Thailand Week 49: Lopburi

God is LOVE

And He loves me. 😙

And He loves YOU! 😄

He is just full of love. He has given us literally everything... light, the trees, the ocean, the sky, and epecially His Son, Jesus Christ, whom has given us His teachings... the Gospel. 

No matter what who you are... In the world of changing moral standards and temptations... the Gospel will help! In times of loneliness, depression, and sadness... the Gospel will help! In attempts to trying to find the purpose of life... the Gospel will help! In the moments where you are worried about your future... the Gospel will help! Even if you are happy with life... the Gospel WILL help! It will increase the quality of our lives beyond our imagination! I just love the Gospel. I love the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

This past week was fun! We are getting a new schedule, that will allow us to work more effectively. I'm excited to see how Lopburi is going to grow. I am also very happy that I am able to have a part in building the church.

I am blessed. It's sad that I sometimes forget those blessings, but I've been doing much better and remembering them by writing in my personal studies journal. :)

I know that Jesus is the Christ. I know that He is our Savior. I know that we are sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father. I know that this gospel has everything that we ever need in our lives. I know that although God has literally given us everything, there is so much He has to offer us. I love Him and I am proud to be an instrument of the Lord.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Funny Story...

- When we went out to some floating market(ish) in Ayothaya อโยธยา... which is in Ayuthaya อยุธยา? I think it's an ancient city name? Maybe.

I'll find out later. Anywho, entrance fee for tourist is 200 บาท. I was able to get in for free! 😆 I just told them that I was Half Thai but was born and raised in the US. Then they told me that I don't need to pay. Haha. All the other elders' faces were like..😒 Hahaha. This happened several times when we went to Zoos and amusement parks. 😄

I love Thailand. I love the people... they are just so nice. 🙆 I love the culture. It's amazing being here. 1 year mark is coming up soon! WHOOHOO! :)

LOVE YOU ALL! 

- Elder Santeco 😄

This is Brother จิ๋ว from Korat. He came and went on adventures with us! He's so good. After having a fun day, he was more than willing to help us with lessons and inviting. 😄

Brother Dragon/มังกร got baptized! Whoohoo!

Along with Brother IQ/ไอคิว and Sister Nit/นิท :) Yayayay

Thailand Week 48: Lopburi

ALOHA

Marisa!!! Thank you so much. I felt the impression to read your mail and I did! It helped me a lot! It was exactly what I needed to know. I'm glad to say that I too choose Christ! I love you!😆

I don't have a lot to say this week. Hahah. Sorry. But yes, we did have a zone conference and the leaders talk about obedience, house check-ups(YAY!), Thai culture and repentance. I loved it.

Sister Johnson did a great job at helping us recall the importance of repentance. She pointed out, "Sincere repentance leads to forming a fresh view of God, ourselves and the world." Repentance, it was such an interesting topic to focus on. But then again, repentance is the main theme in the Book of Mormon. It teaches us how we can repent and become more like our Savior Jesus Christ. Honestly, sincere repentance is how I have come to receive a real testimony of God's love for us. It helped me have the desire to choose the harder right than the easier wrong. It also helped me understand that in those times that I don't do what pleases God, I just need learn from that experience and do better all because I felt His love and I love Him. This gospel is truly of great love.

I am looking forward to an awesome adventure this week! It'll be great! I currently have a member that came to visit me from Korat โคราช, Brother จิ๋ว!!! He finished school, so now he'll be staying at home in สระบุรี. :) We are going เที่ยวing today! 😄 I don't know what we will be doing today, but it'll be good. Hahah.

I know that church is true! I know that we are all sons and daughters of a Loving Heavenly Father. This gospel has brought great peace and joy in my life and it makes me happy that I am able to share it with others here in Thailand. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

I LOVE YOU ALL! 

- Elder Santeco 🙆

"If you could see in a vision who you are destined to become, you would rise up and never be the same." - President and Sister Johnson's daughter.

Miracle: Finding people is always fun. Either we find them or they find us. Yesterday, we had one woman that randomly stopped us on the side of the road to talk to us. It was so cool. It was right after church and we were going to stay at the church to attend the other elder's baptism program. But I forgot one of our RC's baptism papers, and felt that we needed to get it immediately to get Bishop's signature. So we went on home and planed to return just in time before the baptismal service starts. But on the way back, this one woman พี่ผึ้ง chased after us and tried to wave us down. We then found out her story and found out that she was really interested in Christianity so we invited her to check out the baptismal service and she immediately accepted! We then taught an awesome lesson and set up an appointment to meet her again. She does have friends that are from other sects, but she is more than willing to find out more about this Church. She does have that sincere desire to what will help her family, and I know that she'll receive her answer in her own time. It's just a miracle seeing that as long as we are doing our best, the Lord will bless us. I LOVE MISSIONARY WORK! :)

Thailand Week 47: Lopburi

Life's a Climb

This past week has been a hard one. But it has built my testimony of my Savior Jesus Christ. He is my hope and I learned how to hold on to that little piece of hope even through the hardest of times. He is my way of enduring to the end.

