Dear Family,
This week was crazy. I think I tell you that every week, but it's true. Thailand is nuts, but in a lovable way.
Anyway, I wanted to make sure and get you pictures, so you won't send me subliminal messages about needing to take them. I think I sent you two pictures of Sister Stack on a songtow ( a truck with seats welded in), a clong (which are the channels that run through the city), a fruit stand, and a Thai musical instrument.
Some of the highlights of this week were: some random man stroking Sister Stack's arm while we were on a songtow, the gospel doctrine teacher teaching DEEP FALSE DOCTRINE to a full class of investigators, having a less active member give us more food then any one person could eat alone, (and expecting us to eat it all), and a miracle that I will go into detail later.
Or right now. So we had a goal to have two baptisms this month to help the mission get 200, but we weren't going to make it. All these amazing people we've found... but none of them will come to church. Grr. So we were resigned to the fact we were only going to get one baptism this month. Then the elders called and asked about this sister in the ward that, due to circumstances, thought she couldn't get baptized. It turns out there wasn't a rule any more so we are totally going to have not just her baptism, but her daughter too! I am so happy for them. She has been going to church for over two years, even though she couldn't get baptized, and when Sister Stack called her to tell her she could, she was just so excited. She has the hardest life, but her faith is strong. There are some amazing women in this ward. So yeah, actually that's about all that has happened in my life. Hope ya'll are well.
CULTURE Lesson: Thai people know basically nothing about Christianity. I think everyone I have ever talked to about it that was not already Christian has said, "Christ died on the cross, right?" and then proceeded to poke their palms, and stretch out their arms like they are on the cross. That last part is probably because they think I don't understand them (because who learns the word for cross in Thai? Missionaries!) Also, there are a lot of people from the Philippines here in Thailand, teaching English. It is always fun to start a conversation with someone in Thai, and they're like, "I'm sorry I don't speak Thai"...... oops; and actually, yesterday I translated for a sister that came to church. God definitely helped me understand.
Love,
Sister Barber
This week was crazy. I think I tell you that every week, but it's true. Thailand is nuts, but in a lovable way.
Anyway, I wanted to make sure and get you pictures, so you won't send me subliminal messages about needing to take them. I think I sent you two pictures of Sister Stack on a songtow ( a truck with seats welded in), a clong (which are the channels that run through the city), a fruit stand, and a Thai musical instrument.
Some of the highlights of this week were: some random man stroking Sister Stack's arm while we were on a songtow, the gospel doctrine teacher teaching DEEP FALSE DOCTRINE to a full class of investigators, having a less active member give us more food then any one person could eat alone, (and expecting us to eat it all), and a miracle that I will go into detail later.
Or right now. So we had a goal to have two baptisms this month to help the mission get 200, but we weren't going to make it. All these amazing people we've found... but none of them will come to church. Grr. So we were resigned to the fact we were only going to get one baptism this month. Then the elders called and asked about this sister in the ward that, due to circumstances, thought she couldn't get baptized. It turns out there wasn't a rule any more so we are totally going to have not just her baptism, but her daughter too! I am so happy for them. She has been going to church for over two years, even though she couldn't get baptized, and when Sister Stack called her to tell her she could, she was just so excited. She has the hardest life, but her faith is strong. There are some amazing women in this ward. So yeah, actually that's about all that has happened in my life. Hope ya'll are well.
CULTURE Lesson: Thai people know basically nothing about Christianity. I think everyone I have ever talked to about it that was not already Christian has said, "Christ died on the cross, right?" and then proceeded to poke their palms, and stretch out their arms like they are on the cross. That last part is probably because they think I don't understand them (because who learns the word for cross in Thai? Missionaries!) Also, there are a lot of people from the Philippines here in Thailand, teaching English. It is always fun to start a conversation with someone in Thai, and they're like, "I'm sorry I don't speak Thai"...... oops; and actually, yesterday I translated for a sister that came to church. God definitely helped me understand.
Love,
Sister Barber