Dear Family,
This week was... indescribable. It started to turn crazy Tuesday, when our investigator (Fon) came up and asked me about tithing. AAAAA she had just told us how she was having trouble at work and how her salary got cut, and then she was like, "and now I'm worried about tithing." I was like - what? where did you learn about tithing? I think she heard from one of her friends at work who is American. Anyway, as it is for most of the Thai people, I think tithing will be her problem. She supports her son (she's divorced) her mother, and her younger sister. Money is an issue. I tried to explain a little bit about it, but I had to go because we were finishing teaching our English class.
The next day we had a lesson with Fon and Rin. We taught the plan of salvation, and law of tithing. Rin told us she doesn't really believe God made the world. Then they started talking about the differences between the second coming and the Buddhists belief that some person will come to the earth.... They totally lost me at that point I was like, "They taught me none of this vocab in the MTC." But luckily, we had a recent convert with us who was Buddhist before she was Mormon, so she helped. (Sister Somboonni was Catholic before she was Mormon.) Then we talked about tithing, and gave them the talk by Elder Bednar this last conference. They said they would read it. But we shall see. Fon is a lot less open now. And both of them said they don't think they want to change religions, but they both have baptismal dates..... that will be interesting.
The next day I had probably the worst Dan Jonesing experience in the world. How is that possible? Because I literally talked to no one. After our allotted Dan Jonesing time, I asked Sister Somboonni if we could sit at a bus stop until I talked with one person. Well, I sat there so long my one person was someone asking where I was going in an effort to help what they thought was a lost Faragn (white person)...... fail.
But then, in an inspired last minute decision, my companion and I went to Bang naa because one of the sisters there has been sick for what was then 9 days and she wasn't getting time to rest, because she has work to do. So we went and I stayed with her in her apartment while Sister Somboonni and Sister Muller went out and worked. You may be wondering: how is that a good thing Sister Barber? Well, it was good because I talked with Sister Stack ( the ill sister) and we had a fantastic conversation about feeling like you are useless. Sister Stack, because she can't go out and work, and me because I have such a fear of Dan Jonesing. It was nice. I love Sister Somboonni to death, but she's never felt the feeling of not understanding anything anyone is saying. Then the next day ( we stayed overnight) I stayed part of the day with Sister Stack, and the other I went Dan Jonesing with Sister Muller. And guess what? It was fun. The second person we talked to we asked if they believed in Christ and she said yes... that does not happen in Thailand. We gave her a passalong card, and talked with her for awhile. She was so nice. The Thai people are so wonderfully friendly. You meet someone, talk with them, and in the next minute they act like you are lifelong friends. Anyway, it was wildly successful. We got three people's numbers and 2 people said they were going to go to church. Now I must transfer that skill to Bang khea.
We taught Tanya Saturday. she has been going to church for over a month now, and the Elders gave her to us in the hopes that we could connect with her more and get her to commit to baptism. Well we didn't, but I think she was edified. She said the dreaded "every religion teaches people to do good" line. grrr. I get it so much. But I told her yes they do, but we also believe we can change. We do good, and become better. Later Tanya was telling us about church and how she likes going, and everytime we sing hymns or talk about the gospel she feels something she said like the hibbie gibbies, but not bad. I was like, "How many missionaries would kill for this situation?" I asked her if she knew what that feeling was, she answered that it wasn't a bad feeling, and I told her it was the Holy Ghost. Anyway, you don't need a blow-by-blow account. She still wouldn't commit to a baptismal date, but I think she understands why she needs to get baptised more. I love her so much. I love all my investigators, and I think it will break my heart if they decide not to get baptized.
Anyway, that's my life. Oh, lets have a "describe something about Thailand" moment. There are little temples EVERYWHERE and when I say little temples I don't mean life size, I mean like doll houses. With little figures of gods in them. And people leave food and drink outside them with incense in it and offerings. Not very sanitary, I know. And people wai them (the Thai bow of respect) when they pass.
Well, that's all I can think of right now. I love you all. I pray for you.