I am so grateful for this gospel. I am so grateful for the knowledge that our Heavenly Father does love us regardless of our weakness or strengths. He is always going to love us because are indeed his dear children.  I know that "...I am worth loving and it was worth getting better". Let us remember that this life is the time for us to grow and learn. Let us not get overwhelmed with what has happened and continue to press forward with steadfastness in Christ. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

I watched like a billion of Mormon messages.

I love you guys!!!! <4 ever!!! I can't tell you how much it helped me knowing that I have a family that loves me. 😄 You all are always in my prayers. Keep on climbing! 🙋 

- Elder San🙆teco🌮

We attended Brother เอ๋ and Sister ป่าน's wedding party! It was so cute!😆

Thailand Week 46: Lopburi

Alohaaa

Whew.😰 

We had an amazing past week and we are hoping for a better one this week. 🙋

This past week, we did a lot of reaching out to others. We were literally scramming everywhere to get new investigators by referrals, service, and contacting. It was SUPER FUN. 😄 It reignites that feeling of joy and determination as I get to live the gospel by being a missionary. It strengthen my personal testimony that real joy and happiness comes when we turn outwards and not inwards, just as our Savior Jesus Christ did. 

Here is a quick update with brother Somchay! He will be moving to Bangkok in a couple weeks😯  But will be a faithful member by attending church there. 🤗 Haha. I am so amazed at how much faith he has. His faith has grown so much! He was able to overcome many personal concerns and challenges through his great desire to come unto Christ. 😂 I love him. He's awesome.

I am thankful for this opportunity to be a missionary here in Thailand. I am thankful for the knowledge and testimony that I have and able with others around me. I am thankful for the companionship of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost does indeed guides me and comforts me. I am thankful for this Gospel and the great eternal teachings that it has for our dear families. I am grateful to share my personal testimony that I know that Jesus is my Savior and my God. He has redeemed me from sorrow and pain each time that I have turned to Him. I know that I am child of God, and we are everything to Him. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

I love you all!

- Elder Santeco

One of our investigator (Brother Pilot) has like 10 different kind of knives.

It was fun helping out Sister เอ๋! We did videos and stuff to attract attention to her cart. Haha. It was a great turnout. 

Okay. One more awesome LDS Quote Picture because I love them.

BYE! LOVE YOU ALL!

Families Together <4 Evahhh!!!! 😍

Transfer #7/Thailand Week 45: Lopburi

Happy New Year!

Everyone is partying hard!!! ... and here I am... tired. 😰

Good News! I'm still in Lopburi with my ลูก Elder Larson. We will be staying together for another good transfer. 🤗 Better yet, this year is going to be an amazing one.

This week, the topic of Faith came up pretty often. It's amazing to see the member's great desire to help the Lopburi ward grow. We will do our part in assisting the members into achieving their great desire. I'm excited!!! 🙋 

Anywho... here's a small passage from the PMG about faith.

"Faith in Christ leads to action. It leads to sincere and lasting repentance. Having faith causes us to try as hard as we can to learn about and become more like our Savior. We want to learn what His commandments are and then obey them. Even though we will still make mistakes, we show our love for Him by striving to keep His commandments and avoid sin."

I just want to share a bit about being obedient. After being out here in the mission for a while, my testimony of how obedience has a major part in our missionary work has grown. If we are obedient, people around us will see us as missionaries and disciples of the Lords. We would be able to inspire everyone to build their personal relationship with our Loving Heavenly Father and we would do our part into introducing how we can do that. However, if we slip in being obedient... they won't be able to feel the presence of the Holy Ghost. They won't be able have that great interest to know who God is and how He can bless us, rather they would have a greater interest in us as foreigners. People will see us as friends, but unless we do our part in being obedient, they will not have interest in the gospel. All in all, we all should LIVE the gospel by being obedient. 😄

"Exact obedience bring blessings, but more than that... your obedience shows how much you love God... " :)

I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father. I know that He understands who I personally am and what I am going through. I know that He that loves me more that I can possibly comprehend. I know that His Son, Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, and that through Him... I can do all things.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

LOVE YOU ALL! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

- Elder Santeco

Shout out Brother Reid! Thank you for being a wonderful example of an obedient missionary to me. :)

Elder Xaiyavong moved to ChiangMai! He's loving it there. :)

Brother สมชาย baptized yesterday! 1/1/2017! WHOOHOO! I love him. It's a blessing to see others come unto Christ.