Thailand Week 88: Khon Kaen (ขอนแก่น)

This past week

Elder Nielson got into a car accident. But
HE STILL SMILING! :D I LOVE THIS ELDER!

WAS SO MUCH FUN! I don't have a lot of time. Sorry.

Monday: We went to the Khon Kaen Zoo. We took pictures. It was lovely. Later that night we have FHE with Sister Nok and Sister Net! We talked about "The Living Christ", it was really spiritual. To finish the night, we sang Happy Birthday to Elder Nielson! He is 19 years old. :) Funny moment: While taking a picture, Elder Nielson tilted his jelly cake at an angle for the camera... just while Sister Nok took the pictures, the cake  accidently slipped off his plate. The funniest part was that Sister Nok caught it all on camera. The first picture had all of us looking at the camera, the second had all of us looking at Elder Nielson's cake. We looked at the pictures and just instantly laughed our heads off for a good 5 minutes. We then picked up the cake and ate it anyways. :) Elder Nielson said that it was the best birthday ever. :D I'll try send the pictures next week.

Tuesday: ENGLISH! Service!

Wednesday: We met an LA named Brother อู๋, Ooh, and he is a lovely man. We are working close with him to help him and his family get involved with the Church. Also met Brother Bird, an investigator. He is earnestly seeking to know if the Book of Mormon is true or not. I know that someday, he will know.

Thursday: A special day dedicated to the King of Thailand.

We had district meetings, studies and weekly planning.

Friday: Inviting! It was the first solid inviting session I had since I came here in Khon Kaen. It was really fun! Met many people at a nearby park. :)

Saturday: We went back to the park and was able to teach many people with a member! Whom happens to be a recent returned missionary from Thailand. I served with her when I was in Thoburi. She has an amazing testimony and really shows it by literally talking to everyone, even if she doesn't have a missionary badge. Oh and I had dinner three times that night, thanks to Sister Nok. :D I love ปาเต.

Sunday: We got to talk about Family History! We are going get that started up here in Khon Kaen. Yay! This upcoming week will be FUN! We got a Halloween activity planned for this Tuesday. We will also be having a District Conference in Udon this upcoming Sunday. We will also be having Zone conference on Monday the 6th. So I'll probably be emailing you all next week Wednesday. :)

I LOVE YOU ALL!

- Elder Santeco

This is our House.

This is the 2nd floor view from our house. There is the church. We live by the church. :D

LOOK AT US! AT THE ZOO!

Sister Shaw, Sister Nixon, Sister Flash(แฟลช), Sister Gung(กุ้ง)

On the Skywalk

The Park!

Thailand Week 87: Khon Kaen (ขอนแก่น)

ขอนแก่น (Khon Kaen)

Elder Nielson is amazing! It was just obvious to me that he truly loves the Lord and His work. It has only been a couple days and I can already tell that he really wants to do his best. We made several changes in our daily schedule so that we could have more companionship prayers and studies. I've seen the blessings as we set just a little of time to read from the scriptures while we eat breakfast and before we head to bed. I am learning a lot from Elder Nielson. :)

This past week, I was able to meet with several members and investigators. All of whom are great. I'm excited to see how this week will turn out. I'll keep you all updated next week.

"And it came to pass that he was obedient unto the word of the Lord, wherefore he did as the Lord commanded him." 1 Nephi 2:3

Obedience is showed through our decision to do as the Lord commands us. I love how in Thai, it is เชื่อฟัง, which breaks up to two separate words... เชื่อ: to believe and ฟัง: to listen/do. I know that as we do all we can to be obedient to the commandments of the Lord. We will be blessed with peace and joy. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

I LOVE YOU ALL! :)

- Elder Santeco

My MTC teacher and her family! :D

 With Brother Taw and Brother Joe :)

This is Brother Hat. He's been an investigator for 4 years. :D Haha

First dinner out with Sister Nok and Sister Net! Both are awesome! :)

This is Brother Arm. He loves doing missionary work!

