Dear peeps,
This was a veeeeeeeeeery interesting week. We have been aware of a growing issue with our recent converts and the "old members:" namely, the old members are way hardcore judging the recent converts. It's nothing new, but we've been trying so hard to be good examples. Then last week one of our recent converts called us. She told us she didn't want to go to church any more because she felt like no one likes her, and she was told in a rather un-Christlike manner that she needed to wear a skirt to church. So we met with her, and heard most of the story, and then we met our other recent converts and they said they felt the same way. They said it would just be easier to go to another church, because the members of other churches don't judge as much, and are more Christ-like. When I heard that I was just distraught. Truth be told, there are many good, accepting people here, but there are just a few members that are not accepting or kind in the way they treat our new members.
So, because I have as bad a mother-bear syndrome as mother, my first reaction was: "We have to have a meeting and set all these people straight, tell them all the things they are doing wrong, give examples, and tell them they need to change." Then our district leader called President Senior, and we got some extraordinary, awesome, obviously from God, advice. Elder Sugihara, (our district leader) sat everyone down, and told us only positive things would be said in this meeting. We started by pointing out the strengths of the person to our left. This helped us see that when sincere compliments are given, you feel so good (as opposed to tearing people down.) Then we talked about charity, and how to have charity, and how we must practice so to help these people, we need to give them opportunities to practice. Then we went over every person that we felt needed to... improve in charity, and planned what we can do to help them. It was amazing. I could feel the spirit so strongly.
So that was our main focus this week.
Everything is upside-down though, because things like this ONLY happen transfer week. Yah, so I'm probably not moving, but Sister Holmes probably is. In fact, there's some mystery brewing that I don't know about. President Senior called us, and now something's up.............. SO CURIOUS! Oh well, I will know soon enough.
We were way sad this week, because our investigator that was going to get baptized had his phone off for the whole week, but then he called us today, and he still wants to meet! Yea! I feel like the work only ever picks up transfer week -_- oh well, we'll see what this evening brings!
Oh! Also, my first Sunday in Chiang Rai, I randomly turned around and started talking to the girl behind me, she turned out to be a less active-ish recent convert, and I don't know why, but I took it on as my personal goal to help her. This Sunday Sister Holmes and I set up this activity making bracelets. Yes it is so cliche, but they loved it, and it helped our estranged-feeling recent converts. Also, we talked to Baa (yeah that's probably the best way to write her name,) and she said she felt like she made mistakes, and just wants to start over and learn everything again, but no-one ever really visited her. So we are going to take care of her, and help her to be full of the power of GOD! Funny how this all started with a random conversation my first Sunday here. It's like God's in charge or something.
That's about all I got!
Spiritual thought: When we do not allow others to change and grow, we are denying them the power of the atonement. If we judge those who have stopped coming to church, and treat them like they are weak in faith and can never be strong, that's how they will be. Of course there are exceptions, but most people need others to support them as they come back. This could be a recent convert. Less actives coming back need: 1) a friend, 2) a calling, 3) to be nourished by the good word of God.
Cultural fact: Stepping over things is WAY rude in Thailand, especially stepping over people. It has to do with how your feet are the least holy part of your body. So anytime there is stuff on the floor, people will walk or edge their way around it.
LOVE!
This was a veeeeeeeeeery interesting week. We have been aware of a growing issue with our recent converts and the "old members:" namely, the old members are way hardcore judging the recent converts. It's nothing new, but we've been trying so hard to be good examples. Then last week one of our recent converts called us. She told us she didn't want to go to church any more because she felt like no one likes her, and she was told in a rather un-Christlike manner that she needed to wear a skirt to church. So we met with her, and heard most of the story, and then we met our other recent converts and they said they felt the same way. They said it would just be easier to go to another church, because the members of other churches don't judge as much, and are more Christ-like. When I heard that I was just distraught. Truth be told, there are many good, accepting people here, but there are just a few members that are not accepting or kind in the way they treat our new members.
So, because I have as bad a mother-bear syndrome as mother, my first reaction was: "We have to have a meeting and set all these people straight, tell them all the things they are doing wrong, give examples, and tell them they need to change." Then our district leader called President Senior, and we got some extraordinary, awesome, obviously from God, advice. Elder Sugihara, (our district leader) sat everyone down, and told us only positive things would be said in this meeting. We started by pointing out the strengths of the person to our left. This helped us see that when sincere compliments are given, you feel so good (as opposed to tearing people down.) Then we talked about charity, and how to have charity, and how we must practice so to help these people, we need to give them opportunities to practice. Then we went over every person that we felt needed to... improve in charity, and planned what we can do to help them. It was amazing. I could feel the spirit so strongly.
So that was our main focus this week.
Everything is upside-down though, because things like this ONLY happen transfer week. Yah, so I'm probably not moving, but Sister Holmes probably is. In fact, there's some mystery brewing that I don't know about. President Senior called us, and now something's up.............. SO CURIOUS! Oh well, I will know soon enough.
We were way sad this week, because our investigator that was going to get baptized had his phone off for the whole week, but then he called us today, and he still wants to meet! Yea! I feel like the work only ever picks up transfer week -_- oh well, we'll see what this evening brings!
Oh! Also, my first Sunday in Chiang Rai, I randomly turned around and started talking to the girl behind me, she turned out to be a less active-ish recent convert, and I don't know why, but I took it on as my personal goal to help her. This Sunday Sister Holmes and I set up this activity making bracelets. Yes it is so cliche, but they loved it, and it helped our estranged-feeling recent converts. Also, we talked to Baa (yeah that's probably the best way to write her name,) and she said she felt like she made mistakes, and just wants to start over and learn everything again, but no-one ever really visited her. So we are going to take care of her, and help her to be full of the power of GOD! Funny how this all started with a random conversation my first Sunday here. It's like God's in charge or something.
That's about all I got!
Spiritual thought: When we do not allow others to change and grow, we are denying them the power of the atonement. If we judge those who have stopped coming to church, and treat them like they are weak in faith and can never be strong, that's how they will be. Of course there are exceptions, but most people need others to support them as they come back. This could be a recent convert. Less actives coming back need: 1) a friend, 2) a calling, 3) to be nourished by the good word of God.
Cultural fact: Stepping over things is WAY rude in Thailand, especially stepping over people. It has to do with how your feet are the least holy part of your body. So anytime there is stuff on the floor, people will walk or edge their way around it.
LOVE!