Dear Family,
Oh, how I love you all. For Christmas Sister Senior (the mission president's wife) gave us a list of "presents" you should receive from your mission. One of them is a love and appreciation for your family. I've found that true. I have also learned how very blessed I am to know we are a family for ever. I teach so many people that are the only ones in their family that are members, I see how they hope and wish and pray to have the rest of their family join them, and I already have that blessing. It almost doesn't feel fair, but I am so grateful. I am also grateful y'all are about 500% better at writing me than I was at writing my brothers. sorry Thomas, Drew and David. OH I LOVE YOU ALLLLLLL. Yep anyway.
Next week is Mothers Day! So I'll get to talk with y'all face to face next week. So I'll be on 8 o-clock Monday morning my time. I don't know how that works out with the time zones any more. but I hope you'll be on when I am! [note: that's 8 p.m. Sunday night on Mother's Day Texas time.]
What all happened this week.... after e-mailing we went ice skating with the sisters and elders. The Elders fell multiple times. One of the Elders is a kon thai (thai person) so it was his first time to ice skate. So fun. I might send pictures if my companions bestow any upon me... (:
We are teaching a Thai class now. Usually there are just English classes, but because of how many foreigners there are here in Asoke, we started a Thai one. It'll probably be good to help keep my Thai up. It's already not as good as it was... oh well, the Lord gives, the Lord takes away.
Oh this Sunday we got a new investigator. He is an amazing man. He has totally turned his life around already, and wants to be nearer to God. He is Thai, but he grew up in California, so his English is better than his Thai. His neighbor is a member and invited him to come to church. He couldn't understand all of it because all the religous words in Thai are hard. But anyway we taught him after the Thai ward, and there were like no members from the English branch left, except these people visiting from New Zealand. That was definitely meant to be. The brother bore such a sincere and honest testimony, even now thinking about it, I can feel it again. How the spirit filled the room. Love is really such a powerful thing.
The investigator, I'll call him C, told us that he had been to jail many times, and had actually started going to church there. He said, "The Bible saved my life." We were like, " wow, yeah the teachings of Jesus are good." He's like "No, the preacher gave me a small pocket bible. I put it in my breast pocket, and the next day a fight broke out and a man stabbed me and it got stuck in my Bible." We all just stared at him, and then informed him that that was truly a miracle. He also told us he really likes Mormons, because there are so few in jail. I thought that was so interesting. He is such a humble guy. He now has a date to be baptized and is following the Word of Wisdom (: give up coffee and tea? Wo problem. People are amazing. God is amazing.
This month there is a goal for each companionship to get 3 baptisms. I don't know if you can appreciate how amazing that would be. I feel spoiled that I came to this mission at this time, when the work is exploding. And even I got to see the transition. When I came into the mission, the baptisms per month was 60 people a month. This year we've not has a month under 100, and even reached our goal of 200 in one month. We've already had more baptisms this year than we did the whole of last year. I am NOT bragging about us. I AM bragging about the leadership of President Senior, and how God has lead this mission, how the work is hastening! I really feel with God anything is possible. Be not afraid, only believe. Oh missions are great.
I almost forgot! I had the most interesting lesson with a couple that were Calvinists. I don't know if you know what that is, but basically it's the idea that only some are saved, and they are saved from the beginning of the world no matter what they do. It's funny, because I can see how they misinteperted some verses from the Bible, but if they had had the Book of Mormon they could not have confused it. Isn't the book of Mormon great? It teaches such simply truths. "Wherefore men are free according to the flesh and all things are given them, which are expedient unto men and they are free to choose liberty and eternal life through the great mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death according to the captivity and power of the devil." Misinterpert that... No, but they were pretty sincere in their desire to learn what we believe.
Culture lesson: Thai people do like bright colors. In fact here in Bangkok there is a pattern of fabric I love! and it's uber Thai. I have a pair of pants with that fabric that I wear to bed. But actually in the north - so like Chiang Mai they are even more into BRIGHT colors, and flower patterns. I don't know about the Isaan. Also, Thai people have no qualms about mixing patterns. Anything goes. It definately does not have to look good. >.<
Spiritual lesson: Please love people no matter what. No matter what your experience with them in the past, no matter your "natural man pre-disposition." We have a huge issue with prejudice in the ward. I won't get into details, but I feel very strongly that the ward is disjointed because of this. So! To help the members in this ward we are going to give them a commitment, and I want to give it to you as well: next time at church, whether it be an activity, or a meeting, talk with someone you don't know. Expand yort circle. a Also, family, have you heeded the prophets council? Do you have a copy of preach my gospel? Are you studying it? ("No Sister Barber, I don't have any time...") Yeah, you do. We make time for the things that are important. God is important. 10 minutes, that's fine.
Also, (this is like a bonus spiritual thought) there is a difference between love and charity. Anyone can love those that love them, but of us it is required to love all men. How? some people are not nice. I have found that out for sure on my mission. Charity is the pure love of Christ. If you cannot love them by yourself, ask for God's help. I also know it does not come all at once, and maybe there is little motivation to forgive, and forget, but it really is so important in our quest for discipleship.
I love you! I can't wait to talk with you next Monday!
