they're such a great example of a great member missionary. They're very excited and willing to do missionary work. When we called them to help us teach, they were ecstatic and excited to get to help. They're a great example for me to help me remember what being not only a missionary is all about, but also a disciple of Christ. I'm excited for the future of Chiang Mai and the church here.
We see miracles every day in missionary work. God works miracles in our lives according to our faith. Our faith must consist of both a belief and action. May we have the faith that miracles can happen, and may we have the faith to make miracles happen.
Pictures:
Last Zone Conference
Baptism of little Brother Sprite
Mold in the teaching room
ขอแสดงความนับถือ, Sincerely,
เอ็ลเดอร์ ซัน Elder Sun
ผู้สอนศาสนา Missionary
ศาสนจักรของพระเยซูคริสต์แห่งวิสุทธิชนยุคสุดท้าย The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
คณะเผยแผ่ กรุงเทพฯ, ประเทศไทย Bangkok, Thailand Mission
Monday, September 19, 2016
It's a wonderful day.
Dear Mom,
Sorry to have to make this email super short, we ran out of time today. My companion has been a bit sick this past week and we haven't been able to work very hard this past week, but the Lord still worked miracles this past week. We've meet a few people who seem very interested in learned the Gospel and knowing what it is that our Heavenly Father wants for them. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to share this message with others. That God lives and loves us and has a plan for each and everyone of us.
--
ขอแสดงความนับถือ, Sincerely,
เอ็ลเดอร์ ซัน Elder Sun
ผู้สอนศาสนา Missionary
ศาสนจักรของพระเยซูคริสต์แห่งวิสุทธิชนยุคสุดท้าย The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
คณะเผยแผ่ กรุงเทพฯ, ประเทศไทย Bangkok, Thailand Mission
Monday, September 12, 2016
Elder Shipp is awesome!
Dear Mom,
--
Being a missionary really is a tremendous life changing experience to serve God and serve others that can't be found anywhere else. A once in a life time experience. As I am nearing the end of my mission, I have really seen how true that is. It really is all that we hear it to be. It's indescribable the meaning and significance that serving a mission holds. Even for those who have not served a full-time mission, we really all are full-life missionaries and can each have a part in missionary work and feel of the joy of missionary work. I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live and loves us. Heavenly Father knows us perfectly and He has given everything to us. He can guide, lead, and direct us as we strive to know His will for us. We will feel of His love in our lives and the Spirit will guide us back to Him. Keep learning, keep growing, keep praying, keep trusting. Keep reaching out to others and most importantly, reach out to Him.
"6 And now, behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father. Amen."
ขอแสดงความนับถือ, Sincerely,
เอ็ลเดอร์ ซัน Elder Sun
ผู้สอนศาสนา Missionary
ศาสนจักรของพระเยซูคริสต์แห่งวิสุทธิชนยุคสุดท้าย The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
คณะเผยแผ่ กรุงเทพฯ, ประเทศไทย Bangkok, Thailand Mission
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