Love, Sister Barber
This week was... indescribable. It started to turn crazy Tuesday, when our investigator (Fon) came up and asked me about tithing. AAAAA she had just told us how she was having trouble at work and how her salary got cut, and then she was like, "and now I'm worried about tithing." I was like - what? where did you learn about tithing? I think she heard from one of her friends at work who is American. Anyway, as it is for most of the Thai people, I think tithing will be her problem. She supports her son (she's divorced) her mother, and her younger sister. Money is an issue. I tried to explain a little bit about it, but I had to go because we were finishing teaching our English class.
The next day we had a lesson with Fon and Rin. We taught the plan of salvation, and law of tithing. Rin told us she doesn't really believe God made the world. Then they started talking about the differences between the second coming and the Buddhists belief that some person will come to the earth.... They totally lost me at that point I was like, "They taught me none of this vocab in the MTC." But luckily, we had a recent convert with us who was Buddhist before she was Mormon, so she helped. (Sister Somboonni was Catholic before she was Mormon.) Then we talked about tithing, and gave them the talk by Elder Bednar this last conference. They said they would read it. But we shall see. Fon is a lot less open now. And both of them said they don't think they want to change religions, but they both have baptismal dates..... that will be interesting.
The next day I had probably the worst Dan Jonesing experience in the world. How is that possible? Because I literally talked to no one. After our allotted Dan Jonesing time, I asked Sister Somboonni if we could sit at a bus stop until I talked with one person. Well, I sat there so long my one person was someone asking where I was going in an effort to help what they thought was a lost Faragn (white person)...... fail.
But then, in an inspired last minute decision, my companion and I went to Bang naa because one of the sisters there has been sick for what was then 9 days and she wasn't getting time to rest, because she has work to do. So we went and I stayed with her in her apartment while Sister Somboonni and Sister Muller went out and worked. You may be wondering: how is that a good thing Sister Barber? Well, it was good because I talked with Sister Stack ( the ill sister) and we had a fantastic conversation about feeling like you are useless. Sister Stack, because she can't go out and work, and me because I have such a fear of Dan Jonesing. It was nice. I love Sister Somboonni to death, but she's never felt the feeling of not understanding anything anyone is saying. Then the next day ( we stayed overnight) I stayed part of the day with Sister Stack, and the other I went Dan Jonesing with Sister Muller. And guess what? It was fun. The second person we talked to we asked if they believed in Christ and she said yes... that does not happen in Thailand. We gave her a passalong card, and talked with her for awhile. She was so nice. The Thai people are so wonderfully friendly. You meet someone, talk with them, and in the next minute they act like you are lifelong friends. Anyway, it was wildly successful. We got three people's numbers and 2 people said they were going to go to church. Now I must transfer that skill to Bang khea.
We taught Tanya Saturday. she has been going to church for over a month now, and the Elders gave her to us in the hopes that we could connect with her more and get her to commit to baptism. Well we didn't, but I think she was edified. She said the dreaded "every religion teaches people to do good" line. grrr. I get it so much. But I told her yes they do, but we also believe we can change. We do good, and become better. Later Tanya was telling us about church and how she likes going, and everytime we sing hymns or talk about the gospel she feels something she said like the hibbie gibbies, but not bad. I was like, "How many missionaries would kill for this situation?" I asked her if she knew what that feeling was, she answered that it wasn't a bad feeling, and I told her it was the Holy Ghost. Anyway, you don't need a blow-by-blow account. She still wouldn't commit to a baptismal date, but I think she understands why she needs to get baptised more. I love her so much. I love all my investigators, and I think it will break my heart if they decide not to get baptized.
Anyway, that's my life. Oh, lets have a "describe something about Thailand" moment. There are little temples EVERYWHERE and when I say little temples I don't mean life size, I mean like doll houses. With little figures of gods in them. And people leave food and drink outside them with incense in it and offerings. Not very sanitary, I know. And people wai them (the Thai bow of respect) when they pass.
Well, that's all I can think of right now. I love you all. I pray for you.
Love, Sister Barber