Dear Family,
you shall now get all sorts of nostalgic missionary talk that you may skip.
Missions are fast. Missions are great, and hard, and really change who you are to the very core. If some one asked how a mission's changed me, I'd say, I don't know if I can explain in words, but I know the "why" of the gospel, like I never did before. I know that miracles happen all the time. I know God is in the details, that Satan is just as much a real person as God, I know that some times we don't get what we want, even when we ask God and feel like we should get it. I've seen people loose their faith because they forget they are children of God. I feel like parenthood will help me understand God so much. Think of it. I know mom and Dad don't give us everything we want. some times they say "work for it" and we fall short so we don't get it. It makes so much sense in that case, then when we think of it for God, people freak out and are like "god's not real! he didn't answer my prayer!" what?
Sorry. You get a lot of feeling this week. I feel like just telling you what happened is a little boring. But you'll still get a spiritual thought. Aren't you so happy?
I haven't been moved this week. Transfers don't happen until Thursday, and we wont know who's moving till this evening, but more likely we'll get told Tuesday. I think I'm definably going, I love this ward way too much, and I can't understand spoken Thai any more..... (: but I can still speak.... mostly.
OH! we have the most amazing investigator! I think I told you about him before, He's from Iran, and he has now read the book of Mormon in both Persian, and English in a little less then 2 weeks. He is so great, we asked "are you coming to church next week?" and he said of course! I'm getting baptized next week!" needless to say, he's way prepared. And his family is supportive. which is unheard of for a Muslim family, but I'm not complaining.
Also, I think we teach more Chinese people then any other country. (except Pakistani.) We hopeful will have another Chinese guy getting baptized next week. And his friend is coming back soon, and he wants to get baptized as well. It's incredible how the gospel really changes people, not just what they do, but how they act, how they feel. God really wants us to be happy, and when we know him more, we are. cool no?
One of our RC's is smoking again ): woof. I think I'm going to move, but at the same time, it's so hard to leave these people in the hands of someone else. >.< it's okay though there are such good missionaries in this mission. Hey! I found my camera.... I might have lost it, but now it is found. Sister Lam was sick one day this week, so I stayed home with her, and sister du Plessis went out and worked, so I cleaned the house like it hasn't ever been cleaned before. I found a ton of stuff, including my umbrella and my camera. yeah!
Oh! also I played tennis Today! there's a court behind the church. I was way bad. I don't think I'll play again on my mission, It makes me want to play more, and improve, but that's not really an option right now. I meant to take pictures, but I forgot.... (:
Culture fact: Thai people are not very business oriented. There will be like 5 people working, when there are no customers. So when you go in the shop they all swarm you, because they have nothing else to do. Also, I need to start taking pictures of all the half finished, and abandoned buildings. there are many.
Spiritual thought ( I told you you weren't getting out of it): We all reach places in out lives when we feel like we've plateaued. I reached that point on my mission, and I wan like I need to keep getting better, because I am not that good of a missionary. I'm sure you're like no sister Barber, you're great, but I can see so many thing I can improve. Not in a Satan getting me down sort of way, but in a I want to help the Lord,so I need to be all I can sort of way. So I did the most obvious thing in the world. I pick a Christ like attribute, and asked God every night in my prayers to help he develop it. It works. I am learning about faith in ways I never thought of. Faith is such a force. It is our faith that creates miracles." Yea, and even all they who wrought miracles wrought them by faith, even those who were before Christ and also those who were after." With God literally "all things are possible." So, here's my challenge, pray for a Christ like attribute, and look for answers, look for opportunities to grow. Yhey come.
I love you alllllllll!
Sister Barber
you shall now get all sorts of nostalgic missionary talk that you may skip.
Missions are fast. Missions are great, and hard, and really change who you are to the very core. If some one asked how a mission's changed me, I'd say, I don't know if I can explain in words, but I know the "why" of the gospel, like I never did before. I know that miracles happen all the time. I know God is in the details, that Satan is just as much a real person as God, I know that some times we don't get what we want, even when we ask God and feel like we should get it. I've seen people loose their faith because they forget they are children of God. I feel like parenthood will help me understand God so much. Think of it. I know mom and Dad don't give us everything we want. some times they say "work for it" and we fall short so we don't get it. It makes so much sense in that case, then when we think of it for God, people freak out and are like "god's not real! he didn't answer my prayer!" what?
Sorry. You get a lot of feeling this week. I feel like just telling you what happened is a little boring. But you'll still get a spiritual thought. Aren't you so happy?
I haven't been moved this week. Transfers don't happen until Thursday, and we wont know who's moving till this evening, but more likely we'll get told Tuesday. I think I'm definably going, I love this ward way too much, and I can't understand spoken Thai any more..... (: but I can still speak.... mostly.
OH! we have the most amazing investigator! I think I told you about him before, He's from Iran, and he has now read the book of Mormon in both Persian, and English in a little less then 2 weeks. He is so great, we asked "are you coming to church next week?" and he said of course! I'm getting baptized next week!" needless to say, he's way prepared. And his family is supportive. which is unheard of for a Muslim family, but I'm not complaining.
Also, I think we teach more Chinese people then any other country. (except Pakistani.) We hopeful will have another Chinese guy getting baptized next week. And his friend is coming back soon, and he wants to get baptized as well. It's incredible how the gospel really changes people, not just what they do, but how they act, how they feel. God really wants us to be happy, and when we know him more, we are. cool no?
One of our RC's is smoking again ): woof. I think I'm going to move, but at the same time, it's so hard to leave these people in the hands of someone else. >.< it's okay though there are such good missionaries in this mission. Hey! I found my camera.... I might have lost it, but now it is found. Sister Lam was sick one day this week, so I stayed home with her, and sister du Plessis went out and worked, so I cleaned the house like it hasn't ever been cleaned before. I found a ton of stuff, including my umbrella and my camera. yeah!
Oh! also I played tennis Today! there's a court behind the church. I was way bad. I don't think I'll play again on my mission, It makes me want to play more, and improve, but that's not really an option right now. I meant to take pictures, but I forgot.... (:
Culture fact: Thai people are not very business oriented. There will be like 5 people working, when there are no customers. So when you go in the shop they all swarm you, because they have nothing else to do. Also, I need to start taking pictures of all the half finished, and abandoned buildings. there are many.
Spiritual thought ( I told you you weren't getting out of it): We all reach places in out lives when we feel like we've plateaued. I reached that point on my mission, and I wan like I need to keep getting better, because I am not that good of a missionary. I'm sure you're like no sister Barber, you're great, but I can see so many thing I can improve. Not in a Satan getting me down sort of way, but in a I want to help the Lord,so I need to be all I can sort of way. So I did the most obvious thing in the world. I pick a Christ like attribute, and asked God every night in my prayers to help he develop it. It works. I am learning about faith in ways I never thought of. Faith is such a force. It is our faith that creates miracles." Yea, and even all they who wrought miracles wrought them by faith, even those who were before Christ and also those who were after." With God literally "all things are possible." So, here's my challenge, pray for a Christ like attribute, and look for answers, look for opportunities to grow. Yhey come.
I love you alllllllll!
Sister Barber