... officially had 212 baptisms in the month of March! I think that is the first time a mission in eastern Asia has ever gotten over 200 baptisms in one month. Sister du Plessi and I had two more baptisms on Sunday: a black brother we met last week, (in his testimony he said, " From the moment I came into this church, I knew this church had Jesus-" he's a cool guy), and Stewart, our Scottish friend. He's amazing.
It is also freaking hot. You might not know that as you sit in your chilly, still-spring weather, but it is like Texas hot, Texas humid, with the sun intensity of Florida.
Yup, things are still happening here in Thailand. All normal things. That's about all I got.
Culture lesson: (tell me if I'm repeating) Thai people are not shy about calling you fat, or informing you you're getting fatter. This is not a problem for me, as I have not gained or lost a significant amount of weight, but sometimes it is odd to hear someone ask, " Have you seen a fat person around here?" Yep, normal in Thailand. (Or to ask missionaries if they are fatter here in Thailand or not. It's a little like asking if you have a boyfriend at home. Totally normal.)
Spiritual lesson: As missionaries we do crazy things. We go out and ask people to cleanse themselves from sin, we ask them to give up coffee, we invite people to be baptized over the phone when we've never met with them before. It's so apparent this is God work because these things have actually worked. I have seen people give up coffee, tea, smoking, people that change their lives when they didn't really think they could, and I have seen people make a sacred covenant with their God. The best two years? I don't even get two, but I know this has instilled in my heart a knowledge of the greatness of God. The power of the atonement is truly infinite. That's all the cheese you're getting for a while, but every word is true.
I love you all!
Sister Barber
It is also freaking hot. You might not know that as you sit in your chilly, still-spring weather, but it is like Texas hot, Texas humid, with the sun intensity of Florida.
Yup, things are still happening here in Thailand. All normal things. That's about all I got.
Culture lesson: (tell me if I'm repeating) Thai people are not shy about calling you fat, or informing you you're getting fatter. This is not a problem for me, as I have not gained or lost a significant amount of weight, but sometimes it is odd to hear someone ask, " Have you seen a fat person around here?" Yep, normal in Thailand. (Or to ask missionaries if they are fatter here in Thailand or not. It's a little like asking if you have a boyfriend at home. Totally normal.)
Spiritual lesson: As missionaries we do crazy things. We go out and ask people to cleanse themselves from sin, we ask them to give up coffee, we invite people to be baptized over the phone when we've never met with them before. It's so apparent this is God work because these things have actually worked. I have seen people give up coffee, tea, smoking, people that change their lives when they didn't really think they could, and I have seen people make a sacred covenant with their God. The best two years? I don't even get two, but I know this has instilled in my heart a knowledge of the greatness of God. The power of the atonement is truly infinite. That's all the cheese you're getting for a while, but every word is true.
I love you all!
Sister Barber