This week was probably the hardest in the field so far. but today is good. it's funny it seems like every week I start my e-mail to y'all and I'm like. "what happened last week that made me feel like crap? I can't remember." Maybe that's the "and you will remember your sins no more" promise coming into play. Oh! One stressor this week was we are pushing hard core for baptisms through out the mission. We are literally going up to crowded places and asking everyone "do you know what baptism is?" then they say no because no one in Thailand knows what it is. and we say "it's how we become free of sin" or "how we can return to heaven. do you want to be baptized one [date]?" let's just say I have no new investigators from that. But it seems like plenty of people are having success. there's one area with 14 daters from Dan Jonesing like that. I don't know it feels weird. And people are ruthless in rejecting sister Somboonni. She'll say excuse me, and they will say no. One Thai sister was doing it, and the person was like "why are you christian? you're Thai that's awful." Some times we get done and I walk past the little temple things or see people with there necklaces with gods on them and I wish that the people of Thailand could be half as converted to Christianity as they are to Buddhism.
Good news is we are having a baptism. but it is only technically ours. We are having Bovember (one baptism per companionship in the month of November) and we were probably not going to make it. So the elders gave us one of their daters. She will get baptized this next Sunday. Phon and Rin are probably going to drop. We can't get in touch with Rin, and Phon is working all the time. We have 3 new daters this week. Funny how that all worked out. One of them is a daughter of a investigator. She is 9. Her mom can't get baptized because of legal things. But we thought she could, but as it turns out she can't until her mom is baptized. woof. But then at church two members brought friends with them. We met with both after church, and they both accepted the baptism invitation! We are going to give one to the elders though because they were so nice about helping us achieve Bovember. The one we are keeping is sister A. she is so very prepared. She is half Thai half Irish. Her mom is christian and it sounds like she has been to every christian church under the sun. She is so humble and sweet. She literally said " I will be like a child and you will be my teacher." She is 43. She is so excited to get baptized.
Tanya is not progressing either. I think that's why this week was so heard. Almost every appointment canceled on us. but anyway, Tanya is the sweetest person. She speaks incredibly good English, and loves to talk with me in English, which I don't mind. she also tells me often how she is praying for me. She has been investigating for over a year I think, and going to church for 6 months. I hope I can help her know why baptism is important! She also has a concern because her fiance is Catholic. hmmm we shall see.
Thai culture lesson time! Fashion here is fun. The thing here is SHORT skirts and see through sleeves and puffy sleeves are in. People wear what are called "big eyes." they are contacts that all they do is make your eyes look bigger and come in many colors. Also head bands are cool, and often they will have cat ears on them. For real! The food here is great. everything is fried. The fruit here is soooo good. I ate a green mango the other day. it was the weirdest thing. but I really liked it. I suspect I eat more peanut oil than I know, but my health has been fine. It's nice to have a Thai Trainer, because she knows what food has peanuts in it, and helps a lot.
Speaking of my fantastic trainer, I love her more each week. She has quite the conversion story. It's a testimony that you never know the impact of what you do. She said the first time she met with the missionaries she turned them down flat. and then 2 years latter she listened to them and was baptized in less than a month.
Well that's all I can think of right now. I love you all! keep being awesome! I love to hear from you all. I miss you guys, but I know this mission is worth it.
Love, Sister Barber
P. S. Who ever told me if you can make it through the MTC you can make it through the mission, lied. the mission is about 5 gazillion times harder.
Good news is we are having a baptism. but it is only technically ours. We are having Bovember (one baptism per companionship in the month of November) and we were probably not going to make it. So the elders gave us one of their daters. She will get baptized this next Sunday. Phon and Rin are probably going to drop. We can't get in touch with Rin, and Phon is working all the time. We have 3 new daters this week. Funny how that all worked out. One of them is a daughter of a investigator. She is 9. Her mom can't get baptized because of legal things. But we thought she could, but as it turns out she can't until her mom is baptized. woof. But then at church two members brought friends with them. We met with both after church, and they both accepted the baptism invitation! We are going to give one to the elders though because they were so nice about helping us achieve Bovember. The one we are keeping is sister A. she is so very prepared. She is half Thai half Irish. Her mom is christian and it sounds like she has been to every christian church under the sun. She is so humble and sweet. She literally said " I will be like a child and you will be my teacher." She is 43. She is so excited to get baptized.
Tanya is not progressing either. I think that's why this week was so heard. Almost every appointment canceled on us. but anyway, Tanya is the sweetest person. She speaks incredibly good English, and loves to talk with me in English, which I don't mind. she also tells me often how she is praying for me. She has been investigating for over a year I think, and going to church for 6 months. I hope I can help her know why baptism is important! She also has a concern because her fiance is Catholic. hmmm we shall see.
Thai culture lesson time! Fashion here is fun. The thing here is SHORT skirts and see through sleeves and puffy sleeves are in. People wear what are called "big eyes." they are contacts that all they do is make your eyes look bigger and come in many colors. Also head bands are cool, and often they will have cat ears on them. For real! The food here is great. everything is fried. The fruit here is soooo good. I ate a green mango the other day. it was the weirdest thing. but I really liked it. I suspect I eat more peanut oil than I know, but my health has been fine. It's nice to have a Thai Trainer, because she knows what food has peanuts in it, and helps a lot.
Speaking of my fantastic trainer, I love her more each week. She has quite the conversion story. It's a testimony that you never know the impact of what you do. She said the first time she met with the missionaries she turned them down flat. and then 2 years latter she listened to them and was baptized in less than a month.
Well that's all I can think of right now. I love you all! keep being awesome! I love to hear from you all. I miss you guys, but I know this mission is worth it.
Love, Sister Barber
P. S. Who ever told me if you can make it through the MTC you can make it through the mission, lied. the mission is about 5 gazillion times harder.