SIster Barber
Oh, how I love you all. For Christmas Sister Senior (the mission president's wife) gave us a list of "presents" you should receive from your mission. One of them is a love and appreciation for your family. I've found that true. I have also learned how very blessed I am to know we are a family for ever. I teach so many people that are the only ones in their family that are members, I see how they hope and wish and pray to have the rest of their family join them, and I already have that blessing. It almost doesn't feel fair, but I am so grateful. I am also grateful y'all are about 500% better at writing me than I was at writing my brothers. sorry Thomas, Drew and David. OH I LOVE YOU ALLLLLLL. Yep anyway.
Next week is Mothers Day! So I'll get to talk with y'all face to face next week. So I'll be on 8 o-clock Monday morning my time. I don't know how that works out with the time zones any more. but I hope you'll be on when I am! [note: that's 8 p.m. Sunday night on Mother's Day Texas time.]
What all happened this week.... after e-mailing we went ice skating with the sisters and elders. The Elders fell multiple times. One of the Elders is a kon thai (thai person) so it was his first time to ice skate. So fun. I might send pictures if my companions bestow any upon me... (:
We are teaching a Thai class now. Usually there are just English classes, but because of how many foreigners there are here in Asoke, we started a Thai one. It'll probably be good to help keep my Thai up. It's already not as good as it was... oh well, the Lord gives, the Lord takes away.
Oh this Sunday we got a new investigator. He is an amazing man. He has totally turned his life around already, and wants to be nearer to God. He is Thai, but he grew up in California, so his English is better than his Thai. His neighbor is a member and invited him to come to church. He couldn't understand all of it because all the religous words in Thai are hard. But anyway we taught him after the Thai ward, and there were like no members from the English branch left, except these people visiting from New Zealand. That was definitely meant to be. The brother bore such a sincere and honest testimony, even now thinking about it, I can feel it again. How the spirit filled the room. Love is really such a powerful thing.
The investigator, I'll call him C, told us that he had been to jail many times, and had actually started going to church there. He said, "The Bible saved my life." We were like, " wow, yeah the teachings of Jesus are good." He's like "No, the preacher gave me a small pocket bible. I put it in my breast pocket, and the next day a fight broke out and a man stabbed me and it got stuck in my Bible." We all just stared at him, and then informed him that that was truly a miracle. He also told us he really likes Mormons, because there are so few in jail. I thought that was so interesting. He is such a humble guy. He now has a date to be baptized and is following the Word of Wisdom (: give up coffee and tea? Wo problem. People are amazing. God is amazing.
This month there is a goal for each companionship to get 3 baptisms. I don't know if you can appreciate how amazing that would be. I feel spoiled that I came to this mission at this time, when the work is exploding. And even I got to see the transition. When I came into the mission, the baptisms per month was 60 people a month. This year we've not has a month under 100, and even reached our goal of 200 in one month. We've already had more baptisms this year than we did the whole of last year. I am NOT bragging about us. I AM bragging about the leadership of President Senior, and how God has lead this mission, how the work is hastening! I really feel with God anything is possible. Be not afraid, only believe. Oh missions are great.
I almost forgot! I had the most interesting lesson with a couple that were Calvinists. I don't know if you know what that is, but basically it's the idea that only some are saved, and they are saved from the beginning of the world no matter what they do. It's funny, because I can see how they misinteperted some verses from the Bible, but if they had had the Book of Mormon they could not have confused it. Isn't the book of Mormon great? It teaches such simply truths. "Wherefore men are free according to the flesh and all things are given them, which are expedient unto men and they are free to choose liberty and eternal life through the great mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death according to the captivity and power of the devil." Misinterpert that... No, but they were pretty sincere in their desire to learn what we believe.
Culture lesson: Thai people do like bright colors. In fact here in Bangkok there is a pattern of fabric I love! and it's uber Thai. I have a pair of pants with that fabric that I wear to bed. But actually in the north - so like Chiang Mai they are even more into BRIGHT colors, and flower patterns. I don't know about the Isaan. Also, Thai people have no qualms about mixing patterns. Anything goes. It definately does not have to look good. >.<
Spiritual lesson: Please love people no matter what. No matter what your experience with them in the past, no matter your "natural man pre-disposition." We have a huge issue with prejudice in the ward. I won't get into details, but I feel very strongly that the ward is disjointed because of this. So! To help the members in this ward we are going to give them a commitment, and I want to give it to you as well: next time at church, whether it be an activity, or a meeting, talk with someone you don't know. Expand yort circle. a Also, family, have you heeded the prophets council? Do you have a copy of preach my gospel? Are you studying it? ("No Sister Barber, I don't have any time...") Yeah, you do. We make time for the things that are important. God is important. 10 minutes, that's fine.
Also, (this is like a bonus spiritual thought) there is a difference between love and charity. Anyone can love those that love them, but of us it is required to love all men. How? some people are not nice. I have found that out for sure on my mission. Charity is the pure love of Christ. If you cannot love them by yourself, ask for God's help. I also know it does not come all at once, and maybe there is little motivation to forgive, and forget, but it really is so important in our quest for discipleship.
I love you! I can't wait to talk with you next Monday!
SIster Barber