The clean up crew. We working hard to prep for Sunday.

This is Brother Off and his son. His wife is currently an investigator of the Sisters. Ah, families can be together forever. :)

Transfer #14/Thailand Week 86: Khon Kaen (ขอนแก่น)

I've again realized...

That time goes by so fast... I've been here in Udon for 3 transfers... and now I have another 3 left. 😰 President Johnson called me this past Tuesday and told me that I will be reassigned and will be moving to Khon Kaen (ขอนแก่น) with Elder Neilson. I'm glad to still be in the same Zone with Elder Lovelock, we'll still be talking/seeing each other pretty often. I'm excited. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to look back at how my mission has been... It's been amazing. But now it's time to rededicate myself and sprint to the finish. :) 

A lot happened this past week. It's been a real eye-opening experience to see how much the Lord has really blessed us. We all have our weaknesses, but all the Lord asks of us is to do our best... and follow the Spirit. :)

Today... We started out our morning with soccer... there's still quite a bit that I need to do... get a haircut/eat some lunch with the members/pack/etc. :) Don't have much time. But I love you all!

"Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day." D&C 4:2

I know that this is the Lord's work and I am ever so grateful for the Lord's trust in imperfect people including myself to perform such marvelous work. I know that God does love his children. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

- Elder Santeco☀🌮

Thanks Brother เก่ง for the pictures!

 

District Picture...

Much Love from Elder Lovelock and I... 😙

Thailand Week 85: Udon

Choose the Right เลือกสิ่งดี

"For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." Mosiah 3:19

As the time as being a missionary goes by, I've come to understand more of why... Although some people may know that something is true, does not mean that they would follow it. It's the natural man. The natural man thinks he is a know it all, and doesn't need help from others, even from God.

 

Initially as a missionary, I've been quick to notice it in others, leading me to quickly judge others... but as the time went by, I've been able to reduce my "judgement" towards others and recognize the "natural man" more and more in myself. Thankfully, I can repent. I can overcome it through "the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father". I know that we all can overcome the natural man. Let us choose the right.

This past week has been filled with a lot of adventures. We had MLC on Wednesday. Switch offs on Thursday (with Elder Blocker from Sakon Nakhon) and Friday (with Elder Truman from Udon). We had General Conference on Saturday and Sunday.

 

Sister Ganjana is in Khon Kaen right now... we don't know what happened. Her daughter, Sister Ming wasn't comfortable telling us the situation through the phone. But she said she'll let us know what happened within this week. We knew it was best to be patient and not force information out of them at that time. However, we do know that both Sister Ganjana and Sister Ming has an amazing amount of faith and that will guide them to make the right choices in life. :)

 

I loved General Conference. It's always amazing to learn and grow as we listen to the words of the prophets and apply them in our lives. This past general conference has inspired me to become a better saint, built my confidence in my potential to grow, helped me recognized my weaknesses, and overall helped me realized of the great love that the Lord has for us. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Days Saints is the the true church of God. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

I love you all.

- Elder Santeco ☀🌮

 

I need to work on my college application. YAY! Hahahahah.

 

Our trip to ภูสิงห์. 

Brother เก่ง took us out... He's an awesome member. :D

This is Sister ปลื่ม (Pluem). She reminds me of Moses. Hahah.

This is Sister ตังเมย์ Tang May. Thank you for sending me some pictures.

 WHOOHOO! It's pretty scary.

We then hiked up ภูทอก

I was very sweaty. But I was protected from the sun with my AWESOME DOUBLE SHIRT COMBO with the LONG SLEEVES. :)

 

Standing on top of one on ภูสิงห์​

 

Cheeeehuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!

 

Our road trips.

Doggie help. This dog helped us a ton as we lost our ways. It was cool seeing that she stay with us on our entire journey. :)

FHE with Sister Bouy and her Daughter, Sister Dream.

Udon Missionaries Pictures

Love you all.
Quick Reminder: Next week's P-day is on Wednesday. Transfers is here.