This week we got transfer calls and Elder Tusieseina and I will both be staying for another transfer! I'm so glad to be staying in Phuket! This area is so amazing! I'm so glad to be a part of getting the branch started off on the right foot!
This last Sunday one of our investigators, brother Por, was baptized! He was so prepared to hear the gospel and so excited to be baptized. Ever since the first lesson when we talked about baptism he has just been itching to get in the water! Every lesson we had with him he would ask what he needs to wear to get baptized and when it would be. Haha he was so excited but so nervous too. He wouldn't leave our side the whole day. Even going into the bathroom to change clothes he just waited until we went in then he went in. It really is humbling to see how much of an impact we can have on some of these people. It has inspired me to improve myself so I can be a better example for them. After his baptism, Por gave a great testimony. He prays a lot and he sees how God blesses him. He is going to be a great strength to the branch in the future!
There is a family from South Africa that lives in our branch and they are so cool! They have sailed around the world and the helped a ton last week when we were dealing with the broken boat. They invited us over for dinner last night because their kids want to have us teach them the missionary lessons. The dinner they made was out of this world and it included: rice topped with eggs, hamburger patties, bacon, and gravy, then a ton of French toast, then a massive pan full of massive cinnamon rolls, then to top it all off a huge serving of mangoes and sticky rice. It was absolutely glorious. Their family is so nice and so tight- knit. We had a really cool discussion about the restoration after dinner too. The family has been traveling the world for the last several years so the kids haven't been to church very much and when they do it's usually in a different language. It was really cool to hear their questions and to be able to teach them.
The discussion we had with the South African family was focused a lot on the Atonement and we have been emphasizing the Atonement a lot with our recent converts and less active members. I love teaching about the Atonement and helping people understand that there is someone who loves them enough to die for them. While teaching about the Atonement I realized how much of a personal and individual thing it is between us and Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ knows each of our struggles perfectly and very personally. In a similar way, we each have a personal and individual relationship with the Savior. It's different for each of us. I have felt that it's a little hard to comprehend and understand the Atonement but I know that the more we study, and ponder the Atonement the more we will understand it and see how it applies to our individual lives.
We met a lady last week that really wanted to meet with us so we went over to her house every day at 4 o clock and every day she had somewhere she needed to go right then. She was always so sad to miss us and kept saying "tomorrow, I promise!" Eventually we started talking to one of her neighbors and it turns out he used to be Christian. We are teaching him now and he has a baptismal date! God really does place people in our paths who are ready to hear the gospel.
Thai name of the week: Flour
I love you all so much! I am so grateful to be a missionary and to be able to teach about Jesus Christ all day every day. Have a great week!
An investigator from Pakkret that I taught got baptized a few weeks ago. Her son got baptized this last week and they sent me this! They're awesome!
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