It's a brisk 80ish outside today, yesterday we got into the 70's I think, and my companion wore a jacket to church. Other than that, this week has been very quiet.
Our mission president has set a goal for this month that every companionship will get a baptism, two weeks balanced key indicators, and one less active member come to church and interview with the bishop. Wooo. We finished teaching Pii A all the lessons, and she has no problems and will interview next Sunday. She is so incredible. Her friend Yaa had time (for the first time) to meet with us, and she wants to get baptized the same day as Pii A. She also said she wants to believe this 100% before she joins because she likes to keep her promises. YES that's what I like to hear. I think she really understood that baptism is not a "one and done" kind of thing. In order for her to prepare. though, we will probably have to teach her over the phone. That should be interesting. Never done that before. Pii duun, our other dater, is not progressing. *sigh*, but she has also been really sick so we haven't been able to meet with her.
Oh dear, what do I mean - this week was tame? I just remembered how much happened this week! t
This week I went on two companionship exchanges. I told sister Somboonnit if she has a problem with me she can tell me and not try to pawn me off to other sisters. (I joke: we love each other). First, I was with Sister Sawongwong. She is Thai, and doesn't speak English. That was fun. We were in Bankapi. Two of our teachers from the MTC served there. How do I know? Because there are pictures of the members there and I recognised their investigators, because they showed us them. One of them was Dxg, our first "investigator" at the MTC. Anyway, we read the scriptures with recent converts and Dan Jonesed. Oh, so much reading in Thai.
The next day I switched off with the international sisters. They teach all the people that speak English. We taught a family from Pakistan that are refugees. They told us their home was bombed, and there was literally nothing left of their home. Their faith is so strong, but we can't baptize refugees (something to do with getting in trouble with the government.) We also taught a less active family, they were nice, and fed us, so I like them. The mom is from the Philippines, and the dad from Pakistan. Then we taught a girl that is 11 and staying with a member family, (that was actually in Thai). It was the weirdest thing to teach in English. so weird.
Dan Jonesing is getting easier, we still haven't had anyone want to be baptized, but I have faith that "the field IS white" and the time for Thailand is now.
Well, since you know already, I will tell you: Thailand is in political turmoil. I have no idea why or what is going on, and frankly, I don't want to know, because then people would want to talk to me about it. All I know is there are red shirts, and there are yellow shirts. Needless to say, I am avoiding wearing red or yellow. I have seen nothing here in Bang kea. Last Monday we were told to go back to our house at 6:00. We don't know why. That's really all I know. You probably know more than me.
The king's birthday was this week! All that happened is everyone wore yellow, all the little shops burned yellow candles, and many places set off fireworks. As you may have guessed, yellow is the king's color.
Culture lesson!: Thai people believe killing any animal is a sin, because it could have been your mother in a past life. So hardcore Buddhists won't even kill mosquitoes. They also will put collars on stray dogs and cats, so you can never tell if it is wild or just has a collar. Also, when it gets "cold" the people will put coats on stray dogs, or actually usually old shirts. Stray dogs and cats are everywhere. They don't try to bite, or anything like that, they just walk around, eating the trash.
That's all I got this week. Thai is coming alot better.
Love you all!
Sister Barber
Our mission president has set a goal for this month that every companionship will get a baptism, two weeks balanced key indicators, and one less active member come to church and interview with the bishop. Wooo. We finished teaching Pii A all the lessons, and she has no problems and will interview next Sunday. She is so incredible. Her friend Yaa had time (for the first time) to meet with us, and she wants to get baptized the same day as Pii A. She also said she wants to believe this 100% before she joins because she likes to keep her promises. YES that's what I like to hear. I think she really understood that baptism is not a "one and done" kind of thing. In order for her to prepare. though, we will probably have to teach her over the phone. That should be interesting. Never done that before. Pii duun, our other dater, is not progressing. *sigh*, but she has also been really sick so we haven't been able to meet with her.
Oh dear, what do I mean - this week was tame? I just remembered how much happened this week! t
This week I went on two companionship exchanges. I told sister Somboonnit if she has a problem with me she can tell me and not try to pawn me off to other sisters. (I joke: we love each other). First, I was with Sister Sawongwong. She is Thai, and doesn't speak English. That was fun. We were in Bankapi. Two of our teachers from the MTC served there. How do I know? Because there are pictures of the members there and I recognised their investigators, because they showed us them. One of them was Dxg, our first "investigator" at the MTC. Anyway, we read the scriptures with recent converts and Dan Jonesed. Oh, so much reading in Thai.
The next day I switched off with the international sisters. They teach all the people that speak English. We taught a family from Pakistan that are refugees. They told us their home was bombed, and there was literally nothing left of their home. Their faith is so strong, but we can't baptize refugees (something to do with getting in trouble with the government.) We also taught a less active family, they were nice, and fed us, so I like them. The mom is from the Philippines, and the dad from Pakistan. Then we taught a girl that is 11 and staying with a member family, (that was actually in Thai). It was the weirdest thing to teach in English. so weird.
Dan Jonesing is getting easier, we still haven't had anyone want to be baptized, but I have faith that "the field IS white" and the time for Thailand is now.
Well, since you know already, I will tell you: Thailand is in political turmoil. I have no idea why or what is going on, and frankly, I don't want to know, because then people would want to talk to me about it. All I know is there are red shirts, and there are yellow shirts. Needless to say, I am avoiding wearing red or yellow. I have seen nothing here in Bang kea. Last Monday we were told to go back to our house at 6:00. We don't know why. That's really all I know. You probably know more than me.
The king's birthday was this week! All that happened is everyone wore yellow, all the little shops burned yellow candles, and many places set off fireworks. As you may have guessed, yellow is the king's color.
Culture lesson!: Thai people believe killing any animal is a sin, because it could have been your mother in a past life. So hardcore Buddhists won't even kill mosquitoes. They also will put collars on stray dogs and cats, so you can never tell if it is wild or just has a collar. Also, when it gets "cold" the people will put coats on stray dogs, or actually usually old shirts. Stray dogs and cats are everywhere. They don't try to bite, or anything like that, they just walk around, eating the trash.
That's all I got this week. Thai is coming alot better.
Love you all!
Sister Barber